Famine and exile: I brought the Spirit Spring to save the entire Marquis's mansion.

Xu Wude was a man of his word and sent someone to deliver the keys to the five shops.

"Our master said that if Madam Sang doesn't need so many shops, she can come to the mansion to discuss it, and our master can exchange them for something else." The servant held the keys but didn't hand them over.

That's great! She really doesn't need that many shops.

Besides, it's easy to attract envy.

It would be best if we could exchange it for something else.

Look at Xu Wude, he's clearly in pain and reluctant to part with it!

It would be better to sell him one; that way, things will be easier for him in Liangzhou City.

But since it was Huo Chang'an who had asked for it, Sang Ning still told him about it.

"You're in charge of our household."

Huo Chang'an lowered his head and looked extremely obedient.

As long as the topic of marital relationship is avoided, he's a harmless little puppy.

Sang Ning still remembers how he suddenly became prickly and said he wanted to commit suicide. He was like a wolf cub, unruly and undisciplined.

If you're soft, he'll be soft; if you're hard, he'll be even harder.

"Okay, then I'll head over there."

"Wait a minute," Huo Chang'an called out to her.

Can I come with you?

His eyes held expectation, but he said in a particularly forlorn voice, "I want to go out for some fresh air."

"I don't know why, but sometimes I feel like I'm still in prison, even though the sun is so bright outside..."

"Okay, okay, let's go together."

Sang Ning originally wanted to go with Huo Jingya, but now she'll go with Huo Chang'an instead.

This child, please don't become depressed!

She quickly went to push the wheelchair, but then she thought about the mothers pushing strollers, who seemed to be carrying a lot of supplies in their strollers.

So she found her water bag and filled it with some warm water.

We don't need to bring any food; we were planning to rip off Fatty anyway.

"What else should I bring?"

toilet paper?

Yes, we also need to bring an extra set of clothes, in case he doesn't have time to use the restroom...

The locals here wipe their bottoms however they want, using all sorts of things like stones, withered grass, tree bark, or corncobs.

Sang Ning couldn't stand it, so as soon as she arrived, she went to the street and bought bamboo and wooden toilet sticks and straw paper.

When going out, of course you should take straw paper.

She took out two sheets of paper, folded a set of clothes, and put them into her bundle.

Huo Chang'an waited for a while and saw her come out carrying a bundle and a water bag, which she hung on the handle of her wheelchair.

My heart trembled violently.

In the past, when he attended banquets, he would have servants to take care of his clothes, so as not to spill wine and soil them. He usually had two spare sets of clothes and accessories.

Unexpectedly, even in this situation, Ning'er is still so considerate and thoughtful.

She never looked down on him because of his downfall, and still treated him like a prince.

How can one be so virtuous?

Huo Chang'an felt a mix of emotions—bitterness, sweetness, and angst.

He wished he could fly at that moment, kill the treacherous officials, restore order to the court, and avenge his family's monstrous hatred.

Then, he hugged the girl who had given him everything...

When he reached the carriage, he braced himself against the edge of the carriage with his hands, and was about to use his arm strength to jump up when a strong force came from behind and pulled him up in one go.

I almost fell flat on my face again!

Forget it.

Ning'er can be a bit reckless at times, but she's also very genuine and adorable.

"Fourth Brother, Master Fatty is a generous man. You should eat a lot when you go. If you can bring some back, please do so. Our whole family, young and old, is waiting to eat."

Huo Jingya gave a loud instruction.

She couldn't say anything about ripping people off in front of the servant, so she could only remind her fourth brother in this way.

Huo Chang'an turned around angrily, his phoenix eyes almost spitting fire, and even the scars that had not fully healed were tinged with pink.

"Huo Jingya! You're so rude and unruly, acting like a madwoman all day long! Do I need you to teach me how to behave?"

Huo Jingya shrank her neck.

Fourth Brother is moody again!

They used to criticize her for being rude and unruly, and they still criticize her now. In this situation, what's the point of being concerned about etiquette and manners?

Sang Ning carried the wheelchair into the car, then got in herself, winked at Huo Jingya, and gave her a reassuring look.

Huo Jingya grinned: We're having something delicious again today!

Let's make a big table!

*

Sang Ning had witnessed the "magnificence" of the prefectural governor's mansion last time, and today he witnessed the "wealth" of the richest family in Liangzhou.

