Chapter 14: Going to the County Town

In the following days, aside from checking on the patient in the space, Xia Qingfeng spent her time helping the villagers dig medicinal herbs on the mountain and manage the ones they had planted. The herbs on the outskirts of the mountain had mostly been dug up, but the deeper parts of the mountain were too dangerous, so Xia Qingfeng didn’t dare bring the villagers there.

Fortunately, though the village was poor, under the repeated warnings from the village chief, none of the villagers were greedy enough to risk their lives for money.

This put Xia Qingfeng’s mind at ease. After all, for villagers who had barely enough food for the year, the money from selling herbs was like a fortune. But they had managed to stay true to their hearts, valuing their families over any sum of money, which was truly admirable.

One day, Xia Qingfeng planned to go to the town to buy more grain to store in the space and also deliver the patterns she had drawn to the fabric shop owner.

After breakfast, Xia Qingfeng slung the crossbody bag she had made for herself, picked up Xiao Xiaoxiao, and was ready to head out.

At that moment, the Space Spirit suddenly spoke: “Feng’er, come into the space.”

Xia Qingfeng, unsure of what the Space Spirit wanted, quickly entered the space.

“What’s going on? Speak quickly, or we’ll miss Old Wang’s cart.”

“Feng’er, go search through Cang Qiyuan’s clothes and find a jade token,” the Space Spirit instructed.

Confused, Xia Qingfeng walked over to the nearby cupboard and started searching. Sure enough, she found a jade token.

The jade token was carved from mutton-fat white jade, shaped into a small “eagle.” Such warm, flawless white jade was rare to find. Though the eagle token was small, its craftsmanship was exquisite. Leaving aside its inherent value as a jade token, even as an object, it was worth a great deal of money. Xia Qingfeng carefully held the token and asked, “What is this jade token for?”

“Today, you need to go to the county. Take this eagle token to the Guangtong Exchange in the county town and collect ten thousand taels of silver. You can buy the grain there. After all, the town only has two grain shops, and you’ve already been to both. You’ve bought quite a bit of grain, so going back there might make people suspicious, especially since you’re a woman—it’ll draw more attention.”

Xia Qingfeng thought about it and agreed. Sigh, this backward feudal society placed so many restrictions on women.

She then took Xiao Xiaoxiao and rode in Old Wang’s ox cart to the town. Their first stop was the fabric shop, where they handed over the patterns to the female shopkeeper. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, they left.

Next, they went to the stable, where they rented a horse-drawn carriage and headed toward Qing Mountain County.

By the time they arrived at Qing Mountain County, it was already noon. They stopped at a street-side wonton stall and had a quick bowl of wontons before heading to the Guangtong Exchange.

The Guangtong Exchange was the largest money exchange in the county. Its grand entrance was impressive, with a black plaque framed in gold hanging above, bearing the golden embossed characters “Guangtong Money Exchange.” Xia Qingfeng hesitated for a moment but then stepped forward and entered.

A young attendant greeted her warmly: “Welcome, Madam, please come in.”

“Excuse me, could you please call your manager? I’m here to collect some money,” Xia Qingfeng said, showing the eagle-shaped jade token from Cang Qiyuan.

As soon as the attendant saw the jade token, his previously cheerful face immediately became serious. He said, “Please wait a moment,” and quickly ran to the back.

At that moment, the voice of the Space Spirit echoed in Xia Qingfeng’s ear, “Feng’er, when they ask, just follow what I told you to say.”

Xia Qingfeng was stunned and about to ask when a man in his thirties hurried out. Before Xia Qingfeng could speak, the man bowed slightly and said, “Please, Madam, may I see the jade token you just showed?”

Xia Qingfeng didn’t hesitate and handed him the eagle token. The man respectfully took it, studied it carefully, and then, with red eyes, asked, “Madam, do you know where our master is?”

Xia Qingfeng wasn’t sure how to answer when the Space Spirit spoke again: “Tell him that their master has been gravely injured and is currently being treated in a secluded place where he cannot be disturbed. Given the current situation, he is not in a position to show himself.” Xia Qingfeng passed this message to the man.

The man hesitated and asked, “May I see the master?”

“I have a letter for him,” Xia Qingfeng said, reaching into her crossbody bag, but instead, she retrieved the letter from the space. She handed it over to the man with a neutral expression. In her mind, though, she gritted her teeth and mentally chastised the Space Spirit, “I really am just a tool, being directed around by you. What were you thinking? The man is unconscious and couldn’t have written a letter. How dare you forge it? How could he possibly recognize your handwriting? What are you up to?”

At that moment, the man stepped forward with a respectful attitude and said, “My surname is Chen, and I am the manager here. This is indeed the master’s personal letter. The letter instructs me to prepare ten thousand taels of silver for you, along with a carriage and several guards to escort you to Youzhou. The master will also come to Youzhou once he has recovered.” He then handed the eagle token back to her, saying, “The master said that this token is for you. At any inns or taverns you visit on the way, as long as the plaque has an eagle head emblem in the upper left corner, you may rest assured.”

Xia Qingfeng took the eagle token in a daze, still in shock, and said, “…Then, I’ll trouble you.”

