Everyone stared at the wooden bowl Lin Zhiyue had placed before them.
Inside were several black, sticky lumps of something unknown.
The weather was hot, and the chocolate had already melted together.
Lin Zhiyue was the first to pick up a small steamed bun and dip it into the chocolate before taking a bite.
It tasted pretty good.
Seeing this, Lin Zhishu copied her actions and cautiously tasted the chocolate first.
“This pastry has such a strange texture… but strangely delicious,” Lin Zhishu concluded seriously.
The moment Lin Zhili noticed there was food, he immediately stopped enduring the kicks his father had been giving him and hurried over as well.
“Weren’t you insisting on saving food for your second uncle?”
Lin Dian panted as he spoke.
Staring at the white eggs and steamed buns, Lin Zhili swallowed hard.
“Second Uncle has so much delicious food…”
Lin Yan snorted irritably.
The boy was indeed filial, but there was really no need to go that far.
“Grandpa, Grandma, Auntie, eat already!”
Seeing everyone hesitate to touch the food, Lin Zhiyue urged them.
“Yueyue, there’s so much. Shouldn’t we save some for later?”
Madam Li asked uncertainly.
“No need. The noble young master Dad and I saved gave us one thousand taels to repay the life-saving favor. Once we enter the city, we can buy more grain before continuing the journey.”
Everyone sucked in sharp breaths after hearing that.
One thousand taels?!
They had never seen that much money in their entire lives.
“Eat. It’s been so many days since anyone had a full meal. Today, everyone eats until they’re full.”
Old Master Lin finally spoke, and only then did the family begin eating.
Watching everyone curiously dip buns into the black stuff, Lin Zhili hurriedly tried scooping some before it ran out.
Smack!
Lin Dian slapped the boy’s hand lightly.
“That’s poop. How can you eat that?”
Lin Zhili watched helplessly as his father ate the last bit cleanly.
Too angry to speak but not daring to complain, he tearfully looked toward Lin Yan.
“Second Uncle…”
Lin Yan mercilessly turned his head away, refusing to look at his aggrieved nephew.
“Wow, Yueyue! I haven’t eaten eggs in so long. They’re so delicious! And these buns are so soft and fragrant!”
Lin Zhixing praised happily while eating, her face full of satisfaction.
“Exactly. These buns are soft and fragrant. They must’ve been made from fine white flour. That’s food only nobles eat.”
Madam Li chimed in.
“Mm-hmm, haha… yes, Young Master Pei is a noble after all.”
Lin Zhiyue laughed awkwardly.
At the moment, she still wasn’t sure whether she should tell her family about the space.
For now, it was easier letting everyone think these things came from Pei Heng.
After they finished eating, the sun gradually began to set.
Pei Guang still hadn’t returned, meaning they’d likely have to spend another night outside the city.
That was probably for the best anyway.
If they entered the city tonight, it would already be late, and they’d probably be chased out again before long.
Looking at the gradually darkening sky, Lin Zhiyue realized that although the scorching sunlight was gone, there wasn’t the slightest breeze.
The damp, stifling heat made people irritable and restless.
She desperately wanted to enter the space, go home, and take a bath.
Just endure a little longer.
Wait until nightfall.
“Grandma, you should rest inside the carriage.”
Lin Zhiyue looked worriedly at Old Madam Lin, whose spirit still hadn’t fully recovered.
“Alright. Tonight Yueyue, Xingxing, and this old woman will sleep inside the carriage. The rest of you boys be careful outside.”
Old Madam Lin glanced at the large family and stopped trying to act tough.
Madam Li quickly helped her up and hurried into the carriage to spread out bedding.
At that moment, Pei Guang finally returned carrying a bundle.
Inside were some food and another water pouch.
“Brother Lin, have you all eaten yet? I brought some food back.”
As he spoke, he shoved the bundle into Lin Yan’s hands.
Lin Yan accepted it blankly before Pei Guang continued,
“It’s already arranged. We’ll enter the city first thing tomorrow morning.”
“Thank you for your hard work, Guard Pei. We’ll continue troubling you along the road.”
