RWNEFE -Chapter 137 Who’s Really Being Shameless?

Once the departure time was set, everyone began preparing to leave.

Those who needed to exchange goods went out to do so. Liu Yanhui took silver and gifts to the village chief to hire guides.

The women began steaming buns and flatbreads in large batches. In this cold weather, nothing would spoil, and lighting fires on the road was difficult anyway. They worked continuously for three days, producing enough buns and flatbreads to fill an entire cart, stopping only the night before departure.

At daybreak, the village guides led the way.

The wheels creaked over the snow as Liu Laohu and his men cleared obstacles ahead. Everyone on the cart got down to push it.

The group stumbled along but finally made progress.

“Master, you should ride in the cart. We can walk,” Chunxue advised.

Shen Lanxi shook her head. “No need. Let’s go!”

An hour passed, and the path showed no signs of previous travelers. Without the local guides, they wouldn’t even know which direction to go.

“Our land is vast and sparsely populated. Sometimes you can walk for hours without seeing a single village,” the guide explained as they walked.

Liu Yanhui was cold and exhausted; his legs felt like they didn’t belong to him.

“Sir, how much longer until the next village?”

“Not far. Just another day’s walk.”

Liu Yanhui almost collapsed. “This is not far?”

A short distance behind them were people from Peach Blossom Valley and Ghost Valley—along with Xiao Fang and his little lackeys.

“Uncle, we should’ve come after spring, not now!” the little lackey slipped and fell onto the ground.

Xiao Fang clutched his chest and groaned, stumbling and collapsing.

The little lackey screamed and lunged at him.

“My dear uncle! So young, and you’re gone…”

“Leaving me, a white-haired parent… uh, no, a black-haired child sending off a white-haired elder… no, that’s not right either.”

“I only have you left as family! If something happens to you, what will I do?”

The people from Peach Blossom Valley and Ghost Valley twitched at the corners of their mouths.

“Out of the way, move!” Feng Wu kicked Xiao Fang.

Xiao Fang opened his eyes, slapped the little lackey on the back of the head, and said, “I can’t get up—your people beat me into internal injuries!”

The women of Peach Blossom Valley had clearly experienced just how shameless Xiao Fang and his nephew were. Seeing him sprawled on the ground, they scoffed with utter disdain.

Lilan, angered, shouted back, “You talk nonsense! Who was bouncing around practicing with the wooden staff yesterday? Who ate eight buns and two big bowls of food?”

The little lackey folded his hands. “Sister, you can’t say that. My uncle and I also worked for you.”

“We shoveled snow, carried water, and chopped firewood for you, and you still don’t want to give us meals?”

Lilan glared. “You said we’d work as oxen and horses for ten days! Now you don’t want to admit it?”

The little lackey said, “Even oxen and horses need to eat! You make us work and don’t feed us. Not even the richest landlords are this calculating!”

Lilan: “…” Now it’s their fault?

“Fine! If you won’t let us, we’ll trample right over you!”

Xiao Fang lay back down and closed his eyes.

“I’ve never seen anyone this shameless!” Lilan fumed, wanting to kick him.

Feng Wu twitched and shouted, “Get on the cart!”

Xiao Fang sat up immediately.

“Then I won’t be polite!”

Feng Wu muttered, “You can just pretend I didn’t say that.”

Without another word, Xiao Fang stood up and began climbing onto the cart.

“I heard everything! You can’t be shameless!”

But seriously, who was really being shameless here?

The little lackey shouted, “Uncle, I want to get on too!”

“Go stand over there~”

They spent the night in the snowy field. No one dared to be careless—not for fear of attacks, but for fear of freezing to death.

“The Shen family used to cause such a fuss. Why are they quiet now?”

“Who would dare? Even your own father could be buried in the soil. If the Shens made a scene, we’d be looking at snow piles instead!”

“True. Keep your mouth shut. We’re doing better than the other exiled prisoners anyway!”

Every time they felt they couldn’t endure, they reminded themselves of this.

The north wind howled, cutting their faces like knives.

“Auntie, my face hurts!” Shen Yuanhe murmured.

Zhang Zifen wished no one could notice her. She hadn’t left the cart today, fearing someone would make her walk.

With her body in this condition, it could be life-threatening. She was genuinely afraid.

After being scolded, Shen Yuanhe pouted and left the carriage.

“Auntie, did sister go out?” Shen Yuanrui asked.

“Don’t mind her. No one will give her a place to stay. She’ll be back soon.”

Sure enough, Shen Yuanhe returned shortly after, face black, and curled up crying inside the carriage.

Normally, Zhang Zifen would have soothed her, but now she was barely able to manage herself. Hearing her daughter cry only irritated her.

“If you have time to cry, go flatter Shen Lanxi instead.”

Shen Yuanhe refused stubbornly. “No! Why should I flatter her? Just because she’s the legitimate daughter, I have to yield to her?”

If this had been in the capital, before the Shen family got into trouble, Zhang Zifen would have felt proud that her daughter was clever and perceptive.

Now…

“Idiot! I told you to flatter Shen Lanxi because right now everyone listens to her. If your father were strong, I’d have you flatter him instead!”

This clumsy daughter was nothing like her.

“Remember, you’re a girl. A girl can only rely on men to survive. Whoever is stronger, you flatter them. Whoever benefits you, you cling to by any means!”

Zhang Zifen gritted her teeth, teaching her children the harsh truths of survival.

“No! I won’t flatter her! She humiliated me so much—I hate her!” Shen Yuanhe shouted without thinking.

Zhang Zifen’s vision went black with anger. This foolish daughter—she wouldn’t bother with her anymore.

“Yuanrui, your sister is foolish. Don’t copy her. Remember Auntie’s words—they’re for your own good!”

Shen Yuanrui looked afraid and whispered, “I understand.”

That night, many huddled together for warmth, enduring the harsh night.

At that moment, everyone forgot past grievances and suspicions, thinking only of surviving the bitter cold together.

…

The next afternoon, they finally reached the location the guide had indicated. Seeing houses in the distance, everyone’s faces lit up with genuine smiles.

But the smiles didn’t last long.

They ran into the previous two exiled groups again!

Their numbers were now nearly half of what they had been before!