Chapter 28 Did they run away with their men?
"Come, come, eat some more, Mother."
"Eat lots of food, grow tall!"
At the dinner table, Song Jin patiently coaxed his mother like a child, offering her delicacies like venison, wild phoenix, carp, and cloud turtle...
The small table was crammed full of these things; if you didn't know better, you'd think a medicinal cuisine restaurant had opened.
Niu Tielan leaned on the table with one hand, listlessly picking at the food, looking utterly dejected and lifeless.
Song Jin couldn't help but tap the table: "Hey, Mom, are you eating vegetables or air?"
Snap
Niu Tielan put down her chopsticks and said irritably, "I'm just surnamed Niu, not a real cow. How could I possibly eat so much?"
Song Jin earnestly advised, "Try your best, even if you feel unwell, eat more. Remember, this isn't food, it's medicine."
"This is medicine, and what's that over there?" Niu Tielan pointed behind him expressionlessly.
There, Xiao Mei was holding a ceramic jar the size of a human head, filled with a dark, medicinal liquid that smelled strongly of medicine even from afar.
Niu Tielan knew her daughter was doing it for her own good, and she knew the medicine would be effective, but she just couldn't take it all. She felt that it was only because the Gu was still lurking in her heart that she could manage to get it into her stomach; otherwise, this thing would definitely burst from the stomach.
She took a deep breath, her expression pale and her eyes desolate: "Jinjin, dying of illness at least has some dignity; if you die from overeating, your mother will be laughed at to death even in the afterlife."
Song Jin's lips twitched: "Pah, pah, pah, stop talking nonsense. If you can't eat, then don't. Take a break, take your medicine, and go back to lie down."
Niu Tielan said sullenly, "I've been lying down all day, I want to go for a walk."
Song Jin carefully observed Niu Tielan's complexion. Although it was still pale, it was much better than before.
As expected, Qi Zheng was right. The reason the Red Thread Gu hadn't acted up before was because the tonics had suppressed it.
This damned Gu can even pick out the good stuff!
"Alright, then you can walk around inside." Song Jin placed her hand on Niu Tielan's chest, feeling the calm heartbeat, and silently channeled her inner energy into it.
Niu Tielan immediately felt a warm feeling in her heart, a comforting warmth that dispelled her gloom and fatigue. But instead of being happy, she was worried: "That's enough, Mother's fine, take it easy."
Song Jin continued channeling her internal energy, and under its influence, she clearly sensed the presence of the Gu worms within. She slightly raised her lips, her expression arrogant and confident: "Don't worry, Mother, this is nothing. Even if we can't find a way to get rid of this damned thing later, I can still overpower it."
Niu Tielan: "...That sounds kind of creepy."
Song Jin grinned.
Upon returning yesterday, she immediately began trying to suppress the Gu worms, experimenting with Thousand-Mile Bees, Song Xingzhi's blood, and rare medicinal herbs.
The result is also obvious.
Song Xingzhi's blood, like him, was utterly useless.
The Thousand-Mile Bee will activate the Gu worms.
Rare medicinal herbs can calm it down, with Ganoderma lucidum and ginseng being the most effective.
However, the most effective resource is Song Jin's internal energy, which is also her special ability from her previous life. Although due to environmental limitations, her special ability cannot compare to that of her previous life, and it is more difficult to recover after it is depleted.
But as long as internal energy is effective, everything else is a minor issue.
Song Jin carefully channeled her internal energy; this thing, if not controlled properly, could kill rather than save a life. Only when the Gu worms had completely calmed down did she stop.
"Mother, you stay at home. I'm going to the tea garden. I'll be back in a bit."
Niu Tielan frowned and looked at Song Jin with some concern: "Why don't we rest for a while? There's nothing wrong with the tea garden. At worst, we can just not harvest this season. It's not a big deal."
Song Jin, who had only told her she was going to the capital for medical treatment, touched her nose and said, "I'm fine, Mother, don't worry, I'll be right back."
Feeling guilty, she strode out of the room, and as soon as she came out, she saw Xiao Er hopping around in the yard like a little deer.
Song Jin: "What are you doing? Why are you carrying so many things?"
Little Ear's forehead was covered in sweat, and her round face was flushed: "Aren't we leaving soon? I've packed my things. I'll take these unwanted clothes and shoes to Widow Li by the river. Last time I saw her Tao Tao's clothes were see-through, these will fit her perfectly."
