Song Jiaojiao sat lazily on a rock, her head slightly tilted, exuding an air of boldness and unrestrained confidence.
She was completely different from the timid woman who had once cowered in a thatched hut in his memory.
“What did you put into my arm last night, and what is your purpose?” Sheng Huaian could never have imagined that the soul within that body had been completely replaced. The idea of crossing over was too fantastical, so he simply assumed Song Jiaojiao had been playing the fool all along.
Could she be someone sent by them?
At this thought, a murderous glint flashed in his cold eyes.
Song Jiaojiao paid no heed, even curling her lips upward. “Your wound was festering and swollen, and your body was feverish from infection. I saved your life with my secret remedy.”
Sheng Huaian could indeed feel his strength returning. When he had checked earlier, the swelling in his wound had subsided, and it was healing faster than usual.
But these positive signs only made him more wary. “How do you know medicine?”
“I learned from a wandering physician. Back when I was starving to death while searching for food in the mountains, my master saved me and taught me medicine.” Song Jiaojiao fabricated the story on the spot. Having read many novels in her past life, she could spin tales effortlessly.
“You know the Song family never treated me as human. I originally planned to steal my household register once I turned sixteen and make a living elsewhere with my medical skills. But then the drought struck everywhere in the north. I had no choice but to continue following the village south, and later, my father sold me to you for a luck-bringing marriage.”
Hearing the reluctance in her voice when she spoke of marrying him, Sheng Huaian pursed his lips, his suspicions undiminished. Since ancient times, medical knowledge had been passed down only to men. Would a wandering physician really be so benevolent as to teach his ancestral skills to an outsider?
“Where is your master now?” he asked.
“A wandering physician is a wanderer. After teaching me, his disciple, he naturally traveled the world.” Song Jiaojiao glanced at the freshly applied herbs on his chest, growing even more confident. “If I didn’t know medicine, how could I have known that dandelion could stop bleeding?”
That… made sense!
Sheng Huaian’s brows furrowed tightly.
Knowing he wouldn’t dispel his suspicions about her anytime soon, Song Jiaojiao took the initiative. “As the saying goes, time reveals a person’s heart. If you don’t believe me, husband, you can keep an eye on me anytime. For now, we all need to work together to survive this famine. Once we’re completely settled, we’ll go straight to the authorities to file for a mutual divorce, part ways, and never see each other again.”
She had no idea how shocking her words were.
Women who initiated mutual divorce faced severe criticism. Given the Song family’s circumstances, she would have no support from her natal family in the future. How could she stand alone in the world?
Gossip alone could be enough to destroy her.
Sheng Huaian struggled internally, but when he recalled the Taoist priest’s reading of his fate, he realized that keeping Song Jiaojiao by his side would only harm her.
So he nodded in agreement. “Fine, but for now, no one else must know about this. You know how my mother is…”
Song Jiaojiao agreed without a second thought. Remaining Sheng Huaian’s wife in name would make it easier for her to stick with the Sheng family.
“By the way, that river might be contaminated…”
To lend credibility to her words, she described the scene by the river in detail. Her words carried little weight, but perhaps Sheng Huaian could stop the villagers, or at least persuade them to boil the water before drinking.
After all, it was a cholera bacterium worth ten thousand Points. The System had been so generous; the pathogen was likely alive.
Thinking again of the densely packed markers on the map, Song Jiaojiao shuddered, goosebumps rising all over her body.
Sheng Huaian, with years of hunting experience and keen insight, immediately recognized the severity of the situation. His expression darkened in an instant. “Widow Ma just brought over a bowl of water, and Second Brother drank it. Can you examine him?”
Song Jiaojiao: …
Awkward, isn’t it?
Indeed, lies shouldn’t be told carelessly—she wasn’t a real doctor, after all.
“If it’s cholera, I can’t save him either.” Song Jiaojiao spread her hands, offering comfort. “Perhaps I’m being overly cautious.”
Sheng Huaian beckoned Sheng Sanlang over and solemnly instructed him, “Go tell the Village Chief to avoid using river water as much as possible. If it must be consumed, it must be boiled first. If you can’t find the Village Chief, go door-to-door and spread the word.”
Third Brother, after all, had earned the title of Xiucai and held some authority in the village, enough to draw everyone’s attention.
Hearing this, Sheng Sanlang wasted no time and immediately dashed off.
