Chapter 005: The Girl Has Learned Her Lesson

Lady Ding hurriedly pushed through the crowd and approached: "Oh, Xinhe, where have you been all day? I was so worried, let me see what happened!"

Ji Xinhe weakly squinted her eyes, examining the woman in front of her. She was thin and her eyes always seemed calculating, with pupils constantly darting around, her hair in a bun and a small golden hairpin on her head. Although small, it weighed about three silver coins, which was a significant sum for landlords.

"Today, I went up the mountain to dig for wild vegetables to feed the pigs. Unexpectedly, as I walked along the hillside, my foot slipped and I fell down, hitting my head. But I couldn't move, so I just lay there waiting until big brother came to save me," Xinhe said weakly.

Lady Ding incredulously examined Ji Xinhe. Her eyes bulged in disbelief. This shouldn't have happened – the girl clearly drank the medicine she gave her. Even if she escaped from Porky San, she shouldn't have been okay by now. That medicine was so potent, and at the very least, it should have caused her to have red skin and unbearable heat. Yet, she now appeared to have no abnormalities at all.

How could this be possible?

Unless… she had already been detoxified?

Lady Ding looked at Ji Xinhe suspiciously and deliberately raised her voice: "Oh no, Xinhe, how did your clothes get torn? What a waste! A girl like you shouldn't be in such a remote place for so long. Was there any trouble? Under the sun and sky, who could do such a disgraceful thing? Our Ji family cannot let this go easily!"

Given the current situation, it was impossible to hand her over to Porky San. However, if she could find the person who detoxified her and extort money from them, it would still be profitable.

Lady Ding's calculating thoughts were obvious as she suddenly began crying: "My poor daughter, why is she so unfortunate to be treated like this?"

Ji Xinhe's eyes turned cold, knowing that this woman had malicious intentions.

Ji Dong glared and shouted: "Mother, what are you talking about? Which of your eyes saw Xinhe touched by someone and started spreading rumors? It's very normal for clothes to be torn when rolling down a hillside full of thorns. Don't ruin her reputation."

Lady Ding ignored Ji Dong and just clung to Xinhe while sobbing: "Xinhe, you can tell me anything. Don't hold any grievances in your heart. I will demand justice for you. Don't be afraid, just tell me the truth about what happened!"

Ever since Lady Ding married into the family, she had maintained the image of a dutiful wife and loving mother. With just a few words, she was able to coax Ji Xinhe into obedience.

Ji Xinhe sneered in her heart. Ha, she spoke so nicely, but if she told the truth, it would only fuel her desire to publicly reveal it. Many villagers were already eagerly listening.

But Xinhe withdrew her hand and blinked: "I don't understand what mother means. As soon as I went up the mountain, I fell down the hillside. I didn't see anyone until mother and brother came to save me. No one hurt me."

Lady Ding's eyes darkened. When did this girl become so clever? In the past, she would have definitely rushed into her arms and revealed the whole truth.

Lady Ding bit her lip and forced a smile: "How is that possible? You clearly didn't go up the mountain today. It's so odd that you just appeared here in the wilderness."

"I was just being playful. Mother, you're amazing. You knew I wouldn't go up the mountain today, yet you still led everyone here. It's like you can read my mind," Ji Xinhe innocently said.

Upon hearing this, the villagers' gazes towards Lady Ding became more suspicious – if she knew that Xinhe wouldn't go up the mountain today, why did she specifically lead them there?

Lady Ding almost bit her tongue, and quickly laughed awkwardly: "I, I was just panicking, so I searched randomly. Who knew I'd be so lucky?"

Ji Xinhe also laughed: "I'm just so idle, wandering around aimlessly, who knew I'd fall down the hillside."

Lady Ding gritted her teeth – had this girl suddenly become smarter or had she been pretending to be foolish all along?

"Are you really okay?" Lady Ding asked through gritted teeth.

"Does mother hope something happened to me?"

"You clearly drank that medicine..." Lady Ding almost couldn't control herself and was about to reveal everything.

Ji Xinhe interrupted her nonchalantly: "I only drank the chicken soup that mother sent this morning. I haven't eaten anything else. Is mother implying that there's something wrong with the soup?"

Lady Ding bit her lip, not daring to say the rest. Since Xinhe had stated that she only ate the soup she sent, there was a problem. As a stepmother, she had caused her harm. If so, the nature of the matter would change completely. If the Ji family found out about her maliciousness, they might divorce and expel her.

Ji Xinhe looked at Lady Ding, a cold glint in her eyes – if she had to die, she would drag her down with her. It was up to Lady Ding to decide whether she dared to proceed.

Lady Ding's face darkened, and things seemed to spiral out of her control. Xinhe's behavior made her more unpredictable.

Ji Dong picked up Ji Xinhe: "Let's take her to the doctor first, Xinhe's injury can't be delayed any longer."

"Yes, yes, hurry up," the villagers urged Ji Dong to go down the mountain.

Ji Xinhe was taken to have her wounds bandaged. With a bandage wrapped around her head, she was finally brought back home to recuperate.

At the sight of the dilapidated thatched hut, Ji Xinhe couldn't help but frown. Wasn't this house as broken down as the hut at the foot of the mountain that the hunters occasionally stayed in?

There were fences and thatched roofs, and inside, almost all the tables and chairs were made from branches. The bed was even worse – even poor families could at least afford a bed made of bricks, but who could sleep on such a broken wooden board?

Thinking about the small golden hairpin on Lady Ding's head, Ji Xinhe felt an anger rising within her.

"Sister, sister, what happened? Where are you hurt?" As she lay in bed, a young boy hurriedly rushed in, looking anxious.

Ji Xinhe remembered that this was her little brother who was only seven years old. She stroked his head: "Don't worry, I'm okay. I just accidentally bumped my head. The doctor said it's just a minor injury, and it will heal in a few days."

Perhaps because of the original host's love for her younger brother, her tone of voice softened greatly.

Ji Bei, with tears in his eyes, said: "Sister disappeared all day today, and brother and I were worried crazy, terrified that something happened to you."

"What could have happened? Stop crying, you little crybaby," Ji Xinhe said softly, her heart warming up a bit.

Ji Dong brought in the medicine: "Don't bother your sister, her head is injured, and she can't take your sobbing."

Xiao Bei immediately quieted down: "Oh."

Ji Dong handed the medicine to Xinhe, his face becoming serious: "Tell me the truth, what happened today? What was that medicine Lady Ding mentioned?"