I traveled back to ancient times, but I was able to lie down and relax.

Liu Nanjia's expression shifted slightly, but she didn't say anything more at this moment.

They simply gave a brief introduction to their family situation, fed Song Chen some of the remaining millet porridge and steamed egg custard, and then told him to continue resting.

After they came out, Liu Yanxi hesitated and said to Liu Nanjia, "Sister, it's not really appropriate for us to take his money. Should we take all his money instead?"

Liu Sirou, who was next to her, also blinked at her.

Liu Nanjia knew that the brother and sister were kind-hearted, just like their parents, but kindness should be considered in context.

The three of them were already penniless. If they took in someone without expecting anything in return, they themselves would probably starve to death once they ran out of money.

Just like when she was in the Liu family, even though she suffered such unfair treatment, she still cared about that family bond and silently endured it, even covering it up for them in front of outsiders.

If they had been more assertive, considered their own interests, and even told Aunt Wang and the village head about the true situation of the Liu family sooner, and sought help from those who truly cared about them, the original owner of this body might not have died that morning.

So she explained to them carefully, “That’s right, I did save him because I heard he had money. Given our family’s situation, if he didn’t have any money of his own, with our few hundred copper coins, we probably couldn’t even afford his medical expenses. What use would it be if I saved him? He would just be placed in a more comfortable place to die. Or if he were lucky enough to survive, but with him there, our food would be consumed even faster, and what would happen when the food ran out?”

"Brother, no matter what you do, you have to take care of yourself first and make sure you survive before you think about others."

These words were a bit harsh, making Liu Yanxi feel somewhat ashamed; he had been thinking too simply.

It would be wrong to save a stranger out of momentary kindness, only to put the sisters in an even more difficult situation.

Seeing the remorse on Liu Yanxi's face, Liu Nanjia realized that he had taken her words to heart.

Just listen to what I say; a change in mindset takes time and can't be achieved overnight.

He then comforted him, saying, "It's true that I took all his money, but that money will be used for his medical treatment, medicine, and food. Everything costs money. Besides, we not only saved his life, but also let him recover at home. Giving us money will make him feel more at ease. Brother, if you were recovering in the home of complete strangers, and this family not only provided him with medical care, food, and shelter, but they didn't expect anything in return, how would you feel?"

Liu Yanxi was stunned by the question and hesitated before answering, "You would think...this family are good people?"

Liu Nanjia was speechless, and wished she could knock this older brother on the head.

“We’ll definitely suspect this family’s motives! Their clothes and that dagger—they’re clearly not from an ordinary rural family. We wonder what happened to get them here. People like that are usually cautious, and they’ll definitely worry that we might sell them out!”

"Oh, sister, you're right. You've thought it through. We know we're good people, but he really doesn't. Sister, tell me, who exactly is this Song Chen?"

Liu Nanjia shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe he really is a rich man's son who ran into bandits."

She yawned as she spoke; she was indeed tired from carrying someone down the mountain today.

"Let's talk about other things tomorrow. I'm sleepy. Little sister, let's go back to our room and sleep. Brother, you should go to sleep too."

Liu Yanxi quickly agreed and went back to his room to sleep.

The next day, Liu Nanjia got up and first sent Liu Yanxi to fetch water. Then, while Liu Sirou was feeding the chickens, she knocked on Song Chen's door.

Upon hearing the response, I pushed open the door and went in. I found that his eyes were clear, and he had obviously been awake for quite some time.

Liu Nanjia didn't intend to beat around the bush and asked directly, "Song Chen isn't your real name, is it? Who exactly are you, and how did you get here?"

Song Chen was stunned, not expecting the girl to ask such a direct question, and remained silent for a long time.

Liu Nanjia continued, "I did accept your money and agree to save you, but I also had to ensure the safety of my family. You're out of danger now, aren't you? If you were to attract any bad people, our little mountain village couldn't withstand any undeserved disaster, especially my two siblings and I. So, what is your real name?"

Song Chen paused for a moment, then said, "An Mingqi, my real name is An Mingqi, and Song is my mother's surname."

'An Mingqi, that's a pretty name,' Liu Nanjia thought to herself, before hearing An Mingqi say:

"I... I was indeed being chased and escaped, but don't worry, they thought I was dead. My servant and I switched clothes, and he lured them away before being forced off the cliff. I only fled this way after watching them leave. I've been walking through the mountains for a long time. I was really hungry when I got here, and I wanted to go to the village to find something to eat, but I accidentally tripped and fell, which is how I passed out. That's when I met you."

Hearing these words, Liu Nanjia couldn't help but sigh. It turned out that the clothes she thought were very nice were actually the servant's clothes.

The name was just a guess she made; she wasn't sure. She never expected to actually get it out of her.

And the boy's experiences along the way were indeed pitiful.

I couldn't help but ask, "And what about your parents?"

When his parents were mentioned, An Mingqi's face was filled with sorrow: "My parents, they're both dead. They..."

Liu Nanjia regretted asking the question as soon as it left her mouth. She didn't want to know other people's secrets; often, the more you know, the faster you die.

She quickly interrupted, "Stop, stop, stop. You don't need to tell me. I just need to know that you're not a danger to our family."

After saying that, he earnestly warned An Mingqi: "You're a fool too. How could you tell a stranger such a thing? I just tricked you and revealed your real name. You can't be so careless with people in the future, especially someone like you who carries a secret."

An Mingqi was stunned. Wasn't it she who asked him first? And this girl looked even younger than him, so why did she speak with such maturity? The sadness he had just felt for his parents and servant had faded considerably.

Liu Nanjia continued, "Since that's the case, then you can continue to call yourself Song Chen. My mother's surname is also Song. Don't tell my brother and sister your real name. Just say that your family was robbed, and you're the only one who escaped. Like I said, once I've taken your money, just stay here and recover. I'll go to town in a couple of days to check on you. If there's nothing unusual, I'll take you to the town clinic to have a doctor check if you've broken any bones. But if there's anything unusual, don't blame me for being ruthless. Our family really can't afford to be a burden."

An Mingqi—no, from now on he'd be Song Chen—was a little bewildered by all this talk. After a moment, he nodded and replied, "Okay, don't worry. If anything happens, I won't drag you down with me."