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

If you pinch it with your hand, water will come out.

"Wow! There's actually such a plant!" Huo Jingya exclaimed excitedly.

Then, without waiting, he found a rock and started digging.

Everyone started digging together, and even Yunshuixian eagerly joined in, afraid that someone else would snatch them all away.

They quickly dug up more than a dozen "big radishes".

"Fourth Sister-in-law, is this delicious?"

"It doesn't taste good, you can only sip the water."

That's great! At least I don't have to worry about dying of thirst!

With Fourth Sister-in-law around, I feel no longer thirsty.

Huo Jingya immediately wiped one clean and took a bite.

My mouth was full of water, and then there was a sugarcane-like texture. I chewed it a few times and spat it out.

"This water isn't sweet, it doesn't taste very good." She frowned.

She didn't know that this was the true taste of water from the western region.

It's even more bitter than the water in the capital.

The old lady glanced at her and said, "There's no such thing as so much sweet water. Our water tastes so good because your fourth sister-in-law had it treated by Mai Shi."

“It’s maifanite,” Sang Ning added with a smile.

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law exchanged a knowing smile.

Of course, the old lady thought she had protected the "Tai Sui meat".

Sang Ning, however, was using one lie to cover up another.

Fortunately, the old lady helped to mend the lie, and the lie was made into a complete circle.

So now, besides a piece of fish, there are a few stones scooped out of the spiritual spring in the jar as a disguise.

"Maifan stone, also known as longevity stone, is used to make the spring water in some mountains particularly sweet because it is filtered through Maifan stone. I accidentally picked up a few pieces."

Everyone suddenly realized why the water tasted so good!

Although the old lady knew it wasn't the effect of the maifan stone, she was still amazed by Sang Ning's knowledge. She had never heard of maifan stone or spindles before.

I couldn't help but ask, "Fourth brother's wife, how do you know all this?"

"I've read some miscellaneous books before, including one called Wilderness Survival, and I think it's about that."

Do you have such a book?

Xiao Jintang walked over carrying something, tilting her head and asking in confusion.

"I've never seen him in Father's study."

As is well known, Huo Qingchuan, the eldest son of the Huo family, was extremely learned and well-read. His study contained almost all kinds of books from Dongyang and even from other places.

Xiao Jintang spends all his time in the study, familiar with the classification and arrangement of books, as if he has never seen books like this before.

From a distance, Huo Chang'an called out, "There is such a book. I took it out to read before, but I forgot where I put it."

"Ah! Uncle Si lost such a great book. He really doesn't cherish it." Xiao Jintang said regretfully.

The old lady laughed and scolded Huo Chang'an: "You can hear me from this far away."

Everyone laughed.

Sang Ning laughed too. Huo Chang'an was obviously someone who didn't like reading. Who knew which book he had memorized it from!

Little Jintang excitedly held up what she was holding and proudly showed it off, "Fourth Aunt, look, I found bird eggs!"

"Wow, you actually found bird eggs! You're amazing! Much better than your aunt!"

Huo Jingya looked miserable again.

Xiao Jintang blushed with increasing excitement: "Let's cook it for my little sister!"

"Hmm...maybe we should just give up?" Sang Ning picked up an egg, looked at it, and then said.

"Why? Is it poisonous?"

"It's not poisonous. Look, this egg has a crack, so the baby birds are probably about to hatch. It won't taste good if you cook it, and it will kill a few little lives."

Looking at Jintang, who seemed to have just realized something, Sang Ning couldn't help but say, "Fourth Aunt loves to eat and believes that everything in the world is edible, a gift from heaven and earth to humankind. But there's one thing she never dares to eat because she feels it's cruel."

"It is the mother body that nurtures life."

"For example, bird eggs that are about to hatch, and fish with bellies full of eggs."

"The world goes through cycles, and everything has its cause and effect. Whether one prospers or perishes is the result of one's own choices."

Xiao Jintang couldn't understand the last sentence, but others could.

The old lady was shocked once again.

She still underestimated Sang Ning.

This is a person of great wisdom.

The old lady looked at her for a long time before finally making a decision.

"Ning'er, come with me."

The old lady called her over to Huo Chang'an.

Then she pulled the hairpin from her hair.

