Even Old Madam Shen looked at Mu Wanting with a gentle gaze, her eyes even turning red when speaking emotionally.
“If it weren’t for Wanting, given Xinglan’s condition now, we probably wouldn’t have been able to make it this far.”
Mu Wanting smiled and said, “Mother, what are you saying? We’re family now. Of course we should share both hardship and happiness.”
With more people working together, Mu Wanting dug up potatoes while the others picked them up and put them into baskets. They filled two large baskets before she felt it was enough and stopped taking more from her space.
They carried the two baskets of potatoes back.
After the rabbits were prepared, they were immediately cooked in a pot. Soon, the entire convoy was filled with the aroma of rabbit meat, making everyone swallow their saliva uncontrollably.
The eldest and second branches, who had just exchanged their white flour buns and meat soup and were planning to show off in front of the third branch, instantly felt that their food had lost all appeal.
After Mu Wanting added seasonings and potatoes, the fragrance became even more overpowering, rushing straight into their noses.
Their food wasn’t just unappetizing anymore—it was practically impossible to swallow.
As the smell intensified, their mouths continuously produced saliva, and their eyes were glued to the pot of rabbit meat.
It was too fragrant. In their entire lives, they had never smelled anything so delicious.
On Mu Wanting’s side, she calmly served the rabbit meat and called everyone from the third branch to eat.
The third branch had long been unable to hold back. They sat by the pot and immediately stuffed a piece of rabbit meat into their mouths.
But it was so hot that they instinctively wanted to spit it out—yet it smelled so good they couldn’t bear to. They could only pant and fan their mouths.
Once it cooled slightly, they bit into it. The chewy texture of the rabbit meat and the rich broth burst in their mouths—so delicious it was unbelievable.
Even though they were nobles, they had completely abandoned etiquette while eating.
They were too hungry, and the food was simply too good. Everyone ate like they were in a battle.
Etiquette? If they cared about etiquette for even a minute, there would be no rabbit meat left.
The meal ended like a battlefield. All the rabbit meat and potatoes were finished, and everyone finally had a full meal, feeling satisfied from the inside out.
Shen Xinglan also ate very happily. It was the first time he realized that Mu Wanting’s cooking was so good.
Even the officials were given some rabbit meat and praised Su Qing endlessly.
The eldest and second branches could only eat their white flour buns while continuously swallowing saliva. What exactly did that taste like?
They had eaten Mu Wanting’s grilled fish before—it was so fresh it almost made them swallow their tongues. So what kind of taste would this even more fragrant rabbit meat have?
They slightly regretted splitting the family. If they had known earlier, they should have waited until after eating this meal to divide.
But forget it—could Su Qing really catch wild rabbits every day? They would let the third branch enjoy this moment of pride for now.
However, the next afternoon, they were slapped in the face again.
It started with Shen Yujiao’s scream.
“Ah—there’s a snake!”
When Mu Wanting rushed over, she saw Shen Yujiao and an officer named Su Yu standing there. A large snake was facing them, hissing and flicking its tongue.
Shen Yujiao was almost crying from fear. She didn’t dare move and looked toward Mu Wanting for help.
At that moment, the snake suddenly lunged toward Su Yu. Shen Yujiao closed her eyes in fear.
Su Yu reacted a moment too slowly, drawing his sword, but the snake was already only a fist’s distance away.
Mu Wanting pulled out a wrist-mounted crossbow and shot at the snake.
The arrow struck the snake’s vital point, pinning it to a tree trunk.
Mu Wanting walked over and smashed the snake to death with a stone.
Now Shen Yujiao looked at her with starry eyes. She had been terrified just now, and the officer was not very reliable. If she had been bitten, she might have lost her life.
Thankfully, her second sister-in-law had saved her again.
She quickly grabbed Mu Wanting’s hand, her cheeks flushed as she thanked her.
Mu Wanting smiled and patted her head.
“If you really want to thank me, then have Shen Xinghe carry the snake.”
Shen Yujiao happily ran off. To her now, Mu Wanting’s words were practically imperial edicts.
Su Yu cupped his hands toward Mu Wanting.
“Thank you, Madam Mu.”
Mu Wanting smiled gently. “No need to be polite. The officers have also taken good care of us along the way.”
This officer named Su Yu had not made things difficult for the third branch and was much better than the other fierce officers.
Su Yu asked, “What do you plan to do with this snake?”
Shen Xinghe reluctantly arrived.
“What is it?”
Mu Wanting pointed at the snake. “Tonight’s dinner.”
Su Yu frowned. “This snake might be poisonous.”
Mu Wanting shook her head. “It’s not poisonous, and it’s so big—it would be a waste not to eat it.”
Under normal circumstances, she wouldn’t choose to eat snake meat, but this was a special situation. Having something to eat was already good enough.
Shen Xinghe quickly skinned the snake and chopped it into pieces. Mu Wanting added seasonings to remove the smell and then stewed it.
The original odor disappeared, and a rich fragrance gradually spread.
As the saying goes, “dragon meat in heaven, snake meat on earth”—it was not an exaggeration.
Since Mu Wanting had saved Su Yu, he helped with the cooking and then joined the third branch for the meal.
The snake meat was fresh, tender, and smooth. It was their first time eating it, and it was incredibly delicious.
The eldest and second branches could only watch and swallow their saliva again.
The officers nearby were also envious of Su Yu, but as officials, they could not ask for food unless Mu Wanting offered it.
Besides, Mu Wanting had saved Su Yu.
Captain Ma Dazhuang walked over.
“Thank you, Madam Mu, for saving one of our men. We can grant you one request within our ability.”
Mu Wanting smiled faintly. “There is a town ahead. I want to go with you to buy supplies.”
She needed a proper excuse to take things out of her space.
Hearing this, Ma Dazhuang frowned. It was against regulations for prisoners to accompany them to purchase supplies.
Seeing his hesitation, Mu Wanting added with a smile, “This is my only request. I can stay with the officers the whole time. I won’t run. My family is still in the capital—I wouldn’t risk involving them.”
Su Yu said, “Brother Ma, I’ll personally watch over Madam Mu.”
Ma Dazhuang still frowned and remained silent.
“There have been too many complications on this journey. We’ll discuss it later.”
Mu Wanting raised an eyebrow.
It seemed that just saving Su Yu wasn’t enough to make the captain break his rules.
However, she wasn’t without other methods.