Lunch consisted of coarse rice cakes hard enough to crack teeth. At the sight of such fare, the group erupted in another chorus of lamentations.
Xin Nian remained unperturbed. This was simply the reality of life for exiled convicts in ancient times.
According to ancient law, the prisoners’ food expenses during the journey were fully covered by the imperial court. When you’re being exiled, how could you expect luxury?
The court would never allow exiled convicts to eat their fill, maintaining just enough to keep them from starving or escaping during the journey – that was the general standard.
The daily food ration was only half of what ordinary civilians received, with only one set of clothing and shoes issued, leaving nothing for changes.
You either endured or perished. As the journey progressed, disasters and illnesses became increasingly frequent. Those who managed to reach the destination safely would be fortunate to survive, even if barely.
Xin Nian retrieved white flour cakes from her bundle and handed three to her father, who had squeezed his way to where she and her mother were seated.
Taking out dried meat to wrap in the cakes, the family of three ate their fill, completely ignoring those around them.
“Father, change into these shoes – they have thick soles.” Xin Nian took out a pair of thick-soled straw sandals from her pack and gave them to Xin Wenyuan.
“What about you and your mother?” After walking all morning, many of the delicate masters and mistresses had already rubbed their heels raw.
When had any of them ever worn straw sandals in their lives? The rough material both pricked and chafed, leaving most people with blisters on their feet.
Exiled convicts only deserved straw sandals. Even if they had extra cloth shoes, the Escorts wouldn’t permit them to change.
And this was only the beginning – conditions would only grow harsher from here.
Xin Nian quietly told her father, “I’m fine. A tiny bit of my Supernatural Power has returned, just enough to heal my feet.”
“Mother is right beside me, so I can treat her anytime. But you’re walking ahead with the other men where I can’t reach you, so you need to take care of yourself.”
Xin Wenyuan nodded, changing into the thick-soled straw sandals and tucking the old pair into his clothes. “Give me another flour cake. I’ll mix it with water and force-feed it to your brother later.”
Even unconscious, the boy needed some nourishment – they couldn’t let him starve indefinitely.
As the family of three ate while whispering among themselves, they formed a peculiar small group dynamic, never once considering others until…
The intermittent, sobbing cries of young Xin Mohan reached their ears.
Xie Ninglan slapped her thigh and whispered, “Oh dear, we forgot we have another son now.”
Xin Wenyuan guiltily glanced toward the source of the crying, meeting the furious glare of his third brother Xin Wenan.
Xin Nian rubbed her nose. She couldn’t blame her parents – it was understandable that they were still adjusting to their new identities after transmigrating.
Their family of four had been like this since the apocalypse – when they had good things, who would share with outsiders? They naturally prioritized feeding their own family first.
Three leather water skins, perfectly distributed among the family of three. A pack of white flour cakes – truth be told, Xin Nian had never considered sharing them.
Don’t blame her for being cold-hearted – this was simply how survivors from the apocalypse were accustomed to living.
In these harsh conditions, everything had to be reserved for their immediate family. As for others… that could be considered later.
Xin Wenyuan quickly scurried over and picked up his tear-streaked youngest son to comfort him.
Young Xin Mohan was genuinely heartbroken.
Just moments ago, he had witnessed his parents and sister sitting together intimately, the three of them eating and chatting while completely forgetting about him!
He must be an adopted child – surely his parents had picked him out of a trash can! Waaahhh!
The little one cried between hiccups, his stomach growling loudly with hunger.
Xie Ninglan’s face flushed as she comforted the child while taking the dried meat and flatbread from her daughter’s hands. “Don’t cry, don’t cry. Han’er, right? Eat first. Auntie… oh dear, Mother has food here. The dried meat tastes quite good.”
Xin Mohan was utterly heartbroken, tears welling up in his eyes as he gazed at his mother with profound sorrow.
“Mother, was I picked up from the streets?”
Xie Ninglan nearly choked. “Oh no, how could you be picked up? You’re properly my own flesh and blood, carried for ten full months!”
“Then why? Why hasn’t Father said a single word to me this entire journey?”
Xin Wenyuan twitched his lips. He’d been diligently cultivating his Supernatural Power like his daughter along the way, plus… he had genuinely forgotten about having a young son. Ahem.
What a sin! A man nearing sixty suddenly rejuvenated over twenty years, and his old wife had even borne him a young son. Pfft, one had to admit this was truly a miraculous affair!
Xie Ninglan knew when to yield and promptly admitted fault. “Mother’s mistake, I was wrong. Ah, don’t be angry. Fill your little belly first, we still need to travel later. Mother will definitely tell your father to take you along this afternoon. He absolutely won’t ignore you.”
Xin Mohan sniffled between sobs. “Really?”
“Absolutely true, couldn’t be more true.” Xie Ninglan nodded repeatedly.
Little Xin Mohan was truly hungry, clutching the flatbread and dried meat as he chewed in large mouthfuls.
“Slow down, drink some water. No one’s competing with you.” Watching the child, Xie Ninglan felt a faint ache in her heart.
What a tragedy! Such a young child already exiled—damn this feudal system!
Suddenly, Xin Nian tugged at her parents’ sleeves. They looked up to see the old Escort approaching with a beaming smile.
“You must be the Fourth Madam? Come with me. Someone wishes to see you.”
Xin Wenyuan immediately grew wary, raising his arm to shield his wife and daughter. “Who is it?”
“They’re not here to see you, why bother asking?” Xiao Jia pushed Xin Wenyuan impatiently. “Hurry up.”
Xin Nian quickly grabbed her father’s arm while supporting Xie Ninglan to stand. “I’ll accompany Mother.”
The old Escort raised an eyebrow, his gaze lingering on Xin Nian’s face before nodding. “Fine.”
Xin Mohan anxiously called “Mother!” and rushed forward, only to be firmly caught in Xin Wenyuan’s embrace.
“Why the panic? It’s good news!” The old Escort grinned widely, his eyes crinkling shut.
Xin Wenyuan and Xie Ninglan exchanged glances, nodding imperceptibly as they watched mother and daughter follow the Escort away.
The crowd grew somewhat restless, people craning their necks to peer behind the earthen slope where a carriage could vaguely be seen parked.
Before Xie Ninglan and her daughter reached the carriage, they saw a plainly dressed elderly matron being assisted down by a maid.
When their eyes met, Xie Ninglan’s mouth fell open in astonishment as she stared at the woman’s face.
“Lan’er.” The old matron burst into tears, hurrying forward to embrace Xie Ninglan while sobbing uncontrollably.
“My poor child, why must you be so stubborn? I told you to divorce and return home—you could have brought my Nian Nian with you. Why wouldn’t you listen? You’ve brought such suffering upon yourself and my granddaughter!”
“Mother?” Xie Ninglan’s mind went blank, trembling as she uttered the address.
Since transmigrating, she hadn’t received any of the original host’s memories or information about this era. But now, seeing the original host’s mother, she felt an inexplicable tremor in her heart.
This woman looked far too much like her own long-departed mother! For some inexplicable reason, she could instantly empathize with the original host’s emotions.
“My poor, ill-fated daughter, how could you be so desperate?”