Back in the side hall, Qiao Xin simply lit a fire, set up a clay pot, and began preparing breakfast.

Qiao Yunting swiftly rushed over and took the bag of rice from her hands.

“Mother, let me do it. You take a break.”

Qiao Xin stepped aside and squatted down to add more firewood.

Qiao Yunqing, meanwhile, picked up a kitchen knife, weighed it in his hands, found a large coarse porcelain bowl, and began sharpening the knife with a rhythmic scraping sound.

Then, he took a piece of cured meat from a rough clay jar, washed it, and started chopping it into fine pieces.

Zhang Shi instinctively wanted to take over the task, but a single glance from Qiao Xin rooted her to the spot.

She lowered her head in confusion, feeling restless inside.

She couldn’t understand why her mother-in-law insisted on making her husband and eldest brother-in-law learn how to cook.

Other families valued the saying, “A gentleman stays away from the kitchen,” but their family seemed to go against the norm.

If her husband started cooking for himself, would she still have a place in this household?

Qiao Xin directly instructed, “Don’t just stand there blankly. Go help your sister-in-law wash up the children. We’ll be eating soon. The journey is tough—let the men do more work. What’s there to feel bad about?”

Hearing this, Zhang Shi realized that her mother-in-law wasn’t looking down on her.

Relieved, she immediately went to the carriage to help.

The children, who had been struggling to sleep, perked up at the sound of the knife scraping.

One by one, they poked their heads out of the carriage like little birds, their big eyes fixed on Qiao Yunqing.

Under Qiao Xin’s instructions, Qiao Yunqing skillfully poured the minced meat into the heated clay pot, then used two bamboo sticks to stir it continuously.

The meat gradually separated into fine bits, releasing more oil. The enticing aroma filled the air, teasing everyone’s noses.

Mouths watered with hunger.

It smelled amazing!

After frying the minced meat until fragrant, Qiao Yunqing added clean water to the pot and then poured in coarse rice.

Now, it just needed time to cook into a thick, flavorful porridge.

However, with fourteen people to feed, one pot of porridge wouldn’t be enough. More food had to be prepared.

Qiao Xin separated some embers, spread stones over them, and laid out thick flatbreads that had been prepared in advance to warm them up.

Even after all this, something still felt missing. A meal without any greens just didn’t seem right.

She stood up, patted the dust off her hands, and said, “Keep an eye on the food and flip the flatbreads when needed. I’m going to check if there are any wild vegetables nearby!”

Even though it was late autumn, wild herbs like plantain and purslane could still be found, though they weren’t as tender as in spring.

These wild greens were not to be underestimated. In times of famine, they were lifesaving food.

The only reason she could still find them here was that the area was sparsely populated. If they were near a village, others would have picked them clean already.

By the time Qiao Xin returned with a bag of wild greens, the sky had fully brightened.

As she approached the side hall, the rich aroma of meat porridge greeted her.

Qiao Yunqing truly had a talent for cooking.

After just a few days of training, his skills were already better than the rest of the family’s.

Even at the main hall entrance, a few hungry children were squatting, watching eagerly.

But as soon as they saw Qiao Xin, they quickly ducked their heads back inside!

“Where are the eldest and second brothers?” Qiao Xin glanced around but didn’t see Qiao Yunxin or Qiao Yunqing.

Instead, Heng Wen and Qiao Yunting were guarding the fire with the children.

Qiao Yunting quickly replied, “Someone from the main hall came to ask for them. Eldest brother went with second brother. Mother, should I go check on them?”

Qiao Xin refused outright, “No need. They can handle it themselves. Besides, your Fourth Brother is still injured, and the kids here need to be fed. Let’s eat first.”

She chopped up some wild scallions and added them to the porridge for extra flavor.

A steaming pot of wild vegetable and minced meat porridge was finally ready.

The thick steam carried the rich fragrance throughout the room!

