A seven- or eight-year-old child reacted quickly. The moment he heard it, he ran out and soon returned with a coarse porcelain bowl.
Qin Suining nodded and poured a small half-bowl of water from the water pouch, personally bringing it to the old woman’s lips.
With that small amount of water, Zhou Shi fed the “pill” to the old woman.
Qin Suining had described it in such a miraculous way, but Zhou Shi still felt uneasy.
After feeding the medicine and water, even her fingers trembled slightly.
Could that plain well water really have such great effects?
Her daughter was being far too bold. The old woman looked like she was already at death’s door.
Everyone in the room held their breath, not daring to speak. Qin Suining carefully observed the old woman’s expression, also feeling uncertain.
In reality, there was no miraculous pill at all. The black “medicine” was something Zhou Shi had personally kneaded together.
Not a single medicinal herb was used—only black bean powder mixed with spiritual spring water, kneaded by hand into shape.
Since making just one would be troublesome, Zhou Shi simply used a full bowl of black bean powder and rolled an entire jar of “miracle pills,” leaving Qin Suining both amused and speechless.
Fortunately, it wouldn’t go to waste—the black beans were originally meant for the red horse anyway, so it could still eat them.
“Ugh…”
Just as Qin Suining was lost in thought, the old woman on the bed suddenly furrowed her brows tightly and let out a painful groan.
“Mother! Mother, are you feeling better?”
“Mother, where does it hurt? Let your son rub it for you…”
“Grandmother! Wake up!”
The Yu family rushed forward, calling out anxiously.
“Pfft…”
“Pfft…”
Before she could even speak, the old woman suddenly released several loud, foul-smelling flatulence in quick succession.
A stench quickly filled the room. Qin Suining covered her nose and peeked in—only to see a layer of dark, filth-like residue covering the old woman’s face.
“Help her clean up. We’ll wait outside.”
Qin Suining already understood what was happening. She pulled Zhou Shi out of the room immediately.
There was no helping it—the smell inside was unbearable.
It wasn’t ordinary flatulence. It smelled like something rotten and decaying, so strong it made one dizzy.
The Yu family busied themselves inside, while Qin Suining and Zhou Shi sat in the main hall without waiting to be invited.
They were still considering how to mention the incoming refugee crisis when an elderly man with graying hair entered the courtyard.
He called out once in the yard and walked straight into the hall, greeting them warmly.
Through conversation, they learned he was the village chief of Yu Family Village and also the uncle of Yu Fugui and his brother.
The village chief had good intentions—he came to invite Zhou Shi and Qin Suining to rest and eat at his home, since the Yu family was too busy to host guests.
“My sister-in-law was always strong-willed when she was young. She suffered all her life, finally raised the children, and now her body has completely worn out…”
The village chief sighed, full of respect for the critically ill woman.
After some polite exchange, Qin Suining asked carefully:
“Village Chief, we’ve seen many refugees on the road. Haven’t you considered fleeing as well?”
The village chief shook his head.
He had just returned from the outside after discussing matters with the local magistrate.
Leaving one’s homeland was never easy. Most villagers were unwilling to flee.
They believed that although the harvest was gone, they still had some stored grain. If they ate less and saved carefully, they could hold on.
Perhaps the heavens would eventually send rain.
And surely the authorities would not let them starve; relief grain would come.
With this reasoning, many decided it was better to stay than risk wandering outside.
“This makes sense,” Qin Suining said calmly, then added casually:
“But on the road, we’ve seen refugees attacking villages and looting everything…”
She repeated what she had seen from the “barrage,” exaggerating slightly for effect.
Upon hearing that entire villages had been massacred, the village chief’s expression changed drastically.
There was no way to guard against thieves every day.
If refugees truly attacked, they would have no way to resist.
“Please excuse me, I have urgent matters to attend to.”
The village chief left in a hurry.
Just then, Yu Fugui came out excitedly.
“The divine medicine really worked! My mother has come back to life!”
Indeed, after the purging and sweating, the old woman’s condition had improved dramatically.
Yu Fugui knelt at the entrance in gratitude.
“Please get up. It was fate that brought us together,” Zhou Shi said quickly.
“I must kneel. From now on, my life belongs to you. I will serve you however you command.”
He hurriedly stood up and brought out a stack of silver notes.
“These are my savings over the years. I originally planned to use them for my mother’s treatment. Please take them as payment for the pill.”
The stack totaled around two hundred taels.
Qin Suining glanced at them but did not take them.
“The pill is extremely rare. A master spent years crafting just one bottle. I only managed to obtain one for self-preservation.”
She continued calmly:
“I simply couldn’t bear to watch your filial devotion and reluctantly gave it to you. Talking about money would be vulgar.”
Her words made Yu Fugui even more ashamed.
Indeed—such a life-saving treasure, given to a stranger, could not be measured by mere silver notes.