While everyone was still dazed, Mu Mianmian had already gone to deal with the timber.
Under the blazing sun, even normal people couldn’t endure it—many were on the verge of heatstroke.
Sitting beneath the shade of a large tree, watching her work, a gentle breeze drifted by, carrying the scent of flowers.
Gradually, everyone grew drowsy and fell asleep.
Mu Mianmian glanced back at the people who had all dozed off, the corners of her lips curling slightly.
Seizing the opportunity, she quickly took out her tools and processed the wooden planks.
She had a ready-made carriage in her space, but pulling it out directly would arouse suspicion. With no other choice, she had to make one herself.
There were no proper tools, and the wheels were entirely wooden, joined with mortise-and-tenon construction. However, inside the wooden wheels, she secretly embedded iron blocks.
“Head, look!”When the effects wore off, quite a few people woke up.
Liu Tao shook his head and looked up—only to see Mu Mianmian installing the carriage wheels.
“She actually made one?”
Everyone stared, dumbfounded, momentarily at a loss for words. Had anyone helped her?
“It looks like everyone was asleep!”
Liu Tao had forbidden anyone from helping—who would dare disobey unless they wanted to die? That meant Mu Mianmian had built it all by herself.
“Wow! Sister-in-law is amazing!”“Mianmian is incredible!”
Little Jin and Mei Niang woke up, and upon seeing the beautiful large carriage, they jumped around it excitedly.
Ye Siyun and Ye Siming were so shocked they were speechless.
“Brother, sister-in-law is really extraordinary!”
Ye Siming: “…”
If no one had helped her, then this was truly impressive. But someone like her—why would she willingly stay with him? Unless she had some hidden motive.
Seeing this, Shen Jia was both furious and jealous.
“How is that possible? She had no tools—how could she build it?”
Mu Mianmian could even make a carriage?! A jinx—how could she be better than her? She refused to accept it.
“That’s right—she had no tools… Ah! She stole our tools!”
Shen Jia’s eyes lit up as she rushed over.“Captain Liu, Mu Mianmian is far too bold! While we were asleep, she stole your tools to make the carriage. She must be punished!”
“I didn’t steal them,” Mu Mianmian replied calmly, returning with a chopping knife in hand.“I planned to borrow them, but Captain Liu was asleep, and I didn’t want to disturb him.”
Liu Tao rubbed his forehead, annoyed with himself for falling asleep.
“Captain Liu wouldn’t be so petty as to refuse lending a chopping knife, would he?” Mu Mianmian said coolly, glancing at Shen Jia.
“Hmph. I don’t want this to happen again,” Liu Tao said unhappily. His gaze shifted to the finished wooden carriage. The craftsmanship was decent—but was it sturdy?
“You’ve got a carriage, but no horse. How are you going to travel?”“My horse is not for you to borrow.”
Mu Mianmian handed back the tools.“Thank you for the knife. I won’t trouble Captain Liu with the rest.”
The carriage was wide enough for two people to lie down, with benches on the sides that could seat four more.
She helped Ye Siming and his father onto the carriage and laid them down.
“Siyun, you all get on too.”
Siyun looked worried.“Sister-in-law, are you going to pull us yourself?”
“Yes.”
Mei Niang and Little Jin immediately shook their heads.
“We can walk.”“Sister-in-law works too hard.”“Yes! We can help push the carriage!”
Mu Mianmian smiled.“It’s fine. I was born with great strength—I can pull it. With wheels, it moves easily; it won’t be tiring.”
“This carriage is wooden. If it’s too light, it won’t travel steadily. You all need to sit on it for weight.”
After much persuasion, the three finally agreed to get on. All their belongings were loaded onto the carriage. With Mu Mianmian pulling it alone, traveling became much easier.
Ye Siming sat up, watching the slender woman pulling their entire family along. His emotions turned complicated.
“Do you… want to rest for a bit?”
Mu Mianmian turned back and smiled at him.“No need. I’m not tired.”
Her smile was bright and dazzling.
“When we reach the town, we’ll buy a horse,” Ye Siming said.
Liu Tao rode his horse alongside her, watching her pull the carriage effortlessly, irritation rising in his chest.
Nearby were the people from the Ye family’s second branch, trudging along slowly. They were whipped several times by the guards and screamed in pain.
“I can’t go on! I can’t walk anymore!”
At that moment, Old Madam Ye collapsed onto the ground.
Shen Jia supported her and called out to Mu Mianmian,“Sister-in-law, let Grandmother ride on the carriage!”