“B-Big Brother, is the river water really contaminated?” Sheng Erlang’s face paled with panic. Whether it was an illusion or not, he felt his stomach churning violently, with a faint ache. “I can’t hold it—I need to use the latrine to feel at ease.”
The pheasant was divided into two halves: one for soup and the other saved for the evening or the next day. Chopped into small pieces, it was boiled over high heat until the broth turned milky white, then two handfuls of millet and fresh, clean wild vegetables were added.
“Peel the sweet potatoes, dice them, and add them to the pot.” Song Jiaojiao took five sweet potatoes from the sack and handed them to Mrs. Fang. Noticing her doubtful expression, she added, “This is both a staple food and a medicinal herb. Bencao Qiuyuan records that sweet potatoes can relieve constipation and remove stagnant toxins from the organs.”
Upon hearing so many benefits, Mrs. Fang happily prepared the sweet potatoes and added them to the chicken soup.
Song Jiaojiao sensed a pair of intense eyes scrutinizing her. Without turning around, she knew it was her so-called husband.
Throughout the camp, every household was cooking meat, filling the air with mouthwatering aromas.
The scene was as lively as a New Year celebration.
Unsurprisingly, Sheng Sanlang’s well-intentioned warnings were met with hostility, nearly earning him a beating. If not for the villagers’ fear of offending a Xiucai, fists would have flown. Even so, he endured a torrent of scolding for over an hour, returning covered in dust and looking utterly disheartened.
“Don’t send me on such errands again,” Third Brother complained, his throat parched with thirst. He scooped water from the wooden bucket with a bowl, and as it flowed down his throat like mineral water, his eyes widened in astonishment.
“It’s so delicious—clear, sweet, and refreshing. No wonder Sister-in-law went through such hardship to find this mountain spring water.”
He gave a thumbs-up in praise, then filled another bowl and handed it to Sheng Huaian. “Big Brother, try it.”
Sheng Huaian glanced at him expressionlessly. One had to admit Third Brother was shrewd—despite his inner disapproval of Song Jiaojiao, he knew how to adapt, putting on an impeccable show of courtesy.
He took the bowl and took a small sip.
“Hmm?”
How long had it been since they’d tasted clean water since the drought began? Had mountain spring water always been this delicious?
The pheasant simmered for nearly an hour. When the lid was lifted, a rich aroma of chicken filled the air, making the entire family salivate involuntarily. Their eyes gleamed as they stared into the pot.
Even Old Qian, who had been asleep for over two hours, slowly stirred awake. “Third Brother, I dreamed that your eldest brother had woken up, and I could smell chicken soup. It smelled so wonderful.”
“Mother, it wasn’t a dream—it’s all true.” Sheng Sanlang cheerfully ladled a large bowl and brought it to her. “Sister-in-law was lucky and managed to hunt a pheasant.”
Old Qian pinched her thigh hard and let out a sharp “Ouch!” She quickly sat up, looking at her eldest son beside her, who was full of vigor, and felt that the bitterness had finally turned to sweetness. Tears gradually blurred her eyes. “I’m not hungry, give it to Dalang.”
Sheng Huaian reached out to smooth her graying hair at the temples, his eyes slightly reddened. “Mother, you eat. We all have our share. This isn’t the time for modesty. We need to regain our strength quickly so we can continue our journey.”
He had been on the brink of death, and it was only thanks to his family’s unwavering support that he survived.
This kindness was etched in his heart.
“Alright, we’ll all eat, the whole family will eat.” Old Qian wiped away her tears, picked up the bowl, and took a big gulp of the soup. The rich aroma of meat filled her mouth, and her tears flowed even more freely.
Since the heavens had brought years of drought, it had been a long time since they had enjoyed such a hearty meal.
“Huh?” Sheng Erlang exclaimed in surprise. “This red stuff is soft, sweet, and delicious. It’s really tasty.”
Mrs. Fang rolled her eyes. “That’s sweet potato. Yesterday, you were the one complaining the most about it.”
Sheng Erlang: “…”
Exposed by his own wife, Sheng Erlang’s face flushed bright red. But just halfway through the meal, his stomach churned violently again.
His expression changed, and he turned his head, vomiting all over the ground.
Once again, everyone was thoroughly disgusted.
However, he wasn’t the only one vomiting and suffering from diarrhea. Soon, cries of alarm erupted from all directions.
Song Jiaojiao gasped sharply.
Her worst fear had truly come true!