Chapter 5: The First Trip Outside

The first rays of dawn were just beginning to peek over the horizon when Mia felt herself being lifted out of her crib. Lila had swaddled her up tightly and was carrying her securely in a cloth sling across her chest. Today, it seemed, was Mia's first day venturing outside.

Mia was filled with a sense of anticipation. She had been cooped up inside the house for as long as she could remember in this new life. Now, finally, she would get to see the world beyond these four walls.

As they stepped outside, Mia took a deep breath, only to be hit with a strong, earthy smell. The air was thick with the scent of manure and compost, a far cry from the fresh, clean air she had hoped for. Wrinkling her tiny nose, she buried her face into her mother's chest, trying to escape the stench. Lila chuckled, patting Mia gently.

They continued on their way, passing by simple cottages and the occasional garden plot. Along the way, Lila exchanged greetings with various neighbors, each one calling her by different names—"Mrs. Qin," "Little Qin," "Sister Luoxia," "Mrs. Jiang," and "Felix's mother." It seemed she was well-known in the village, with each person addressing her with familiarity.

Curiosity got the better of Mia, and she began peeking out from the cloth sling. She saw villagers of all kinds—older women, children playing, and even a few men working in the fields. It was a small, tight-knit community, and Mia felt as though she were observing an intricate web of relationships, all woven together in this quaint village.

Just then, an elderly woman approached them, her face lined with deep wrinkles that seemed to tell a story of a hard life. She reached out and touched Mia's little leg, and Mia tensed up, startled by the dry, bony fingers. The woman gave Mia's leg a gentle squeeze, then smiled at Lila.

"She's a lively one, full of energy—a good sign," the old woman said approvingly.

Lila smiled down at Mia, who was now wide-eyed and observing the stranger with interest. "This is your great-aunt," Lila explained softly, "and if she says you're going to be alright, then you'll be alright."

Mia opened her mouth and made a few unintelligible baby noises, waving her arms and legs enthusiastically. She wasn't sure if they were complimenting her, but she hoped she didn't look as peculiar as she felt.

Lila continued to carry her through the village, stopping every so often to chat with other women. One of them was a woman Mia recognized as Mrs. Liu, a woman with a big, imposing presence who was always gossiping. She cast a disdainful look at Mia, her lips curling in a smirk.

"Hmph. You say the little one has a lot of energy, but I heard from Six Aunt that she looks just like a little rat—dark and scrawny," Mrs. Liu sneered. "Poor thing, she must have missed out on all the nourishment. Maybe if your girl Yara got picked up by the city lord, you could afford some decent medicine for her. After all, she does look pretty underfed."

Mia observed Mrs. Liu, who wore a crude silver hairpin that she clearly took great pride in, despite its simplicity. Compared to her mother's plain yet kind face, Mrs. Liu seemed far less approachable. Her smug demeanor didn't help, either. Mia clung tighter to Lila, feeling a surge of distaste for the gossipy woman.

But Lila simply smiled, as if unfazed by the rude comments. "Well, Six Aunt did come by to offer us eighty taels for Yara. She's not the quickest learner, but it seemed like an opportunity," Lila replied coolly.

Mrs. Liu's face darkened at the mention of eighty taels. She quickly turned and stormed off, no longer interested in flaunting her small piece of silver. Mia watched her go, a bit awestruck by her mother's casual way of handling the encounter. Clearly, Lila knew how to get under people's skin with a few well-chosen words.

As they continued their walk, Mia felt herself getting sleepy. The gentle sway of her mother's steps lulled her, and before she knew it, her eyes had grown heavy. She felt the warmth of Lila's body and the rhythm of her heartbeat, soothing and constant.

Mia drifted in and out of sleep, waking up briefly to see that Lila had secured her on her back, carrying a basket of herbs. Lila moved with surprising agility, even while balancing Mia on her back. Every now and then, Mia would catch a glimpse of the trees and sky, until she felt herself drifting off once more.

When she woke again, they were near a patch of earth where Lila had stopped. Mia felt the familiar pang in her stomach and started to fuss, catching Lila's attention. She quickly understood and laid Mia down on the ground, spreading out a clean cloth.

Mia struggled for a moment, but eventually managed to relieve herself, much to her own relief. Lila chuckled as she cleaned Mia up, all the while murmuring comforting words. Mia was grateful for the tenderness, feeling completely secure in her mother's care.

Afterward, Lila gathered her up again, and they resumed their journey back home, the sun beginning to set on the horizon. As they walked, Lila hummed a soft tune, and Mia listened, feeling a strange sense of peace. Despite the roughness of their life, there was a certain harmony in their daily routines.

As they returned home, Mia felt content. She might not have chosen this family or this life, but she was starting to feel that maybe, just maybe, she had ended up exactly where she was supposed to be.