Divorced woman with child travels through time

Chen Wenfang sighed and said, "So it was him. Don't cry, I'll help you save your brother."

Shi Tou quickly comforted her, "Don't cry, Sister-in-law Chen will help you save your brother."

Chen Wenfang said, "Shitou Xuanzai, take him to wash his hands and face. I'm going to get some things. I'll go to Lijia Town with him later. You can stay home and play with your brother Shitou. Remember to lock the door if you go out to play."

Chen Xuanyu obediently replied, "Okay."

Fifteen felt that Madam Chen would go to save people, and gradually stopped sobbing.

Chen Wenfang went into the room and took ten taels of silver. She had never been to the doctor herself, so she wanted to bring extra money as a precaution. After thinking for a moment, Chen Wenfang also packed a bag of dandelions, since they were anti-inflammatory and might come in handy.

After getting ready, Shiwu had also washed up, but had some scratches on her face.

After giving Shi Tou a few more instructions, Chen Wenfang led Shiwu to Lijia Town.

"This way!" Fifteen turned and led her toward Aunt Liu's house.

As Chen Wenfang walked, she asked, "What's your name? How old are you? How did you get here?"

Fifteen walked quickly, speaking rapidly as well. She said, "My name is Fifteen, I'm six years old. I...I...I lied to someone and said you were my mother. I was kidnapped, that's why they brought me here. I'm sorry, please don't be angry." Fifteen looked timidly at Chen Wenfang, afraid she wouldn't go.

Chen Wenfang looked at Fifteen, whose expression was resolute and who was about to cry again. Her little hands in hers were already sweating with nervousness. This child was so sensible that it broke her heart. "It's alright, I'm not angry. It's just that lying isn't good. Don't do it again next time. Right now, saving your brother is the most important thing."

Chen Wenfang secretly breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Shiwu. When they arrived at Aunt Liu's house, Li Youshui, who had been waiting impatiently, turned around and, seeing Chen Wenfang, exclaimed with delight, "Oh, Madam Chen, is this really your son?"

Chen Wenfang smiled and said, "No, he's my friend's child. He just recognizes me and was afraid you wouldn't bring him along."

After saying that, he added, "I'm sorry to have troubled you to bring him here. Now, I'd appreciate it if you could take me to Lijia Town. I'll settle the fare with you when we get there."

Li Youshui laughed and said, "Of course, of course. Madam Chen, please get in the carriage. You are a remarkable woman who is just as capable as any man. I admire you very much. Giving someone a ride is no big deal."

Chen Wenfang thought she should tell Aunt Liu, so she greeted Shi Tou and asked him to keep an eye on Chen Xuanyu. She told Aunt Liu and the others to come back from the fields before she told them that saving lives was the priority right now.

Chen Wenfang got into the car with Shiwu, and Li Youshui still cracked the whip and ran very fast, chatting with Chen Wenfang as he ran.

Chen Wenfang gripped the handrail tightly, her other hand still protecting Fifteen, and said to Li Youshui, "Brother Li, your driving skills are quite good! Fast and steady, where did you learn that?" Inwardly, she thought, "Steady my foot! Fast, of course." But she couldn't blame him; the roads in ancient times were bad, but at least it was better than Lord Li's driving. Fifteen was deeply moved. Besides her brother, no one had ever been so kind to her. Chen Wenfang was truly a good person.

Li Youshui became proud when talking about this, boasting, "I started delivering passengers when I was about ten years old. In the past, people have become richer, so some people ride in horse-drawn carriages, and their income has also increased. As I've delivered more passengers, my skills have improved."

Chen Wenfang praised, "It's also because you have good talent, Brother Li. Some people have been delivering customers their whole lives, but their skills aren't that great."

Li Youshui's smile never stopped. "That's right, that's right."

Next, under Chen Wenfang's guidance, Li Youshui described when he saw which guests off, how eccentric the guests were, how he helped his wife catch her husband cheating, and how some men secretly took popular girls to other towns.

In the time it takes to drink three cups of tea, he managed to tell five stories. If he hadn't been busy, Chen Wenfang would have loved to buy a pot of tea, grab some melon seeds, and listen to him tell his tales.

Upon arriving in town, they were struck by the large number of people on the road. Chen Wenfang asked, "Brother Li, what's going on?"

Li Youshui said, "I don't know. I heard that someone poisoned the water source in town. Many people in town have stomach aches and diarrhea. I saw two families with diarrhea before me. I don't know which bad person did it."

Chen Wenfang said, "Wouldn't the Huimin Bureau be packed with people?"

"Not to mention the Huimin Bureau, the pharmacies are all packed with people. People from one family to another are sick. There are people everywhere."

Chen Wenfang said, "Who is so heartless? They are really causing a lot of harm."

"Who says otherwise? What a terrible thing."

Chen Wenfang got off the carriage with Fifteen, paid the fare, and insisted on giving him an extra coin. He said with a smile, "Brother Li, your story was so funny. Tell me another one next time!"

Li Youshui, however, stuffed the extra tael of silver she gave him into Fifteen's hand, saying, "I get along well with you, sister. Since you call me brother, I can't accept this extra money. Giving you any more would be too formal. Consider it a gift for the child."

Chen Wenfang readily agreed, "Alright, brother, I'll treat you to drinks when we get back. I also enjoy listening to Brother Li chat. I have some business to attend to today. I'll come back here to find your carriage when I get back."

Li Youshui nodded and smiled, "Alright, you go ahead and get busy."

Chen Wenfang then bid farewell to Li Youshui. Fifteen led Chen Wenfang quickly through a series of narrow paths, soon arriving at the back of the dilapidated temple. At a glance, Chen Wenfang could tell they had been living in this run-down environment for a long time. In a small, cramped corner, the ground was covered with straw, and the stench of urine emanating from nearby indicated where they usually relieved themselves. The temple's outhouse was right next door, and the smell permeated the air. No wonder they were sick.

Chen Wenfang quickly checked on Chu Yi. His breathing was fine, but he seemed to have fainted from the pain. There was already a mess of excrement on the floor. He probably had diarrhea. His lips were dry and chapped, indicating extreme dehydration. She touched his forehead; he also had a high fever.

"Does your brother have any clothes left? Where is there any water?" Chen Wenfang asked.

"No, we've always only had this one. There's a river over there; my brother got a stomachache after drinking that water."

"Do you just get water to drink directly?"

"Yes."

Chen Wenfang had no choice. Although she was a bit of a germaphobe, she was afraid the child would die if she didn't save him.

Chen Wenfang took off her dirty coat from the first day of the lunar month and came to the stream. Shiwu followed her, afraid that she would leave. She rinsed the clothes, rubbed them with her hands, put them in the water to dry, wrung them out, and stood up to leave.

Looking up, I saw Ma Liu next to the house across the stream.