After dispersing the crowd, Song He'er went to the place where the fire was lit and waited for Wang San to bring back the licorice.
About the time it takes for an incense stick to burn has passed when Wang San walks over from not far away with a pile of herbs.
When he saw Song He'er, he put the things on the ground and said with a smile, "Miss, you're awake? I was just saying, if you weren't awake yet, I would have just brewed these medicines for you."
Song He'er knew that Wang San was a kind-hearted person, but the licorice was not very effective at the moment. She would need to prepare the medicine and decoct it so that everyone could recover faster and leave the desert as soon as possible.
"Uncle Wang, um...you're so capable, why don't you find us something to eat, like...bird eggs or something? These are nutritious and not as hard to digest as wolf meat."
Wang San squinted and smiled again: "It's only been a day, and you little girl dare to order me around?"
Song He'er feigned an innocent expression, raised her head, and met his gaze. "But didn't Uncle Wang just say he was going to help me brew medicine? Since we're both helping out, let's do a big favor. Otherwise, look how dark it is outside, I'd be scared to go alone!"
Wang San was just joking. He wasn't lazy, and finding something to eat wasn't a difficult task for him.
"Okay, I'll go then. Be careful when you light the fire, and don't set the firewood on fire and start a fire!"
"I understand, it won't happen!"
"Then I'm leaving. If I don't come back for a long time, don't worry. It just means I've gone far away. You'll definitely see me when it's almost dawn."
"good!"
After saying this, Wang San grabbed a basket, called over several strong men, and together they disappeared into the night...
Taking advantage of the fact that no one was around, Song He'er quickly took out some more herbs from her spatial storage and put them into the pot to boil according to the proportions.
The aroma of herbs here was very strong and quickly reached Qin Xiaoniang's nose.
She was holding a candle and was slowly walking towards them.
"He'er, did your Uncle Wang San just come back?"
"He came back, put down the medicine, and left again."
"What did you go to do?"
"Hmm... looking for something to eat."
Qin Xiaoniang looked around and replied worriedly, "Oh dear, it's so dark, where can we find something to eat?"
Song He'er knew, of course, that it was too dark to find anything to eat, but she did it to get Wang San away, otherwise she wouldn't be able to properly brew the medicine.
“Mother, what are you worried about? Besides, he didn’t go alone; several people went with him.”
"oh......"
Song He'er knew what she was thinking. She simply didn't want to trouble others or owe anyone favors. If this woman wasn't so sensible and knew how to act coquettishly, she wouldn't have let that eldest mistress bully her for so many years in the General's Mansion.
“Mother, can you please change this habit of always thinking of others? We're already struggling to take care of ourselves, so we shouldn't be distracted by other things. Besides, it was their fault for not cleaning the wolf meat properly in the first place…”
"Someone kindly gave you meat to eat, and you turned around and complained about them?"
“I’m not blaming him. Let’s analyze this carefully. Although they didn’t do anything directly wrong, they were the ones who caused this. We didn’t force them. Just find something to eat; it’s not like we’re making things difficult for them.”
Seeing that her verbal skills were becoming more and more impressive, Qin Xiaoniang stopped talking to her and changed the subject.
"Are you hungry? I don't see you've eaten anything tonight."
Song He'er chuckled, "Mother, I'm not hungry. I just ate something good."
"What good stuff?"
Song He'er took out a piece of mung bean cake that she hadn't finished eating from her bosom and stuffed it into Qin Xiaoniang's hand.
"Shh, eat it quickly, I've been hiding it for a long time."
Qin Xiaoniang was deeply surprised. She couldn't understand how her daughter could find food in her clothes time and time again.
"He'er, I'm asking you, you have to tell the truth, where did this thing come from?"
“Mother, didn’t I tell you? I bought it when I bought the cloth last time. I hid it, and no one found it.”
Qin Xiaoniang still didn't believe it. "But there can't be that much. You're taking out pieces here and there. How big are your pockets to hold all this stuff?"
Song He'er breathed a sigh of relief, and another suitable reason came to mind.
“I don’t carry it with me. I usually hide it in a rice bag. When I go to a new place, I take some out quietly and no one notices.”
"Really?" Qin Xiaoniang asked back.
Song He'er emphasized again, "Really, really, it's true! Oh, Mother, why do you always overthink things?"
Qin Xiaoniang breathed a sigh of relief, pulled Song He'er into her arms and hugged her, her delicate and gentle voice ringing in her ear.
“He’er, your mother is afraid that you will go astray and fall into the trap of those men for a little food.”
Song He'er burst out laughing. "A trap? Mother, what trap? You mean those exiled prisoners will force me to do something, and then give me cakes?"
"Go away, don't talk nonsense, Mother is just guessing!"
"Then your guess is completely wrong. Where would any other man in this desolate wilderness come from, and have hundreds of pounds of grain in his hands? But if you say it's a man from Wang San's group, then that's even more impossible. If they had this kind of food, they wouldn't even have enough for themselves, let alone give it away. Mother, I think you've gone mad from being in the desert!"
Qin Xiaoniang patted Song He'er's little hand and said fiercely, "You little brat, if you dare to talk nonsense again, I'll tear your mouth apart!"
Song He'er turned around and hugged Qin Xiaoniang's neck tightly, comforting her, "Mother, I am your biological daughter. A daughter will have the same temperament as her mother, so I would never do anything out of line. Mother, please rest assured."
Upon hearing Song He'er's words, Qin Xiaoniang felt a pang of heartache again. "It's all my fault. I made you suffer with me at an age when you should be enjoying life. If it were any other family's child, they would be learning music, chess, calligraphy, and painting by now. It's all my fault..."
“Mother, the suffering we are experiencing today is not solely your fault. If anyone is to blame, it is my father. He misjudged people and blindly attached himself to others. Once the rebels are eliminated, he will naturally suffer the same fate. We are only alive because the Emperor has shown us mercy.”
When the general was mentioned, Qin Xiaoniang fell silent.
Song He'er understood her feelings. She just didn't want to bring up the painful things from the past. If she was suffering now, the suffering she endured in the General's Mansion back then was far more painful than this...
"Mother, forget Father, forget all those unhappy things from the past. From now on, my brother and I will be there for you. We'll live our lives together..."
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