Song Hongsheng quickened his pace and asked in a low voice,
“Sister-in-law… is that you?”
Lu Yao’s cold voice drifted out of the darkness.
“Brother Hongsheng, it’s me.”
As her voice drew closer, Song Hongsheng finally made out the prey she was dragging behind her.
He instantly froze in place.
When he failed to respond for several moments, Lu Yao called again,
“Brother Hongsheng? What’s wrong?”
“N-Nothing…”
He swallowed hard.
“Sister-in-law… did you kill all of those yourself?”
Lu Yao looked at him strangely.
“Is there anyone else here?”
Song Hongsheng was speechless.
After a moment, he cautiously asked,
“Did you happen to see Song Qing’an and his brothers?”
“They…”
He didn’t know how to continue.
But deep down, he already had his suspicions.
“When I got there, I didn’t see anyone.”
“There were only a few wolves wandering around.”
“The ground was covered in blood.”
“They’re probably dead.”
Lu Yao’s tone was utterly devoid of emotion.
Song Hongsheng’s heart sank.
His face immediately turned pale, and cold sweat broke out across his back.
The four brothers had been a blight on the village.
Everyone despised them.
Yet no one had ever truly wished for them to die.
Now they had most likely ended up in the bellies of wolves.
The thought of explaining this to Madam Li gave Song Hongsheng a splitting headache.
How was he supposed to tell her?
Suppressing his thoughts, he stepped forward and took two of the wolves from Lu Yao.
Together they dragged the carcasses back toward camp.
Many villagers were still awake.
After hearing Song Hongsheng’s earlier report, everyone had been waiting for Lu Yao’s return.
The moment she and Song Hongsheng appeared, waves of shocked cries erupted.
“Heavens!”
“Lu Shi is back!”
“Is that a wolf she’s dragging?”
“If that’s not a wolf, then what is?”
“She actually hunted wolves!”
The exclamations spread rapidly.
Before long, the entire village knew that Lu Yao had brought back wolves.
The moment Song Zixuan heard the news, he immediately ran toward her.
Because of the cold night, the village chief had arranged for every four or five families to share a campfire.
The deep forest was filled with fallen branches, so fuel was plentiful.
Under the flickering firelight, Song Zixuan quickly spotted Lu Yao.
Before she could react, a small figure shot toward her like a cannonball.
“Mother!”
His voice trembled with emotion.
Lu Yao immediately dropped the wolf she was dragging and crouched down to pull him into her arms.
“Zixuan.”
“Mother is back.”
“Didn’t I tell you I would return?”
“Look.”
“What do you see?”
She pointed toward the wolves lying on the ground.
Until now, Song Zixuan had only had eyes for Lu Yao.
He hadn’t even noticed the wolves.
Following her finger, he finally looked down.
Two massive furry beasts lay at his feet.
The tears in his eyes were instantly replaced with astonished delight.
Meanwhile, Lu Yao and Song Hongsheng dragged all four wolves into the center of camp.
Little Song Ziyu had already climbed back into Lu Yao’s arms.
She curiously examined the wolves.
To her, they merely looked like oversized dogs.
The fear from earlier had already begun to fade.
Children recovered quickly.
But Lu Yao knew that what had happened today would still leave a scar on the little girl’s heart.
Even if she forgot the details as she grew older, future experiences might awaken that buried fear.
For that reason, Lu Yao resolved to give her as much security and affection as possible.
More and more villagers gathered around.
Everyone stared at the wolves and discussed them excitedly.
However, Lu Yao’s attention remained on Song Ziyang, who was still recovering.
She had no desire to waste time.
Holding Song Ziyu in one arm, she raised her voice.
The tone was cool but carried clearly throughout the crowd.
“Brother Hongsheng has already explained my proposal.”
“Is there anyone willing to exchange a quilt for a wolf?”
“I only need one quilt.”
Her meaning was obvious.
There was only one opportunity.
First come, first served.
Just as everyone was hesitating, an unpleasant voice cut through the crowd.
“These wolves belong to our Song family!”
“No one is allowed to touch them!”
Old Madam Song shoved her way to the front.
Her eyes gleamed greedily as she stared at the wolves.
Earlier she had been asleep.
Her eldest son had shaken her awake and informed her that Lu Yao had hunted wolves.
Instantly, all traces of sleep vanished.
Originally, she had worried that Lu Yao would refuse her because they had severed ties.
But her eldest son, Song Hongshuo, had given her an idea.
“Mother.”
“Even if she’s separated from the family, she’s still your daughter-in-law.”
“That’s an undeniable fact.”
“Even if this reaches the Emperor himself, you’ll still be in the right.”
