After the conversation with Madam Zhou on the street, Wufu didn’t appear as weighed down with worry as Madam Zhou. Instead, she seemed to have casually forgotten their exchange as soon as it ended, going about her activities as if their talk was mere idle chit-chat, not taking it to heart at all.
She had accepted an order from Merchant Liu and needed to get busy right away, after all, time was limited, so she was up early the next morning after breakfast, ready to head to town.
"Let Xiao Yu go with you!" Madam Zhou was worried about her going alone.
Hongyu looked at Wufu. She was indifferent, but she wanted to follow Wufu for reasons she couldn’t quite articulate. Perhaps she felt more at ease in her company.
Wufu said, "I’ll probably not be back until dusk, and I won’t be at ease with you alone at home all day. With Xiao Yu here, she can help you with some chores."
Madam Zhou’s heart warmed at her words. She said with mild reproach, "What chores in the house can’t be handled? There’s no need for two people."
Wufu smiled, "You two just stay at home. I’ll go out and make money. I don’t much care for housework anyway." She paused before adding, "But wait for me to come back before you fetch water for the tank. Don’t you two overwork yourselves."
Madam Zhou’s gaze turned to the newly purchased large water tank and then back to the girl before her, her face darkening slightly. She thought of those slim shoulders and how many times they had carried water. She didn’t want her to suffer, but Wufu insisted it was good for building strength.
Day after day, she would do some heavy labor, claiming it was for exercise, including this walk to town. Watching her, she indeed seemed sturdier than before.
"Xiao Yu, keep a good eye on the house." Wufu looked at Hongyu again, instructing, "If any reckless ones come to make trouble, don’t hesitate to drive them away with a stick, and then wait for me to return."
In this home with three females, Madam Zhou was weak and unreliable. Hongyu, even at ten, was fiercer and capable. So she entrusted Hongyu with this responsibility.
Upon hearing Wufu’s words, Hongyu knew there was no hope of accompanying her, but she also felt trusted with a heavy task and nodded, "Rest assured, miss."
"Then I’m off!" Wufu slung her little cloth bag over her shoulder and stepped out the door.
Madam Zhou and Hongyu watched her walk away before finally closing the courtyard door.
"Xiao Yu, then you help me pack the gifts for my maternal family!"
Wufu ran quickly into the village, still finding time to wave and greet the children she knew along the way.
"Sister Wufu, do you have candy? Give us some candy!"
The children clapped their hands and called out joyfully.
Ever since Wufu had handed out candy before, every time the children encountered her, she would give them a piece or two, so now every time she passed through the village, the kids would beg her for candy.
"I’m busy right now, but I’ll bring you some candy when I come back," Wufu said with a smile.
She turned around to see two people standing not far ahead, looking disdainfully at her with cold stares.
It was Aunt and cousin, a mother-daughter duo, both wearing unfriendly looks.
Wufu was not the sort who would warmly approach those who gave her the cold shoulder, even if they were elders or relatives. If she did not like them, she simply ignored them.
Thus, without even a greeting, she confidently walked past the mother and daughter.
Zhou Xiuer could not stand it and darted in front of Wufu. With her hands on her hips and brows fiercely furrowed, she scolded, "Wufu, why didn’t you greet my mother? Have you no manners?"
Fresh scars forgotten, was she looking for trouble with her?
Wufu’s eyes narrowed as she said, "Hasn’t your upbringing taught you this?"
"What?" Zhou Xiuer was confused.
"Good dogs don’t stand in the way!" Wufu extended a finger, pushed her on the shoulder, and quickly moved on.