Exiled!? Ha! I have An Infinite Space-Chapter 71 -

"Everyone, stand up!"

The head guard’s loud voice cut through the noise. He looked at the crowd with a cold face.

"Time to move!"

The guards began shouting and waving their whips in the air. The resting crowd slowly stood up. Many people complained as they struggled to get to their feet.

"My legs are gone..."

"My back hurts..."

"Can’t we rest a little longer..."

But no one dared to disobey. One by one, they began to move again.

On the other side, Aunt Fu was still angry. Her sharp eyes kept staring at Li Manman. Fu Jia stood beside her with a dark face.

Fu Fong stood there awkwardly.

He looked at his angry mother. Then at his sister. Finally, his eyes landed on Li Manman.

He wanted to say something to her.

But Bai Ming was not far away. She was watching them closely.

Fu Fong swallowed his words.

After a moment, he walked over and lightly grabbed Li Manman’s wrist.

"Stay close to me," he said gently.

Anyone watching would think he was caring for his new wife.

Li Manman lowered her head and nodded quietly, but the faint smile on her lips did not disappear.

Soon everyone began moving again.

The long line slowly walked down the dry road.

Step after step, the sun slowly went down. The sky turned dark, and night soon arrived.

Finally, the head guard raised his hand.

"Stop!"

The crowd stopped immediately.

"Tonight we camp here," he announced loudly. "Tomorrow we will arrive at the barren lands. That is where the journey ends for every single one of you."

His cold eyes swept across the crowd.

"If anyone thinks running away will help, try it. But remember this, whoever attempts to escape must be ready to face the consequences."

The crowd became quiet.

No one dared to speak.

Another guard stepped forward.

"Everyone get ready. We will distribute your dry buns for the night. Form a straight line!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the crowd quickly formed a line.

One by one, people stepped forward to collect their dry buns.

Fu Fong and Fu Teng also went to collect the buns for the family.

After getting them, the two returned to their camp.

When they arrived, blankets had already been spread on the ground.

Madame Fu had started a small fire and was already cooking. Fu Fei and Fu Li were beside her, helping quietly.

Fu Fong looked around.

"Where are brother and sister-in-law?"

Fu Teng also looked around.

"They were just here."

Fu Li answered calmly, "They went to the nearest river."

Fu Teng raised his brows.

"River?"

Fu Li nodded. "I think sister-in-law said she wanted to bathe."

Fu Teng suddenly grinned.

"Oh..."

Then he teased loudly, "And brother followed her... hehe."

Before he could laugh more, Fu Tong knocked his head.

"Use your brain," Fu Tong said.

Everyone laughed and shook their heads at his nonsense.

Meanwhile,

Fu Tian’s family had collected their buns but were already preparing another batch of food, knowing the dry buns would barely fill anyone. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Fu Jia smiled. "Finally, we can rest. At least now, mother, that witch and her children who always reduced our food portions are gone. We have enough for a while."

Aunt Fu nodded, a satisfied smile on her face. Just then, Li Manman arrived. Her hair was slightly damp, evidence that she had just returned from the river.

Uncle Fu frowned. "I am starving! Start getting dinner ready. Do you women need to be reminded every time?"

Aunt Fu rolled her eyes and turned toward Li Manman. "You heard him, didn’t you? Get cooking! Everyone here is starving!"

Li Manman looked at her briefly, then at Uncle Fu but she didn’t move. She simply continued brushing down her hair, as if Aunt Fu had said nothing.

Aunt Fu’s eyes narrowed. Fu Jia’s lips tightened. Both of them exchanged a confused and angry look.

Grandma Fu scoffed. "Now the snake shows her colors."

"How dare you ignore us!" Aunt Fu shouted.

"Yes, speak! Are you deaf?!" Fu Jia added, her voice sharp.

Li Manman looked up at them slowly, her expression unbothered, and spoke coolly. "I’m not ignoring anyone."

Aunt Fu barked again, "Then why aren’t you moving? What is your excuse?"

Li Manman’s calm face shifted slightly when she noticed Fu Fong approaching. She lowered her eyes, changed her tone, and made it softer, almost pitiful.

