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“All the meals are carried in by those old servant women. We tried asking those old servant women a few questions in private, but they’re so tight-lipped. If they don’t want to talk, they just don’t. They even warned us not to spread rumors.”
“So secretive?”
“Mm-hm. She’s a fine, delicate lady. Even the sun’s not allowed to shine on her. She’s completely different from people like us who are out in the wind and rain every day.”
The other woman sighed. “We still count as lucky, you know? Our village’s crops all sell straight to the Li Family down south. We’ve got a fixed buyer, so we’re not worried about finding a market. Even in a famine year, we can at least keep food in our mouths. Look at the other villages in the township, half their people have already run off.”
Aunt Liu hissed between her teeth. “You don’t think that noblewoman is from the Li Family, do you? Just look at how the village chief treats her. It’s as if she’s his ancestor.”
They chatted for a while longer, until they felt a few cool drops spatter onto their heads. They looked up.
The dark clouds were rolling in, low and heavy, dragging curtains of rain beneath them as they swept over.
In the mountains, the weather changed several times in a day if it wanted. The women had no choice but to gather up their laundry in a hurry and start back. They had not gone far when dozens of riders thundered up the mountain road toward them. The leading rider reined in close, looking down from the saddle and asking, “Two aunties, which way is it to Benlei Village?”
The other woman opened her mouth to answer, but Aunt Liu tugged at her sleeve, wary. “Who are you people?”
The rider drew out the...
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