A tiny, two-meter-wide door, even more shabby than the prefectural governor's mansion.

Fortunately, it's newer than the prefectural governor's mansion, and there's no paint chipping.

Her hopes for Liangzhou City were completely dashed.

It also makes one lament the vast regional wealth disparity of this era, where the lives of ordinary people in the capital and those here are practically worlds apart.

But each has its own hardships and difficulties.

The servant and Sang Ning lifted Huo Chang'an over the threshold. Just as they closed the door, a dog barked behind them.

A white shadow pounced on Sang Ning like lightning, trying to bite her leg.

But the next moment, it convulsed and became a corpse.

A wooden arrow, about the length of a hand, pierced the white dog's throat; the arrow had flown from Huo Chang'an's sleeve.

This is a curly-haired dog, somewhat resembling a larger Bichon Frise, with a silver bell hanging around its neck. It's clearly a wealthy family's pet.

The servant immediately collapsed.

"It's all over, it's all over, this is the Second Madam's lucky charm, we're doomed..."

"Last time, when Green Peach made Zhao Cai sick, he was beaten with ten strokes of the cane. This, this, this is dead!"

The second wife will kill him!

No, he didn't kill her at all, it was...

The servant looked at Huo Chang'an.

"Are you stupid?"

Sang Ning pulled out the wooden arrow, picked up the dead dog, and threw it out the door in an arc.

I'm sure it'll be picked up and eaten in no time, leaving no trace.

"If you dare to tell anyone, I'll say you did it."

Sang Ning grabbed the servant's sleeve, inserted the wooden arrowhead inward, and wiped away the bloodstains.

Then he returned the arrow to Huo Chang'an.

The servant was completely bewildered by this action, and when he came to his senses, he realized that he was now in the same boat as them.

God!

How could this woman be so cunning!

"May you have wealth, may you have wealth—"

A woman's voice could be heard calling from not far away.

"Hurry up and take us to see your master!" Sang Ning kicked the stupid servant.

"Oh, right, come with me quickly."

This insignificant little incident passed quickly.

Sang Ning and Huo Chang'an arrived at the front hall.

Once inside, I realized that the mansion was quite grand. Although my aesthetic sense wasn't great, it was clear that a lot of money had been spent to build it.

As for why the entrance was built so modestly, Huo Chang'an said it was because it couldn't exceed the size of the prefect's mansion!

Sang Ning understood.

Fatty's got money!

But Xu Wude, who was rich, was really stingy. He only served four dishes, all of which were vegetarian.

Roll out dough sheets, make cold shredded radish salad, stir-fry leafy greens with garlic, and stir-fry eggs with chopped scallions.

At least there were two bowls of noodles, made with refined flour.

"Oh! Young Master Huo is here too? Look at all I've prepared, only four dishes."

Xu Wude slapped Yuan Yuan's head, looking quite annoyed.

"It's alright, I don't have an appetite anyway," Huo Chang'an said indifferently.

He's so fat, it's obvious he eats too much meat. He doesn't even serve a decent dish when he invites people over; he just doesn't take people seriously.

I guess they just want to get the shop back with the least amount of money they have.

He wouldn't give him that thought.

Xu Wude couldn't keep up the act any longer, and the smile on his face disappeared.

"Young Master Huo doesn't know, this isn't the capital. Resources are scarce! You eat stewed chicken, stewed fish, and pork hock every day, while I only get to eat them once a month."

What nonsense!

He got this weight from eating this only once a month.

Sang Ning chuckled.

Correction: "He doesn't eat these things in the capital."

"What should we eat?" Xu Wude had never been to the capital and was genuinely curious.

"The food included: steamed lamb, steamed bear's paw... glutinous rice stuffed duck, braised quail, braised goose... stir-fried fresh mushrooms, smoked three delicacies, assorted stuffed intestines, stir-fried clams, stir-fried silver threadfin, smoked knife fish... stir-fried crab meat, steamed pumpkin... three delicacies osmanthus soup, red meatballs..."

Sang Ning recited the entire Manchu Han Imperial Feast in one go.

Finally, he added, "Occasionally I eat: ten ginseng and ten abalone Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, rock sugar bird's nest anti-wave fish, pebble roasted kangaroo, giraffe stewed with elephant."