CHAPTER 71: CHAPTER 70: FINE, FINE! VERY WELL! THEN DON’T BLAME HER!

"With me here, even that ungoverned area, we can build it up well. It certainly won’t be worse than the houses in the Capital City."

Mrs. Zhang tightly held her hand: "Mianmian is the most amazing. As long as our family is together, wherever we are, it won’t be worse than being in the Capital City."

As the words fell, even Rui eagerly ran over: "Grandmother, Aunt is the most amazing, she will definitely do what she says!"

"You child, you really are your aunt’s good nephew."

Along the way, it was Ruan Mian who taught him to read and accompanied him, and unknowingly, Rui had already become a little fan of hers.

This child actually has great potential. When we get to Wuheng, we’ll carefully teach him other knowledge then.

However, just at this moment, a voice filled with surprise came from the group.

"There seem to be fish in that lake."

These words were heard by Mrs. Liu, who was craving for meat to no end. She immediately got up and was the first to run towards the lake.

Ashun and the others quickly gathered, thinking to catch some food for their own families.

Ruan Mian remembered something and called out to those people.

"Wait."

But few people heard her, so she walked up to Ashun, about to explain, when Mrs. Liu suddenly glanced down with a snort.

"What do you want to say again? This lake doesn’t belong to your Ruan Mansion. Are you going to stop us from fishing?!"

"Your Ruan Family eats well enough! Just because you say so, don’t think you can stop me!"

Mrs. Liu bent down to pick up a big stone and stepped onto the ice lake without hesitation.

As long as she could chisel a hole, there was hope to see fish.

Mrs. Liu was so eager that she didn’t even have time to call Qi Nanfeng, focusing solely on chiseling the ice.

Ruan Mian, however, stopped others, tapping on the ice with her hand, and calmly said.

"The weather has warmed in recent days, and the ice layer is not thick. If you go up recklessly and chisel a hole, it’s very likely you’ll sink to the bottom of the lake."

Ashun, upon hearing this, immediately pulled back his foot, and the others dared not act rashly.

Mrs. Liu sneered: "Yes, you are right. You all stay away from my fish!! This is all mine! Go away, go away!"

After saying that, Mrs. Liu struck a small hole with the stone. Lying down for a look, she indeed saw some fish swimming near the hole.

She immediately laughed and quickly picked up the stone to strike other places.

She seemed possessed, using great force, and as she saw more and more fish, she smiled and was about to get a stick to spear the fish.

Just as she stood up, the ice under her feet suddenly cracked with a ’snap’!!

Before she could react, her body plunged straight into the lake water!

It scared her so much that her face changed, and she tightly grasped the ice, but the other ice layers also cracked one after another. Before long, the entire area of ice cracked with terrifying sounds.

Mrs. Liu instantly panicked, and the others were so frightened that they ran away, leaving only her struggling and shouting: "Help, help!!"

Ruan Mian stood motionless, watching her. Mrs. Liu stopped being tough and pleaded bitterly: "Mianmian, Mianmian save me."

However, just then, Ruan Jiao ran over with a long stick and reached it out toward her.

"Aunt, grab onto it quickly, I’ll pull you up!"

Ruan Mian hadn’t expected Ruan Jiao to come forward and show goodwill at this moment.

Seeing this, Mrs. Liu instantly grabbed the stick and pulled with all her might!

With considerable strength and hanging under the ice, this pull unexpectedly sent Ruan Jiao into the lake with her!

With a "thud", Ruan Jiao also fell into the ice lake, gulping water, frightened, and started struggling violently.

"Help, help me..."

Ruan Mian just regarded it as watching a farce, decisively turned around, and no longer cared.

Behind her, Mrs. Liu’s curses came: "You... you are so heartless, you want to kill us, you... save..."

The commotion on the lake drew the attention of the government officers, who quickly fished the two out. They looked like drowned rats, shivering violently with faces turned ashen.

Ruan Jiao clenched her fists tightly, eyes bloodshot, staring fiercely toward Ruan Mian’s direction, unable to bear it.

To think she could go so far!

Fine! Fine! That’s it! Don’t blame her!

But before she could get up, Mrs. Wang’s cold gaze suddenly pressed down.

Along with a voice without warmth: "The Uncle’s Mansion’s concubine actually has such a good heart, risking her life to save another household’s woman?"

"Aunt Ruan, since when did you have such a kind heart? It’s just that the Princely Heir died too early to cherish you."

This remark almost choked Ruan Jiao to death, the words full of sarcasm.

She could only pretend not to hear the undertones, shivering, and replied: "After all, it’s a life, I just... just can’t watch without saving. I’m not like Ruan Mian."

"Oh? Really? Would you still risk your life to save others if the one who fell into the water wasn’t Qi Family’s maid?"

Mrs. Wang approached her, with a stern gaze: "Don’t forget, you are the concubine of Uncle’s Mansion. Even if your husband is dead, it is not an excuse for infidelity!"

The warning look made Ruan Jiao feel intimidated, but in her heart, she was even more resentful!

In her opinion, Mrs. Wang and Ruan Mian were in league, just bullying her!

She wouldn’t let them step on her forever.

But while walking in this forest, she hadn’t found a chance to teach them a lesson, and with the government officers around, she didn’t dare to act rashly.

It wasn’t until ten days later that they passed through Zhuangzhou Mountain Pass, reaching the outskirts of Runing City.

Compared to the disasters in Jixian County, Runing was much better.

Though some areas were still covered in snow, the weather was visibly better, not affected by the disaster.

They smoothly reached the post station and were arranged to rest in a courtyard of the station.

Outside that courtyard, a fierce big yellow dog was tied up. As soon as they entered the courtyard, the vicious dog started barking incessantly! Frightening the group no less.

Fortunately, it was tied up and posed no threat to them.

However, no one dared to rest near it, all chose to sit in the direction furthest from the fierce dog.

The post station was full of people and warm. Before coming here, they had already walked for several hours, and everyone promptly fell asleep exhausted.

Ruan Mian remained vigilant throughout the journey, especially after reaching the post station, she particularly asked her brother Ruan Qingsong to keep an eye on Qi Nanfeng’s movements.

This place might not be very safe, considering he previously said he’d target Xie Huai’an here.

Ruan Mian found the government officer, handing some broken silver to him.

This time she didn’t even need to speak; the government officer already knew what she wanted, immediately granting passage.

"Miss Ruan, you go ahead and shop, but make sure to buy enough things this time. Once we leave here, we’ll head straight to Wuheng. It’s a barren place, hard to find supplies, so prepare thoroughly and we won’t go wrong."

Ruan Mian nodded: "Many thanks to Lord Qi for reminding."

After leaving the post station, her first step was to check out the livestock market.

Having seen the map at the government officer, she noted that after Runing, it was mostly flat terrain. Just walking would be time-consuming and tiring, so this time she needed to get more transportation tools.

Additionally, she could use the pretext of shopping to bring out more and better herbs, food, and warm supplies from her space.

Calculating, by the time they reached Wuheng, it would probably be spring there.

It wouldn’t be so cold, making things easier.

However, as she reached an alley, suddenly the sound of a dog barking came from behind!

Ferociously barking nonstop.