The Xi and Cai families also came out. Seeing that their belongings wouldn't fit, they found some sturdy grass or vines to weave into net bags to carry the fruits and dried goods.
In no time at all.
They gathered six bags of fruits, two large bundles of berries wrapped in leaves, three bags of nuts, three bundles of firewood, and over a dozen medicinal herbs.
Some of the herbs were for stopping bleeding, which were extremely precious.
The others were common herbs for treating colds or reducing internal heat.
Seeing that the time was nearly up, everyone happily returned, laden with their bounty.
However, upon returning to the camp, they found the atmosphere unusual. Everything was quiet, the servants were huddled at the side resting, not daring to make a sound.
Cheng Hao's first glance fell upon Steward Ji at the back of the caravan, by the mule cart, doing something with a deeply furrowed brow and a worried expression.
He spoke, "Distribute some of the fruits to one cart. Put the firewood, dried goods, and herbs onto the supply cart and cover them carefully with the oilcloth."
Cheng Hao gave the order, and everyone responded and complied.
While he was giving instructions, Su Miaomiao had already slipped away. She saw Xiao Liuzi, whom Steward Ji was shielding, his face swollen and red, his eyes red and his expression incredibly wronged. He didn't dare to speak but shed tears.
After all, he had done things for her. She immediately asked, "What happened? We were only gone for a moment, how did Xiao Liuzi's face get so swollen? Who hit him?" Her expression was very stern.
Su Miaomiao was the most protective.
Cheng Hao came over and put a hand on her shoulder, telling her not to act impulsively, "What exactly happened?" He gestured with his eyes for Steward Ji and Xiao Liuzi to speak.
Steward Ji could only sigh, not knowing where to begin. He was afraid of being seen as inciting discord between father and son. He knew his young master was a righteous person.
But if he knew, he would confront the Cheng family head, which would be very troublesome.
His young master's wings were not yet strong enough to withstand the loyal guards around the family head. Those were people he had raised for many years.
And no matter what, it would be their servants who suffered, who would be blamed and reported, and accused of inciting discord between father and son. They wouldn't know how they would die.
Steward Ji was speechless.
Xiao Liuzi's face hurt too much to speak. Seeing the concerned gazes of his young master and young mistress, the grievances in his heart surged forth.
It was enough.
In this world, there were still people who cared about him so much. How fortunate he, Xiao Liuzi, was.
He couldn't help but raise his sleeve to wipe away his tears, shaking his head to indicate he was fine. He even tried to grin, but his face hurt too much to smile, and he accidentally touched his cheek, gasping in pain. He looked pitiful.
It was too tragic.
The two dared not speak. A young servant who couldn't bear to see it glanced towards the Cheng family head. Seeing that the couple were fast asleep, he whispered indignantly, "Young Master, I know the young master and young mistress are kind-hearted, which is why I couldn't help but tell you this. I truly can't stand to see it."
Seeing that the young master and mistress didn't refuse, the young servant honestly told them what happened.
After a brief explanation.
He whispered nervously and indignantly, "Young Master, Young Mistress, please judge this. We already don't have brown sugar, and Xiao Liuzi doesn't know if we do. He wasn't there when the supplies were inventoried. I was with Uncle Ji, and I know that if my mother had asked me, I would have been able to say that we didn't have brown sugar."
"Furthermore, the family head just got angry that we used so much grain and said that we servants were not allowed to move things around arbitrarily, and that we needed his or your permission. He even reprimanded us, saying that if we servants had acted on our own initiative this time and used these supplies, he would have skinned us alive. How could we dare to move anything?"
The Cheng family head was afraid of scaring Madam Cheng with these words, so he found guards to relay the message to the servants, which terrified them so much their legs trembled.
Xiao Liuzi wouldn't dare.
But Madam Cheng didn't know. She just gave an order, and when it wasn't fulfilled, she flew into a rage. The Cheng family head was even more indifferent. What he said was always right, and even if there was a slight deviation, it was still his right. But when Madam Cheng was angry, he said that even if the caravan didn't have it, they should find it for the mistress.
The final result was that Xiao Liuzi slapped himself for a long time, his face swelling up, before the other party haughtily let him go.
The young servant also felt very distressed. What he didn't dare to say was that when faced with problems, he truly felt that his family head's mind wasn't as clear as the young master's. Look at how well the young master had arranged things along the way.
More importantly.
He treated them, the servants, like people and always looked them in the eye.
He spoke politely.
He even worked alongside them, truly lightening their burden.
Now all the servants felt that their family head, despite his young age, had a muddled mind, so many of them began to lean towards the young master.
Cheng Hao wanted this effect, but he also felt that this cheap father was indeed brainless, acting with such a love-struck mind at this time.
Truly foolish.
Steward Ji saw that the child was about to speak. Despite his repeated winks and shakes of his head, he sighed. In his heart, he also felt sorry for Xiao Liuzi.
Servants were treated worse than pigs and dogs.
He empathized deeply.
Therefore, he felt even more distressed and utterly disheartened with the Cheng family head.
But it was also fine.
He cared more about the young master. The young master had been saved by his mother.
Steward Ji was loyal to the Cheng family because of Madam Cheng. She considered the Cheng family her home, so he had to manage it meticulously for her. After the young master was born, he dedicated himself to the young master.
However, he had been intelligent since childhood and studied under a great master, so he was often away from home. Whenever he returned, the mansion would celebrate.
Later, when Madam Cheng passed away, Steward Ji's heart felt like a large piece was missing. He continued to manage the household affairs as usual, guarding the old house and waiting for the young master.
Now that they were fleeing for their lives, he naturally devoted himself wholeheartedly to his young master. His mother had saved his life, and his life belonged to the young master.
Cheng Hao was naturally unaware.
Seeing the trusting gazes of Steward Ji, Xiao Liuzi, and the young servant, he asked the young servant, "What is your name?"
The young servant was a little surprised to be addressed, then joyfully replied, "My name is Jia Wang! You probably don't know, but every time you returned, I was responsible for cleaning the courtyard of your residence! Every year, it was me!"
Jia Wang had a lively personality. From a young age, he admired the young master immensely. His mother had always told him how capable scholars were. Unfortunately, just as he was about to attend school, his family was destroyed.
Therefore.
In his young heart, he was already deeply impressed by the young master, who had been taken in by a master at such a young age. He thought he was truly amazing.
It could be said that he had a blind admiration for him. Especially during their escape, he saw that the young master, having studied, was different. He arranged things so well and was so polite, exuding a scholarly aura.