Old Father Yun wanted to say more, but Yun Manman spoke up first.
"Dad, for ten copper coins, my brothers suffered every humiliation, went hungry, and worked like beasts of burden. Do you really think those people did nothing wrong?"
Old Father Yun sighed softly. "I know they were wrong, but we peasants have neither money nor power. We can only survive by enduring it."
Yun Manman understood Old Father Yun's concerns. A cold gleam flashed through her eyes as she headed toward the cloth shop, her voice confident and firm.
"You won't have to swallow this kind of humiliation anymore. The Yun family has me."
She was planning how to build up her own forces as quickly as possible. Since she could not wield power, she would become an existence that made the powerful afraid.
"Come on, let's buy a few sets of clothes at the cloth shop, then get food and supplies. Dad, Mom, don't worry about the money. I'll earn it."
Old Father Yun's heart ached a little. His daughter was so young, yet she already had to shoulder such a heavy burden.
Madam Zhou's voice was gentle and joyful. "Manman, let's just buy some cloth to take home. I'll make your clothes. Ready-made clothes won't fit as well, and their stitching won't be as neat as mine."
"All right!"
Yun Manman handed the steamed buns she was carrying to her two younger brothers. Looking at the two well-behaved, obedient children, she felt an added weight of responsibility.
She would raise them into useful people. It had nothing to do with the body's original owner, only that these two were the second ones to stand in front of her, wanting to protect her.
Gathering her thoughts, she looked at the cloth shop before her. Its doorframe was carved from ordinary wood, and above it were only two simple words: Cloth Shop.
"Welcome, madam, sir, young miss, young masters! Please come in. What sort of cloth would you like? Let me introduce our selection."
The instant Yun Manman stepped through the doorway, the shop assistant's enthusiastic greeting reached her. She led her two brothers, who were a little afraid of strangers, inside. Looking around, she saw there were not many customers.
"Could you recommend something? We need comfortable fabric for inner garments and durable, hard-wearing fabric for outer robes, in colors suitable for the whole family."
A hint of surprise entered the assistant's eyes. He had not expected the little girl to be the one making decisions for this family.
Still, the girl was pretty, especially those purple eyes that seemed able to speak. Her manner of speaking was also uncommon, as though she had received an education.
"Certainly. Miss, take a look over here. This is the finest cotton cloth in our shop, perfect for inner garments.
"One bolt will make a set of inner garments for everyone in your family. This linen comes in a color everyone can wear, and it's absolutely sturdy and hard-wearing.
"What do you think? If you aren't satisfied, I can show you something else."
Yun Manman felt the fabric. Though its texture could not compare to modern cloth, it was far more comfortable than what she wore now. The linen was indeed suitable for hunting in the mountains, too.
Seeing the satisfaction in Madam Zhou's eyes, Yun Manman said directly, "Two bolts each of the cotton and linen. Please bundle them up for me. Sorry for the trouble."
A blush appeared on the assistant's honest face. This girl was pretty, and she even spoke to him so politely.
As these thoughts ran through his mind, the assistant deftly packed the cloth, a respectful smile on his face.
"Miss, your four bolts are packed. The cotton is one hundred copper coins per bolt, and the linen is seventy per bolt. That comes to three hundred and forty copper coins."
After paying, Yun Manman went to the grain shop, butcher's, vegetable stall, and general store, buying everything they needed to eat, use, and drink.
Finally, Yun Manman bought books suitable for her brothers to study at the bookstore, then went to the smithy to order a set of silver needles.
On the way back, Yun Manman still carried Madam Zhou on her back, while the three behind her carried their purchases.
Though there were many things and they were heavy, everyone wore a smile.
Yun Manman looked at the three of them. Sweat streamed down their faces and they panted for breath, yet they still clutched their purchases tightly.
She turned and took the cloth and pork from their hands, tying them in front of herself.
Without giving the three a chance to speak, she urged them on.
"Hurry up. If we get back too late to see, what if we burn the meat?"
