The next day at mao hour, when the sky was just beginning to lighten, Xu Ruyi got up and checked out of the inn.
By the time she reached the city gate, it had just opened.
Not encountering any horse or ox carts heading to Hong’an County, Xu Ruyi had no choice but to walk.
Ah, she didn’t have the female protagonist’s luck—better start walking!!!
At first, she could still persevere, but as it approached noon, the sun grew increasingly scorching. Xu Ruyi felt as if she were about to melt. Fortunately, it was only early summer; otherwise, she might have truly fallen ill from the heat.
She took out her water pouch, drank a mouthful, and continued on her way.
Hong’an County wasn’t far now, so Xu Ruyi planned to treat herself to some good food once she reached the county town.
Half an hour later, Xu Ruyi finally caught sight of Hong’an County and quickened her pace to enter the town.
Spotting a noodle shop, she hurried inside and called out before even sitting down, “Shopkeeper, a bowl of wontons, please!”
She was truly parched and exhausted. In just one morning, Xu Ruyi felt as if she had walked all the paths of her previous life.
Thinking about having to walk for another half hour in the afternoon, she decided she wouldn’t want to step out again after returning home.
It was truly exhausting for her feet. For someone like her, who preferred lying down to sitting, this was genuinely challenging.
Even though she had worked as a Servant Girl in the prince’s mansion for two years, her activities were confined to the backyard, with the occasional errand to buy things at most.
“Right away, young lady! Please wait a moment!” the shopkeeper responded promptly and began preparing the wontons.
Noticing tea on the table, Xu Ruyi quickly rinsed a cup and poured herself some tea.
After drinking two cups in a row, she finally felt somewhat relieved and less hungry.
The shopkeeper worked quickly, and soon brought over a large bowl of wontons.
Seeing the bowl filled with wontons and a few green vegetables, Xu Ruyi’s appetite surged. She immediately picked up the sterilized chopsticks and began eating.
After downing five or six wontons, she felt much better, as the weakness in her hands and feet from hunger had eased.
Portions these days were quite generous, but Xu Ruyi was so hungry that she finished a bowl meant for a grown man.
A man sitting nearby was surprised by her appetite and thought to himself, ‘This girl has quite an appetite!! She looks like a steamed bun—fair and plump, just right for a wife. Too bad I don’t know her; I wonder if she’s already betrothed.’
Xu Ruyi: Who are you calling fair and plump and just right for a wife? Stop daydreaming in broad daylight!!
Completely satisfied, Xu Ruyi didn’t even notice the man nearby. After sitting for a while, she prepared to leave. “Shopkeeper, how much for a bowl of wontons?”
The busy shopkeeper immediately replied, “Seven copper coins for a bowl of wontons!”
Xu Ruyi handed over the counted coins, picked up her belongings, and left.
Watching Xu Ruyi’s retreating figure, the man felt quite regretful—this girl had truly caught his eye.
After leaving the noodle shop, Xu Ruyi wandered around the county town to see what was available and familiarize herself with the area in advance.
Spotting straw-woven hats for sale, she bought one, as the midday sun was too intense and made people dizzy.
Thinking of the items in her Space, she found an empty alley and transferred the things she needed to bring back into her back basket. Some clothes and quilts were wrapped in a bundle and carried in her hand.
Leaving the county town, she headed straight for Daliu Village.
Not long after setting off, Xu Ruyi began to feel uneasy. “Why are there footsteps behind me? Could someone be following me?”
No wonder she thought this way—a young woman in her prime, with delicate skin and tender flesh, carrying a large back basket and a big bundle, looked like easy prey no matter how you saw it.
Xu Ruyi quickly quickened her pace, using the pretense of checking her back basket to glance behind and see who was there.
This glance startled her—Xu Ruyi immediately spotted a man nearly 1.9 meters tall, his body rippling with muscles, clearly someone not to be trifled with.
Fearing he might be a bad person, she immediately broke into a run.
Xu Ruyi was so frightened by his physique that she didn’t even get a clear look at the man’s face—otherwise, she would have run even faster.
The man behind her saw the young woman in front transition from a brisk walk to a full-on sprint. He also noticed how she had glanced at him and then started running.
Realizing his appearance had likely scared her, he couldn’t help but rub his nose in chagrin.
At the same time, he felt a pang of regret—the young woman clearly hadn’t taken a liking to him and was even afraid of him.
Seeing her gradually gasping for breath, he hurried forward and called out, “Miss, don’t run—I’m not a bad person.”
Hearing this, Xu Ruyi immediately ran even faster, all the while grumbling inwardly, “Damn it, even a fool wouldn’t admit to being a fool, and a bad person would never admit to being one either.”