Chapter 67: Refugees

Chapter 67: Chapter 67: Refugees

The next morning, Bai Zhi woke up early. After helping Zhao Lan wash up, she went straight to the main house next door. The small hut where she and Zhao Lan lived had no stove or cooking utensils. In the past, they always had to wait for the people in the main house to finish their meal. Only then were they allowed to eat the cold leftovers, after which they had to wash the dishes and clean up. They were treated like dogs.

But Bai Zhi was no longer willing to live such a life. She was hungry and she was going to eat—and she would absolutely not be eating their leftovers.

The door to the main house was open early today. Just as she stepped inside, she nearly collided with Liu, who was rushing out.

Luckily, she reacted quickly and dodged to the side. Otherwise, the collision would have made her injuries ache all over again.

Liu stopped in her tracks. Seeing it was Bai Zhi, she immediately started screeching, "Perfect timing. Hurry up and make breakfast. When you’re done, go forage for wild vegetables. Go early, before all the tender ones are picked by someone else."

Bai Zhi shot her a sidelong glance and said coolly, "Aunt, I’m covered in injuries that haven’t even healed yet, and you want me to go out and work? It seems you’re deliberately trying to have me die outside so I don’t come back, is that it?"

Hearing this, Liu immediately put her hands on her hips and started yelling, "You little wench, what nonsense are you spouting? Isn’t foraging for wild vegetables your job? Why can’t you do it today? You seemed to have plenty of strength when you were swinging that club around. I didn’t see any injuries on you then. Cut the crap and go make breakfast. After that, go foraging. You can eat breakfast when you get back."

’Heh, she wants me to make breakfast, but won’t let me eat it when I’m done? I have to wait until I get back from foraging? Get back and eat what? Air?’

She couldn’t be bothered to argue with Liu right now. Her stomach was empty, and arguing would only make her hungrier. It was a waste of energy.

Bai Zhi turned and started to walk out. Liu quickly called after her, "You haven’t made breakfast! Where are you going?"

Bai Zhi glanced back at her, a smile on her face. "Aunt, it’s getting late. If I make breakfast before I leave, I’m afraid I’ll be too late. We can’t have all the good vegetables picked by others, can we? I’ll go right now." With that, she hurried back to their wooden hut.

’Order me to work? Hmph, not a chance.’

"Mom, I don’t think we’ll be getting any food if we stay here in the Bai Family. Let’s go eat somewhere else."

Not being able to eat was something Zhao Lan had expected. But Bai Zhi wanted to eat somewhere else? ’What does she mean?’

"Eat somewhere else? Where would we go?"

Bai Zhi helped her out of bed. "Mom, have you forgotten? We still have that basket of eggs at Uncle Hu’s house, don’t we? Aunt told me to go foraging, so I’ll just take you out with me. We can go to Uncle Hu’s house first and boil a couple of eggs, then wander around for a while. We can come back at noon. That way, we can avoid them coming to start another fight."

Zhao Lan didn’t want to stay there either. While going to Hu Changlin’s house right now felt a bit inappropriate, it was certainly better than staying here and being subjected to their constant yelling.

"Alright, we’ll do as you say." Zhao Lan got out of bed. The pain in her arm wasn’t as severe as yesterday; it was within a tolerable range. She could even do fieldwork now, as long as she didn’t have to use her injured arm.

Bai Zhi said, "Mom, when we leave the hut in a bit, try to act like you’re badly injured. Walk slowly, and don’t let them see that you’re actually feeling better."

Zhao Lan understood what she meant and quickly agreed, "I know. Don’t worry."

The mother and daughter supported each other as they left the hut. Dressed in tattered rags, they limped and hobbled along, their faces covered in black and blue bruises. It looked as though every step was an agony. At a glance, they looked like refugees fleeing a disaster, a truly miserable sight.

PS: People who read without voting are meanies, big meanies, hmph hmph~