At the table, a scholar in a blue robe slapped the table and declared, “You’re talking nonsense! Prince Yongning is a man of great talent and strategy—he’ll surely keep our Yongning Prefecture safe and peaceful!”

The scholar in green robes shook his head.
“Brother Zichu, the state of the world now… no single man can save it.”

The scholar in white robes nodded in agreement.
“Brother Zichu, the world is in chaos, and it’s getting worse. The peace in Yongning Prefecture may last for a while, but not forever.”

Unconvinced, the blue-robed scholar stiffened his neck and argued,
“Brother Zhongfu, don’t be so alarmist. Just look—Yongning is peaceful now, isn’t it?”

The white-robed scholar shook his head.
“The peace we see in Yongning today is like a castle in the sky—an illusion that will vanish in an instant.”

The green-robed scholar was startled by those words. He quickly looked around and warned the white-robed scholar in a low voice, “Brother Zhongfu, be careful what you say.”

The white-robed scholar also realized his words were too bold.

He lifted his teacup to hide his unease.

Still, the three continued their whispered debate, though their voices had lowered so much that Qian Chunhua couldn’t make out what they were saying anymore.

But just from those few lines earlier, Qian Chunhua understood: they were arguing about whether Yongping Prefecture would descend into chaos like the other provinces.

Truthfully, Qian Chunhua agreed more with the white-robed scholar.

The world had already fallen into chaos; Yongning Prefecture couldn’t stay out of it forever.

Perhaps with Prince Yongning’s protection, the turmoil would be delayed or at least less severe.

After listening for another half hour, Qian Chunhua glanced at the time in her space.

It was time to head back and prepare lunch for the children.

She held Qingfeng’s hand and left the teahouse.

The conversation she overheard had left her with a sense of urgency.

While she had a full supply of goods stored in her space, there was no cooked food.

In times of famine, even the smell of food could spell disaster for her and her children.

Whether Yongning’s peace was real or just an illusion, she couldn’t take any chances.

She needed to be ready to flee at any time. But in this world, where could she run to for safety?

Qian Chunhua was lost in thought.

Back home, she made a simple noodle dish.

After everyone finished eating, Qingfeng brought out the candied hawthorns and shared them with his older siblings.

Seeing a treat they had once dreamed of, Qingsong and Xiaoling were overjoyed.

Unfortunately, the taste was disappointing.

It didn’t even compare to the braised pork their mother made.

Still, with thrift in mind, the two children ate the candied hawthorns even though they didn’t like them.

On their way to school, they brought the last two sticks for their grandmother and uncle.

After the children left, Qingfeng went to take a nap on the heated bed (kang).

Qian Chunhua sat dazed on the kang. It had been over ten days since she transmigrated to the Min Dynasty.

Slowly, she had begun to form a bond with the three children.

But in these chaotic times, protecting three children as a widow was not going to be easy.

She had no martial skills, only medical knowledge.

Whether she stayed hidden in Huanghualing or fled somewhere else, what she needed to do now was prepare at least a year’s worth of ready-to-eat meals.

Everything else… she’d leave to fate and react as the situation developed.

All she could hope for was that Yongning Prefecture would stay peaceful.

Still, she decided to open the teahouse as soon as possible.

Travelers coming from all directions could bring her the information she needed.

That would be better than sitting clueless in the village.

Even the county town had limited news.

Having made up her mind, Qian Chunhua decided to use the time while setting up the teahouse to prepare more cooked food.

She got off the kang, ready to start cooking.

Knock knock knock.

Suddenly, someone knocked at the courtyard gate.

Qian Chunhua was puzzled—who would come at this hour?

She curiously opened the gate to see Sun Meiping, with Zhao Xiaoyun standing beside her.

“Second Sister-in-law,” Sun Meiping greeted with a smile.

“Second Aunt,” Zhao Xiaoyun followed, shyly.

Qian Chunhua smiled warmly and welcomed them in. “Oh, it’s Xiaoyun! Come in, come in.”

She brought the two into the room and sat on the kang.

There was no central hall in the east wing; meals and guests were all hosted in the room with the kang.

Fortunately, they were all women, so there was no need for formality.

That morning, the Zhao family had finished dividing the grain, and from now on, the brothers would truly go their separate ways.

That afternoon, Zhao Daqing took Zhao Yongqiang and Zhao Yongwen to the ancestral hall.

Today, they would revise the clan register, and Zhao Yongqiang would be officially expelled from the family.

“Second Sister-in-law, your house is so warm!” Sun Meiping exclaimed.

Not just the kang—the whole room felt warmer than outside.

Qian Chunhua chuckled and brought out a stick of candied hawthorn—the one she had bought for herself earlier in the county town but hadn’t gotten the chance to eat.

After the kids said it didn’t taste good, she had saved it for Qingfeng to enjoy.

Now that Zhao Xiaoyun was here, she decided to give it to her instead.

When she handed the candy to Xiaoyun, Sun Meiping quickly declined, “No need, Second Sister-in-law. Save it for Qingfeng.”

Qian Chunhua smiled. “Qingfeng already had his. Come here, Xiaoyun.”

Xiaoyun glanced at her mother, then at her aunt.

With her mother’s nod, she accepted the treat.

The noise in the room woke Qingfeng.

He opened his eyes and was pleasantly surprised to see Xiaoyun.

“Xiaoyun!”

The two were about the same age and had always played well together, though Xiaoyun hadn’t spent much time in the village.

Still, their bond remained.

Qian Chunhua let Qingfeng and Xiaoyun play together on the kang.

Seeing her daughter so cheerful—much more than she was at home—Sun Meiping relaxed.

She had come to visit her sister-in-law not just for company, but to vent about the Zhao family’s main branch.

After the grain division that morning, Zhao Yongqiang and Li Cuihong had taken everything from the kitchen—pots, pans, dishes, you name it.

Not only that, they took the furniture, all the firewood, and even uprooted all the vegetables in the backyard—except the portion that had already been assigned to Qian Chunhua.

Their behavior made Zhao Daqing so furious he vomited blood again.

Even worse, Zhao Yongqiang had dug up yellow clay to make mud bricks for a wall to completely divide his household from the old man’s.

Listening to Sun Meiping’s rant, Qian Chunhua finally learned everything that had happened the day before and couldn’t help but sigh.

Zhao Daqing had realized the problem too late.

Those IOUs might never get repaid.

Still, kicking out Zhao Yongqiang—a poisonous snake—meant the old man was finally thinking clearly.

Sun Meiping continued to complain.
“Yongwen spoke to me about those IOUs. Even if his brother sold everything, he probably still couldn’t repay the debts. Let alone have food and money to support the old folks.”

She looked miserable.

The family split was supposed to be a good thing—but they’d ended up with a freeloader who had nothing and took everything.

Luckily, her own branch no longer had to be dragged down by the troublemakers, having been cut off from the clan.

As she grumbled, she couldn’t help but glance enviously at Qian Chunhua.

Her second sister-in-law had been wise—severing ties early and avoiding this mess entirely.

Zhao Yongqiang was in no position to support his parents in old age anymore.

Qian Chunhua watched her sister-in-law’s lips move nonstop, but in her heart, she was thinking:

They’re still caught up in these family squabbles…

But what’s more terrifying is— The world outside… is already falling apart.