Tang Qingluo changed into a constable’s uniform. It didn’t fit very well, but as long as she could wear it, that was good enough—she hardly dared trouble Brother Li to make another trip.
After changing, she behaved properly the whole way, keeping her head down and following Brother Li without even lifting her eyes.
“We’re here. Madam, all the ingredients are in this kitchen. Just make whatever you can—your intention is what matters.”
Brother Li genuinely believed that this noble lady must have never touched household chores before. Now that she was cooking for her husband, it was probably just to show some sincerity. He even thought that if she couldn’t use the fire starter later, he could help light the stove.
What he didn’t expect was that Tang Qingluo started the fire with ease, cut vegetables skillfully, and washed rice and cooked it in smooth, practiced motions, all in one seamless flow—she didn’t need his help at all.
Seeing her preparing to cook, Brother Li felt it would take some time and didn’t want to linger in the back kitchen.
“Madam, I’ll wait outside. Let me know when the food is ready.”
He dared to leave Tang Qingluo alone because she had behaved impeccably the entire time, and because even if she wanted to run, she couldn’t. The back kitchen had no exits—only a single door—and he was guarding it outside. Nothing could go wrong.
Hearing this, Tang Qingluo was secretly overjoyed.“Alright. I’ll call you as soon as the dishes are ready, Brother.”
After Brother Li left, Tang Qingluo didn’t immediately contact the system to retrieve the medicine crate. Instead, she continued cooking her first dish: fish head and tofu soup.
Better safe than sorry.
Sure enough, when the soup’s fragrance began to waft through the kitchen, Brother Li came back in. He glanced around casually, saw nothing unusual, and left again.
As he walked out, he smacked his lips. He hadn’t expected this madam’s cooking to be so good.
Tang Qingluo smiled faintly and said nothing. She silently began communicating with the system.
System, retrieve one crate of medicine.
【Retrieval successful.】
From the crate, Tang Qingluo selected disinfectant powder, trauma medicine, fever‑reducing pills, and other supplies most suitable for the current situation, hiding them in the inner pocket of her sleeves.
System, store one crate of medicine.
【Storage successful.】
This time, there was no charge?
Tang Qingluo was delighted.
Smiling happily, she began her second dish—garlic spare ribs.
Next came braised fish chunks, chive pastries, cold cucumber with peanuts, and finally the staple dish: shredded pork and vegetable noodles.
Of course, she wasn’t foolish. As each dish was finished, she ate a little herself. When the noodles were finally scooped into the buckets, she even ate a full bowl, leaving her comfortably full.
She also reheated fifteen cold steamed buns from the kitchen, planning to take all of them with her.
Outside, Brother Li stood guard, breathing in the continuous waves of food aroma drifting from the kitchen. He was drooling.
When he entered again and stared fixedly at the dishes, Tang Qingluo spoke before he could.
“Brother Li, I made extra food while cooking. If you don’t mind, everything on this table is for you. As for what I prepared for my husband, I’ve already packed it into the food box.”
“I also made two buckets of noodles—one is for you, and the other I’m taking over. Could I trouble you to carry one?”
“No problem.” Brother Li agreed readily and picked up a bucket.
Tang Qingluo carried the food box and followed behind him, head lowered and silent as they returned to the prison.
Brother Li opened the cell next to hers and set the noodle bucket beside two buckets of clean water.
“Madam, all the guards on duty tonight are my men. If you need anything, you can ask them. I’m going to eat now.”
He left with Xiao Hu and the others to eat, planning to rotate guards afterward.
Tang Qingluo didn’t stand on ceremony. She asked that Wang shi, Jiang shi, Ruan shi, and Lu shi—the wife of Xie Wenzhang from the third branch—be brought over from the neighboring cell.
The guards didn’t refuse. They opened the cell and escorted the women over.
Third Young Master Xie Wenzhang was tended by his wife, Lu shi.
Duke Xie Bozhi, Third Uncle Xie Shuzhi, and Fourth Uncle Xie Jizhi were attended by their wives Wang shi, Jiang shi, and Ruan shi respectively.
As for Xie Lanyi—the mission target—Tang Qingluo naturally took charge of him.
While cleaning the wounds, Tang Qingluo discovered that besides having his buttocks beaten into a bloody mess, Xie Lanyi’s legs had both been broken.
“Jizhi’s hand—!” Ruan shi sobbed uncontrollably.
Tang Qingluo went over to take a look. Fourth Uncle Xie Jizhi’s right hand was ruined—it seemed to have been smashed by something heavy, with bone exposed.
As for Duke Xie Bozhi, Third Uncle Xie Shuzhi, and Third Young Master Xie Wenzhang, their conditions were somewhat better. Apart from the severe injuries on their backs, no other issues were found.
However, all of them had developed high fevers and were unconscious. Without medicine, death would likely be their only outcome.
“Qingluo, did you think of a solution when you went out?” Wang shi and the others wiped away their tears, looking at her with hope. She was the only one who had been outside.
“Third Aunt, Fourth Aunt, Third Sister‑in‑law, please come over.”
Once they leaned in, Tang Qingluo took out fever‑reducing pills from her sleeve and gave two to each of them.
“Two pills per dose. These reduce fever—we need to bring the temperature down first.”
Then she handed out disinfectant powder and trauma medicine, three packets of each per person.
“This is disinfectant powder to prevent infection. This one is trauma medicine to stop bleeding.”
Following her instructions, they fed the unconscious men the pills and treated their wounds.
Half an hour later, Duke Xie Bozhi, Third Uncle Xie Shuzhi, and Third Young Master Xie Wenzhang’s fevers subsided, and they regained consciousness.
But Xie Lanyi and Fourth Uncle Xie Jizhi remained feverish and unconscious.
Tang Qingluo touched Xie Lanyi’s burning forehead, anxiety rising.
System, system—do you have any life‑saving medicine?
【Activating the marketplace requires 1,000 combat points and 5,000 taels of silver. Host has sufficient silver but only 110 combat points, which does not meet the requirement.】
Then let me run a tab. I’ll owe you first and pay it back once I earn enough through missions. How about that?
To avoid being erased, Tang Qingluo was truly giving it her all.
【Bzzzt… For this once only. No next time. The system agrees to the host’s request. System upgrading…】