Chapter 125: A Generous Gift of Gratitude

Chapter 125: A Generous Gift of Gratitude

After encountering such a perilous event in the forest, and with Bai Zhongsheng injured, the women were too shaken to continue with any enjoyment of their outing.

Once they reached the place where their respective carriages were parked outside, they bid farewell to each other, preparing to head home.

Fearing that staying outside longer might lead to further misfortune.

However, just before leaving, both Miss Gao and Miss Liu held onto Fan Pingfang's hands, saying, "This time, we really owe you for bringing Xingxing along, otherwise..."

The two of them didn't dare to imagine the consequences!

Fan Pingfang also deeply felt that bringing Xingxing along had been the most correct decision she made.

"In a few days, we will certainly come to thank you with a gift," they told Xingxing.

Hearing that the two older sisters were planning to come to thank her, Xingxing waved her hands repeatedly, saying, "It wasn't me who saved you. It was Brother Yan and the old Taoist priest who saved you. There's no need to thank me."

No matter how much Xingxing declined, Miss Gao and Miss Liu were determined.

The two masters deserved thanks, and so did Xingxing.

...

On the journey back, Fan Pingfang, recalling the scene, still looked pale.

If not for the timely rescue, she might not have escaped her fate.

By then, her only options would have been death or becoming a nun by cutting off her hair.

Thinking of this, she shuddered all over.

Yaocui, being older, although she had taken a kick from the thug, only suffered minor injuries and was still able to hold herself up. She hugged Fan Pingfang tightly and couldn't help but shed tears, "Miss, I was so scared just now..."

Fan Pingfang, with tears in her eyes, said, "Yaocui, you've also suffered. When we return, rest well and take care of yourself."

Yaocui shook her head but then thought of how Xingxing, despite her small frame, had fearlessly tried to save her Miss.

Fan Pingfang also thought of this—she pulled Xingxing into her arms and gently asked, "Xingxing, weren't you afraid when you came to save me?"

Xingxing shook her head, "I was afraid. I was very afraid," she said with a quivering voice, "But Miss Fan has always been so good to me, I couldn't just stand by and watch them bully you."

Fan Pingfang couldn't help but burst into tears, and together with Yaocui and Xingxing, the three of them cried in each other's arms.

As a result, when Fan Pingfang brought Xingxing back to Nan Tuo village, Xingxing's eyes were swollen from crying.

Fan Pingfang felt deeply guilty.

She had taken Xingxing out for a fun outing but failed to protect her from such danger—but then again, if not for bringing Xingxing along, perhaps all the girls in their group would have met with misfortune!

Seeing Xingxing's swollen eyes, Wei Pozi's heart skipped a beat.

Feeling guilty, Fan Pingfang explained to Wei Pozi what had happened in Hongfeng Gou.

Wei Pozi was greatly shocked and, holding Xingxing tightly, her heart raced with fear, "I'm just glad Xingxing is safe!"

Fan Pingfang felt too ashamed to face Wei Pozi.

Fortunately, Wei Pozi was understanding. She knew that it wasn't the fault of these young girls who had just gone out for a trip; it was the villains who were to blame.

While comforting Xingxing, Wei Pozi also consoled Fan Pingfang, "Miss Fan, there's no need for self-reproach. It's not your fault at all. Those despicable people harbored evil intentions. You were also a victim."

These words made Fan Pingfang's nose turn sour.

Looking at Wei Pozi with tear-filled eyes, she said, "Grandma Wei... I was afraid you might not allow Xingxing to spend time with me in the future."

"How could I?" Wei Pozi said kindly, "When young girls encounter such things, it's natural for them to be frightened. But you, Miss, despite your distress, still came to explain everything to an old woman like me. From this alone, I can see that you are a person of excellent character."

Fan Pingfang was moved to tears!

What a kind-hearted family!

After Fan Pingfang left, Wei Pozi hurriedly took Xingxing and paid respects to the deities in several corners of the yard.

She had been panicking as well, but despite being scared, Fan Pingfang had still come to apologize and explain. Having lived this long, Wei Pozi couldn't add to the burden on the young girl's heart, could she?

"The ones who saved you were the old Taoist priest from the Taoist temple your aunt used to visit often?" Wei Pozi asked Xingxing.

Xingxing nodded vigorously.

Wei Pozi clasped her hands together in gratitude, "Tomorrow, Grandma will take you to the temple to offer some incense and properly thank them."

Xingxing nodded repeatedly, recalling how Brother Yan had leaped down from the tree branch, "Grandma, you didn't see it. Brother Yan was amazing. He jumped down from a very high tree and wasn't hurt at all, then went to fight the bad guys!"

Wei Pozi listened and nodded repeatedly, of course, a master would have great skills!

However, the next day, Wei Pozi and Xingxing couldn't go out.

The Fan family, the Gao family, the Liu family, and the Bai family all sent generous gifts.

Wei Pozi was stunned.

The people of Nan Tuo village were also astonished.

They watched as one carriage after another arrived at the Yujia household, each loaded with gifts. Within half an hour, another carriage loaded with gifts arrived at the Yujia household.

In the end, they became so interested that they started counting—four in total!

Four rounds!

The Fan family, Gao family, Liu family, and Bai family are all wealthy households in the county, and the gifts they sent were genuinely substantial.

Combined from several families, there were a total of ten pieces of fine fabric!

Ten pieces!

Not to mention the tonics, small trinkets, food, and so on.

There were even eight bags of white flour!

Even Shuangyun, who had been a maid in a wealthy family, was stunned.

She swallowed. "Miss, did we... save their entire family?"

Su Rouer had heard of these families. "These families all started from business and have substantial wealth."

However, she felt that these generous gifts, besides expressing gratitude to Xingxing, probably also had a bit of a request that the Yujia family not spread the details of this matter too widely.

Xingxing, on the other hand, was a bit dumbfounded. "I didn't save them; it was Brother Yan and Taoist Elder who saved them. Why did they send all these things to our house?"

Wei Pozi patted Xingxing's little head. "They'll send things to the Taoist temple too."

Wei Pozi had spoken with the steward who came to deliver the gifts, so she knew that this thank-you gift was comprehensively thoughtful, missing nothing.

Xingxing was still a bit troubled.

She felt like she hadn't done anything, but those sisters seemed to believe that it was the bit of good luck she brought.

The gifts were too generous!

Another day passed, and the stewards from the several families came to see Xingxing again.

They said that the old Taoist at the temple refused to accept the gift. The old Taoist's message was that if they insisted on giving, they should give it to Xingxing.

This frightened Xingxing, who waved her hands vigorously, firmly refusing.

The stewards had no choice but to take back the gift intended for the Taoist temple.

Later, it seemed that the families consulted and decided to collectively fund the repair of the most difficult mountain road leading to the Taoist temple.

It was considered a modest repayment of this life-saving grace.