"Fifth Brother… does your leg still hurt?" Xie Murong didn't dare speak to Shen Wan directly, so she pretended to squat beside Xie Mubai instead. "I know what happened last night was my fault. I shouldn't have left."
"You have no idea how worried I was about you. I didn't sleep a wink all night."
"If anything had happened to you, I truly don't know how I could go on living…"
While her mouth spoke words of repentance, her eyes remained firmly glued to the wild chicken roasting to golden perfection.
Zhou Yiniang wanted to eat this fragrant roasted chicken, and so did she.
Though it had only been a day without meat, it felt like an eternity had passed.
"If you were so worried, why didn't I see you come check on him?" Shen Wan turned the roasting chicken and remarked casually.
Xie Murong's face paled, and she grew anxious. "The Yamen runner was standing guard. It wasn't convenient for me to come out!"
"Fifth Brother, I swear, I was truly worried about you!"
In the past, Xie Mubai would never have doubted the sincerity of these words.
But now, he didn't believe her.
"Are you finished?" His face darkened, his cool voice carrying a chilling tone. "If you're done, you can leave."
He knew exactly what this half-sister of his was after.
In her heart, her own brother was less important than a wild chicken!
"Fifth Brother, how can you be like this? You used to dote on me the most!" Xie Murong lowered her eyes, feigning grievance, and wept pitifully. "Ever since this ugly woman came into the family, your attitude toward me has changed. You don't cherish me like you used to."
"What exactly are you trying to say?" Xie Mubai frowned slightly and interrupted her impatiently.
Xie Murong nervously twisted the hem of her clothes, stammering, "Fifth Brother, can't we go back to how things were before?"
"You used to care for me so much and were so filial to Mother."
"You know how it is—Mother is getting older, and her health isn't good. She needs to eat some meat to nourish herself."
"Of course!" Shen Wan sneered without even looking at her. "Since you're so filial, why don't you go up the mountain and hunt a wild chicken or rabbit for her yourself?"
Xie Murong's pretty face darkened, and she retorted irritably, "How would I know how to hunt?"
"Then there's nothing I can do." Shen Wan shrugged.
Xie Murong grew frantic and said angrily, "What do you mean there's nothing you can do? This chicken is so big—just give half of it to them."
Half a chicken for such a large group didn't seem like much, yet this ugly woman was being incredibly stingy.
"This is my chicken. Why should I share it?" Shen Wan retorted.
Dream on if you think you're getting any of my chicken!
Not even a single feather would she give them.
With that thought, Shen Wan tossed the plucked feathers into the fire.
Seeing that Xie Murong had failed to secure any chicken after all this time, Zhou Yiniang and the others grew restless.
Sun Shi, in particular, was practically salivating with greed. She snapped sharply, "On the grounds that she is a concubine of the Xie family and Fifth Brother's stepmother! Fifth Brother is a member of the Xie family, so what's yours naturally belongs to the Xies. Therefore, you must share it with everyone."
"But didn't we already divide the family assets last night?" Shen Wan laughed coldly, casting a challenging look her way. "Since the family is divided, you have no right to demand anything from me!"
"The Yamen runner is sitting right here. Do you dare try to seize my property openly in front of him?"
The Xie family certainly didn't dare resort to force.
If they did, they'd undoubtedly face another round of whipping.
The chicken was already roasted.
She tore off two drumsticks, giving one to Xie Mubai and the other to the Bearded Official.
With the remaining large portion, she deliberately waved it in front of Xie Murong.
Xie Murong’s heart leaped with joy.
She had always known that with Fifth Brother around, this ugly woman wouldn’t dare refuse her.
Just as she reached out her hand, Shen Wan swiftly took a big bite.
Yes, she did it on purpose—let them be tormented by envy!
Seeing this, Xie Murong burst into tears out of sheer anger.
"Auntie, they’re all bullying me!" Covering her face, she ran to Zhou Yiniang, sobbing pitifully.
Zhou Yiniang was already seething with frustration for not getting any chicken.
Now, seeing Xie Murong’s tearful display, her anger flared even more. "Useless thing! How dare you come to me!"
"Third daughter-in-law, go buy water from the Yamen runner!"
"I refuse to believe that skipping a bite of meat will starve me to death!"
Watching the Xie family’s exasperated expressions, a triumphant smile spread across Shen Wan’s face.
Xie Murong had it the worst—she got no pheasant, no flatbread, and even the free Wo Wo Tou had been devoured by the other exiles.
"Little girl, you’ve got quite the skill!" The Bearded Official, gnawing on the drumstick, couldn’t help but glance at Shen Wan a few more times. "Making chicken taste this good without any salt is no easy feat."
Shen Wan chuckled. "It wasn’t much trouble. I just picked a few herbs by the roadside for seasoning."
"If you like it, sir, I’ll cook for you again in the future!"
Hearing this, Xie Murong cried even harder.
In the past, Xie Mubai would have immediately offered her his drumstick.
But now, he acted as if he heard nothing, sitting elegantly under the sun umbrella as he nibbled on his drumstick.
He had never been a kind man, especially toward those who had harmed him.
Turning the other cheek was not in line with the persona of a villain like him.
After finishing his meal, Xie Mubai took the bamboo tube Shen Wan handed him, drank some water, and then slowly closed his eyes to rest.
Throughout the journey, everyone was exhausted, but he remained the most at ease.
The sun umbrella made of banana leaves was lush and green, quite unique in its own way.
Even under the scorching sun, Xie Mubai enjoyed a shaded spot in the cart.
What was most convenient was that when nature called and they couldn’t stop, he could pluck a leaf to shield himself. After relieving himself, he would hang the bamboo tube by the cart.
After a short rest, the group had no choice but to continue their journey.
Ahead lay a long slope. Even with Shen Wan’s immense strength, pushing the cart uphill was strenuous.
By chance, she noticed a stout woman in the crowd sneakily glancing their way.
"She was among those who cursed me at the city gate yesterday," Xie Mubai also noticed and reminded her.
Shen Wan nodded and deliberately moved closer to the Bearded Official, sticking tightly to the roadside.
As they approached the downhill slope, the woman stealthily slipped out of the crowd and inconspicuously stretched out her foot.
Without even a glance, Shen Wan stepped directly on it.
A wicked grin spread across the woman’s plump face.
The slope was long and steep. If the cart overturned, Xie Mubai, already severely injured, would either die from the fall or end up in a gruesome state.
Shen Wan stepped over the foot and continued on her way.
The cart did not overturn—it didn’t even jolt.
With a distinct sound of shattering bones, the woman turned deathly pale from the pain and let out a heart-wrenching scream.
Shen Wan had used hidden force.
With that stomp, it would be fortunate if she didn't end up with a comminuted fracture.
"What's wrong now?" Big Beard snapped irritably at the scene. "If you dare cause trouble again, don't even think about having dinner!"
The woman slumped on the ground, pointing at Shen Wan and weeping, "She… she stepped on my foot! My foot is almost broken!"
"It wasn't me!" Shen Wan batted her dewy eyes, putting on an innocent and harmless act. "Officer, I've been walking right behind you this whole time."
"Even if my feet were bigger, there's no way they could reach her from the roadside!"