Traveling Through Farmhouses: Taking the Baby on a Famine Escape

On the west side of the city gate, Zhou Dashan and his group were exchanging pleasantries with Manager Qian.

Zhang Xixi hid on the carriage, took a Ganoderma lucidum from her storage bag, wrapped it in cloth, and handed it to Manager Qian.

"Manager Qian, this is a small token of our appreciation. Please accept it."

Shopkeeper Qian glanced at it; it was wrapped in coarse cloth. He assumed it was just an ordinary item and accepted it without refusing.

“Madam Zhang, there is no branch of Jinxiufang in Dafang County. If you need anything in the future, you can ask someone to send a message to this old man.”

"Ok!"

After bidding farewell to Manager Qian, Zhang Xixi and her companions headed west.

With a destination in mind and hope in sight, the villagers were very excited as they walked, as if they had been injected with adrenaline, and the pace of the group increased significantly.

Knowing that it was Zhang Xixi who produced a token that allowed them to enter the city, the villagers were extremely grateful to her and praised her all the way. Zhang Xixi, walking ahead, felt her ears burning.

That night, we found shelter in a dilapidated temple!

When Xiao Jin and his companions saw the group stop, they immediately jumped off the carriage and ran into the mountains. They were so hungry they could barely breathe!

After Zhang Xixi carried the two babies and Yuhan out of the carriage, she asked Zhou Yujie to help unload the carriage.

As soon as the carriage left, Ling Yun let out a few heavy groans, stretched his body, and finally felt relieved!

Zhang Xixi brought over a bucket of spiritual spring water to reward it, and patted its head, saying, "Thank you for your hard work!"

Ling Yunli snorted, then stuck his head into the wooden tub, drank the spiritual spring water, and exclaimed, "So comfortable!"

Although the dilapidated temple was a bit small, with only three rooms, there was a well in the courtyard, making it very convenient to get water. After Zhang Xixi and the others had divided up the rooms, they set up a stove in the courtyard.

Zhang Xixi took a piece of meat and a few sweet potatoes from her basket and went to help Chen prepare dinner. It tastes better when there are more people eating together!

Because they had something to look forward to, the villagers were still excited after dinner and couldn't sleep, so they chatted happily in the yard.

Suddenly, the gate of the dilapidated temple was pushed open, and everyone in the courtyard looked towards the entrance.

An old woman was carrying a pale-faced woman on her back, with two maids beside her, each carrying a large bundle.

A woman carrying a medicine box followed behind them. It was quite unusual for them to be accompanied by a female doctor in ancient times. This group must have been quite distinguished, though they looked rather disheveled.

At the very back were four guards, each holding a sword and leading a horse. Seeing Zhang Xixi and her large group, the tall, burly man with thick eyebrows and big eyes ordered the other three to tie their horses outside.

He walked in alone and asked loudly, "Is there anyone in charge?"

Zhou Dashan quickly stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "This old man is the clan chief of these villagers. What can I do for you, gentlemen?"

“Some of us are injured and need immediate medical attention. We would be grateful if you could give up a room.”

Zhou Dashan hesitated. If he gave up another room, the villagers would have to live in the courtyard. "This..."

Judging from their attire and demeanor, these people must be family members of officials. Zhang Wenbo stepped forward, pulled Zhou Dashan aside, and gave him a wink.

"Please wait a moment, everyone. We'll make room for you right away."

Zhang Wenbo immediately ordered people to go back and move all their belongings from the room they were staying in to the yard.

"Please come in, everyone!"

The old woman, carrying a woman on her back, along with two maids and a doctor, hurriedly went inside, while four guards stood watch at the door.

Zhou Dashan said worriedly, "Wenbo, you stopped me just now because you figured out who these people are!"

Zhang Xixi and the others also pricked up their ears to listen.

Zhang Wenbo said in a low voice, "They might be the family members of officials."

Zhou Dashan was also very fortunate that Wenbo had stopped him; he almost offended someone he shouldn't have.

Zhang Xixi thought to herself, "Maybe they are the family members of some county magistrate!"

Inside the house, the old woman had two maids take out the bedding from the bundle and spread it on the dry grass, then carefully placed the woman on it.

"Dr. Zheng, please take a look at my wife."

The female doctor immediately stepped forward to take the woman's pulse and administer acupuncture.

A short while later, the old woman came out with a worried look on her face and found the leading guard. "Guard Gao, the madam needs ginseng that is over a hundred years old for her medicine. This place is the closest to the prefectural capital. Go and buy one!"

"Granny Yun, the city gates of the prefecture are now closed!"

Granny Yun said anxiously, "Look how worried I am! What should we do?!"

Old Madam Wang came over to look for the lost copper coin and overheard this conversation. Thinking that these people looked quite wealthy from their clothes, she quickly stepped forward and said, "Madam, I know where to find ginseng."

Granny Yun immediately stopped Old Madam Wang, exclaiming with delight, "Really!"

Old Mrs. Wang rubbed her hands together, smiled ingratiatingly, and extended her hand: "But could you perhaps..."

Granny Yun could tell that this person was greedy for small gains, but since her mistress was on the verge of death, she was in no mood to argue. She took out a two-tael piece of silver and placed it in Old Madam Wang's hand.

"Tell me now, or you'll know the consequences if you lie to me."

Old Wang took the silver and even bit it, then pointed in the direction of Zhang Xixi and the others, "How could I dare to lie to you? That woman in the blue dress over there has ginseng."

Granny Yun hurriedly walked to Zhang Xixi's side and curtsied. "Madam, my surname is Yun, and I come from the Sun family in Longping County. Do you have any ginseng? My lady is waiting for a life-saving treatment. Could you sell it to us?"

Zhang Xixi glanced at Old Wang, guessing it was her again. She really wanted to take advantage of everyone and wasn't afraid of kicking a nut.

However, since they are new to the area and don't know anyone, it's good to make some good connections. They might need each other's help in the future.

Yes, I do. Please wait a moment, I'll get it for you right away.

Zhang Xixi turned around and rummaged through her basket, actually taking out a ginseng from her storage bag, tearing off a piece, wrapping it up, and then turning back to hand it to Granny Yun.

Granny Yun took the cloth, opened it, and looked inside. She confirmed it was ginseng. "Thank you. I'll bring you the money later."

Zhang Xixi nodded knowingly. She could understand why wealthy families in ancient times were so careful about what they ate.

Granny Yun took the ginseng inside, handed it to Doctor Zheng, and asked softly:

"So, is this ginseng usable?"

"Yes, this ginseng should be about two hundred years old, and the quality is quite good." Doctor Zheng first cut two slices for the lady to suck on, and then asked Granny Yun to divide the rest into several portions to make soup, which she would drink before bedtime after taking her medicine each day.

Granny Yun glanced worriedly at her mistress, whose face had turned pale with pain. She felt extremely distressed, for her mistress had never suffered like this before!

But remembering the important matter, she quickly wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes and instructed a maid to take all the medicine pots to the courtyard and borrow Zhang Xixi's stove to brew the medicine.

After thinking for a moment, still feeling uneasy, he pulled Doctor Zheng into the courtyard and asked in a low voice, "Doctor Zheng, will my wife's baby be alright?"

"After taking the medicine and resting in bed for a few days, you'll be fine."

Granny Yun breathed a sigh of relief. Thank God, this was the child that Madam had longed for for years. If she had lost it, Madam would have been devastated.