The entire Yu family had thought that Qin Suining would make an excessive demand. They had even prepared themselves mentally for the possibility of going bankrupt—or even selling themselves into servitude.
So when they actually heard her request, everyone was momentarily stunned.
“So… that’s it?” Yu Fugui rubbed his ears, doubting he had heard correctly.
“Yes. If fate allows us to meet again, then come to my home and help with work.”
Qin Suining smiled. The phrasing was deliberate—if they never met again, then this promise naturally wouldn’t count.
Yu Fugui was a clever man and immediately understood.
“May I ask where benefactor lives? Once I settle my family matters, I will come find you.”
Without hesitation, he agreed. For him, work was work—no matter who he served.
Yu Futian, standing nearby, looked at him enviously several times, as if wanting to speak, but ultimately held back.
As the eldest son, with elderly parents and children to care for, he had too many responsibilities. Without a skill, he didn’t even know what he could offer.
“This matter can wait,” Qin Suining said. “There’s something more important I need to tell you.”
She repeated what she had already told the village head.
“If you believe me, you should prepare defenses or evacuate early. The sooner you act, the better your chances of survival.”
Yu Fugui had already experienced the journey and heard similar rumors along the way.
“What benefactor says is true. When people are starving and without water, there is nothing they won’t do.”
He had even overheard groups discussing targeting widows and orphaned women—not just for food and supplies.
The thought alone had terrified him. He had stayed close to wealthy travelers’ caravans the entire way, afraid of being singled out.
The rest of the Yu family was visibly anxious. Yu Futian quickly instructed the women to prepare a meal.
“Thank you for your warning. Why not stay for a simple meal? You can rest here for the night and leave early tomorrow.”
With the old matriarch now out of danger, Yu Futian changed his tone.
Soon, food was served: stir-fried chives with eggs, sautéed greens, and a few seasonal melon dishes. No meat—there was no way to preserve it in such heat.
The meal was simple, but well cooked.
After eating, Yu Futian even tried to give them a jar of homemade fermented bean paste, refusing payment. Eventually, Qin Suining accepted it.
When they finished eating, the Yu family tried to persuade them to stay the night, but Qin Suining declined.
“We have urgent matters. We cannot delay.”
Seeing their determination, Yu Fugui quickly brought out grain, and Yu Futian’s wife gave them freshly boiled eggs for the road. Qin Suining only accepted the bean paste and eggs, refusing the grain.
When they finally departed, the Yu family stood at the gate watching them leave.
Just before reaching the village entrance, Qin Suining turned back—and saw the entire Yu family kneeling and bowing deeply toward their carriage.
“They are people who know how to repay kindness,” Zhou Shi said softly.
After leaving the village, they traveled another half hour before stopping in a small forest. According to the map, they were only a tea’s time away from the Yuanzhou city gate.
Under the cover of night, Qin Suining brought Zhou Shi and the carriage into her spatial realm.
They had not entered the space while Yu Fugui was driving—and neither of them yet knew that inside, subtle changes had already begun to quietly unfold.