Chapter 94: The Girl is Lying

Chapter 94: Chapter 94: The Girl is Lying

Zhao Lan was filled with doubt. Ever since Zhi had died and come back to life, it wasn’t just her personality that had changed drastically—it seemed she had a lot more going on in her head now, too.

She had raised the child herself. She knew perfectly well what she did every day, what she ate, and where she went.

That was why she was certain that Zhi’er had absolutely no opportunity to learn any skills anywhere else.

’So where did she learn all these things she suddenly knows?’

Seeing Zhao Lan staring at her, her eyes full of doubt, Bai Zhi quickly forced a laugh. "Actually, I’ve never had dumplings either. I just thought Uncle Hu and Hu Feng had, so I wanted to brag a little."

Uncle Hu chuckled and asked, "Well then, hurry up and tell us. What exactly are these dumplings?"

Bai Zhi’s eyes darted as she smiled. "Well, it’s like this. One time, I was out digging for wild vegetables, and there were two other girls digging with me. They weren’t from Huangtuo Village. They said they were from some village called... Zhu-something? Or Li-something? I can’t remember it clearly. They must have been hungry, because they started talking about food. I was hungry too, so I secretly listened in. They said the most delicious thing they’d ever eaten in their lives was dumplings, and they even described how to make them. I was so tempted, my mouth watered enough to drench my clothes."

Seeing her mother and Uncle Hu both smile, she continued, "Right then and there, I secretly swore to myself that one day, I would definitely make these dumplings and eat them with my mother."

’So that’s how it was.’ Zhao Lan’s heart filled with guilt. In the past, whenever her daughter went out to dig for wild vegetables, she was always sent out by the Bai family on an empty stomach. There was no guarantee she would have lunch when she returned. By evening, if she was lucky, she might get some thin congee with a few grains of rice in it. If she was unlucky, there would only be rice water or vegetable broth left.

She could only blame herself for being a useless mother, unable to protect her daughter or give her a good life. She could only stand by and watch her suffer.

Zhao Lan and Hu Changlin believed Bai Zhi’s words without a doubt, but there was one exception.

Hu Feng didn’t believe it!

’The girl’s story was detailed and logical, but he just knew she was lying.’

’It was just like how she understood medicine without ever having studied it.’

’She cooked a wonderful meal without ever having learned how.’

’She could read without ever having attended school.’

’She was young, yet uncommonly clever. Her innocent act was just that—an act, a tool for survival and self-preservation.’

’To be so shrewd at such a young age... it truly made him see her in a whole new light.’

’The more special he found her, the more he wanted to see her clearly. But the more he tried, the less he understood.’

Hu Feng stood up and said to Uncle Hu, "I’m going to feed the ox some grass. You all get ready, we’re leaving soon." As he turned, the corners of his lips curved into a faint smile. ’One day,’ he thought, ’I’ll be the one to pull back that veil and see just what kind of person is hiding underneath.’

Climbing onto the ox-cart, they looked just like a real family of four, their expressions relaxed as they chatted and laughed on their way to town.

Liu, who was washing clothes by the river, happened to see them. She immediately straightened up and shouted in her shrill voice, "Looky here, look at this little family of four! Separated from her family just yesterday, and already shacked up today? Even if you’re in a hurry, shouldn’t you at least wait a couple of days? The nerve of some people! Thicker skin than a city wall, I tell you."

Zhao Lan’s expression instantly turned grim. She had been a widow for ten years. For ten years, she had worked for the Bai family like a beast of burden. She had never once considered her own future, much less exchanged more than a few words with any man. She had lived a respectable life, and the Bai family knew it.