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Wei Yunlan wasn’t speaking on a whim.
Inside her Space, she had stockpiled quite a bit of baby-friendly rice cereal and goat’s milk.
Without exaggeration, it was enough to feed a small infant for at least three to four months.
According to the timeline set by the imperial court, they were required to arrive at Beiguan within two months. The northern region abounded in cattle and sheep; once they reached there, they could purchase two lactating goats or cows to provide fresh goat’s milk and cow’s milk for little Jiarong every day.
Even in the worst-case scenario, if Eldest Sister-in-law’s health completely failed and she could no longer breastfeed, then instead of waiting until that point of no return, it would be wiser to make a decisive plan now.
Moreover, the Wei family had never treated daughters-in-law as mere tools for childbirth or feeding. If it truly came to a life-or-death choice, preserving the adult was always the greater priority.
At some point, Wei Mingxuan had drawn closer and now followed behind Wei Yunlan, saying earnestly, “Eldest Sister-in-law, don’t worry. Big Sister, Father, Mother, and I will all take good care of Jiarong. You must get well quickly!”
Moments later, a weak but newly revitalized voice came from within the carriage—Cheng Yue’e spoke, “Alright, I will recover as soon as possible.”
What Yunlan said was right—only if she got better could she properly care for the child.
She still needed to watch over Jiayan and Jiarong as they grew up. She still awaited news from her husband. How could she let her body collapse at a time like this?
Beside the carriage, after Wei Yunlan and Wei Mingxuan had finished persuading Eldest Sister-in-law, up ahead, Madam Gao and Ningshuang had already gathered the medicinal herbs according to the prescription given by Madam Liu.
Manager Wang had inquired with the court officers and learned that there was a small river about half a kilometer ahead. Once they reached the riverside, the group could stop and rest.
“Yue’e, just hold on a little longer,” Madam Gao said as she climbed back into the mule cart. She resumed wiping Cheng Yue’e’s body using the previous method to prevent her fever from worsening before the medicine was ready.
Seeing that she was no longer needed here, Madam Liu said, “This servant will return to serve the Old Madam for now. If any issues arise when it’s time to decoct the medicine, Eldest Miss Wei may simply send someone to call for me.”
“Please wait, Madam,” Wei Yunlan called out, stopping her. She gave Ningshuang, who was waiting at her side, a subtle signal.
“We truly owe much to you today, Madam. Please take these items back with you, and do not decline.”
Ningshuang stepped forward and handed over a burlap sack and a string of cured meat. The burlap sack was bulging and heavy—it was clearly filled with grain. Whether coarse or refined, it had to weigh at least 7.5 to 10 kilograms—enough to feed a family of all ages sparingly for over ten days.
There was also an entire strip of smoked cured pork, richly marbled and exuding a strong, savory aroma…
Madam Liu’s eyes widened slightly at the sight, but she quickly forced herself to look away from the meat. Shaking her head, she said, “Eldest Miss Wei, this servant cannot accept such things.
If I may, could I instead ask to borrow a cooking pot from you?”
Wei Yunlan paused for a moment, then immediately understood her intention.
Compared to the remaining three families, the Bai family was now truly left with “nothing but poverty”—so destitute that they didn’t even have a pot to boil water. If not for that, they wouldn’t have had to gnaw on cold steamed buns with cold water last night.
More than food, what they desperately needed was clearly a cooking pot.
“That was my oversight. Madam, please wait a moment.”
Wei Yunlan circled around to the cart covered with oilcloth. Back at the small kitchen in the Marquis of Jinyang’s residence, she had stored away quite a few pots, bowls, and dishes, including several ceramic jars for decocting medicine.
The iron pot they used last night to cook the braised sausage rice had also come from that small kitchen.
Using the oilcloth for cover, Wei Yunlan tucked a few small pots and ceramic jars into the gaps between the sacks of grain. Then she took out an iron pot with a lid and handed it to Madam Liu. “Madam, take a look—will this pot do?”
Madam Liu nodded eagerly. “Of course it will! Thank you so very much!”
With a pot in hand, they could finally boil some hot water and soak the dry buns to soften them before eating. Otherwise, while the adults could endure it, the children’s throats would be scratched raw by the coarse texture—just watching them choke it down was heart-wrenching.
