The moment Li Manman appeared outside the city gate, everything went quiet.
The Fu family froze when they saw her walking toward them, a bundle in her arms and her head slightly lowered. Her clothes were neat, simple, and clearly prepared for travel. She stopped a short distance away and bowed, looking nervous and careful.
Madame Fu was the first to speak.
"Li Manman?" she asked in surprise. "Why are you here?"
Li Manman slowly raised her head. Her eyes were already red, as if she had been crying for a long time. She looked around at everyone, opening her mouth, then closing it again, like she was struggling to find the courage to speak.
Before she could say anything, two small figures suddenly ran forward.
"Nanny Lin!"
Fu Jin and Fu Jun rushed toward her. Li Manman quickly bent down and opened her arms, catching them as they hugged her tightly. She stroked their heads gently, her face full of care and warmth.
"Be good," she said softly. "Don't run like that."
The scene looked touching.
I rolled my eyes.
Fu Jin lifted his head and looked toward Fu Sheng.
"Papa," he asked in a small voice, "is Nanny Lin coming with us too?"
Fu Jun held onto Li Manman's sleeve and looked at Fu Sheng with watery eyes, clearly hoping for a yes.
Fu Sheng's expression darkened slightly. He stepped forward, took the boys by their hands, and pulled them back to his side.
"No," he said firmly. "She's not."
The boys' faces fell at once.
"She's probably just here to say goodbye," Fu Sheng added calmly.
Fu Tong, Fu Teng, and Fu Fei exchanged glances. Then they nodded, finally understanding.
"Oh… that makes sense," Fu Fei said. "She came to see us off."
Li Manman lowered her head again, silent, holding her bundle tightly.
That was when I stepped forward.
I stopped in front of her, folded my arms, and smiled faintly.
"Does it?" I said.
Everyone turned to look at me.
I glanced at the bundle she was carrying and spoke clearly, making sure everyone could hear.
"From the way you're dressed, and from that bundle in your arms, it doesn't look like you're only here to say goodbye."
The mood changed instantly.
One by one, the Fu family members looked at Li Manman's bundle. It was packed neatly, ready for a long journey.
Fu Fei frowned. "Then why are you here?"
Li Manman's body shook. Suddenly, she dropped to her knees in front of everyone.
"I beg you, please don't send me away!" she cried, tears falling freely now.
"I have nowhere else to go. The Fu family took me in, fed me, and raised me. I owe you everything. How can I stay behind when you are being exiled?"
She bent forward and bowed deeply.
"I only want to follow you, serve you, and repay your kindness. Please… please let me go with you."
Her crying filled the open space outside the gate.
The Fu family exchanged uneasy glances.
Fu Li was the first to speak. She looked at Li Manman with a serious face.
"Li Manman, you do know what exile means, right?"
Fu Fei followed immediately, her voice low and firm.
"You won't be able to return to the main capital ever again. You'll be sent to barren land. Life there is hard. You'll suffer… maybe for the rest of your life."
Fu Tong and Fu Teng nodded in agreement, their expressions heavy.
Master Fu sighed deeply.
"You are only a maid," he said slowly. "Our family did what we had to do back then. But throwing away your whole life like this… it's not worth it."
Madame Fu stepped forward, her tone gentle.
"You're still young and pretty," she said kindly. "If you leave now, you can still marry well and live peacefully. You still have a future. Don't ruin it because of us."
I rolled my eyes.
These people were too kind. Too soft.
If they were even a little smarter, they would have realized something was wrong. Who in their right mind would give up their entire life just to "repay kindness" to a family about to be exiled? Especially for children?
Li Manman shook her head hard, still crying.
"I don't care," she sobbed. "I really don't. Master Fu is injured, he needs someone to care for him. The children are still young. They'll need someone to look after them."
She looked at the twins, her voice trembling.
"I can cook, wash clothes, and take care of things. Please let me go with you. Please."
Before anyone else could respond, Fu Sheng spoke.
His voice was cold.
"That won't be necessary."
Everyone turned to him.
"I am here to take care of my father," he said flatly. "The children have their aunts. They don't need you."
Li Manman stiffened.
"You won't be of any use," Fu Sheng continued without mercy. "You'd only become another burden. Another mouth to feed."
His eyes were sharp and distant.
"At this moment, I'm not taking responsibility for anyone outside my family."
The air fell silent.
Li Manman's crying slowly stopped, her face pale as she knelt there, completely stunned.
I watched quietly, a small smile tugging at my lips.
Good.
Let's see how long she could keep pretending.
She quickly untied her bundle and opened it in front of everyone.
Inside were several buns, a few folded blankets, and some water skins.
"I brought enough food," she said urgently. "This will last me until we reach the barren lands. I won't be a burden to anyone."
Her words almost made me laugh.
In the original story, this was exactly how she forced her way in. Because she had food, the Fu family had no choice but to let her follow them, so she could share it with the children.
But now?
Now that I had already assured them food would not be a problem, her little display meant nothing at all.
Fu Sheng frowned, "Soon we will get going, just turn away and leave.. stop causing a scene." He said ready to take hold of his boys and leave to join the rest of the Fu as they got ready to start their journey.
I turned around as well but the next thing I heard was a small scream and immediately everyone head turned with shocked gazes.
The Head guard shouted, "What the hell are you trying to do women?!"
We all turned to the direction at where he was shouting out, only to see Li Manman with a sword, probably belonging to the Head guard.
She raised it, towards her neck, "If I can't accompany the Fu Family then I have no other reason to live."
Sigh! What a drama queen.