Chapter 137 - 129: Sleeping Soundly

Chapter 137: Chapter 129: Sleeping Soundly

She spoke these words not just for the Bai Zhi of the past, but for the woman she was now—to say goodbye to what had been and to start a new life.

That night, she slept soundly. Her dreams were free of abandonment and loneliness. Her life was no longer bleak, and she would never again shed secret tears for family who failed to cherish her.

All she wished for was a lifetime of quiet years and an ever-peaceful world.

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That night, Bai Zhi wasn’t the only one who slept well.

There was also Meng Nan, far away in the county’s government office.

The unbearable itch that plagued his face every night had miraculously vanished after he took the medicine Bai Zhi prescribed. He no longer had the uncontrollable urge to scratch at his skin. If not for seeing his reflection in a mirror, he wouldn’t even feel the wounds on his face.

"Sir, how are you feeling?" Jin guard had stayed by his side, worried there might be an adverse reaction to the medicine.

Meng Nan replied, "I feel wonderful. I’ve never felt better. This Bai Zhi... she’s really quite interesting."

Jin guard breathed a sigh of relief. "I truly never expected this. So many doctors couldn’t treat this illness, yet in that girl Bai Zhi’s hands, the cure was instantaneous. If you were to tell people, I doubt anyone would believe it."

Meng Nan’s lips curved into a smile. "Why do we need others to believe it? Isn’t it enough that we do?"

Jin guard nodded repeatedly. "You’re right. That girl doesn’t seem like the type to show off. Maybe she doesn’t even want others to know what she’s capable of."

Meng Nan lay back on the soft couch, his eyes fixed on the green gauze canopy overhead. "A pearl mixed in with fish eyes," he said quietly, "is still a pearl."

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At dawn, Bai Zhi rose and spoke a few words to Zhao Lan before climbing onto the ox-cart she had arranged the previous day.

Hu Feng emerged from the Hu family’s courtyard and climbed onto the ox-cart without a word.

Bai Zhi raised an eyebrow. "Hey, what do you think you’re doing?"

Hu Feng sat down in the wooden cart, crossed his arms, and said with a deadpan expression, "What? Are you allowed to go to town, but I’m not?"

Just then, Hu Changlin also came out of the courtyard and said to Bai Zhi, "I’m the one who told him to go with you. It’s not very safe for a young girl like you to go to the market all by yourself. With Hu Feng along, you’ll have someone to watch your back. When you need to carry things, he can lend a hand. He’s just sitting idle at home anyway, so let him go."

Bai Zhi finally understood. It was all Uncle Hu’s good intentions. She quickly thanked him, "Thank you, Uncle Hu. My mother is in the cabin by herself. Could you please help look out for her?"

Uncle Hu waved. "Go on. Don’t worry about things at home. I’m here."

She wasn’t worried about other people, only that the Bai family would approach Zhao Lan while she was gone. ’Mother is too soft-hearted,’ she thought. ’There’s no telling what might happen.’

She said to Hu Changlin, "Uncle Hu, I left in such a hurry, there was something I forgot to tell my mother. Could you pass on a message to her for me?"

Hu Changlin nodded. "Go ahead."

"Uncle Hu, please tell my mother that while I’m away, no matter what any of the Bai family members come and say to her, she is not to agree. Whatever it is, she must wait for me to return before making any decisions."

Uncle Hu understood her worries and nodded quickly. "Alright, I’ll pass the message along for you in a moment. Go on, and don’t worry. Be careful on the road."

The ox-cart pulled her and Hu Feng away from Huangtuo Village. The moment the cart was out of sight, Liu, who was washing clothes by the creek, hurriedly picked up her wooden basin and rushed back to the Bai family’s home.

"Mother, that wretched girl Bai Zhi is gone. It looks like she’s headed to town, and Hu Feng went with her," Liu whispered, leaning close to Old Mrs. Bai’s ear.

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That’s all for today. See you tomorrow... It’s a bit embarrassing to ask for votes... but... please vote for me, dears...