Seeing her family enjoying themselves, Mrs. Wu was genuinely happy. Thinking that she would be able to eat snow-white steamed buns for lunch, she quickly blanched the handfuls of shepherd's purse and dandelion she had gathered while fetching water, added some salt, plum vinegar, and a few drops of lard, and made a cold salad that would taste delicious.
As for the wild vegetables that Qin San Niang and the others found, she planned to dry them on the cart and then make them into pickled vegetables. Although that would use a lot of salt, it would last a long time and be very useful, especially when wild vegetables were hard to find.
I still need to talk to Third Sister about it later...
As Qin Sanniang, who was digging for wild vegetables in the distance, watched the increasing number of refugees on the road, she couldn't help but frown. Although more people meant less chance of getting lost, it also meant more unnecessary trouble.
"Mother, look at that little girl, is she sick?"
Following the direction her child pointed, Qin San Niang couldn't help but praise her eldest child's good eyesight, able to see clearly from such a distance.
She only saw a tall man pushing a cart with what looked like a little girl lying on it.
But how did you know this little girl was sick? I really couldn't tell!
Qin San Niang naturally thought the same way and asked the same question; she was not ashamed to ask those of lower status.
Hearing his mother ask him, Da Wa was a little shy, but still said slowly, "If A Nan were on the cart, she certainly wouldn't be lying so still, she wouldn't be so quiet!"
"Yes, Da Wa, you are very observant."
Thinking back, Ah Nan was definitely looking around when she was on the cart; she would never have been so well-behaved. If Xiao Er were added to the mix, it would be even more lively. These past few days, the children have been very active. According to Liu Shi, it's because they have food in their bellies and have the energy to run around. Besides, jumping and running around is a child's nature!
Qin San Niang has never raised children, but she has raised cats, that's for sure.
I only glanced at it and then paid no more attention to it.
The wild vegetables in front of us are becoming increasingly scarce. Although the grass and trees all around are still green, they all look wilted, perhaps because it hasn't rained for a long time.
Qin San Niang planned to dig up as many wild vegetables as possible while they were still available, so that she wouldn't run out of food.
Although there are plenty of green vegetables in the supermarket, they can only be taken out when the time is right. As far as she knows, there are no potatoes, onions, or sweet potatoes in this era. She plans to try planting high-yield crops like sweet potatoes after things have stabilized.
At noon, Liu distributed the steamed buns to everyone. They wouldn't last long anyway, and besides, they would get hard if left out. There was still a pile of grain in the carriage behind her, so Liu felt more confident and, unusually, was generous for once.
Everyone ate steamed buns with cold-dressed shepherd's purse and dandelion, and drank warm porridge. The aroma of the food filled their mouths and stomachs, and they were extremely satisfied!
Right after finishing her meal, Wu Chunhua took several large bowls to the river to wash them, telling Fatty to rest for a while.
The group decided to speed up, since they wouldn't need to walk anymore and could take a nap in the car later.
A dull creaking sound came from behind.
There were still refugees coming and going, but at first the group didn't pay much attention to them.
Hearing the car stop not far away, Qin San Niang looked up and saw that it was the same man who had been pushing the baby earlier. The man was quite fast and caught up with them in no time.
As if sensing someone looking at him, the man looked up in their direction, his gaze sharp. This gave Qin San Niang the feeling of being caught red-handed.
However, Qin San Niang did not feel embarrassed by this.
The man was in his thirties, dressed in an ill-fitting, light gray linen shirt and shorts, with straps tied around his calves and straw sandals on his feet. He was burly, with a diagonal scar on his face that ran from the corner of his left eye to his lower left chin, adding to his menacing appearance.
However, he seemed somewhat anxious at this moment. He carefully pushed the cart to a shady spot under a tree, then went to the roadside and gathered a few handfuls of dry grass and withered branches. With a single swing of his large hand, he wielded them like a rake, effortlessly. Qin Sanniang watched with envy; this was equivalent to gathering firewood for half an hour. The man took water from his water bag and slowly fed it to the little girl lying on the cart, his careful manner as if he were guarding a precious treasure.
The little baby moved its mouth and slowly sucked in the water. Its small body looked about the same age as A-Nan.
Only then did Qin San Niang realize that she was alive. Her motionless state just moments before had made it seem as if she had already breathed her last. Only her lips were moving weakly; she truly had very little strength left!
The man sighed and gently comforted her. Although they weren't very close, Qin San Niang could feel his sadness.
In times of chaos, a dog is better off than a human in times of peace!
Qin San Niang urged everyone to hurry up and get on the vehicle, but A Nan clung to her trouser leg and wouldn't let go.
"Anan, do you want your mother to see that girl?" But child, could you please stop pulling on your mother's pants? The fabric is practically falling apart. What if her bottom is exposed?! There's no replacement. The old one was patched upon patched, and it was completely torn to shreds when it was washed last time, so Aunt Qin threw it away. As for the new one, it hasn't been made yet!
A-Nan nodded. The young woman looked truly pitiful, just like Grandma Wang's little granddaughter, A-Yao, her only good friend, who had fallen ill and died, never to return. If she had known her mother knew medicine, she would have begged her to see A-Yao. But back then, she didn't know her mother knew medicine, and her mother was too busy, always running around the stove, the front and back yards…
Qin Sanniang hesitated. As a model modern youth, she was upright and knew she should be helpful. But as a widow fleeing from disaster, she was afraid the other party might be a farmer or a snake.
Before she could even come to a conclusion to her inner struggle, Anan had already walked over.
Wu Chunhua, who was still packing her things, saw this and quickly chased after Anan.
What are you waiting for? Qin San Niang, your own mother, should hurry over there too!
Seeing so many people approaching, the man suddenly became somewhat nervous, and a sharp aura emanated from him, causing Qin Sanniang to tense up involuntarily. This guy was dangerous; he knew martial arts.
She used to work among men, and the police force was mostly made up of men, so she was very familiar with this kind of atmosphere, like the way one would stand up straight when encountering a dangerous wild beast.
But A-Nan didn't seem afraid, and was focused on the little girl on the cart.
"Uncle, what's wrong with this girl? Is she sick?"
Hearing the baby girl's soft, babyish voice, the man's shoulders relaxed a little. Seeing that the people coming over were all women, he realized that even if they all attacked him at once, they wouldn't be a match for him. So he took his hands out from behind his back and continued to wipe the baby girl's sweat with a damp cloth.
"Yes, she is sick."
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