After confirming that Xixi was not awakened, she finally released her hand and whispered softly, "Don't worry, I grew up in the mountains since I was a child and can handle it. You go find the things you used before; they might be useful."
Jiang Ziling was somewhat bewildered by Su Yu's sudden intimacy and didn't know how to respond at first, so he just followed her instructions to find various tools.
Su Yu picked carefully when faced with the net, bow and arrows, and bells, she knew she hadn't a clue how to start, but the small, exquisite slingshot particularly suited her taste, and she casually pocketed it.
She then shouldered a carrying basket, picked up the machete and a small hoe, and prepared to set off.
Though unfamiliar with the mountain paths, as long as she walked up the mountain, she would always find a trail.
Su Yu had originally planned to only wander near the foot of the mountain, after all, she didn't know the local situation and it wasn't wise to take the risk of going deeper.
She was well aware that the mountain environment was complex and concealed numerous unknown risks; a little carelessness could endanger her life.
In this regard, Su Yu had a deeper understanding than most people.
At this time, the village was still asleep, only a few villagers had started their day.
A sister whom Su Yu had met yesterday saw her and greeted proactively, "Oh, isn't this the new daughter-in-law that the second son of the Jiang family brought home yesterday? You should call me Sister Sun."
Sister Sun's call attracted the attention of several people around, and Su Yu responded generously, "Yes, hello Sister Sun."
"What are you doing with a carrying basket early in the morning?" Sister Sun asked with concern.
Seizing the opportunity, Su Yu thought this was a good chance to expose Lady Zhao's evil deeds and responded calmly.
The next day, Su Yu woke up.
Her gaze inadvertently touched the dark little face beside the bed, it was Xixi.
Su Yu couldn't help but muse internally: How many scorching afternoons did this girl endure to get such deeply tanned skin?
She curved her lips into a mischievous smile and gently poked Xixi's smooth cheek with her fingertip.
The little one seemed disturbed from a clear dream, just lazily turned over, murmured something, then quickly drifted back into the bliss of slumber.
Looking around, the spartan room came into her view—wooden wall panels, mud brick floors, furniture all rugged and practical.
However, fully curing Jiang Ziling's leg ailment would still take time, and the mute poison infecting Xixi was not something that ordinary herbs could resolve.
It seemed she might not be able to leave this place soon.
Since that was the case, improving the living conditions to make them more comfortable was an urgent priority.
The worn-out bed, patchy cabinets, and the pot missing a piece... the task was indeed not small! Yet, life's trivia could not diminish her optimism and tenacity; she decided to start with the most basic survival needs.
Filling their bellies was the most pressing matter at the moment.
She had carefully searched Ziling's home yesterday and discovered they had long run out of food, the rice container in the corner of the kitchen was empty, truly, she didn't know how this pair had been surviving.
Had they also endured hunger, subsisting on wild fruits, or by depending on the neighbors' charity? The thought made Su Yu's heart ache.
Dressed neatly, she tied her dark hair back simply and secured it with a wooden hairpin before looking at her modest self in the mirror and nodding in satisfaction.
Soon after, Su Yu walked over to Jiang Ziling, leaned down, and gently pushed him. "You should rest in bed, I need to go out."
"Where are you going?"
Jiang Ziling asked groggily, his deep eyes still clouded with drowsiness.
"I'm going to the mountain to find some food and dig up some medicinal herbs. I need them to treat your leg."
Su Yu answered with determination and confidence in her tone.
Upon hearing "going to the mountain," Jiang Ziling was so startled that he immediately stood up, but stumbled back to his seat because of the numbness in his legs from long sitting.
Su Yu, quick-eyed and deft-handed, promptly reached out her slender hand to support him and quickly covered his mouth, for fear of waking Xixi on the bed.
Once she confirmed that Xixi was still deep in sweet dreams, she let go of her hand and whispered, "Don't worry, I grew up in the mountains and know them very well. Go find the hunting gear you used to use; it might come in handy."
Jiang Ziling, dumfounded by Su Yu's intimate gesture, stared blankly at her with bright eyes, his brain seeming to stop thinking and obedient to her words.
Soon, he found a pile of tools—a worn bird net, a frayed bow and arrow, some copper bells, etc. Su Yu inspected them one by one and eventually only chose a small, neatly crafted slingshot, the wooden handle smooth as jade, which she slipped into her pocket.
She then slung a carry basket on her back, took a sharp machete and a small hoe for digging herbs, and boldly walked out the door toward the unknown forest.
Although she wasn't familiar with these mountain paths, heading in the direction of the mountain seemed the right choice.
She had planned to just roam around the base of the mountain since she didn't know the local environment well enough to risk venturing deeper.
The mountain was fraught with complexities—poisonous snakes, fierce beasts, cliffs, and thick thorns, all hiding dangers that Su Yu understood better than anyone.
She had spent countless days and nights in the mountains, those days dancing with nature taught her how to preserve herself amidst an environment bristling with dangers.
At the moment, the village was still asleep in the quiet of dawn; smoke from cooking fires rose gently, and a few early-rising villagers carrying farm tools met on the road.
Among them, Sister Xie, who had seen Su Yu before, recognized this new face instantly and greeted her warmly, "Oh! Isn't this Jiang Family's second son's new bride from yesterday? Just call me Sister Xie from now on."
No sooner had Sister Xie finished her greeting than, like a stone thrown into a tranquil lake, it stirred waves of interest, drawing the nearby villagers to gather around.
Su Yu, unbothered by this sudden attention, remained composed with a slight smile and nodded in response, "Yes, I'm Su Yu, good morning Sister Xie."
"Oh dear, girl, it's early in the morning. Where are you going with that heavy basket on your back?"
Sister Xie's eyes were full of concern, her tone thick with neighborly affection.
A sly flicker passed through Su Yu's eyes; this was the perfect moment to reveal Lady Zhao's misdeeds.
Deliberately lowering her voice and adopting a pitiable demeanor, she explained, "You all know about our family's situation; Ziling has difficulty walking, Xixi is young and ignorant, and the parents-in-law have long turned a blind eye. We have not even a single grain of rice at home, so I have no choice but to go up the mountain and dig up some wild vegetables to fill our bellies."
Throughout her speech, she gently stroked the edge of her basket, as if the rough bamboo now bore the hardships and helplessness of life.
Indeed, Su Yu's words pierced people's hearts like a sharp knife, instantly sparking outrage and condemnation towards Lady Zhao. "That Zhou Yufen is too much! She drove Jiang Family's elders to drown in the river just a few years after marrying into the family. Now that Ziling has finally married, she's started bullying these youngsters."
A middle-aged man, his face livid with anger, his words filled with loathing for Lady Zhao.