These days, ordinary families don't throw away old clothes. They wear the older ones and then the younger ones, patching small patches into larger ones. If they're completely unwearable, they can be used to make shoes or insoles.
Xiao Er and the others were no exception; normally, when their clothes got old, they would just alter them, sew them up, and change the style, but here they were giving them away directly.
Song Jin raised an eyebrow, stepped forward and rummaged through the large bag of clothes in Xiao Er's arms, wondering, "If we're not going to live like this anymore, give all of these away."
These clothes are made of good material, and there aren't even two patches.
Xiao Er scratched her head, her cheeks flushed: "Aren't we going to the capital? Although I don't know what it's like there, it's definitely not like this town. There are so many wealthy families there. We can't let our young lady and mistress down. We'll leave all these old clothes behind and buy new ones when we get there."
Song Jin's lips twitched: "It's not that serious, Xiao Mei is overthinking it."
Only Xiaomei could be this thoughtful in the family.
"Anyway, we can't embarrass Miss and Madam. Miss, you're busy, I'll continue packing. Throw away all this junk!" Little Ears tilted her head back, stood on tiptoe, and strode away proudly.
Song Jin: ...
Alright, let's just give out double the silver at the end of this month.
She shook her head, went to the backyard to pick up Xiao Hei, and ran towards Shili Village.
The silver mine issue has been mostly resolved, the people the county government had stationed here have left, and Shili Village has returned to its former state. No one will stop her anymore.
Song Jin rode his mule to the tea garden without any hindrance, just in time to see the merchants coming to buy goods. Wang Lao Er and Jiang Qian were busy carrying things and negotiating prices.
Although she was the hostess, she couldn't get a word in edgewise. She simply greeted the tea merchants and then sat down to wait for them.
This wait lasted for an hour.
Jiang Qian, covered in sweat after finishing his work, walked over and collapsed into a rattan chair without any regard for his image, downing a cup of tea in one gulp.
"I'm exhausted. They were so late in coming that I was worried something might go wrong. But now it's finally done. The accounts won't be cleared for another two days, then I'll show them to your mother."
"No"
Song Jin hadn't slept much the night before, and last night he went into the mountains again to collect the good herbs he hadn't picked before, not returning until dawn. He was exhausted.
She yawned: "I came here to say goodbye. My mother and I are leaving in a couple of days. You'll be in full charge of managing the tea plantation from now on, and we'll split the profits 50/50. You write up a contract in a bit, and we'll sign it."
Jiang Qian choked on his tea, coughed a few times, then lurched off his rattan chair and fell to the ground. He grimaced in fear, his face filled with terror.
What trouble have you gotten yourself into?
Song Jin rolled her eyes: "Can't you think of me in a good way? My mother's illness has improved, and I'm going to take her to the capital to seek medical treatment. We might be back in a few months, or it might be a few years. I won't be able to take care of things here."
Jiang Qian breathed a sigh of relief and wiped away his cold sweat: "Thank goodness, you scared me to death. You guys just went to see a doctor, why make such a big fuss? If you really feel bad about it, give us some extra pay. Wang Lao Er and I will wait for you to come back."
Song Jin, with her hands behind her head, shook her head with a smile: "No need."
Seeing the seriousness in her eyes, Jiang Qian's playful expression faded, and he felt a pang of unease. "When are you leaving?"
Song Jin: "Early the day after tomorrow"
Jiang Qian didn't ask any further questions. He took the teapot and poured two more cups of tea, handing one to Song Jin and holding the other in his own hands, solemnly and earnestly.
"Take care on your journey. I will manage the tea garden well. When you return, the tea garden will be returned to its rightful owner."
Song Jin took the tea, clinked glasses with him, and smiled, "I believe you."
It wasn't that she trusted his character, but rather that she knew his courage all too well—even if he had a hundred more lives, Jiang Qian wouldn't dare compete with her for the tea garden, unless he planned to live the rest of his life in constant fear.
Even now, though Song Jin planned to leave in a hurry and act as if she would never come back, he didn't ask a single question, afraid of getting involved in other matters.
Just like when Song Xingzhi came to his door last time, he knew perfectly well that Song Jin was behind it. He even helped cover for him beforehand, but afterwards he never asked a single question, for fear that knowing too much would get him involved.
This is good too. Song Jin signed a contract with him in front of the village chief, handing over the management rights of the tea garden to him, so she wouldn't have to worry about her mother's hard work going to waste.
Besides Jiang Qian, the manager of the tea plantation, there was also Wang Lao Er.