Wei Yunlan had Ningshuang escort Madam Liu back, leaving all the previously offered items behind—along with the pot—which were given to the Bai family in their entirety.
It wasn’t that they had stockpiled so much that they could afford to give things away casually. Wei Yunlan had her own considerations—befriending someone knowledgeable in medicine brought only advantages, no drawbacks.
These items could be seen as a goodwill gesture. With this bond established, it would be much easier to ask Madam Liu for medical assistance in the future.
After the delivery, Ningshuang returned and informed Wei Yunlan, “The Old Madam of the Bai family was initially adamant about not accepting the grain and cured meat. It was only after seeing the two children staring longingly at the food that she relented and accepted them.”
When the convoy stopped by the river, the Bai family’s Old Madam personally came, accompanied by Madam Liu, to express her gratitude. She even allowed Madam Liu to remain with the Wei family temporarily to help decoct the medicine.
After drinking the herbal remedy, Cheng Yue’e’s fever did indeed subside.
Madam Gao brought over a pot of freshly cooked meat broth from her own supplies to thank the Bai family’s Old Madam. But this time, no matter what was said, the Old Madam wouldn’t accept it.
“Ah Liu merely brought over a prescription. We’ve already received much kindness from your family. Please, Madam, do not offer anything more—this old woman is already overwhelmed with shame.”
The two little children from the Bai family, only about three or four years old, quietly withdrew their gazes upon hearing the refusal. Still, they turned their heads slightly, their noses twitching constantly, as if trying to take in a few more whiffs of the savory meat aroma.
Compared to the older children from the Feng family, these younger ones were clearly much more well-behaved and sensible.
When Madam Gao returned from the Bai family’s side, she commented admiringly, “The Bai family truly lives up to its reputation as a military household. Even the women and children possess a sense of dignity and pride—noble and upright!”
Unlike the Feng family, who had let their children run wild as soon as the journey began. The kids first tried to climb onto the Liang family’s carriage but failed, then began circling around the Wei family’s mule cart, clearly looking for an opportunity to sneak aboard.
It wasn’t until word got around that someone in their group had caught a cold that the Old Madam of the Feng family finally decided to rein in those children, fearing they might contract the illness.
The convoy rested by the riverside for over half an hour. Along the road, Cheng Yue’e drank a second bowl of medicine. The moment her fever showed signs of returning, it was quickly suppressed again.
After another check-up, Madam Liu said, “If she doesn’t have another fever tonight, then we can consider this hurdle crossed. But once we reach the inn, it would be best to have a proper physician take a look and prescribe some restorative tonics to help recover the young madam’s depleted health.”
As dusk approached, the convoy managed to reach an inn before the sun fully set.
True to his word, Xie Guan summoned the innkeeper and had them fetch a doctor.
It just so happened that the only resident physician in the town clinic had been summoned the day before to treat the county magistrate’s wife and wouldn’t be back for at least two or three days.
“It’s not that I don’t want to help you,” Xie Guan shrugged, “but you heard it yourselves—the doctor’s not here.”
He slapped a piece of broken silver, originally given to him by the Wei family, onto the table. “Waiter! Bring me a roast chicken and two taels of good wine!”
The innkeeper glanced at Xie Guan, who was already seated and digging into food and drink, then at Wei Yunlan and the others who were supporting the sick Cheng Yue’e. His expression softened with a hint of sympathy as he leaned in and whispered, “There’s actually a barefoot doctor in the nearby villages. He usually travels around treating people. If you’re in a hurry, you might consider calling him over to take a look?”
Madam Gao and Guixiang hesitated upon hearing that. A barefoot doctor, treating patients out in the countryside, didn’t exactly inspire confidence. They had heard stories before—about folk remedies in the villages gone wrong, even deadly in some cases…
But Wei Yunlan was clearly intrigued. The fact that the innkeeper took the initiative to mention this doctor hinted that the man likely had some merit.
In the capital, noble families were used to relying on imperial physicians or the most prestigious medical halls. But who was to say there were no truly skilled healers among the common folk?
Taking out a small piece of silver, Wei Yunlan handed it to the innkeeper and cupped her hands in a respectful gesture. “Please do us the favor of fetching that doctor.”