Behind her, He Jie and Gao Yuanyuan exchanged glances, confusion growing with every trade.

One after another, more sickly oxen were brought forward.

And one after another, she bought them all.

There was no bargaining involved as she watched the grain disappeared and oxen gathered.

A quiet, uneasy feeling began to settle in the air.

He Jie finally stepped closer, lowering his voice.

"Sister Hong… don't you think Benefactor might be angered if we keep doing this?"

Hong Yiting's hand stilled for just a moment on the reins of another frail animal.

She looked ahead, watching as her people led the newly bought oxen aside, tying them together.

It was a losing trade, anyone could see that.

She exhaled softly.

"I don't know what really goes on in his head," she said at last, her voice steady.

Then she tightened her grip and stepped forward to take the next rope.

"But the Benefactor told me to buy oxen from the people."

That was enough to convince everyone else.

Nobody dare to question when a cultivator was involved.

From a distance, the scene at the roadside looked almost surreal.

There were lines of thin, limping oxen getting exchanged for sacks of grain.

When Xiao Ning'er and Gu Xin arrived, they both slowed to a stop.

For a moment, neither spoke.

Gu Xin's brows slowly knit together.

"…Why is she gathering all the sick oxen?"

Xiao Ning'er didn't answer immediately.

Her eyes stayed fixed on Hong Yiting, on the way she smiled, the way she spoke gently to each villager, the way she never hesitated, not even once.

Then, softly, almost in awe, she muttered,

"…What a genius. Miss Hong, you never cease to amaze me."

Gu Xin turned to her, genuinely caught off guard.

"…A genius?"

But Xiao Ning'er didn't explain as she had already leaned forward slightly, completely absorbed, as if watching something only she could see.

Gu Xin frowned faintly, confusion lingering but she let it go. Whatever Ning'er had realized, she would understand soon enough.

Below, Hong Yiting accepted another rope, her fingers steady despite the growing herd behind her.

"Yes, thank you for the ox," she said warmly, offering a small nod.

She turned her head and called for another group.

"Take the grain to aunty's house. Be careful on the road."

The group of men stepped forward, lifting the sacks without complaint.

Time slipped by and an hour later, the road had finally quieted. The villagers had dispersed, each carrying grain back to their homes, some still glancing back in disbelief.

Hong Yiting stood before the gathered oxen. They were tthin and weary but quite numerous.

She turned to the remaining villagers and bowed her head slightly.

"Thank you, everyone."

Then, without lingering, she raised her hand.

"Let's move."

The caravan began to shift.

Carts creaked as they were pulled forwar, this time by the oxen.

A slow, uneven procession made its way toward the city gates.

—

By the time they arrived, the sun had dipped lower, casting long shadows across the entrance.

And there, Gu Xin and Xiao Ning'er who was waiting at the gates stepped forward.

Hong Yiting noticed them immediately. Her steps paused for just a fraction before she guided the lead ox to a stop.

Xiao Ning'er, stepped up, her expression bright, almost eager.

"Miss Hong," she greeted, her voice carrying a hint of admiration, "that was impressive."

Hong Yiting blinked, clearly not expecting that reaction.

She gave a small, polite smile.

"You're too kind."

Gu Xin tilted her head slightly, still studying her.

"Buying sick oxen at the price of healthy ones… most would call that reckless."

Then Xiao Ning'er spoke, her eyes gleaming.

"Or perhaps… they simply don't understand what she's doing."

A flicker of confusion crossed Hong Yiting's face.

They don't understand what I'm doing? Miss Xiao… what do you mean by that? Now iIalso don't know what I was doing... Wasn't I simply buying sick oxes?

The thought rose to her lips, but she swallowed it.

For a brief moment, the air at the gate shifted.

The noise of the caravan, the creaking carts, uneven hooves, and murmurs of weary men faded into the background.

Hong Yiting turned to Xiao Ning'er, meeting her gaze.

"…Then, Miss Xiao," she said carefully, her voice still gentle, "what do you think I'm doing?"

Xiao Ning'er stepped closer, her gaze slipping past Hong Yiting and settling on the pitiful line of oxen.

"You are not buying oxen," she said softly.

"You are buying the people."

Gu Xin's eyes widened while Hong Yiting blinked.

…Wait, I am?

Her lips parted slightly, but no words came out. She just stood there, staring at Xiao Ning'er.

Xiao Ning'er continued, her voice calm, almost thoughtful, as if she were unraveling a puzzle in real time.

"A sick ox is a burden. It eats, but it can't work. For most families, keeping it alive only drags them down…"

"So they have no choice. Sell it cheap… or kill it early."

"But you didn't bargain," she said. "You gave them more than it was worth."

Hong Yiting stiffened slightly. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Wait. Wait a second.

"You weren't paying for the ox… you were paying the household. Giving their family a secure future."

Gu Xin slowly uncrossed her arms, her expression shifting as the realization settled in.

Xiao Ning'er continued, a faint smile playing on her lips.

"They'll remember this. Not as a trade but as kindness. And when they hear the name of your merchant group again… they'll remember your kindness."

Hong Yiting blinked.

This… is also news to me.

She stared at Xiao Ning'er, genuinely caught off guard.

But the others didn't share her confusion.

He Jie's eyes reddened and Gao Yuanyuan outright teared up.

"Junior Sister… you're truly kind!" Gao Yuanyuan exclaimed, rushing forward and pulling Hong Yiting into a tight hug, lifting her clean off the ground.

"W–wait—!", she tried to scream but Gao Yuanyuan didn't seem to hear any words of her.

On the side, He Jie wiped her tears, voice trembling.

"I'm so sorry… we misjudged you."

Hong Yiting dangled midair, completely stunned, her feet kicking slightly above the ground.

…What is happening?

I was just trying to test the clan head's patience! This is all because of that Xiao family young miss... She's misunderstanding everything!

She screamed it in her mind.

Outwardly, however, she could only manage a stiff, slightly strained smile caught between being praised as a saint and having absolutely no idea how she got there.