The journey back took less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.
As soon as the carriage reached the village entrance, many villagers gathered around it or followed behind to see what was going on.
After all, usually only rich or important people had carriages.
Julie stopped the carriage in front of her house.
The cloth and food she had bought earlier also arrived, and the delivery workers were waiting at the door. They didn't leave because the goods hadn't been handed over yet.
If they left the things at the door and someone took them, whose fault would it be?
Since they had already come this far, waiting a bit longer didn't matter.
Actually, they didn't have to wait long.
Julie drove the carriage pretty fast.
Once the goods were delivered, the delivery workers drove away.
The villagers gathered at Julie's door, chatting about all kinds of things.
Some were suspicious, some were envious, and some were jealous.
A bold woman even asked loudly, "Julie, where did you get the money to buy so many things? Did you steal or rob it?"
After she said this, everyone around laughed and made fun of her.
"Surely you didn't earn it yourself? Teach me how too!"
Julie glanced at the woman who spoke.
It was Chen Erxia, a well-known gossip in the village.
Julie was thinking whether she should poison her to shut her up, or just give her a lesson to warn others with bad intentions — or maybe both — when the village head arrived.
The village head was Pan Li, a woman around forty years old, with an ordinary face and a serious look.
From the original owner's memory, Julie knew that before the original owner's mother died, she had a good relationship with Pan Li.
When the original owner's mother was alive, she was an important figure in the village. The village head position was supposed to be hers, but she gave it up and recommended Pan Li instead.
Ironically, after the original owner's mother passed away, and later her father too, Pan Li didn't care at all for her old friend's only child.
Instead, when villagers started to spread rumors and accuse the original owner unfairly, Pan Li added fuel to the fire and stepped on her too.
The place the original owner was living in now was also thanks to Pan Li.
She had "considered" the child's sadness over her parents' deaths and sent her to live in a broken hut at the foot of the mountain, saying it would be peaceful for her.
Julie, standing on the outside, found it hard to put herself in the original owner's place. She also couldn't really feel the helplessness and despair the original owner must have felt back then.
She could only say that innocent people need someone strong to protect them.
If that protector disappears, they must grow strong themselves quickly.
Otherwise, they would end up like the original owner, being sold and still helping to count the money.
Pan Li looked at Julie. Seeing that she didn't greet her warmly like before, trying to please her, Pan Li felt unhappy.
But she still put on a kind face and said, "Julie, tell me honestly, you didn't do anything illegal, did you? Child, we must not break the law. If you did, don't be afraid. We can go to the government office together. I'll help you plead for mercy." (So you can rot in jail.)
Julie smiled faintly, watching Pan Li act. She waited for her to finish, then said, "Village head, why are you so sure I did something wrong? Did you see it yourself? Do you have any proof? Is making false accusations without evidence also a crime? I can go to the government office with you too. Have you ever tasted prison food, village head?"
Pan Li's face turned red with anger, and she pointed at her, speechless.
She hadn't expected this girl to suddenly become sharp-tongued and hard to control.
Only now did she realize that this was no longer the same obedient Julie who used to listen to her every word.