Seeing Madam Zhou on Old Father Yun's back, Yun Manman noticed that although Madam Zhou weighed only a little over eighty jin, Old Father Yun's long-term malnutrition made carrying her look rather strenuous.
Yun Manman hurried forward to take her and hold her in her arms.
"Dad, let me carry Mom. You carry those two grass baskets."
Refusal was written all over Old Father Yun's face. "You're a girl. How could you carry your mother? Your dad is strong. I..."
Yun Manman never knew quite what to say during these interactions between family members. Since her mouth didn't know how to speak, she could only act!
Without another word, she stepped forward and lifted Madam Zhou off Old Father Yun's back.
Madam Zhou startled at first, but when she saw herself cradled in her daughter's arms, her pale, thin face flushed red.
Old Father Yun's words caught in his throat. Watching Yun Manman's bold move, his face filled with anxiety.
"Manman, give your mother to me, quickly. Be careful you don't drop her."
Seeing that Old Father Yun still didn't believe she could carry her, Yun Manman gave Madam Zhou a little bounce in her arms.
"Dad, Mom really is light. I can carry her without any trouble. You're tired. You need to rest."
With that, she spun in circles on the muddy ground with Madam Zhou in her arms.
Old Father Yun's mouth twitched. This daughter of his was far too strong!
Joy showed on Madam Zhou's flushed face, and even her voice carried a smile.
"Manman, carry me on your back. Having you hold me like this is rather embarrassing!"
The corners of Yun Manman's mouth lifted slightly. She quickly set Madam Zhou down and got her onto her back.
"Mom, settle in and hold tight. Off we go!"
Old Father Yun's gratified face was full of helplessness. This girl kept doing heartwarming things that left him unable to refuse.
The town was several li from their Red Star Village, and the roads were all dirt and gravel.
Watching his daughter's vigorous strides, Old Father Yun couldn't help lamenting inwardly that he really was getting old.
Yun Manman felt noticeably more energetic and stronger today than yesterday. After thinking for a long time without figuring out why, she could only attribute it to having become more fully integrated with this body.
One shichen later (roughly two hours).
Yun Manman looked at the enormous entrance to Red Camp Town, where a long line stretched before the town gates.
"Dad, why are so many people lining up ahead?"
"The border is unstable now, so everyone entering or leaving has to be checked. Each person has to pay one copper coin to enter town. Let's go line up too."
???
Even this tiny town charges an entry fee? It looks like the emperor of the Southern Mo Kingdom isn't very reliable!
After entering town, Yun Manman swept her violet eyes over their surroundings.
Madam Zhou was low on energy and had long since fallen asleep on Yun Manman's back. Seeing his daughter's searching gaze, Old Father Yun asked,
"Manman, what are you looking for?"
Yun Manman's eyes kept darting about, her voice carrying both urgency and delight.
"Dad, I'm looking for a steamed bun shop! You're hungry and need some buns!"
Old Father Yun: ...
The three sat at a steamed bun stall, looking at one another without anyone speaking. Yun Manman could only speak up herself.
"Sir, eight steamed buns and three bowls of fu tea, please. Thank you."
"Coming right up."
Hearing her order so much, Old Father Yun tried to stop her. "Oh, that's far too much. What a waste! One bun is enough for me, and I don't need tea. Hurry and cancel it."
Madam Zhou hurried to add, "Exactly. I don't need tea either. Half a bun will be enough for me."
Yun Manman's mouth twitched. Did they really have stomachs the size of chicks'? After some thought, she spoke with a solemn, serious expression.
"No, that won't be enough for you. You can finish it. Trust me!"
Old Father Yun: My daughter really is adorably innocent.
Madam Zhou: My daughter's straightforwardness is becoming more and more amusing.
Only after eating and drinking their fill did they go to the largest pharmacy in town-Zhenyuan Hall.
Looking at the overcrowded entrance to the pharmacy, Yun Manman saw silver pouring in with a clatter!
Thinking of how she couldn't rely on medical skills to make money in ancient times, she was filled with regret once again!
Why didn't I study traditional Chinese medicine back then?
Why did I only learn to bandage external injuries!
They heard the elderly doctor explain that Madam Zhou had no serious problems. She simply hadn't recuperated after giving birth to the twins, leaving her body deficient ever since, and needed nutritious food to slowly nourish her back to health.
The two could finally put their minds at ease, but Yun Manman frowned again.
Madam Zhou's body needed nourishing ingredients and soups to restore it, but she couldn't cook!!!
She had once thought herself capable of anything, outstanding in morality, intellect, and physical fitness alike.
Yet one transmigration had left her wanting to shut herself away!
These ancient times battered her confidence at every turn. Everything she had learned before was completely useless here.
She had no idea why all those transmigrated women in novels were superb cooks who could even build fortunes through their cooking.
Yet an outstanding person like her could only make useless things like hot pot, instant noodles, and pan-fried steak...
The more Yun Manman thought about it, the more ashamed she became, covering her face. She was probably the most unsuccessful transmigrated woman, bar none!
"Manman, you've kept the buns nice and warm. When those two boys see you've come to visit them and even brought meat buns, they'll definitely be delighted."
Her two younger brothers were ten this year. The elder was Yun Zewu, and the younger was Yun Zeren. Thinking that she would see them soon, Yun Manman pulled her spirits together.
Her two younger brothers had only gone out to work so young to support the family.
Ten-year-old children should have been receiving an education, not suffering like this. At that thought, she couldn't help quickening her steps.
Looking at the little courtyard before them, Old Father Yun and Madam Zhou also wore joyful expressions. It had indeed been a long time since they had seen their sons.
Yun Manman set Madam Zhou down and only let go once she saw Old Father Yun supporting her securely.
"Dad, Mom, don't rush. You'll see my brothers soon. I'll knock now."
Yun Manman took a few steps forward and had just raised her hand to knock when a woman's shrill, acerbic voice came from inside the courtyard.
Behind her, Old Father Yun and Madam Zhou heard it just as clearly.
"You two useless things still eat a meal of mine every day. Yun Zewu, wash my clothes. Those are my new undergarments. I've only worn them once, so be careful.
"Yun Zeren, wash out the chamber pot I used last night. If you don't do a good job, I'd sooner feed that half steamed bun for your dinner to the pigs than give it to you. Letting you eat more is a waste anyway."
Then a middle-aged man's voice rang out. Yun Manman knew this was her brothers' master, who taught them to make mud bricks. His surname was Shen.
"Enough, enough. What are you making such a racket for this early in the morning? Come wash my chamber pot too. It's only been a day since it was washed, and it already smells."
"Hmph, I feed them, house them, and even pay them monthly wages, yet they're unwilling to do this little bit of work. Even if their family comes, I'm not afraid. Would they actually dare take these two useless things home?"
Frost filled Yun Manman's eyes.
These were only two ten-year-old children. How could these two dogs bring themselves to humiliate, beat, and scold them?
Old Father Yun's face flushed red with anger, his lips trembling. Madam Zhou's face was deathly pale, her eyes brimming with tears.
Seeing how this vile pair had ruined the two elders' previously wonderful mood, Yun Manman grew even more agitated. She only wanted to vent by giving the vile pair a savage beating.
Yet she did not know that what she felt was heartache for the Yun family.