After taking Tianbao to see the doctor, Zhen Wanwan and the others headed towards the West Gate to meet up with the others.
The west gate was a sheltered pavilion specially built by the government, next to which was a post station. Zhen Wanwan and the others planned to rest in the pavilion for the night.
As for the Fang family members, they were already resting at the post station.
It is common knowledge that only officials are allowed to rest at post stations.
Although they had long known that Madam Fang's identity was not simple, this was the first time the villagers, who were scavenging for food in the fields, had actually seen a member of an official's family.
Everyone felt a sense of dread, especially the women who had tried to cheat and slack off when Madam Fang was giving birth.
My legs went weak with fear!
They couldn't help but feel secretly relieved that Madam Fang hadn't met with any mishap, otherwise they would all have probably lost their heads.
By this time, everyone was too tired to move, and the pavilion was already full.
Because Zhen Wanwan and the others arrived late with Tianbao for medical treatment, there was no place to stay when they got there.
Qu Huaiyuan was a scholar. Although he hadn't passed the imperial examination to become a Xiucai (a successful candidate in the lowest level of the imperial examinations), he was still better off than the villagers who scavenged for food in the fields.
Taking advantage of the Fang family's influence, he had already established a good relationship with the yamen runners at the post station and was staying overnight in the storeroom in the backyard of the post station.
After settling Aunt Qu in, he hurriedly returned to the pavilion to wait for Zhen Wanwan and the others.
"Brother Zhen, look over here..." Qu Huaiyuan waved his hands and walked quickly toward the Zhen family.
"Zhen Niangzi, how is Tianbao?"
Qu Huaiyuan looked at Zhen Wanwan, who was frowning, with concern, feeling a little uneasy.
Zhenniangzi has just given birth and is not fully recovered, yet she has to worry about household chores. It would be a lie to say I don't feel sorry for her.
Zhen Wanwan shook her head wearily, reached out and touched Tianbao's forehead. Seeing that it was still slightly hot, her heart began to ache again.
"Brother Qu, could you please help me brew two doses of medicine? Sweetie..."
Zhen Wanwan didn't miss the fact that he came out of the backyard of the post station. Although she could have asked Madam Fang for help directly, there was no need to make such a small matter known to everyone.
"As for whether I'll help or not, I'm Tianbao's elder, so of course I won't let her suffer any injustice."
Hearing Zhen Wanwan's polite words, Qu Huaiyuan became a little anxious and immediately stepped aside: "Come in with me. I have already spoken to the yamen runners. You can come in and stay the night as long as you pay a little food."
Upon hearing this, the Zhen family went inside without any hesitation.
They have no shortage of food right now.
However, the Zhou family, who had been quietly following behind the Zhen family, hesitated when they heard about paying for the grain.
After thinking for a moment, Zhou Dashan finally spoke up: "We can just follow the village guesthouse to the pavilion."
“Yes, we’re used to sleeping outside,” Sister-in-law Zhou chimed in.
Although the others didn't speak, they all shared the same thought.
They were terrified of hunger, and even if they had food, they didn't want to spend it on this.
“Is it about food, Hanzi? We’ll pay for your family…” Zhen Fugui couldn’t bear to see his good brother living outside, so he thought of helping to pay the rent.
"Yes, Dashan, your mother and sister are both old and in poor health. They've had a lot going on these past few days. If they don't get some rest, they might collapse from exhaustion."
"If you don't have enough food, we'll pay for it first, and you can pay us back after the famine is over," Old Lady Li said earnestly, holding Zhou Dashan's hand.
When Zhou Dashan saw his aunt's dark and sallow face, as well as his other younger siblings who looked tired, he felt a deep sense of guilt.
It was Sister-in-law Zhou who made the final decision: "Honey, let's stay here this once."
Zhou Dashan agreed, going along with his wife's suggestion.
Afterwards, Zhen Wanwan and the others took their luggage and went into the backyard of the post station, while Zhen Fugui went out to ask Dongzi's family if they would be willing to spend some food to stay overnight.
The others also looked longingly at Zhen Fugui, hoping that he would let their families stay in the house.
But when they heard that rent was required, they all slunk back down.
As expected, the Dong family also declined the offer. Their family of four received less grain than other families, so they naturally tried to save as much as possible.
Zhen Fugui didn't force him. Seeing that no one wanted to follow him in, he turned and went into the backyard of the post station.
Zhen Wanwan and the others followed behind Qu Huaiyuan, but unexpectedly encountered Siqin on the way.
Siqin curtsied to Zhen Wanwan and said, "Madam Zhen, my mistress has asked me to come and receive you."
She stepped forward and explained to Zhen Wanwan in a low voice, "There are too many people and too many eyes outside, so Madam couldn't arrange for you to come in directly. She asked Mr. Qu to pick you up from the backyard."
Everyone looked at Qu Huaiyuan, who had a slight smile on his lips as he frankly admitted, "Just as Miss Siqin said."
Zhen Wanwan was very grateful and did not refuse the other woman's kindness.
"Then I'll have to trouble Miss Siqin."
The guest room arranged by Mrs. Fang was simply furnished, but it was clean enough, without any insects or rats.
This is considered a very good house in a small town.
After Siqin returned, Zhen Wanwan prepared the medicine and wiped Tianbao's body.
Seeing Tianbao's gradually relaxed expression, this huge weight was finally lifted off her shoulders.
The women of the Zhen family shared a room. Wang Cuihua laid the bedding on the floor and left the bed for Zhen Wanwan and the twins.
"Go to sleep, we have to travel tomorrow morning."
Lying on the soft bed, the Zhen family felt completely relaxed, as if they had returned to Lijia Village.
That night, Zhen had a dream.
In her dream, she and Old Lady Li went to the county market, but somehow they got lost and were tricked out of the city by human traffickers.
After the trafficker left the city, he dragged her into a room and began to grope her. Zhen Wanwan wanted to resist, but she couldn't do anything.
She could only watch helplessly as the human trafficker tore at her clothes. Just when she was in despair, a man saved her.
I thought I was finally saved, only to find that my hands and feet were weak and hot.
It started moving wildly, tearing at the man in front of it.
It's obvious that they were poisoned.
As her consciousness began to fade, she felt someone pick her up, but then she completely lost consciousness.
When she woke up again, she was lying at the entrance of the county town, clutching a few silver ingots and a jade pendant in her hand.
A tearing pain shot through her lower body, bringing tears to her eyes, before she was found by Old Lady Li.
In her dream, Zhen Wanwan dared not tell Grandma Li about her experiences. She could only endure the physical pain and return home. From then on, she hid in her room and refused to communicate with anyone.
As the pregnancy progressed further, Zhen's family discovered it, but it was too late to terminate the pregnancy.
Zhen Wanwan was filled with resentment and tried to commit suicide many times, but was stopped by various accidents.
Finally, it's about her starving herself to death, and then Zhen Wanwan transmigrating into her body.
Because the dream felt so real, Zhen Wanwan was startled awake.
"Is this a dream or the original owner's memories?" Zhen Wanwan murmured softly.
Suddenly, she remembered the face of the man she had seen in her dream, and a chill ran down her spine.
The person's face perfectly overlapped with the face in my dream!
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