Chapter 40: Shen Qian Fell Flat on Her Face

Jiang Wan was still carrying Song Jiuyuan when they returned to the ruined temple. Inside, everyone else remained fast asleep, and no one witnessed the scene.

Song Jiuyuan let out a quiet sigh of relief—he really didn’t want anyone else seeing him in such a sorry state.

Jiang Wan seemed to have guessed something, so she quickly brought him back to their spot and took out a set of clothes from her bundle.

“Quick, put these on. I’ll block the view for you.”

She turned her back and thoughtfully used the old clothes to shield him from any nonexistent onlookers. Song Jiuyuan felt a gentle warmth in his heart and silently changed out of his half-drenched clothes.

After a while, Jiang Wan finally heard his quiet voice, “Thank you.”

She truly loved him deeply. Even though he currently had no romantic feelings for her, he swore to treat her well from now on.

Jiang Wan had no idea about the chaotic thoughts running through Song Jiuyuan’s mind. Since he was already settled, she let out a yawn and went back to sleep.

The night passed peacefully. When morning came, everyone was delighted to discover that the rain had lightened. Though it was still falling, it had turned into a light drizzle.

Song Jiuli was full of hope. “At this rate, the rain should stop soon, right?”

“Maybe.”

Jiang Wan wasn’t as optimistic—not about the rain stopping, but about the problems that might follow once it did.

For breakfast, they steamed yam again. On the other side, the Song family had been too greedy the night before and devoured Xu Wei’s chicken.

Now in the morning, they had little to eat and had to settle for the wild herbs Song San’s wife had gathered yesterday. Though tasteless, they could at least stave off hunger for now.

Xu Wei didn’t eat. His eyes were deep in thought, as if something weighed heavily on his mind.

Sure enough, by mid-morning, the rain completely stopped. Ren Bang sent Xiao Deng to scout ahead. A while later, Xiao Deng returned, face filled with worry.

“Boss, the rain has stopped, but the road ahead is still blocked.”

“We can’t keep waiting. Let’s clear the path ourselves!”

Ren Bang gritted his teeth. They couldn’t afford to be delayed any longer—it was time to move.

With the officials deciding to resume travel, no one dared protest even if they were unwilling. They could only obediently pack up their things and get ready to depart.

Jiang Wan grabbed a handful of dried grass from the temple ruins. With a few quick turns of her fingers, she wove a crude pair of straw sandals.

“Put these over your shoes.”

The outside was all mud, and their cloth shoes were slippery.

“Big sister-in-law, you’re amazing!”

Ever since Song Jiuli had changed her opinion of Jiang Wan, her compliments had gotten much sweeter. But Jiang Wan didn’t have time for small talk—she quickly wove a pair of straw sandals for each of them.

“Everyone, put them on.”

“Okay.”

Madam Song trusted Jiang Wan completely and followed her lead in strapping the straw sandals over her own shoes.

Watching them wear the ugly straw sandals over their shoes, Shen Qian curled her lip in disgust.

“Ugly as sin!”

The rest of the Song family didn’t care even if they heard her. Jiang Wan certainly didn’t bother explaining anything.

However, Madam Chen trusted Jiang Wan. She grabbed a handful of grass and said, “Miss, I’d like to learn how to weave straw sandals from you.”

She didn’t think too much of it—just that the journey was long and their shoes would eventually wear out. With no silver to buy new ones, straw sandals were better than going barefoot.

“I’ll teach you.”

Jiang Wan taught her step by step. Madam Chen was smart and picked it up quickly, feeling very grateful to Jiang Wan.

At first, no one really understood the point of Jiang Wan’s idea—until they left the temple and stepped into the slippery mud.

Shen Qian immediately slipped and fell flat on her face.

“Aaaah!”

Covered in mud, Shen Qian frantically tried to wipe the dirt from her face, only to smear it even more until she looked like a clay statue.

Jiang Wan couldn’t hold back a chuckle. Song Jiuli was even more unrestrained and pointed at her, laughing. “Shen Qian, it’s not New Year’s yet—you don’t have to bow so dramatically!”

“Shut up!”

Furious, Shen Qian was about to throw a tantrum, but when she met the sharp warning glance of a nearby official, she instantly shrank like a frightened quail.

“Mother, let’s hold on tight to each other so we don’t fall.”

Jiang Wan held onto Madam Song with one hand and Song Jiuli with the other, while Song Jiuli lightly supported Song Jiuchi.

With the straw sandals on, their steps weren’t fast, but they were steady. Song Jiuli proudly praised Jiang Wan.

“Big sister-in-law, you’re so smart.”

Ahead, another person slipped and fell—this time, it was Concubine Duan. Song Jiuli chuckled again.

Many people slipped along the way, and everyone cast envious glances at the straw sandals on Jiang Wan’s group.

The Chen family, who had followed Jiang Wan’s lead in making straw sandals, also became the envy of others.

“Good thing you were smart, wife, and learned from that girl from the Song family.”

Chen Ce couldn’t help but feel relieved. Otherwise, they too might have been among those falling face-first in the mud.

Madam Chen smiled gently. “I just thought, if our shoes wear out, at least straw sandals are better than bare feet.”

“I’m sorry, wife, for making you suffer with me.”

Chen Ce felt guilty. If she hadn’t married him, she wouldn’t have to go through this hardship.

Madam Chen was moved, her eyes brimming with tears. “What nonsense are you saying? Marry a chicken, follow the chicken. Marry a dog, follow the dog. I’ll share every joy and sorrow with you.”

Their quiet, tender conversation wasn’t loud, but Jiang Wan heard it clearly. A trace of envy surfaced in her eyes.

This kind of mutual, enduring love was too rare in the modern world. Ugh, another day of being touched by someone else’s romance.

Song Jiuyuan happened to glance over and saw the envy in her eyes. He couldn’t help but wonder—could it be she wanted to hear sweet words too?

So deep down, she still hoped he could love her after all.

Before long, they reached the place where the road was blocked. Ahead lay only one path, but it was now piled high with mud and debris.

It was caused by a landslide during the heavy rain, triggered by loosened soil from one side. The area was actually very dangerous.

Jiang Wan instinctively warned Ren Bang, “Brother Ren, this area already had a landslide. The rain just stopped—it’s still very dangerous.”

“But we have to get through.”

Ren Bang sighed. They couldn’t remain trapped in a ruined temple at the edge of a village forever—eventually, they’d starve to death.

He called everyone forward to help. Except for children like Song Jiuyuan and Chen Wenhao, no one could stand idly by.

Song Jiuchi placed Song Jiuyuan to the side under the care of Madam Song, then joined the others in helping.

“Be careful, all of you!”

Song Jiuyuan’s heart pounded wildly with an ominous feeling.

Jiang Wan nodded to him and joined the group. Ren Bang had already begun assigning tasks.

There were many people, so clearing the debris wasn’t too difficult. Everyone got busy, working energetically.

“Host, danger!”

The little spirit, who hadn’t shown up in a long time, suddenly screamed a sharp warning in Jiang Wan’s mind. The high-pitched cry nearly burst her eardrums.

But she reacted quickly. Realizing what the little spirit meant, she shouted while leaping backward,

“Quick! Everyone, run!”

“Jiang Wan, what nonsense are you—”

Shen Qian had just begun to sneer when her eyes suddenly widened. A violent rumble erupted as the mud ahead surged forward like a wave, crashing down upon them.