Crisp, golden-brown bits of meat floated in the soft, tender rice porridge, as if calling out: Come, eat me!

Since they were on the road, Qiao Xin didn’t bother with formal dining rules.

She distributed the food directly—each child got half a flatbread and a bowl of porridge, while the adults received a slightly larger portion.

Anyone still hungry could have seconds, but no one was allowed to snatch food from others.

The younger members of the Qiao family were already used to Qiao Xin’s rules.

After receiving their food, they held onto their bowls and looked at Qiao Xin expectantly, as if waiting for a signal.

Qiao Xin waved her hand. “Eat!”

Like a battle horn being blown, the family immediately dug in.

They ate with such enthusiasm that no one even looked up, focusing solely on their food.

Even Hengwen, caught up in the atmosphere, unconsciously ate an extra flatbread.

So embarrassing—he was completely stuffed!

After the meal, the daughters-in-law took the initiative to clean up. Meanwhile, Qiao Yunting and Qiao Xin checked Hengwen’s wound again.

Yesterday, it had been raw and bloody, but today it was already turning red and itchy.

The speed of recovery was almost miraculous.

Hengwen was shocked. He understood just how precious this medicine was. If soldiers on the battlefield had access to it, countless lives could be saved!

He tentatively asked, “Madam, do you have any more of this medicine? Could you sell me a few more doses?”

Qiao Xin silently cursed her internal system for putting her in such a difficult situation.

Hearing his request, she instantly understood the implications.

But she didn’t see this as a good thing—if mishandled, it could bring endless trouble!

She sighed dramatically and put on a regretful expression. “You think it’s that easy? This was the only one my father left me after years of safekeeping. He once helped an old man while hunting, and this was a gift in return.

It’s been so many years—where could I possibly find more? If I had known how effective it was, I would’ve kept it as a family heirloom instead of giving it away so easily. You really got lucky.”

“Possessing a treasure invites trouble.” Heng Wen understood this better than anyone.

“If you have any conscience at all, keep this a secret. Never bring it up again,” she warned.

Heng Wen sighed. “That’s truly a shame…”

“What’s there to be sad about? It saved your life, didn’t it? Speaking of which, you’ve recovered quite a bit—when are you leaving?”

Feeding one extra person for free was too much pressure!

Heng Wen coughed into his fist, slumped weakly against the carriage, and shakily pulled out a pouch from his waist.

He handed it to Qiao Xin. “Mother, please let me stay a few more days. I still feel weak and need to recover. This is my contribution for food. If it’s not enough, I’ll repay you later.”

Qiao Xin swiftly accepted the pouch.

Since he was so cooperative, she didn’t push him out just yet.

However, she needed to prepare ahead.

If Hengwen wanted to pass as Qiao’s fourth son, he had to at least know the family members’ names and background!

“Since you’re staying, get to know the family. Third Brother, stay with him in the carriage and tell him about everyone—their names, ages, and past occupations.”

Qiao Yunting was bewildered.

Heng Wen had been cold and distant earlier—why did he suddenly change his mind?

But since Qiao Xin gave the order, he complied.

Hearing that Qiao Xin’s family was looking for a place to settle, Heng Wen sincerely suggested, “If you want a place with plenty of farmland, Weizhou Prefecture is a great choice.

The government is offering land to settlers—anyone who clears a plot owns it. There’s a five-year tax exemption, and for ten years, you only pay thirty percent of the tax.”

Qiao Yunting’s eyes lit up. “Is that true?”

“It’s a recent policy, not widely known yet,” Hengwen confirmed.

Qiao Yunting was puzzled. “Why is the government being so generous?”

“There aren’t enough people, and too much land is left uncultivated. The locals are tough and don’t welcome outsiders. The government is trying to increase the population, especially by resettling landless refugees.”

“I need to discuss this with Mother first,” Qiao Yunting said.

In their family, major decisions were made by Mother and Second Brother.

He was just the messenger.