Chapter 73: Could it be that Jiang Wan is the female lead?

“I’ll remember that. You’re not allowed to go back on your word in the future!”

Jiang Wan naturally understood what Song Jiuyuan meant. How could the mighty General not care about the wealth of his own estate?

It was just that the people who had been suppressing them—under the emperor and the Sixth Prince’s influence—were making it inconvenient for them to show themselves.

“Alright.”

Song Jiuyuan’s lips curled into a smile. He was someone whose word was as good as a decree. He would never forget the promises he made.

While they were talking, Jiang Wan subtly took out some herbs from her space, hidden in her back basket.

It wasn’t that she had misled Pan Hongyan; there were many herbs needed for the Heart Protection Pill, with the most precious ones being Lingzhi and Ginseng.

If she hadn’t coincidentally acquired a medicinal field last time, she probably wouldn’t have been able to gather all the herbs.

Watching Jiang Wan gain the favor of such important figures, not only did the Song family feel frustrated, but even Hua Xiao, with envy, had red eyes.

Could it be that she’s not the female lead at all? Maybe Jiang Wan is the real female lead?

Hua Xiao’s mind was full of questions. It shouldn’t be this way. Since the heavens had allowed her to travel to the ancient world, she should be the female lead.

Perhaps the hardships she was experiencing were simply part of her character development. Yes, that must be it, Hua Xiao comforted herself.

“Miss, are you picking wild vegetables?”

Song Erniang came over. Her delicate fingers, which had once been fair, had now become rough and darkened due to recent hardships.

“Mm.”

Hua Xiao spoke in a gentle tone, “Would you like some wild vegetables, Old Lady? These are shepherd’s purse, they’re edible.”

“Ah, thank you! You’re such a kind person.”

Song Erniang, having come from a more noble background, didn’t know much about wild vegetables, but recently she had learned a thing or two.

“No need to thank me. Helping each other is the right thing to do.”

Hua Xiao secretly glanced over at Lin Tingyu not far away. Unfortunately, the other person was leisurely biting into a steamed bun and didn’t even glance at her.

Song Erniang sighed. “It’s a pity not everyone thinks the same way.” She glanced casually in Jiang Wan’s direction.

“If it weren’t for their family, we wouldn’t have been exiled. And now, my husband has become like that. Yet they’re unwilling to lend a hand?”

Song Erniang’s gaze fell on her husband, who was rolling on the ground in pain, and her mother-in-law, who was laughing foolishly.

Hua Xiao felt pity rise in her heart. “So it turns out the Song family is so cruel. But aren’t you all family? It’s their duty to show respect for their elders.”

“Though you say that, you know the situation has changed,” Song Erniang said, her lips tight as she avoided mentioning any wrongdoings of her own family. Instead, she complained, “She’s not only helped the officials, but also saved Young Master Lin and that noble person.”

“Now who would dare to offend her? The officials will beat someone up at the slightest disagreement.”

She wiped away her tears. “You don’t know, Jiang Wan isn’t just a tigress; she’s incredibly fierce. She’s even killed wolves before.”

“Heavens!”

Hua Xiao gasped, a sense of déjà vu rising in her mind.

Could it be that Jiang Wan is naturally her rival?

Hua Xiao fixed her gaze on Jiang Wan, deep in thought. Not far away, Song Jiuyuan quietly reminded her.

“Be careful. Her gaze doesn’t seem right towards you.”

He was very sharp when it came to others’ gazes. Jiang Wan had noticed too, but she didn’t have the time to worry about it.

“Mm, I’ll be fine.”

A white lotus type of female lead would never be her friend. It was normal for her to plot against her.

They continued on their way, with Jiang Wan occasionally stopping to pick some herbs while Pan Hongyan, instructed by the Grand Tutor, helped out.

“Song Erniang.”

Pan Hongyan handed Jiang Wan a large bundle of herbs, leaving her at a loss whether to laugh or cry.

