"So you mean you're not going to stay there?" Xu Nian raised an eyebrow at the hesitant crowd, clapped her hands, and turned to enter one of the houses.

"In that case, you can go find a place yourselves."

After saying that, she closed the door and disappeared from everyone's sight.

The villagers were left whispering amongst themselves.

"The fortune teller has helped us so much along the way, he couldn't possibly want to harm us, right?"

"But how can they just let us move into this perfectly good house?"

"Didn't the fortune teller go for a stroll with the general this afternoon? Maybe this house was given to him by the general?"

“It’s not impossible.” The villagers seemed to agree. They turned to Wang Jinmei, who had been shouting the loudest, and said, “Auntie, go and talk to the fortune teller. It’s the middle of the night. If we don’t sleep now, what will we do tomorrow?”

"Why should I go and tell them!" Wang Jinmei, of course, refused to bow her head in front of Xu Nian and retorted stubbornly, "If anyone should go, it should be you!"

"Alright!" the village chief said, breaking the deadlock. "It's one thing for you to go against the fortune teller before, but don't embarrass me in the capital. Let's go in together, apologize to her, and settle her down first."

The village chief started the discussion, and everyone stared at Wang Jinmei without saying a word. Helpless, Wang Jinmei had no choice but to nod in agreement.

When she went to find Xu Nian with the village chief, Xu Nian was sitting calmly drinking tea inside the house.

Upon seeing the two arrive, he raised an eyebrow without the slightest surprise, and asked, "Have you decided to stay?"

The village chief smiled apologetically, "We are indeed ignorant, so please don't take it to heart, Master. This house is perfectly fine; what's wrong with living here?"

"They think so too?"

"That's right, that's right."

Xu Nian put down her teacup, took out a few thin sheets of paper and handed them to the village chief, saying, "You can stay here, but let me make it clear first. This place is not for you to live in for free. You have two years to establish yourself in the capital and move out. Otherwise, you will have to pay the rent for the next two years."

Living in the capital is not exactly difficult, but it is definitely not easy either. They are used to being lazy. If you don't put some pressure on them, they will continue to be lazy and unwilling to work. Do you expect me to take care of them for the rest of my life?

Although the village chief had never heard of such a request, he assumed it was because he was not familiar with the capital and was not too surprised, so he nodded repeatedly in agreement.

“Then arrange for them to come and stay,” Xu Nian nodded. “I’ll keep these two rooms and bring Da Bao and Er Bao back in a couple of days.”

"Alright, rest assured, I will definitely get it done."

Wang Jinmei was somewhat unhappy and muttered under her breath, "It's been lost for so long, it might have been eaten by wolves long ago, and you still want to find it... Why don't you think about that... Waaah!"

Before Wang Jinmei could finish speaking, she felt as if something was blocking her throat.

She tried shouting a couple more times, but the sounds she made were barely audible.

It must have been Xu Nian who did this!

Wang Jinmei turned her head angrily and glared at Xu Nian, only to see her pick up the teacup again, looking completely innocent.

[This is so satisfying! So satisfying!]

[The anchor's ability to feign ignorance is getting better and better; doesn't this deserve an Oscar?]

"Why aren't you getting out of here? What are you doing here?" The village chief asked, puzzled, and pulled Wang Jinmei away from the spot.

Wang Jinmei felt terrified. She had said something she shouldn't have, but was she going to have to be mute for the rest of her life?

But as soon as she got outside, Wang Jinmei suddenly felt that the foreign object in her throat was gone. She coughed twice, but dared not say anything bad about Xu Nian anymore.

After the village chief explained Xu Nian's intentions to everyone, they all felt relieved and orderly searched for houses to stay in.

After their long journey, they finally found a place to stay and relaxed, spending several days strolling around the capital. However, problems soon arose.

Coming from the countryside, they had no way to make money along the way, and their family was poor. After a few days, they were already starving. Those who were close to Xu Nian would go to Xu Nian to ask for some food.

However, there are also people who can't bring themselves to do it. After being hungry for several days, they saw that the steamed buns sold on the street smelled so good that they reached out and grabbed two. As a result, the stall owner broke one of their legs.

It was Aunt Chen, who was on good terms with Xu Nian, who told her about this. The one whose leg was broken was none other than her husband.

Aunt Chen, with tears streaming down her face, complained, "My husband is certainly muddle-headed, but... things in the capital are just too expensive, and we have nowhere to grow food. We really can't survive. Fortune teller, please help us to the end and show us a way to live!"

Aunt Chen would also help Xu Nian take care of Er Bao along the way. Xu Nian remembered her kindness and nodded, "I can help treat his leg."

"Thank you so much, fortune teller!"

Xu Nian didn't bring many herbs with her, and after the journey, it was time to replenish them.

She went out to the nearest pharmacy to get her medicine. Seeing the long queue stretching to the side of the street, Xu Nian couldn't help but crane her neck out of curiosity, only to find that there was only an old man busy running around in the pharmacy.

He was responsible for all the consultations, prescriptions, and payments himself, which was inefficient and resulted in a large backlog of people.

Xu Nian had a sudden inspiration and squeezed out of the crowd, walking to the front. Before she could speak, the old man sighed and said, "Young lady, these people are in a hurry. You should go to the back of the line and wait your turn."

"I have some knowledge of pharmacology. I have something important to discuss with you, and I can also help you with a small favor first."

The old man was aware of his pharmacy's shortcomings. While examining patients, he would recite the names of the medicines. Xu Nian was quick and accurate in dispensing the medicines, so the old man stopped talking.

With Xu Nian's help, the line of patients at the door was quickly filled. After finishing, the old man slowly walked inside and made Xu Nian a cup of tea.

Along with the tea, a small ingot of silver was also brought.

"You're short-handed here, aren't you?" Xu Nian didn't hide anything. The old man slowly nodded, then shook his head.

"I used to be a royal physician in the palace, but due to some circumstances, I could no longer stay in the palace, so I opened a pharmacy. However, those who study medicine are wary of this and are unwilling to come here. I don't want to implicate others either, so I'm troubling you today, young lady."

No wonder there were so many people in front of the door; the old man certainly didn't seem like someone who couldn't afford to hire someone.

There's actually a trick to it.

[I can smell some gossip here!]

[It's starting to resemble a palace intrigue drama.]

Xu Nian didn't want to ask any more questions, but simply suggested, "If there's anyone who isn't worried about these things, could you please help me out?"

"this…"

"I'm not a medical professional, but I can help with collecting money, keeping accounts, and handling miscellaneous tasks, which can also help alleviate your burdens."

Many of the villagers are honest and simple people. Introducing them to this place has given them a way to make a living.

"There are also some children who, if you wish, can be trained as apprentice medicine doctors, and they can also help you in the future."