Lin Yan thanked him sincerely.
“Ah, it’s nothing. Escorting you all is Young Master’s order anyway.”
Pei Guang replied carelessly.
“Even if it’s a task, since Brother Pei calls me Brother Lin, then I’ll treat Brother Pei like family too.”
Seeing how straightforward and simple-minded Pei Guang was, Lin Yan’s tone naturally became friendlier.
“Exactly, exactly! Brother Pei, you call me elder brother and call my second brother ‘Brother Lin’ too. But the whole journey to Jiangzhou is still far away. If you keep calling my second brother ‘Brother Lin,’ I’ll keep thinking you’re talking to me.”
Lin Dian squeezed over at this moment.
“Haha, alright then! Uncle, Brother Lin, Brother Lin Second—don’t worry during this journey. I guarantee you’ll all arrive safely in Jiangzhou.”
Pei Guang clasped his fists boldly toward everyone.
“Then we’ll trouble Guard Pei throughout the journey. If there’s a chance, please also thank Young Master Pei for us.”
Old Master Lin had stood up as soon as Pei Guang returned. After his sons finished speaking, he also stepped forward to express his gratitude.
Lin Zhiyue watched the group harmoniously discussing sleeping arrangements—who would stand watch, who would sleep where.
Afterward, she noticed her father asking Pei Guang about conditions inside the city.
How were the roads east of the city?
Were the towns ahead affected by the disaster?
How severe was the famine there?
Lin Yan questioned him carefully and thoroughly.
Seeing this, Lin Zhiyue finally relaxed.
Her father really was dependable.
Since she no longer needed to worry about those matters, her thoughts shifted back to one pressing issue:
How could she find an opportunity to enter the space and take a bath?
Ever since transmigrating here, the only hygiene she’d managed was brushing her teeth once inside the space.
She genuinely couldn’t endure it anymore.
“Yueyue, why aren’t you inside the carriage resting yet?”
Madam Li asked from the other side of the carriage seat.
Tonight, Madam Li had been assigned to sleep outside on the driver’s platform.
Fortunately, Pei Heng’s carriage was luxurious enough that even the outer seating area was wider than ordinary carriages.
Once bedding was spread out, it was enough for Madam Li to sleep comfortably.
The women were all arranged to sleep in or around the carriage.
Meanwhile, the men simply spread straw mats on the ground beside it.
Even Lin Zhili, who was only slightly older than Lin Zhiyue, had to sleep on the ground.
There was no helping it.
They only had one carriage, and the Lin family had never favored boys over girls.
Originally, the family had owned a mule before setting out.
But after arriving at Yiyang, they calculated the city entrance fees and the grain they still needed to purchase afterward.
In the end, they sold the mule to the wealthy Zeng family from their village.
“Auntie, I still need to talk to Dad about something later. Why don’t you go sleep inside first? I can sleep outside afterward.”
“How could that do? Auntie isn’t sleepy yet anyway. If you want to come in later, just call for me.”
Madam Li refused firmly.
Lin Zhiyue smiled and nodded before glancing toward Lin Yan.
Just then, Lin Yan also happened to look over at her.
“Daughter, come here.”
Lin Yan walked toward the roadside, and Lin Zhiyue hurried after him.
“Does Daughter want to enter the space?”
Lin Yan whispered softly.
Lin Zhiyue’s eyes immediately lit up.
As expected of her real dad!
“Dad, how did you know?”
Her eyes sparkled brightly as she looked at him.
She really adored her father.
Lin Yan gently rubbed her head.
“Of course Dad knows. Dad knows everything Yueyue is thinking. You want to wash up, don’t you?”
Even after reuniting with the family, most of Lin Yan’s attention still remained fixed on his daughter.
He had noticed all her little actions earlier—the restless rubbing of her hands, tugging at her clothes.
“Mhm! Mhm!”
Lin Zhiyue nodded eagerly.
“Tonight Dad’s taking the first watch. Guard Pei hasn’t slept yet, so I’ll go let him know. Wait here for me.”
After speaking, Lin Yan headed toward Pei Guang.