“Please wait here. It will take some time to prepare everything,” said Manager Chen. He then ordered the attendant to bring them some tea and snacks and went downstairs to make the necessary arrangements.

Xia Qingfeng sat down and placed Xiao Xiaoxiao on a nearby chair. She then used her thoughts to ask the Space Spirit, “What were you thinking? How dare you make decisions for Cang Qiyuan? He’s the Grand Marshal! If he wakes up and finds we’ve been casually commanding his subordinates, wouldn’t he just execute us on the spot? No, wait, he’d probably execute me; you don’t even have a physical body! And how did you even write the letter? You used Cang Qiyuan’s handwriting? How could you do that? Tell me now!”

“Feng’er, don’t worry, I’ll explain everything to you now. First, Cang Qiyuan is still unconscious. The safest place for him right now is your space. Not only can you provide him with life-sustaining nutrients, but you can also protect him from danger. Many people are looking for him. While he has many subordinates, the only truly safe place for him is here with you.”

“What you’ve done today doesn’t need to be explained once he wakes up. You’ve saved his life, and he will be grateful to you. Also, now that you’re safe, he is safe, and providing you with a carriage, guards, and travel expenses is the least he can do.”

“Lastly, imitating his handwriting wasn’t difficult. It just consumed a lot of my spiritual energy, so I need to rest for a while.”

“Okay, now we have the money, the carriage, the driver, and the bodyguards. We can set off early,” Xia Qingfeng said happily, excited at the thought of leaving sooner.

She quickly told her daughter about everything. Xu Xiaoxiao, upon hearing this, said, “Then we shouldn’t wait here. Let’s go buy some things first! Soon we’ll have ten thousand taels. You should store up more supplies with the few hundred taels you already have!”

“Good idea! Let’s go now,” Xia Qingfeng agreed. After telling the attendant they were leaving, she and Xu Xiaoxiao went out.

They spent the next while shopping for food, clothes, and other supplies, sneaking everything into the space. They didn’t buy any more herbs, as Xia Qingfeng had already earned enough money from selling the ginseng and had stored enough supplies. Furthermore, the first floor of the space hospital’s pharmacy was stocked with both Chinese and Western medicines. She and Xu Xiaoxiao were also delighted to discover that the items used in the space would automatically replenish. For example, used syringes, saline solutions, and other medical waste would be replenished once placed in the bag. However, anything placed inside the space from this world would disappear after use.

After learning this function of the space, Xia Qingfeng was overjoyed, shouting, “I’ve struck it rich! I’ve really struck it rich!” To her, these items were more valuable than real gold and silver.

Once they finished shopping, Xia Qingfeng stored most of the items in the space, leaving only two bags of pastries to avoid drawing attention.

Chapter 15: Preparing for Departure

When they returned to the Guangtong Bank, they saw a carriage parked in front. Shopkeeper Chen had already prepared everything. He first handed Xia Qingfeng a small box with both hands, saying, “Inside are silver notes worth five thousand taels, as per the master’s instructions. They’re all small denominations. There’s also a small box of gold, and a large box of silver has already been loaded onto the carriage.”

He then pointed to four people dressed in plain clothes behind him and said, “The master has ordered that Dao, Gun, Sword, and Halberd accompany the lady and follow her orders.”

Xia Qingfeng looked at the four men, noting their tall, straight posture and the bulging veins on their temples, clearly indicating strong martial skills.

The four of them stepped forward and saluted, “Cang Dao, Cang Gun, Cang Jian, Cang Ji greet the lady.”

Xia Qingfeng stepped aside to avoid the formal salute and said, “I’ll trouble you all to escort me on this journey.” After speaking, she bid farewell to Shopkeeper Chen and boarded the carriage. Dao, Gun, Sword, and Halberd arranged themselves—one driving the carriage and the other three riding horseback behind.

Once inside the carriage, Xia Qingfeng motioned for Xu Xiaoxiao to sit next to her and said, “Rest for a bit. I need to ask Space Spirit something.”

Xu Xiaoxiao yawned, casually lying down, “I’m going to sleep. Remember to be nice to Space Uncle.”

Xia Qingfeng scoffed and leaned back against the carriage wall, starting her conversation with Space Spirit.

“Space Spirit, what exactly is your relationship with Cang Qiyuan? How do you know so much about him? You even know the names of his subordinates.”

“I do have some connections with him, but it’s not convenient to tell you for now. You can trust these four people. Since our trip has been expedited, you still have things to do. I’ll be resting for a while. Just remember to check on Cang Qiyuan in the space every day…”

“Hey, why aren’t you telling me? Why do I have to let you control me? Hurry up and explain—hey, are you even listening…?” Xia Qingfeng, irritated, slapped the nearby box filled with silver.

“Madam? Is something the matter?” came a voice from outside. It was Cang Ji, who was driving the carriage.

“It’s nothing, nothing,” Xia Qingfeng replied, blowing on her hand to cool it.

“Madam, if I may ask, how is our master doing?” The three men outside had their ears pricked up, listening attentively.