"Husband," she said, "I would have cooked, but I had to check everyone’s bundles first. There was nothing, no food, no ingredients... just a thin blanket. I couldn’t make anything for dinner."

Fu Fong’s brows furrowed in confusion. "What? What happened to the food?" he shouted at his mother.

Uncle Fu immediately grabbed the bundle in question, inspecting the contents. Just as Li Manman had said, it was empty nothing inside except the thin blanket.

Fu Jia’s face went pale. "Where did all the food go?!"

Before anyone could answer, a sweet aroma drifted toward them. The smell of roasting potatoes filled the air, rich and comforting. All eyes turned toward Bai Ming.

She had set up a small camp a little farther away, blankets spread thickly around her and her children seated beside her, playing quietly.

She was cooking, completely unbothered by the commotion nearby.

"Fu Qin.. helo me pass the salt." She pointed at the salt and her son immediately stood up and passed it to her.

"Thanks Qin’er."

Fu Jia’s eyes widened as she immediately recognized the bundles and blankets. "That... those are our food stuffs!" she hissed.

Aunt Fu’s jaw tightened, her anger and frustration mounting. Meanwhile, Li Manman glanced at Bai Ming, then at Fu Fong, and smiled faintly.

Now you guys should go give me a very interesting show to watch.

Fu Jia stomped forward, pointing at Bai Ming with wide eyes. "Hey! Those are our food stuffs! How dare you take them?!"

Bai Ming didn’t flinch. Her children quickly ran behind her, peeking out nervously. She held the spatula in her hands like a weapon, ready to defend herself. The faint smell of roasting potatoes mixed with the tension in the air.

"Steal?" Bai Ming laughed lightly, shaking her head. "Steal what? These already belong to me. Or have you forgotten who bought them with the money my aunt gave me?"

Aunt Fu’s face darkened. "Don’t lie! Those are our provisions! You have no right to touch them!"

Bai Ming’s children clung to her skirts. She turned slightly, holding the spatula firmly, the tip aimed in their direction. "My right?" she said, her tone calm but sharp. "The right comes from who earned it, mother. And I earned this. Don’t forget that."

A few people in the camp whispered among themselves, their heads turning toward the commotion. "There they go again... the Fu family causing trouble," one muttered. "Don’t they ever get tired?"

"I hope the poor woman isn’t hurt," another voice said.

Fu Jia stepped closer, but Bai Ming shifted the spatula in her hands, ready to swing if anyone touched her bundles. "I’m not moving. You want these? Then come and take them. But don’t blame me if you get hurt trying."

Fu Fong stepped forward awkwardly, watching the exchange. His eyes flicked between Li Manman and Bai Ming. He raised a hand, trying to calm the storm. "Enough! Stop shouting."

Li Manman glanced at him, then back at Bai Ming, and smiled faintly. She didn’t move, but the corner of her lips hinted she was enjoying the chaos quietly.

Fu Jia’s voice rose even higher. "This is outrageous! You can’t just take what’s not yours!"

Bai Ming shrugged, the spatula steady in her hands. "Take what’s not mine? I think you need to check your memories, Brat, I didn’t take anything. This is mine because I earned it. All of it. You only see it because you never worked for anything in your life."

The camp grew louder as whispers turned into small murmurs of curiosity. Children peeked, some women murmured to each other, and the men exchanged uncertain glances.

"Look at them! Drama every day," one man muttered. "I don’t know how they survive like this."

Aunt Fu’s hand tightened into a fist. "Bai Ming! Move this instant!"

Bai Ming raised her spatula a little higher, the firelight reflecting off the metal. "I said, move me? No. You want your food, you’ll have to take it. And be careful... it’s hot."

Fu Jia opened her mouth to shout again, but Aunt Fu grabbed her shoulder. "Calm down, Jia. Let him see for himself."

Everyone in the camp leaned closer now, intrigued by the standoff. Li Manman’s faint smile lingered as she watched the drama unfold, and even Fu Fong seemed silently impressed by Bai Ming’s boldness.

A side of her he had never seen before.. he had been used to her always gushing over him and being loyal to him even when he mistreated her but now.. she was acting like a completely different person.