"You can't possibly not have noticed!" Big Beard said with astonishment. "Forget about distant examples, just look among these women—is there any who's as hardworking and uncomplaining as your wife?"
Being important prisoners of the court, he had been closely observing the Xie family's every move along the journey, especially Xie Mubai and his wife.
He had initially thought this noble Shizi would suffer greatly, but unexpectedly, he was living more comfortably than even him, a Yamen runner.
Throughout the entire journey, he was the only one sheltered from wind and rain.
Coincidentally, a woman nearby stood with arms akimbo, cursing loudly.
She complained that her husband was useless—she hadn't even enjoyed marital bliss before being implicated and exiled to this barbaric land.
Hearing this, Xie Mubai felt a slight stir in his heart.
It was true—that ugly woman had been beyond reproach in her treatment of him.
Even though he was penniless and unable to move his legs, she had taken meticulous care of him without a single word of complaint.
When she spoke of protecting him for life, did she mean she wanted to spend the rest of her days with him?
And her earlier mention of divorce was probably just words spoken in anger.
If she didn't deeply love him, that ugly woman wouldn't have gone to such lengths.
At this thought, Xie Mubai couldn't help but feel grateful.
But even so, he wouldn't fall in love with her.
He clearly understood that gratitude and love were not the same.
Scarface, concerned that Big Beard might be tired, came to take over shortly after.
Although the road was difficult, the group managed to reach the village ahead during the hottest part of noon.
There were no post stations in the village, so they had to rest at the dilapidated temple at the village entrance.
Though dirty and messy from years of disuse, the temple was at least cool.
With Hu Dahai around, Shen Wan and Xie Mubai received free large baked cakes for lunch.
Sun Shi, having money, naturally bought baked cakes too.
Seeing that they all had baked cakes, Xie Murong turned pale with anger.
Though she gritted her teeth in resentment, she could only force herself to gnaw on the Wo Wo Tou in her hand.
If she didn't eat it now, even this Wo Wo Tou might not be left.
Shen Wan borrowed a small pot from the Yamen runners and brewed the gathered Agastache rugosa and other medicinal herbs into a soup, which she distributed to Xie Mubai and Hu Dahai.
The weather was so hot—it wouldn't be good if anyone suffered heatstroke.
"Sister, my illness… is there still hope for a cure?" Hu Dahai held the bowl, looking at her hesitantly.
He had originally given up hope for this illness.
But after hearing the old doctor's words, his stagnant heart had become active again.
Perhaps this ugly woman before him might have a solution.
Shen Wan asked, "When did this illness start?"
"Three years ago," Hu Dahai frowned. "There was an accident while escorting prisoners—I injured my head, and this chronic condition developed since then."
"Over these years, I've spent quite a bit of money, but the results haven't been very good."
Shen Wan nodded slightly. "I can't say with complete certainty."
"But when I have time, I'll write you a prescription. If you take the medicine regularly, this illness basically won't recur."
"Then I'll leave it entirely to you, sister," Hu Dahai said gratefully upon hearing this. "If this illness can fortunately be cured, then my life will be entirely yours!"
Hu Dahai was a rough man with simple thoughts.
Whoever treated him well, he would treat well in return.
The book mentioned that when Hu's mother passed away, Hu Dahai was too poor to afford burial. The passing Third Prince saw this and gave him ten taels of silver, and from then on, he became wholeheartedly loyal to the male lead.
Now that Shen Wan had shown kindness to Hu Dahai, he naturally wouldn't neglect her.
Seeing them chatting so animatedly, Zhou Yiniang and the others were so angry that even the flatbread in their hands no longer seemed appetizing.
Hu Dahai's condition had just stabilized and he couldn't overexert himself, so after discussing with his men, they decided to temporarily stay in this dilapidated temple and set off again early the next morning.
Upon hearing they could rest, the prisoners nearly cheered with joy.
After two days of walking, their legs were almost worn out, their feet covered in blisters, and they desperately needed a good rest.
Li Shi, originally a noble lady who rarely stepped outside her home, now had to frequently help her two sisters-in-law carry their children, making her bound feet even more pitiful.
Taking advantage of the moment when no one was paying attention, she quietly slipped outside to the old locust tree.
She took off her dirty shoes and socks, enduring the pain as she used a thin sliver of bamboo to carefully pop the blisters on her feet.
Shen Wan saw this and quietly approached.
She handed over a small packet of medicinal powder, lowering her voice as she said, "Apply this, it'll heal faster."
Li Shi was somewhat surprised by the kindness from this unattractive woman.
"But… we've already separated from the family," she said, not taking the packet, her tone somewhat awkward.
Shen Wan smiled. "What does that matter?"
"Take it, but don't give it to those people."
Back when Zhou Yiniang and the others proposed separating the family, Li Shi was the only one who had shown any concern for them.
Just for those words alone, Shen Wan wouldn't ignore her.
Li Shi hesitated for a moment but eventually took the packet of powder. "Won't you need it?"
"I got used to it back in the military camp, I'll be fine," Shen Wan said lightly. "Hurry and apply the medicine. It'd be best to pad your shoes with cloth when walking from now on."
Just as Li Shi was about to thank her, she saw that the unattractive woman had already left.
The temple door was wide open, and Xie Mubai, who was resting against the wall, clearly saw everything.
When Shen Wan walked in, he asked expressionlessly, "I thought you disliked those people?"
"She's not like them," Shen Wan said, sitting down beside him with a smile. "If it were a bad person, I'd rather throw it away than let them have it."
Hearing this, Xie Mubai couldn't help but glance at her again.
He liked this clear distinction between kindness and enmity.
But he couldn't figure out which version was the real her.
Was it the principled woman before him now, or the emotionally out-of-control madwoman from earlier that morning?
"How dare you, you wretched woman! You got medicine and dared to use it secretly behind our backs!"
"Even if you don't respect me as your sister-in-law, you should at least save some for Aunt Zhou and the two children."
"From now on, you're not allowed to eat any of my flatbread!"
Suddenly, sharp, shrill shouts erupted from outside.
Looking up, they saw Sun Shi standing outside with several other women from the Xie family, pointing at Li Shi and scolding her.
Li Shi was filled with grievances but didn't know how to defend herself.
Could she really say that Shen Wan had forbidden her from sharing it with them?
"Third Sister-in-law is still the most filial," Zhou Yiniang said with a dark expression, her voice cold. "But we're all family, and the medicine is already used up. I won't make a fuss about it anymore."
"Everyone, disperse and find a place to rest."
Seeing the older woman act so magnanimous left not only Sun Shi but even Shen Wan bewildered.
This didn't seem like Zhou Yiniang's usual style.
"What is she trying to do?" Shen Wan asked, turning to Xie Mubai with a puzzled look.
Xie Mubai gave a cold laugh. "It's definitely nothing good."
He said no more and closed his eyes to rest.
"Do you think we can reach the Great Northwest in another month?" Shen Wan rubbed her sore and aching legs as she asked.
Though trained as a military medic, her equipment was truly inadequate, especially the shoes on her feet.
During the property confiscation, everyone's shoes had not been seized.
These shoes were made of brocade, appearing lightweight and beautiful at first glance, but entirely unsuitable for long journeys.
Even Shen Wan, with her military medic background, was utterly exhausted.
Xie Mubai didn't open his eyes, replying coldly: "No."
"Hey, big brother, could you spare another word?" Bored out of her mind, Shen Wan gently poked him.
Xie Mubai slightly furrowed his brow.
Though displeased, he still cooperatively added: "Impossible."
Finding this exchange dull, Shen Wan also leaned against the wall to rest, ignoring him from then on.