“Lord Pan, I only need the fruiting heads of the summer withering grass.”

But Pan Hongyan had picked the entire plant and handed her a large bunch. She couldn’t use so many, so she would have to secretly plant them in her space later.

“Oh, I don’t know herbs. But if you need them, just tell me and I’ll go pick them.”

Pan Hongyan scratched his head in a silly manner, much easier to get along with than his earlier cold demeanor.

“Alright, go pick some of the fresh tender leaves of the Houttuynia near the front.”

Jiang Wan directed him with ease. Seeing how obedient Pan Hongyan was, Song Jiuli couldn’t help but feel envious.

“Big sister, you’re amazing.”

“Stop talking nonsense, we need to hurry. Otherwise, we’ll fall behind and the officials will be upset.”

Although Jiang Wan had received favor from Ren Bang, she still tried to avoid causing him any trouble.

The place where they would stay for the night was near a mountain spring. Jiang Wan directed Song Jiuli and Pan Hongyan to process the newly picked herbs before preparing dinner.

What should they have tonight?

Looking at the spring, Jiang Wan’s eyes brightened. Taking advantage of no one looking, she slipped into a corner and entered her space.

Well, well, the fish she had previously stored in her space, which had only been the size of her thumb, had grown to three or four pounds.

Her eyes lit up as she secretly retrieved the fish from the space under the cover of the spring, then hurried back to the group.

“Tonight, we’re having fish.”

“Wow, big sister, you actually caught a fish!”

Song Jiuli’s eyes widened in amazement, her admiration nearly spilling out.

Song Jiuyuan and Song Jiuchi also quickly looked over, their expressions clearly saying: what is there that you can’t do?

“Thank you for your hard work, Wanwan.”

Song Da Niang smiled with gratitude. Naturally, the fish would be handled by Song Jiuyuan, and when Chen Ce saw this, he hurriedly went to the spring to catch fish as well.

From a distance, Lin Tingyu watched their laughter with a glimmer of envy, and this scene just happened to fall into Hua Xiao’s eyes.

She pouted sadly, got up, and quietly left. Her father was busy cooking for her and hadn’t noticed.

What Jiang Wan hadn’t expected was that Chen Ce seemed to have some luck, crouching down for quite some time and actually catching a fish the size of a palm.

Chen Niang laughed with her eyes narrowed, “Husband, you’ve worked hard.”

She knew her husband was doing this to provide for her and their children, and she felt warm inside.

The fish meat was tender, and the fish soup was fresh. While eating, Jiang Wan thought that she must open up a small stream in her space later when everyone was asleep.

She would use it to raise fish and seafood. The fish raised in the space’s spring were different; she felt her body growing lighter.

At this moment, Song Jiuyuan also felt something similar. His wound seemed to itch, as though it was healing. If Jiang Wan hadn’t forbidden it, he might have even tried standing up to see if he could walk by himself.

“This soup is so delicious!”

Song Jiuli exaggeratedly exclaimed, though she didn’t dare to shout too loudly, afraid that the officials would be displeased. But it was clear the whole Song family was salivating.

“Mother, I want fish.”

Song Yang stared intently at the fish in Jiang Wan’s pot, and Song San Niang quickly hugged him.

“Silly child, you’re thinking of fish again, but they want you dead.”

Teaching a child this way… Jiang Wan shot a cold glance, but Song San Niang quickly turned away, avoiding eye contact.

Guilty, perhaps?

Tap, tap, tap…

A strange noise echoed. Jiang Wan’s instincts kicked in, and she immediately told Song Jiuli and Song Jiuchi:

“Quick, get ready. It seems like some wild animals are coming.”

Her ears twitched, and her sharp hearing caught the sound. Everyone else heard it too, with some believing it and others not. But the Song family trusted her.

Those who didn’t believe soon regretted it. A shadow quickly appeared before them, and the person’s face seemed familiar.

It was Hua Xiao.

And behind her followed a group of wild boars.