Chapter 128: They Deserved It
Yu Luo smiled helplessly. She had done all this purely out of sympathy for another woman, without expecting anything in return.
Inside her space, she had thousands of eggs. Giving a few dozen to Huang Xiaoju for nourishment was nothing. Besides, the hens she had stored in the system continued to lay eggs daily—there were more than she could possibly eat. Once they settled in the wilderness, she could build a chicken coop. When spring came, she could hatch new chicks and create a self-sustaining cycle.
After instructing Yu Chunmu and Wang Ying on how to care for Huang Xiaoju, Yu Luo left to retrieve her backpack, intending to take out some eggs for Wang Ying.
However, as soon as she stepped outside, she noticed a group of people gathered around the entrance of the neighboring tent, peering inside.
Only her parents remained seated by the fire, showing no interest in the commotion.
From within the tent came the heart-wrenching cries of Yu Yingying, along with the sobs of the other women from the main branch of the Yu family.
“Yu Yingying might never recover from this. She could end up wasting away in depression.”
Yu Luo glanced at her backpack, which was beside her father’s feet. She took out a cloth bag, filled it with dozens of eggs, added a packet of brown sugar, and even placed a few menstrual cloths from the fabric store before heading back into the tent.
When she emerged again, Yu Haojie had already served her a bowl of meat broth porridge.
It was cooked in the communal pot, and Yu Shanhai had saved a portion for Yu Luo and her mother. It had been kept warm in a clay pot by the fire.
“Heh, she brought this upon herself,” Ye Jiamei sneered coldly, picking up where Yu Luo left off.
“I was in the tree next to her that night. She forced Lady Lan to give up her boots. When Lan Shi ignored her, she deliberately shook the tree as hard as she could. The trunk was not thick, so of course, it broke. No wonder she was the only one who fell—even the children were fine.”
As Yu Luo sipped her porridge, she recalled the events of that night and still felt lingering fear.
Not a single member of their family felt any sympathy for Yu Yingying. If anything, they believed she had brought this upon herself.
Meanwhile, Yu Yingying’s wailing continued for hours until exhaustion finally silenced her.
Shortly after, Yu Zhengqing emerged from the tent and sat by the fire not far from them, staring blankly ahead, lost in thought.
He did not announce when they would resume the journey, and no one dared to ask.
To Yu Luo’s family, it did not matter where they were—life was life. There was no rush.
Yu Chunmu, on the other hand, was more than happy to delay their departure. The longer they rested, the more time his wife had to recover.
Perhaps Yu Zhengqing also considered Yu Yingying’s condition, so they remained at the camp for six days before finally preparing to set out again.
During this time, Ye Jiamei personally checked on Huang Xiaoju’s wound daily and even assisted with her care. By the sixth day, with the help of her family, Huang Xiaoju was able to walk slowly.
However, the sled ride was bumpy, so to ensure her comfort, Yu Chunmu gave up his seat, padded it with thick cotton clothing, and carefully wrapped Huang Xiaoju in layers of warm fabric.
Instead of complaining, he jogged alongside the sled, determined not to let his wife suffer.
Yu Shanhai, as a father, could not bear to see his son struggle. Every half-hour, he would insist on switching places—letting Yu Chunmu rest while he took over.
The sled had limited space, and no one else was willing to make such sacrifices. Fortunately, Yu Chunmu had an understanding father.
However, Liu Lan could not stand it.
She was torn between pitying her son and feeling sorry for her husband, and she frequently made snide remarks, venting her frustration on Huang Xiaoju.
Huang Xiaoju understood her mother-in-law all too well.
She endured the insults in silence. No matter how much they hurt, she dared not retaliate.
All she could do was pray for her wound to heal quickly so she would no longer be a burden to her husband and father-in-law.
The further north they traveled, the more desolate the landscape became.
At first, they occasionally encountered traces of the indigenous people.
But after traveling for five days, they marched another three without seeing a single soul—only wild beasts roamed the land.
Worse still, the further they went, the fewer tall trees they found.
Now, when wild beasts attacked, there were no trees to climb for safety.
Those with bows had to form a protective barrier around the elderly, weak, women, and children.
They had no choice but to face danger head-on.
As a result, in just a few days, several members of the Bai and Liu families had been injured—bitten by beasts.
The journey, initially estimated to take another half a month, had already stretched by eight days.
Given their slow pace, they now needed at least ten more days to reach the government checkpoint where their exile documents would be processed.
They had once thought reaching their destination would bring relief.
But staring at the vast, snow-covered expanse ahead, Yu Zhengqing, along with the Bai and Liu families, grew increasingly anxious.
The Bai and Liu families, in particular, were growing desperate.
Their people were weak.
Even before reaching the heart of the wilderness, several of their men had already been injured.
Had it not been for the Yu family’s assistance, they would have lost their lives.
But once they truly reached the wildlands, where criminals and outlaws roamed freely, that would be the real nightmare.
During these days on the road, Yu Luo earned another 3,000 system points.
She planned to exchange them for growth points to strengthen her mother.
[Host, if your mother is unwilling, the growth points cannot be transferred to her.]
Recalling how firmly her mother had refused last time, Yu Luo had not asked for permission this time.
But the system’s response caught her off guard.
“So there is a rule like that?”
Realizing she had no other choice, she decided to discuss it with her mother again and hoped she would accept willingly.
“I already told you—I do not want them. Luo, you need to understand a mother’s heart. As long as you are strong, that is all that matters. Forget about me. Your father feels the same way.”
“But I already have some internal energy. I can even use light-body techniques now! Besides, with internal energy, you would not feel the cold as much in this icy wilderness.”
“If I am cold, I will wear more layers. We have plenty of clothes and blankets—this is not a problem. My only wish is for you to grow stronger. Since resources are limited, your father and I must prioritize you.”
Hearing this, Yu Haojie nodded firmly.
“Your mother is right. You need to enhance your internal energy, strength, speed, and beast-taming abilities. All of these require growth points. You will need a lot more system points. Do not worry about us—just focus on yourself. Your well-being is what matters most.”
Yu Luo grew frustrated with their stubbornness.
[Host, you may not understand a parent’s heart now. But one day, when you become a mother, you will. Strengthening yourself is not a bad thing. The stronger you become, the better you can protect them. It will also make completing system missions easier, helping you earn more growth points in the long run.]
