Madam Cheng immediately stopped talking back, merely turning her head away aggrievedly, avoiding his gaze. Anyone with eyes could see she was genuinely upset, radiating sorrow.
Seeing his wife so wronged after he had reprimanded her, Master Cheng softened his approach and began to coax her, "Look, look, you're crying again after only a few words."
He sighed.
Then he said, "What I said makes sense. It was your fault to begin with. Why are you still arguing now?"
Hearing this, Madam Cheng felt truly wronged. Tears streaming down her face, she said, "That servant was disrespectful to me first, yet you say it's my fault..."
She was crying exquisitely, like pear blossoms amidst the rain. Master Cheng was instantly captivated and softened his tone, saying, "Didn't we put this matter behind us? You're still bringing up old grievances. Hao'er also told me that the little servant didn't know if brown sugar existed and wanted to see my opinion. In his confusion, he hesitated, and you mistook it as him disregarding your words. Afterward, you made that little servant suffer..."
Master Cheng meant that this matter was over and should not be mentioned again, "Look at how I got angry for you today, how scared the servants below are! Hao'er is right. If the servants are in a state of panic, the entire caravan will also become unstable."
At that time, the caravan could disband in an instant. For the caravan to remain strong, new rules must be established. Without rules, there is no order. Only with stable hearts can the caravan be stable. Everyone is gathered together now for a better life, aren't they? If the servants or other clansmen are not living well, who will obey them as leaders?
Master Cheng proudly recounted his son's explanation, boasting about how his son's management skills surpassed his own.
Although Madam Cheng was displeased that Master Cheng was always praising his son, she had to admit that his insights were indeed sharp.
She then feigned compliance and coquettishly acted spoiled towards Master Cheng, and only then did the matter conclude.
Seeing his beloved wife return to her usual gentle demeanor, Master Cheng was satisfied and naturally resumed his favor towards her, promising her many pieces of jewelry. Once they reached a stable location, he would have many beautiful and ornate pieces made for her.
Madam Cheng was naturally appeased and soon embraced Master Cheng, unconcerned about her niece witnessing their affection.
Jiang Xiyue had grown accustomed to their lack of restraint. She merely lowered her eyes and listened. Hearing of the many decisions made by Cheng Hao, and that they were all correct, she found him increasingly charming and remarkably outstanding.
She had heard of his reputation before but had only thought of him as a bookworm, dull, and someone who wouldn't even look at people properly. Though handsome, his expression was stiff, and he seemed unapproachable.
Jiang Xiyue lost all interest in him. She preferred those young gentlemen in fine clothes, whose demeanor was equally noble and whose attire was dazzling. They would smile before speaking, and a glance from their amorous eyes would make one feel like a treasured pearl. Unfortunately, families like theirs would never marry such women as their principal wife.
Once she understood this, she realized that those men had countless concubines in their harems. What was she in comparison?
Looking back at Cheng Hao, she realized his heart and eyes were focused on only one person: Su Miaomiao, who had stolen her position and married him.
Every time Jiang Xiyue thought of this, she felt a heart-wrenching regret. She couldn't help but grip her handkerchief tightly, telling herself she couldn't continue like this. She had to take action. She had to win back his heart.
No one knew Jiang Xiyue was fantasizing here.
Meanwhile, the atmosphere between Su Miaomiao and Cheng Hao was pleasant. Laifu and Ji Bo, hearing the off-key humming from the carriage, were greatly amused. The chirping voice of their young mistress was also endearing. Occasionally, they would hear their young master's teasing, "Stop singing. Laifu and Ji Bo are laughing at you. Give your precious throat a rest."
Ever since Su Miaomiao declared that she liked no one else in the world besides him and promised to maintain a proper distance from others in the future, Cheng Hao's possessiveness was well appeased, and he stopped being jealous.
Laifu, completely unaware he had dodged a bullet, continued to laugh heartily, stating he dared not laugh. However, his voice clearly indicated he was amused. Ji Bo also couldn't help but smile, feeling most delighted to see the young couple reconciled.
Su Miaomiao was also in a good mood. As they moved further away from the most dangerous areas, her spirits became increasingly relaxed. Although the road ahead was still shrouded in mist, and she didn't know what they would encounter, things were good at the moment! Her happiness was always simple.
Cheng Hao also felt cheerful. He continued his work, drawing a map based on his knowledge and known locations. The materials came from the convenience store. He had to thank the owner of the convenient store for his ancestors, as the store had an incredibly comprehensive selection. Besides the deli, frozen, and snack sections, there were also household items, basic emergency medicine, and even some hardware.
Cheng Hao found drawing with a sketchbook a simple matter. He doodled freely, marking key locations. His handwriting was both casual and elegant, yet meticulous. He truly had beautiful calligraphy. As expected of a former campus heartthrob and academic achiever, his notebooks were once highly sought after, but no one could claim them, so they were all used for Su Miaomiao's studies, which the girl was reluctant to do. It was outrageous.
If Cheng Hao could be considered an academic achiever, then Su Miaomiao was undeniably a scholastic failure. While he excelled in every exam, she was notorious for skipping classes and fighting, her rebellious spirit surpassing even the worst troublemakers in the vicinity. Su Miaomiao was frequently summoned by her parents for her behavior. She had initially wanted to attend a sports academy or join the army directly but was forbidden by her parents. This was a deep regret for her. Through an accidental transmigration to this chaotic era, her dream of freedom and the ability to act without restraint was realized.
Cheng Hao still kept her in check, but it was much looser than her parents' control. Bored, Su Miaomiao began doing air cycling motions in the carriage, and later sit-ups. Once her body was ready, she started to get rowdy. A look from Cheng Hao subdued her, and she obediently lay down, panting and exhausted. Outside the carriage curtains, Laifu and Ji Bo blushed, then began to automatically block their hearing, focusing on the journey.
Su Miaomiao made herself sweat. Seeing him engrossed in writing and drawing, she couldn't resist bothering him, tickling his back, "Where will we be staying tonight? Can we find a place to settle?" She couldn't possibly spend the night on a mountain road, facing wolves and tigers. That would be incredibly awkward and thrilling.