Traveling Through Farmhouses: Taking the Baby on a Famine Escape

These past two days, Zhang Wenhong and Zhang Dacheng have been going to the mountains to cut wood and branches in the morning and building a duck shed at home in the afternoon. The duck shed at home should be finished this afternoon.

In the afternoon, Wang Daniu returned with more than fifty people, indicating that he had agreed to the previous proposal.

They were all standing in the courtyard. Zhang Xixi glanced at them and saw that most of them were in their twenties or thirties. They all looked quite energetic and had honest and simple faces.

"Welcome everyone to our village. Wang Daniu has already told you about the wages. What I want to say today is that as long as you work hard, your wages will definitely be the same as theirs in the future. I keep my word. Just listen to Wang Daniu's arrangements from now on."

"Understood, boss!"

Seeing them agree in unison, Zhang Xixi nodded in satisfaction and then looked to the other side.

"Wang Daniu, didn't you bring anyone else with you!"

Wang Daniu was taken aback, then immediately replied, "The boss is talking about my wife. I have some things to take care of at home, I'll come over in a few days when I'm done."

"Okay, since the weather's good these next few days, you can go and make the mud bricks. I've already bought the tiles and put them downstairs. As for what kind of house it should be, I'll tell you later. Now you can go back and rest for a bit!"

"Yes, boss!"

After saying that, Zhang Xixi went to the kitchen to find Sun Xiuxiu.

"Sister Xiu, could you take some eggs, pheasant meat, and vegetables to the kitchen downstairs and help Cuihua out? The whole family is going downstairs for dinner today."

Sun Xiuxiu nodded and went to pack her things, while Zhang Xixi went to the meadow to help Zhou Fu carry the hay back.

After Da Bao and the others finished school, Zhang Xixi took her family to the kitchen downstairs for dinner.

After the meal, Zhang Xixi looked at Wang Daniu's camp and then remembered that she would have to tell the village about the discovery of this wasteland and get the land deed done.

Zhang Xixi told everyone else to go home, and then took Zhou Yujie to Zhou Dashan's house to explain the matter. Zhou Dashan agreed and said that he would go to the town to process the land deed the next day.

After Zhang Xixi and the others thanked them, they handed over a piece of silver.

"Then I'll have to trouble you tomorrow, brother-in-law!"

Zhou Dashan waved his hand: "We're family, no need for formalities!"

After saying goodbye, Zhang Xixi and the others went to the village carpenter's house and told him about the two-tiered wooden bed they wanted to order. They also mentioned the most important requirement: the appearance didn't matter, but it had to be sturdy.

After they finished their business and returned home, it was already dark. As usual, they went to the west wing before washing up and going to bed.

In the following days, Wang Daniu and his group first went to the mountains to cut some thatch and then found a place to make mud bricks.

Fifty-odd people can still make enough bricks for one house a day, and the house can probably be built in seven or eight days.

Seeing that everything at home was arranged in an orderly manner, Zhang Xixi went to help build a fence for the chicken coop. Although she didn't know how to build one, she could still manage by handing over a piece of wood and whittling a branch.

That noon, Manager Qian and a servant hurriedly arrived at the deserted village. After driving the carriage to Zhang Xixi's house, they searched everywhere for Zhang Xixi.

After Sun Xiuxiu told him Zhang Xixi's location, he found the chicken coop and, upon seeing Zhang Xixi, quickly called out, "Zhang Xixi, I have something important to tell you!"

Zhang Xixi looked up and saw it was Manager Zhang. She asked:

"What is it, Manager Qian?"

Zhang Dacheng and Zhang Wenhong also looked at Manager Qian with suspicion.

"Madam Zhang, let's speak in private!"

Zhang Xixi nodded, greeted Zhang Wencheng and the others, and then walked with Manager Qian to the vegetable garden.

With a solemn expression, Manager Qian took out a letter from his pocket. "Madam Zhang, this is a letter from my young lady. You'll understand once you read it!"

Zhang Xixi took the letter, opened it, and read it. She was completely confused by the first part. The letter said that someone very important to her had been disfigured and she wanted to ask if there was any way to cure him.

Why would you think of asking her about this? Did Duanmu Yun discover something during that time?

And why is Manager Qian in such a hurry over someone who is just disfigured, as if the sky is about to fall?

"Manager Qian, what caused the disfigurement of the person your young lady mentioned?"

Shopkeeper Qian hesitated for a moment, "The cause of this has not yet been determined. We have consulted many doctors but have not been able to find the cause. However, this disfigured person is very important to our Duke's Mansion and has a very noble status. If Madam Zhang has any way, please help us. I would be extremely grateful!"

After saying this, Manager Qian bowed deeply to Zhang Xixi.

Zhang Xixi quickly helped him up, "No, no, Manager Qian, you don't need to make such a big gesture. You know I don't know medicine, this is really a bit difficult for me!"

"I know that too, but I've heard that Madam Zhang has a master with great supernatural powers, and we'd like to ask him for help."

Zhang Xixi wondered to herself what Duanmu Yun had said to her family. Wasn't she supposed to keep it a secret?

Now I'm in trouble! Where am I supposed to find a master?

“My master’s whereabouts are unpredictable. He hasn’t appeared since we settled in the deserted village. He may have gone to the Tianmu Mountains. The last time I saw him was before we went to Lingzhou. I really don’t know where he is.”

Seeing that Manager Qian had a furrowed brow and a dejected look, Zhang Xixi added, "But he left me a few pills, saying they could beautify and nourish the skin. I don't know if they will be of any use to that important person."

Shopkeeper Qian exclaimed in surprise, "Really? Where's the medicine?!"

Now we can only try anything, even if it seems hopeless. I don't know why Miss is so sure that this Madam Zhang has a solution. Let's take this pill back first!

"The medicine is at home, I'll go back and get it for you right now!"

After bringing Manager Qian home, Zhang Xixi asked him to sit in the courtyard for a while before going into her own house and closing the door.

"System, does this beauty pill work on disfigurement?!"

"Host, there should be! If the disfigurement is due to poisoning, it's best to use an antidote pill."

"Since we don't know why, let's use the safer pills!"

"I'll take two beauty pills."

"Okay, host!"

Zhang Xixi came out with two pills. Fortunately, the box containing the pills looked very high-end, making the pills seem much more valuable.

She handed the box to Shopkeeper Qian, saying, "This is the beauty pill; please keep it safe!"

Shopkeeper Qian opened the package and looked at it, but couldn't see anything unusual. He put the pills away and said goodbye to Zhang Xixi.

He needs to send the elixir back to the capital as soon as possible.

Zhang Xixi didn't try to stop them. After all, their master was in trouble, and they, as his subordinates, were bound to be very anxious. There was no way they could persuade them to stay.

After seeing Manager Qian off, Zhang Xixi continued to help build the fence, hoping that the matter would just pass.