After being jilted, the entire neighboring village was filled with deep regret.

Chapter 418 Empathetic Compassion
After crying for a while, they finally accepted reality.

"Sister Sanhua, what should we do next?" Chi Zhaodi asked, holding her one-year-old son in her arms, her expression filled with grief and unease.

Like her, Chi Sanhua married into Xiaogang Village from Chijia Village. Both of them became widows one after the other and have always supported each other. She has a three-year-old daughter, while Chi Sanhua has a one-and-a-half-year-old daughter and two sons, the oldest being five years old and the youngest son being less than three years old.

The other two women were in a slightly better situation; each of them had a child, around eight or nine years old.

There was another woman who had no children and was being forced to remarry by her family. They were almost finalizing the dowry with the man and were just waiting for the money to come and force her to marry him. Rather than being bought and sold by her family like livestock, she decided to take a gamble and make her own decisions.

Looking at the unfamiliar surroundings outside the carriage window, Chi Sanhua tightened her grip on the child and shook her head blankly. "We're already on the carriage, so let's not think about it anymore. Nobody knows what the future holds, but I trust the village chief. As long as we behave, things won't be as difficult as they are now."

She didn't tell anyone that several nights men had been sneaking over her wall. Luckily, she was alert and, when she noticed something was wrong, she shouted loudly to wake her child, which scared away the men with ill intentions.

But these things are impossible to prevent, and she fears that one day the bad guys will actually succeed, and then she really won't be able to go on living.

The other two women, who also had children, nodded in agreement. “Sanhua is right. Let’s take a good look. The adults are willing to take in even the children, which shows they are kind-hearted.”

They comforted and brainwashed themselves.

Silence fell once again inside the carriage.

Another carriage carried a woman and eight children.

Yu Xiaoyu and her two siblings were in this carriage.

Compared to the unease of Chi Zhaodi and the others, Yu Xiaoyu seemed much calmer, constantly telling her younger brothers, "Just do what the adults and madam tell you to do, don't ask questions or say anything, just do your job well, and you won't get beaten and you'll still have enough to eat, understand?"

The two brothers nodded emphatically. The other three boys and two girls were about the same age as Yu Xiaoyu, and the five of them listened attentively.

Yu Xiaoyu's words reassured me quite a bit.

They gradually started to speak as well.

When the constables who were resting beside the carriage took a break, they would report their situation to Shen Yi and Su Tai.

"Sir, that little girl named Yu Xiaoyu is indeed quite courageous. In this situation, she was able to calmly instruct her younger brother without panicking. She is someone who can handle important matters."

The yamen runner's praise only made Su Tai sigh even more, "Children of poor families mature early. This little girl lost her parents at such a young age, and now she has also lost her only grandfather. She has to grow up for the sake of her two younger brothers. It's not easy for her!"

As they were talking, twenty people cautiously approached.

The eldest, Yu Dongmei, mustered her courage and asked, "Master and Madam, what can we servants do?"

Shen Yi pointed to the campfire, "Do you know how to start a fire and cook?"

"Yes! We will!"

"Then go gather firewood to cook. We'll be on our way soon. Remember, don't go too far. It's not safe here."

The twenty men nodded vigorously. With Shen Yi's reminder, they only gathered firewood nearby and dared not go more than ten meters away.

Anyone can start a fire, but when the constables handed them the ingredients, the women were stumped.

They only knew how to handle fish and shellfish, which could be eaten simply by boiling them in water and required no culinary skills. But now the constables had given them a simply prepared wild rabbit, and they really didn't know where to begin.

In the end, it took the yamen runners to teach them.

Su Tai can tell a lot from just one meal.

The team continues on its journey.

Upon entering the ice field, the twenty people saw an endless grassland for the first time. There was no sea, no smell of the sea. This feeling was wonderful, and their curiosity about the new environment overcame their fear.

The twins were ecstatic. "Mom and Dad, look! There's grass everywhere! Lots and lots of grass! It's different from when we came!" Shen Yue'an excitedly poked her head out.

Shen Yi simply carried her while riding the horse, so he could see her more clearly.

Shen Congyu was extremely envious. "Dad, I want one too!"

One of the constables, who was on good terms with Shen Yi, spoke up, "Second Young Master, would you like to come over here?"

"Okay, okay!" Shen Congyu followed suit and crawled out.

Su Tai lifted the carriage curtain and asked the constable beside her about the situation in the back, "Are they alright?"

"Reporting to Madam, after two days of reflection, their mood has improved significantly, and they are much more cheerful. They must have recovered by now."

Su Tai breathed a sigh of relief.

The carriage entered the town.

Shen Yi led the constables to see the town mayor, while Su Tai led the child and twenty women and children she had bought to the Ke family.

When Ke Dasong's family learned that Su Tai had bought so many people, mostly women and children, they couldn't help but ask a few questions. Upon learning that these people were either widowed or orphans, Su Nizi, Ye Chunhua, and Ye Xiahua, recalling their own tragic pasts, all had tears in their eyes.

Turning around, he saw a pile of old clothes everywhere and said to Chi Sanhua and the others, "We'll boil some water for you to wash up and change into clean clothes in a bit."

Everyone was flattered and declined the offer.

Ye Xiaohua, unusually good-natured, offered a few words of advice.

"You're going to Langya Kingdom to work. Do you see? Your master is a county magistrate, an official. You can't let them down, right?"

Chi Sanhua and the others really hadn't thought of these things.

Yu Mei had previously consulted Su Tai and only accepted the things Su Nizi gave her after receiving permission.

While they were busy with their work, Su Nizi said with tears in her eyes, "Xiao Tai, they have had such a hard time! You've given so many people a way to survive, that's a great act of kindness! Your aunt is so proud of you!"

The fact that her niece from her maternal family did this makes her stand tall and proud; she can brag about it for the rest of her life!

Su Tai was surprised that Su Nizi would be so happy, and she was filled with emotion.

The herders on the icy plains don't have many rules about bathing; many only bathe once or twice a year.

For Yu Mei and the others, being able to take a hot shower here was already a luxury.

After changing into the old clothes that Su Nizi gave them, everyone's spirits improved considerably.

Su Tai's mood improved as she looked at the clothes, and she said gently, "I'll have a few more clothes made for you when we get home. Let's leave it at that for now."

Everyone was both surprised and apprehensive, and quickly expressed their gratitude.

Su Tai frowned as she looked at their manners. It seemed she would have to consult with Madam Wan and Su Yu when she got back, asking them to help her learn the proper etiquette so as not to make a fool of herself.

The group spent the night on the ice field and then set off again.

Having learned from their previous experience, the group was much more cautious this time, and they ran non-stop as soon as they left the herding area.

This speed left the twenty people bewildered and uncertain.

The constables had no choice but to offer some reassurance and explanation.

Upon hearing that there were man-eating jackals, wolves, tigers, and leopards on the icy plains, the women and children trembled with fear and huddled together in a ball.