“A daughter-in-law honoring her mother-in-law is only natural.”
“She wouldn’t dare refuse.”
The logic had convinced Old Madam Song.
The Eastern Xin Kingdom valued filial piety above almost everything else.
If Lu Yao dared disrespect her, she could report her once they settled in the south.
Thus emboldened, she charged into the crowd.
Then she overheard Lu Yao talking about trading the wolves away.
Immediately panicking, she shouted before she even reached the front.
To her, those wolves were already hers.
How could they be given to outsiders?
Seeing who it was, Lu Yao smiled faintly.
A dangerous smile.
Anyone who truly knew Lu Yao would understand what it meant.
Someone was about to have a very bad day.
Old Madam Song, however, remained blissfully unaware.
Her mouth practically watered as she imagined herself feasting on wolf meat.
Song Qingsong’s wife, nicknamed Little Pepper, spoke first.
“Auntie, that’s not right.”
“Lu Yao hunted those wolves herself.”
“What right do you have to claim them?”
“Didn’t you already sever ties?”
“We all witnessed it.”
Others quickly joined in.
“Exactly.”
“You were the ones most eager to separate.”
“The ink on the separation document hasn’t even dried yet.”
Old Madam Song immediately fired back.
“Did I eat your food?”
“Do you live by the sea?”
“Why are you sticking your nose into everything?”
“A daughter-in-law supporting her elders is the law of Eastern Xin!”
“Are you trying to stop Lu Shi from fulfilling her filial duties?”
Song Hongsheng could no longer tolerate her shamelessness.
“Auntie.”
“Your appetite is a little too big.”
“There are four wolves here.”
“Do you intend to take all of them?”
“When the family divided, you didn’t even give Sister-in-law a single quilt.”
“Now that she’s finally hunted wolves to exchange for bedding, you’re still trying to interfere.”
“Do you really want this mother and her children to freeze to death?”
At that moment another voice sounded from the crowd.
It was Song Hongwen, the village chief’s third son.
“The law also says that elders must care for their juniors.”
“If elders are not benevolent, they cannot accuse juniors of being unfilial.”
Old Madam Song was momentarily speechless.
But being unreasonable had never stopped her before.
Without warning, she plopped down on the ground.
Slapping her thighs dramatically, she began wailing.
“Oh, the injustice!”
“Everyone is bullying me!”
“I’m only disciplining my own daughter-in-law!”
“How am I supposed to live?”
“I’ll move into the village chief’s house and let them support me!”
“They’re all so capable…”
Eyes closed, she howled louder and louder.
Suddenly—
Snap.
Her hair fell loose.
The crying stopped instantly.
Confused, she touched her head.
Her wooden hairpin had been neatly cut into two pieces.
Looking down, she saw a gleaming blade lying beside her foot.
Terrified, she scrambled to her feet.
Then Lu Yao’s cool voice reached her ears.
“Finished making a scene?”
Old Madam Song immediately fell silent.
At last, Lu Yao enjoyed a moment of peace.
She looked around the crowd again.
“I’ll ask one final time.”
“Is anyone in Songyang Village willing to trade?”
Everyone could hear the impatience in her voice.
If no one stepped forward now, she would simply trade with another village.
Finally, the village chief’s second son stepped out.
“I’ll trade.”
“My wife brought extra quilts.”
“We’re willing.”
Lu Yao glanced at him.
Without another word, she nudged one wolf with her foot.
The carcass slid directly to Song Hongli’s feet.
“Take the wolf.”
“Bring me the quilt as soon as possible.”
The transaction was completed immediately.
Then Lu Yao pointed to the remaining wolves.
“I’ll keep one wolf for trading household necessities.”
“If anyone has extra supplies, bring them.”
“We’ll exchange according to value.”
Before anyone could react, she started dragging the remaining wolves away.
Old Madam Song panicked.
She rushed forward and grabbed a wolf’s hind leg.
“Lu Shi!”
“If you don’t give me a wolf today, I’ll report you once we’re settled.”
“I’ll make sure your children can never study!”
For the first time, Lu Yao hesitated.
She personally didn’t care what happened to her.
But anything involving the children’s futures was another matter entirely.
Turning around, she looked calmly at Old Madam Song.
“So you want wolf meat?”
“Fine.”
“I’ll give you half a wolf.”
“If you’re satisfied with that, come collect it later.”
“But if you continue causing trouble…”
“You won’t see even a single wolf hair.”
Seeing that she had gotten something, Old Madam Song wisely released her grip.
What she failed to notice was the cold smile slowly appearing at the corner of Lu Yao’s mouth.