“Uh… he’s not in immediate danger, but his injuries are too severe, and he still needs time to heal and recover.” Xia Qingfeng was also puzzled—on the surface, Cang Qiyuan’s wounds had been treated well, and perhaps due to his physical constitution, his recovery was fast. Many of the wounds had already scabbed over. But for some reason, he still hadn’t woken up. However, she couldn’t reveal this to the guards, or else the letter would be hard to explain.

Thinking quickly, she changed the topic. “The house in my village is old and dilapidated, and there aren’t any extra rooms. Also, I’m a widow, so it’s not convenient for me to stay under the same roof with four big men like you. How about this: you all stay in the town for now, and I’ll come to find you when I’m ready to depart.”

“Madam, you needn’t worry. The master has made arrangements in the letter. I will pretend to be your hired carriage driver. You can have me stay next door, and the other three will stay nearby on watch. They won’t show themselves, and you just need to provide us with meals. Hehe, the master says you are excellent at cooking,” Cang Ji said, then awkwardly scratched his head.

Xia Qingfeng… So he’s a foodie.

To satisfy these food-loving guards and ensure they would wholeheartedly escort her, Xia Qingfeng decided to buy plenty of ingredients as they passed through the town. She discussed with Xu Xiaoxiao about what dishes to make for dinner. In her past life, Xu Xiaoxiao was an even better cook than her, and in the end, it was Xia Qingfeng who decided the menu. The guards drooled as they overheard.

Finally, they reached Yong’an Village. Before entering the village, the other three guards had already hidden, and only Cang Ji drove the carriage into the village. This caused quite a stir in the village since, in Yong’an, not even ox carts were common.

The villagers, curious, followed the carriage and soon saw that it was Xia Qingfeng who had alighted.

“Xia family, why are you returning in a carriage?” A villager couldn’t help but ask. Mrs. Li, who lived next door, also came out to take a look.

“The carriage is one I rented, and the driver is someone I hired. It’s too late today, I’ll explain everything tomorrow,” Xia Qingfeng quickly replied. She then took Mrs. Li aside and said, “Aunt Li, the driver will need to stay here for a few days. As a widow, it’s not convenient for me to have a man in my house. Could he stay at your place for a while?”

Mrs. Li chuckled, “It’s no problem at all. He can stay in the same room as my third son. I’ll go get some bedding for him, and you can have him come over soon.”

After Mrs. Li went off with a smile, the villagers dispersed as the carriage entered the yard.

That night, with Xu Xiaoxiao’s help, Xia Qingfeng prepared six dishes: garlic ribs, braised pork, chicken with mushrooms, twice-cooked pork, blanching greens, and a pot of crucian fish tofu soup. The portions were generous, and she also steamed a big pot of buns. Around the chicken with mushrooms, she had placed a full circle of palm-sized corn cakes. Cornmeal was hard to find in this dynasty, but it had been discovered by Xia Yingjun in the space’s doctor dormitory. It seemed a doctor had bought it and forgotten to take it home. Xia Qingfeng treasured it. Even though it was only a 10 kg bag, the space could infinitely replenish items!

She also sliced up some ham and sausage. With six dishes and one soup ready, Xia Qingfeng first filled a large bowl with some of the braised pork and chicken with mushrooms, then asked Cang Ji to take them next door. She also asked him to bring the other three guards to join the meal.

As Cang Ji stepped out with the large bowl, the other three silently snuck into the kitchen. Xia Qingfeng, who was concentrating on serving the dishes, jumped in surprise—looks like they didn’t need to be called; they had come in response to the delicious smell!

Since there was only a small kang table at home, Xia Qingfeng served a little of everything, then brought Xu Xiaoxiao into the room to eat, leaving the four men to help themselves in the kitchen. When Cang Ji returned with the empty bowl, he saw the other three fighting over food. Wow, their chopsticks were moving so fast they nearly left afterimages!

Cang Ji quickly jumped into the fray…

By the time mother and daughter finished their meal and came out with their bowls, only Cang Ji remained in the kitchen, while the other three had vanished without a trace. Cang Ji looked at Xia Qingfeng with a mournful expression and said, “Madam, could you wait for me to return before serving the food next time? I didn’t get a taste of the braised pork today.”

Xia Qingfeng walked over and saw the scene—good heavens, not a drop of sauce remained, and the plates were as clean as if they’d been wiped down. Even the cornmeal pancakes and the steamed buns had all been devoured. Washing the dishes and cleaning up would be so much easier now!

Xia Qingfeng put down her bowl and couldn’t help but ask, “Doesn’t your master feed you well?” They looked like they hadn’t eaten in days, like starving ghosts. She didn’t dare voice the question aloud, but she thought it in her head.

Cang Ji scratched his head, looking a little embarrassed. “We’ve been searching for our master’s whereabouts recently, and we didn’t have much chance to eat properly. Plus, Madam’s cooking is so delicious. We often go to taverns with our master, but we’ve never had such tasty food.”

Of course, compared to the food here, it was divine! The space had all sorts of seasonings, far beyond anything available in this era!

After Xia Qingfeng promised to make more braised pork tomorrow, Cang Ji reluctantly left for next door. Xia Qingfeng and Xu Xiaoxiao also went into the space early to rest.