Chapter 200: There Can Be Different Choices

Chapter 200: Chapter 200: There Can Be Different Choices

Using special pigments and techniques, she skillfully replicated the coarse, dry, and slightly wrinkled skin texture of a middle-aged woman, striving to look identical to one from every angle. After finally completing all the makeup steps, Hua Buwan stood before the mirror and carefully inspected her reflection. The woman staring back at her looked haggard and exhausted, completely stripped of her usual youthful vitality. She was the spitting image of a middle-aged woman who had toiled in the fields year-round. Highly satisfied with the result, Hua Buwan smiled and gently packed away her cosmetics.

With steady steps, she headed downstairs to the supermarket entrance. The items she had packed in advance were already waiting there; the heavy bundles seemed to carry a vital mission. Ling Qianjun arrived just then. As he led the way, Hua Buwan hoisted the bundles without hesitation and walked toward the mysterious Any Door. The moment she crossed the threshold, a flash of light blinded her, and then she found herself in another land—Dongxuan Country.

At this exact moment in Dongxuan Country, dawn was just breaking, painting the sky with the pale gray of early morning. The members of the Ling family had risen early. After a flurry of washing up and preparing breakfast, they ate quickly. Now, they sat gathered around the table, quietly awaiting Hua Buwan’s arrival. Today, the entire family would follow her to the market. This would be their first time leaving the house since their exile to this place. Understandably, they were a bit anxious, yet their hearts also brimmed with anticipation and curiosity.

In truth, Dongxuan Country was not overly harsh in its treatment of exiles. No matter the trade—be it as a scholar, farmer, artisan, or merchant—as long as an exile possessed a skill, they could rely on their abilities to make a living. However, unlike ordinary citizens, they were forbidden from taking the imperial examinations to seek official positions, nor were they considered commoners of good standing.

As for housing, they couldn’t simply purchase land and build homes as they pleased like regular villagers. They could only rely on the single dwelling allocated to them by the village. Even so, they were allowed to clear small plots of land in front of and behind their houses to grow vegetables and fruits. Yet the yield was limited, barely enough for their own consumption. While it was permissible to barter these crops with others for necessities, selling them for profit was strictly prohibited.

When, then, would they earn the right to buy land and build homes? The answer was when they successfully regained their status as commoners of good standing. To achieve this, they had to perform meritorious deeds.

Fortunately, their village was near the sea, boasting abundant fishing resources. Exiles could make a living this way, selling their catches of fish, shrimp, and shellfish. Unfortunately, their movements were severely restricted; they were expressly forbidden from stepping a single foot outside of Lingnan. Thus, they were effectively confined to this small corner of the world, kept like captive livestock.

If they wanted to send items out of Lingnan—whether letters or local specialty products—it was technically allowed. However, everything had to pass through a strict censorship process and required paying an exorbitant fee. But, of course, people were not foolish. They naturally knew to seek out helpers in areas with looser supervision to smuggle their parcels. It only cost a few extra coins in bribes, entirely sparing them from being ripped off by the official fees.