Old Father Yun was shocked by his daughter's immense strength, while her two younger brothers gazed at her with stars in their eyes.
But at Yun Manman's words, all three immediately shifted their thoughts.
Meat was so precious; they absolutely could not ruin it. Though they could still eat it if it was ruined, deliciously fragrant meat tasted better!
Instantly energized, the three lowered their heads and strode toward home.
Watching the three overtake her and walk ahead, Yun Manman's lips curved slightly.
"Master, quick, put everything in the space, and put your mother in here too. Take them out when you get home. Don't wear yourself out. It makes my heart ache!"
Yun Manman's steps faltered. She had not expected the space to store things, too.
Even Mom could go inside?
Then could she go inside herself?
Then she thought of how she had been working herself to death while this damned thing had failed to tell her beforehand. What was she supposed to do now?
"You're only wise after the event! What good does telling me now do? Am I supposed to vanish and reappear in front of all these people?"
The resentment in the space tried to scratch its head, but its hand met nothing. Only then did it say wistfully,
"Those two people's resentment toward you was so intense today that it not only increased your points, but upgraded the space too!"
Yun Manman was rather speechless. This thing really did nothing a human would do!
Would she end up offending everyone in the Southern Mo Kingdom?
But after running around all day, her body really was tired. Right now, all she wanted to know was how much farther home was.
The midpoint of the shen hour (four in the afternoon).
Looking at her family's little dilapidated house in the distance, Yun Manman actually felt a strange sense of familiarity.
She had finally arrived!
The eyes of the three listless people behind her brightened too. Yun Manman wanted to get home, drink some water, and flop into a Ge You slouch, while the others were all thinking about eating meat that evening.
Old Father Yun hurried ahead a few steps and opened the gate. Yun Manman entered the courtyard, set Madam Zhou down, and carried everything on her straight into the kitchen.
The things Old Father Yun and the others were carrying were set on the stone table for the time being.
After a mouthful of water, Yun Manman felt she had finally come back to life. She was just about to take another sip,
when a noisy clamor came from the courtyard.
Yun Manman hurriedly drank a few more mouthfuls before walking out of the room, her face full of impatience.
Who on earth was interfering with her Ge You slouch?
"Eldest Brother, you've gone too far! You have meat, but instead of offering it to our parents, you hide it away to eat yourselves. You're utterly unfilial!"
"Exactly, Eldest Brother. How could you do this? You don't deserve to be their son!"
"Oh, heavens! My eldest son has abandoned his father and mother to hide at home and eat meat in secret. What sin did I commit to raise such an unfilial wretch?"
The villagers' gazes toward Old Father Yun gradually turned hostile. Their own families could not even fill their bellies, yet Old Father Yun's family actually had meat to eat.
They had long been green-eyed over the silver he had picked off a corpse that day. Now, at last, they had an outlet.
"Exactly, Yun Zhen! With this whole table of meat and rice, you can't leave your parents gnawing on wild vegetable cakes!"
"How unfilial. Whenever my family has something good to eat, we give the elders first priority. But look at his family..."
"I used to think the eldest son of the Yun family was filial. Looks like we misjudged him."
Old Woman Yun exchanged looks with her two sons, smugness filling their eyes.
Yun Zhen's family wanted to eat meat? Not a chance. If anyone was going to eat meat, it would only be them.
From the kitchen doorway, Yun Manman swept a cold gaze over them.
Old Woman Yun wore a gray linen robe. She was thin and slightly stooped, with shrewd, vicious eyes.
The second son, Yun Wang, and the third son, Yun Fa, stood beside Old Woman Yun.
Yun Wang was slightly plump, his eyes cloudy and dull. His gaze kept sweeping over Madam Zhou, who was being shielded by Zewu and Zeren.
Yun Fa wore a look of bitter anguish, but his eyes darted about, fixed on the food on the table.
Looking at his mother and his second and third brothers, who had appeared so suddenly, Old Father Yun was momentarily bewildered.