My whole family time-traveled! I became a god during my exile in a famine.

Chapter 12 Provocation
"You!" Zhuang was so angry she was speechless.

"What do you mean, 'you'? Where were you hiding during human evolution? I think your brain isn't fully developed, and your cerebellum is out of balance and growing crooked."

"You think you're so capable, always pointing fingers at us. Mind your own business and stop wasting your breath telling others what to do."

"Instead of having such leisure time, you should think more about your future. Don't be so eager to teach others; nobody here needs your instruction." While rebuking him, Xie Ninglan's hands were quick, and she soon squeezed out the blisters on her adopted son's feet.

Zhuang blushed from the scolding, and after being glared at by her husband Xin Wen'an, she retreated dejectedly.

“Fourth brother, you should watch your reputation. Fourth sister-in-law is too outrageous. Zhuang is her third sister-in-law, how can she be so unreasonable?” Xin Wen’an couldn’t bear to look at the couple.

While the four wives and their family may have been unreliable in the past, they had never been this unreasonable! At least on the surface, the sisters-in-law maintained a decent relationship.

Xin Wen'an said irritably, "They've already been exiled, how good can their reputation be? My wife and I are none of your business, Third Brother. I'll spoil my wife, what does it have to do with you two? You're just being nosy."

"You!" Xin Wen'an glared at his stubborn underling, his liver aching with anger.

"Stop arguing, Third Brother. Hurry up and sit back down. Big Brother will be handing out dinner soon. If you keep whining, you'll miss out on a meal and then you'll have nowhere to cry."

Xin Wen'an opened his mouth wide, looked at his fourth brother, then at his sister-in-law, and turned away with a stern face.

Has the fourth brother gone mad too? They've only been on the road for a short while, and in just one day, the entire fourth branch of the family has gone insane?
Previously, the fourth branch of the family acted haphazardly and was hated by everyone, but at least they could put on a show in public, upholding the dignity of the Duke's mansion and maintaining a facade of peace.

They've only been in exile for a day, and they're all too lazy to even pretend anymore?
Xin Wen'an stormed back to the Xin family mansion where everyone was gathered. Zhuang Shi had already spoken ill of Xie Ninglan twice in front of the old lady.

Unfortunately, the old lady was exhausted after a long day and her energy was completely depleted, so she couldn't respond to her at all.

Zhuang was not giving up and continued to chatter on.

The old lady, unable to bear it any longer, interrupted, "Mrs. Zhuang, if you really have nothing better to do, go outside and see if you can find us a basin of hot water."

Zhuang stared wide-eyed in disbelief, startled. "Mother, didn't Ah Zhong just go and inquire? That basin of hot water costs eight copper coins! Where would I get the money?"

Her eyes darted around. "But my fourth sister-in-law, her family must have given her a lot of money, right? They brought two basins of hot water without batting an eye, but I haven't seen them bring a single basin to my mother."

“I just peeked over and saw that my in-laws sent over a cart full of things, including food, drinks and other necessities.”

"Logically speaking, since it's still the eldest son's wife who's in charge of the household, she should be the one to distribute the things in the house."

The young woman sitting to the side, holding her son, twitched slightly upon hearing this. Without thinking, she replied, "Third Aunt, you're joking. In the current situation, how can a junior like me make decisions? We still have to listen to Grandmother in everything."

"Besides, the things that Fourth Aunt's family sent are practically part of her dowry. It's impossible for a junior like me to interfere. Third Aunt, please forgive me."

"Daughter-in-law, what are you saying? I was just thinking that you are the head of our Duke's mansion, so shouldn't we listen to your opinion on everything?"

"Third Aunt, you're really flattering your niece-in-law. I'm just a junior and can't make decisions for anyone. If Third Aunt wants supplies from Fourth Aunt's family, she'd better discuss it with Fourth Aunt herself." Lin Xiuyi held her son and lowered her head slightly, concealing the contempt and disgust in her eyes.

She wanted to take advantage of others while dragging them down with her, using her as a raft. It's ridiculous. Does she think everyone else is as stupid as her?

"Say less." Xin Wen'an's face was ugly as he glared at his wife.

Zhuang failed to incite trouble and was even rebuked by her niece-in-law, making her look somewhat embarrassed. Just then, the escort came in to distribute the evening meal, and she took the opportunity to shut up.

Dinner was still half a brown rice cake. The escort, Xiao Jia, raised his chin and said, "Hot water costs eight coins a bowl. Those who want some can come and line up."

"Eat breakfast and rest. We'll set off at 3 AM tomorrow. Anyone who dawdles and delays the journey will be whipped."

"Officer, could you please provide some cold water and some flatbread?"

Xiao Jia raised an eyebrow and said, "A pot of cold water costs two coins."

Xin Nian looked up and saw the exiled prisoner who had asked the question looking like he was about to break apart, standing there swaying precariously.

"Officer, we came out penniless. Could you please make an exception for us?"

"What nonsense are you spouting if you have no money?!" Xiao Jia snapped angrily. "You want water even if you have no money? You won't die if you skip a day or two. Just wait. You'll pass by a stream or river tomorrow, and then you can drink your fill."

The young man collapsed to the ground with a thud and burst into tears.

His crying was so intense that the three women of varying ages around him also burst into tears.

An elderly woman, presumably his mother, slapped her thigh and wailed, "You heartless people! You won't even give him a sip of water! This is going to let him die of thirst! My son passed the imperial examination and became the second-highest scorer in the court..."

Xiao Jia lashed out with his whip at the old woman, startling her so much that she scrambled to her feet and quickly hid behind her son.

"I don't care if you're a top scholar or a third-place scholar, once you're on the road, you'll all be exiled criminals! You old hag, try babbling on and on! Don't you even have your eyes wide open and see clearly? Among these exiled people, who isn't a high-ranking official?"

"Don't think that just because you're a mere second-place scholar, you can be a mere earl, marquis, or duke. They'd all have to obediently be escorted and exiled by us!"

Xie Ninglan silently wiped her feet clean and put her shoes back on. No matter how loud the commotion was from the other side, her family was used to ignoring it.

She was applying medicine to her youngest son's foot, blowing on it as she did so, saying, "When your sister gets some good medicine tomorrow, Mom... I'll apply it to you again."

Little Xin Mohan was very happy and grinned at them.

Although his feet hurt from walking all the way, his mother just washed his feet with him and applied medicine to them.

His mother cared for him just like she cared for his older sister, which finally calmed his anxious heart.

He couldn't have been an adopted child, could he? He definitely wasn't.

Meanwhile, after several guards came and dragged Xiao Jia away, the women of Wang Bangyan's family burst into mournful sobs.

The others were munching on dry biscuits, occasionally glancing at them.

Xin Wen'an helped the old lady up and moved step by step to Xin Nian and the others.

Xin Wenyuan quickly stood up, protecting his wife and daughter like he was protecting a chick, "Xin Wen'an, you didn't go to eat the pancakes that were just handed out, but came here to cause trouble again?"

Xin Wen'an glared angrily, "Do you think I came here willingly? It was Mother who asked you to help invite Physician Cheng. Third Sister's back injury has worsened, and she has fainted again."

(End of this chapter)