This is the headdress that the old lady has worn since she was young. It is said to be the first gift that Marquis Boyang gave her when she was still a nobody. Many people in the capital know this.

The hairpin was dark and of unknown material, resembling both wood and iron; it was quite ugly. It looked worthless, similar to the hairpin worn by that old woman in the countryside, so the officials didn't take it when they searched the house.

"I'm entrusting this Ruyi hairpin to you. Money is insignificant, but affection is precious. I hope you and your fourth brother can be as loving and devoted to each other as your father and I are for the rest of your lives."

The old lady put it on Sang Ning directly.

Ah this...

"Mother, this is a token of your love between you and Father, how can you give it to me?"

The main problem is... it's really ugly!

"Keep it safe. When the time comes, I'll have the fourth son tell you the story of this Ruyi hairpin." The old lady grabbed her hand as she was about to remove the hairpin, her voice carrying a deeper meaning.

His gaze turned to Huo Chang'an.

Huo Chang'an nodded almost imperceptibly.

The old lady smiled and placed Sang Ning's hand and Huo Chang'an's hand together.

"Fate is the most wonderful arrangement by God."

"This is how it is between me and the Marquis, and it's the same for the two of you."

"Ning'er, I'm entrusting the fourth prince to you."

"This child was born prematurely and was weak from birth. It took several years to recover, but he also became lazy and undisciplined. He didn't like studying literature and his martial arts skills were mediocre. Among the Huo family's sons, he was not outstanding."

Huo Chang'an felt somewhat embarrassed: "Mother~"

Why bring this up?!

"But I can assure you that he is pure of heart and self-disciplined, and he doesn't have the bad habits that are common among scions of noble families."

"He's just a bit too assertive sometimes, which is worrying."

Ignoring Huo Chang'an's occasional coughs, the old lady continued talking for a long time.

Finally, she said, "Your mother made you the head of the family during the most difficult time because she saw that only you had the ability. Don't worry, now that you're the head of the family, you'll be the head of the family for life. Even if the Huo family returns to Gao Hui in the future, you will still be the head of the family."

The old lady may have wanted to reassure Sang Ning, but that's not what Sang Ning wanted at all!

She doesn't want to be one at all, okay?

However, judging from her words, it seems that the old lady knows that the Huo family can turn things around?

Is there something you're relying on?

As soon as the old lady let go, Huo Chang'an immediately withdrew his hand.

Anyone who didn't know better would think he was very disdainful.

But his blood-red earlobes had already given him away.

She is indeed quite innocent.

"Get out!"

The old lady laughed and scolded again, then stood up, supporting herself on her knees.

After handing the Ruyi hairpin to Sang Ning, the tension that had been building up inside her finally eased.

The discomfort in my chest is getting more and more obvious; I need to rest.

After the old lady left, the two did not speak to each other again.

Li Yuzhi had Jintang bring over some wild vegetable soup for the two of them.

Huo Chang'an was just about to say something to him to lighten the mood when the kid ran away like he'd done something wrong!

"This kid..."

Sang Ning suddenly grabbed his hand.

The boy froze.

The eyelashes trembled rapidly.

"Do, do what?"

"Listen, can you hear something?"

A bird flapped its wings and left the branch.

The wind rustled the sparse leaves, creating a dry, rubbing sound.

Also, send over some minor noises.

Huo Chang'an's expression changed drastically. "Run! They're bandits!"

They've come looking for us again!

It’s really haunting!

Immediately, everyone evacuated.

Sang Ning stayed behind to erase some traces.

As they left, the voices were already very clear; they were indeed bandits.

"This mountain only has one exit on the east side. A few women and children probably wouldn't dare to go deep into the mountains. We'll definitely be able to catch them!"

"You're just too impatient. You can wait outside just as long. I don't believe they won't come out!"

"Hehe, big brother, those women are all beautiful, I can't wait any longer. Besides, they still have grain on them, we have to catch them quickly!"

"That's true. Oh? There it is!"

One of the bandits shouted and looked at the long-haired woman with her back turned.

"Haha! I saw it first! This one is mine!"

The bandits rushed over.

"Are you looking for me?" the woman asked softly as she turned around.

But when she turned around, all she saw was long hair and her back!