After Transmigration, I Picked Up A Husband and Daughter-Chapter 22 - The Disengaged Bystander
Chapter 22: Chapter 22: The Disengaged Bystander
Chapter 22: Chapter 22: The Disengaged Bystander
She knew all too well that, with enough money, she could buy the medicinal herbs she needed and naturally wouldn’t let Xixi fall into such a plight.
Jiang Ziling watched Su Yu with a touch of relief in his heart.
After breakfast, Su Yu began to busy herself; she deftly packed for the journey, dressing herself as a simple and unadorned village woman.
The coarse clothes she wore were borrowed from Xie Xinghua, and she thought to herself that after selling the Lingzhi, she would definitely buy a new set for herself and then wash and return this one.
Thinking of Xie Xinghua’s deliberately distant attitude, a faint sense of loss rose in Su Yu’s heart.
Despite this, Su Yu still chose to respect Xie Xinghua’s choice.
She was well aware of the principle “Do not show off your wealth,” so she cleverly covered the Lingzhi with a layer of medicinal herbs she had previously collected, to avoid attention.
In the end, Su Yu looked up in the direction Jiang Ziling had indicated; the path to the marketplace was also the starting point for changing her fate and seeking happiness for her family.
Su Yu took a deep breath, stepped forward with determination, and embarked on this journey filled with the unknown and hope.
Although Su Yu was not yet familiar with the rural paths, fortunately, many villagers were also heading to the market today, so she could follow the footsteps of the crowd and not lose her way.
However, when she blended into the bustling throng, she unexpectedly sensed a subtle alienation, as if she had become an entity that was deliberately being avoided.
That day, the two aunts who had come with Sister Xie to argue with her were now in the crowd; when they saw Su Yu, their eyes flickered with an unnoticeable avoidance before they hurriedly lowered their heads and passed by.
Su Yu was about to greet them warmly when her words stuck in her mouth, finally turning into a silent sigh.
Puzzled, she thought to herself, “What’s going on? Why is everyone treating me this way?”
Her gaze drifted over the crowded heads, and she saw villagers one after another climbing onto an ox cart decorated in a rustic style; its wheels rolled over the cobblestone road, emitting a steady creaking sound.
Without hesitation, she quickened her pace, hoping to catch a free ride to the market and spare herself the long, arduous walk.
She approached the cart and sincerely asked the driver, whose face was covered with wrinkles and who held a long whip, “Uncle, hello, may I ride with you to the market?”
Before Uncle could respond, an old woman on the cart, leisurely enjoying juicy dates, preempted with a mocking tone, “Go away, go find a cool place to stay; there’s no room for you here on my cart.”
Her words pierced Su Yu’s heart like a sharp ice pick, causing a tightening sensation in her chest.
She couldn’t help but look inside the cart, where she saw several villagers sparsely seated in the spacious interior, all expressionless, either looking out the window or focused on work in their hands, seemingly oblivious to the scene before them, as indifferent as bystanders.
At this awkward moment, a woman’s call floated from afar, “Hey, Uncle Fang, wait for me, don’t leave me behind!”
Turning her head, Su Yu saw Sister Xie hurrying their way, beads of sweat forming on her forehead, clearly having run all the way here.
Upon hearing the call, the old woman’s attitude changed instantly; she responded with overflowing warmth, “Oh my, Xiufang, we’re all waiting for you, take it slow, and watch your step so you don’t fall.”
Xie Qifen ran to the side of the cart, panting, one hand on her waist and the other wiping the sweat from her brow, explaining with slight exhaustion, “Oh my, I got held up for a while feeding the livestock.”
Then, she agilely jumped onto the cart and called out to Su Yu with concern, “Girl, hurry on up, why stand there foolishly?”
Once more, Su Yu looked at the old woman who had deliberately made things difficult, understanding clearly that she was being targeted.
Her lips curved into a stubborn smile, and she answered indifferently, “No need, I’ll just walk there myself.”
She knew well that a journey of merely one or two hours was not a difficult task for her, so why endure such humiliation.
She would rather walk alone on the country paths, letting the breeze brush through her hair, enjoying a moment of tranquility.
Xie Qifen keenly sensed the subtle atmosphere among the people in the cart and roughly guessed the cause of the situation.
After a brief moment of thought, she leaped off the ox cart with a smile and suggested, “Oh, that’s wonderful, I’ll walk with you, I was just thinking of getting some exercise by walking more.”
In her words, genuine concern and understanding for Su Yu shone through.
Facing Xie Qifen’s kindness, a warm current surged in Su Yu’s heart, but she still politely declined, “There’s no need, I’d like to walk alone.”
Having said this, she resolutely turned around and stepped onto the path leading to the market.
Behind her, Xie Qifen watched her figure grow smaller in the distance, a hint of disappointment flashed in her eyes, yet she helplessly returned to the cart.
Inside the cart, someone said to Xie Qifen with a mocking tone, “Xiufang, you’d better get back on the cart, you know, your good intentions are not appreciated!”
The hint of mockery in these words brought a touch of bitterness to Xie Qifen’s heart.
She knew all too well the impact of the village gossip on Su Yu; that girl must have suffered indignities beyond what others could imagine.
Su Yu did not delve into why the villagers suddenly avoided her as though they were terrified, she merely felt exhausted coping with these complex social relationships.
Hence, she chose to stride alone briskly, letting her thoughts scatter with the wind.
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Surprisingly, her pace was light and she gradually outpaced the ox cart filled with villagers.
Her lips curled up slightly, and she thought to herself, “It turns out that walking alone can also be so liberating and free.”
However, atop the ox cart, filled with laughter and cheerful voices, like a pastoral painting, stood in stark contrast to the lonely and resolute figure of Su Yu walking by herself.
Yet, she was not swayed by this; at that moment, her mind was fully absorbed in planning her purchases after selling the goods in her hands.
Suddenly, the ox cart appeared to have an accident, the body of the cart shook violently, emitting a loud “clang” that was deafening, instantly shattering the previously harmonious pastoral scene.
The laughter on the cart stopped abruptly, replaced by several panicked shouts, “Granny, what’s the matter with you?”
“Oh dear, what happened to my old partner?”
Uncle Fang’s voice, full of anxiousness, pierced the tranquil air, striking at the hearts of the listeners.
A stir went through the crowd, and someone guessed in a low voice, “It seems like a date got stuck in her throat.”
With these words, the previously relaxed atmosphere immediately became heavy.
All these changes did not escape Su Yu’s notice; she keenly caught onto something unusual behind her and stopped, turning around to look back.
On the ox cart, an elderly lady was struggling in pain, clutching at her neck with both hands, trying to ease the choking sensation,
but no matter how hard she tried, she could only open her mouth wide, unable to make a sound.
