She hadn’t eaten anything since last night and was starving, with her stomach sticking to her back. Dong Huiying waved a hand, "Tu Ya has already bought dry food, look, that basket probably contains over thirty eggs, and they’re yours now. Remember, one egg for five taels of silver. I am a fair merchant, the price is honest for old and young alike." Where did she get the face to say that? Honest for old and young alike? Even profiteers aren’t as greedy as she is! But no matter what, as long as they had something to eat, it was good. Hulan looked at Dong Huiying with a friendly expression, "Then... could we buy two camels from you? I would also like to buy some more water!" "Camels? Sure, but I can only sell you one. As for water, we have a limited supply, so I can sell you at most two water sacks." Hulan tried to bargain with her, but she was met with staunch refusal. In the end, Hulan exchanged a silver bracelet for one camel and two water sacks, then huddled up beside Tu Ya with a basket of eggs, maintaining a certain distance from Dong Huiying and her companions. In the desert, danger came not only from natural disasters but also from man-made ones. With no idea what to do, Tu Ya and her companion decided to follow Dong Huiying’s group. By the time they set off the next day, Dong Huiying knew they were following her, but after glancing over, she said nothing. After all, she didn’t own the desert, so if they wanted to follow, let them; so long as they didn’t harbor any ill intentions. And so it went for several days, meal times always being the most painful for Tu Ya and Hulan. Little Sister Xiao Dong always managed to come up with all sorts of delicious foods, even in the desert with limited resources, they were eating quite well. Meanwhile, poor Tu Ya and Hulan could only crack open eggshells to gnaw on eggs. One day, Little Sister Xiao Dong suddenly said, "Oh right, one egg for five taels of silver. I almost forgot, I haven’t asked you for the money yet." The two scrambled together, taking off all their valuables, but it still wasn’t enough. Tu Ya’s face showed her predicament, she turned to the little swindler with the Dong surname, "The two of us... only have this much on us for now, but... my mother is the chief of the Kechar tribe! She has plenty of silver, as long as you can ensure our safe return to the Kechar tribe, I swear on my honor, you will not be mistreated!" Flay Dong stroked her chin, appearing to ponder deeply, which made Tu Ya even more nervous, worried that Flay Dong would not agree. Dong "Flay" Huiying, after looking at Tu Ya, clapped her little hands, "Fine then, it’s on the way anyway! However... I don’t need the silver, but once we reach the Kechar tribe, I will need your help to find a person... no, two people. I am here exactly to seek these two individuals." One was the legendary witch, and the other was a wood craftsman living within the Kechar tribe. The carvings made by the craftsman all resembled Father Liang, and Dong Huiying guessed internally that the craftsman must have known Father Liang. Tu Ya agreed without hesitation. It was a deal, business is business. She had felt uneasy before because Dong Huiying had saved her, but now she had come to terms with it, "I have my conditions too. My and Hulan’s water is almost gone, so before that, you can’t let us go hungry or thirsty!"