Upon learning that Song Jin was leaving, Wang Lao Er was momentarily stunned, but immediately said, "I'll go with you. Although I'm not very capable, I can still help drive the horses and watch the house."
Song Jin was also somewhat surprised. After all, although Wang Lao Er was also helping them with their work, he was a free man, unlike A Mao and Xiao Duo at home.
She hesitated for a long time before saying, "If you want to go, I naturally have no objection, but the journey to the capital is uncertain, and I don't know what I might encounter. I might lose my life at any time. Are you sure you still want to go?"
Without the slightest hesitation, Wang Lao Er said, "I have no relatives or friends, and my life is just worthless. If I'm really unlucky, I'll just lose it. Besides, dying in the capital is more dignified than dying in this countryside. Even after I die, I can brag to my father and mother."
Looking at him like this, Song Jin recalled the time she first met him.
He had just fled famine from another region; his entire family had either died from illness or starvation, leaving him all alone. That year, his mother wanted to start a tea plantation, so she hired him there, and he's been working there ever since.
She laughed from the bottom of her heart, and then said solemnly, "I can only say that I will do my best to protect you under my mother's protection. If I fail to protect you, I will definitely avenge you."
The protector, Song Jin, wasn't very good at it.
But killing was something she was exceptionally skilled at.
...
After settling things over with the tea plantation, Song Jin went to Mayor Lin the next day and entrusted him with everything, including his house, land, and silkworm farm.
With Song Xingzhi and his group's reputation in her name, she wasn't worried about Mayor Lin turning against her and seizing the property.
This old man is the most pragmatic.
As expected, upon learning of her sibling relationship with Song Xingzhi, Mayor Lin agreed without hesitation, showing no reluctance whatsoever: "You can go with peace of mind. I will look after your fields for you, and I will arrange for someone to deliver your annual earnings to you."
If that's the case, then Mayor Lin can understand why Song Xingzhi had been constantly inquiring about the mother and daughter's situation, and also understand why he had been beaten so badly.
He understands, he understands.
He wondered how Niu Tielan, an ordinary woman from a county, knew so much. Ah, I see. Ah, I see!
Judging from Mayor Lin's expression, Song Jin knew he was thinking about something inappropriate. Her lips twitched, but she ultimately decided not to explain further.
The more this old man thinks, the more dedicated he becomes to his work; it's only right that he does it.
Over the years, it seemed like he was protecting the mother and daughter, but in reality, he was the one who benefited the most. He only had to talk; Niu Tielan's cosmetics business generated real profits, the kind that could support generations.
But regardless of who benefits, he still proved useful in some way, and will likely be useful in the future.
Song Jin then spoke to him with some ambiguous words, making sure that everything about her family's businesses was arranged properly and nothing was overlooked, before leaving Mayor Lin's house under the moonlight.
This was the last night of her three-day agreement with Song Xingzhi.
She had one last thing to do.
**
In Si'an County, Song Xingzhi sat by the back door of Huichuntang, across the street watching over Song Jin's small courtyard in the city.
He was dressed in white, with a jade pendant at his waist and a wooden fan lightly waving in his hand, displaying an elegant and refined demeanor, yet his eyes were fixed intently on the person opposite him.
From sunrise in the east until sunset in the west.
Song Xingzhi's initial anticipation turned into anxiety: "Why aren't they here yet? I told you I should go pick them up myself. They must have a lot of stuff this time. It's a hundred miles from Linxi Town. If they're targeted by someone with ulterior motives, how will those two weak women handle it? No, I'll send someone over to check right now."
Li Qingshan, who was holding his sword, twitched at the corner of his mouth when he heard this, and looked at him with a complicated expression: "Instead of thinking that they have run into trouble, you should think about whether they have changed their minds and packed their things to run away early."
Li Qingshan's original intention was merely to mock Song Xingzhi for overthinking, but he didn't expect Song Xingzhi to take it seriously and become even more anxious: "No, I have to go check it out. If that girl really runs away, I'm doomed too."
If Song Jin really ran away with her mother, Song Xingzhi couldn't be sure of his father's reaction, but he was certain that his brothers would kill him.
"What are you looking at? If that girl said she was coming, she definitely will." Just then, the back door of the clinic opened, and Old Liu, who had been waiting there, walked out with a strong voice, his words filled with trust in Song Jin and disdain for Song Xingzhi.
"You just wait here. You're already sickly; don't go out and cause any more trouble, or you'll just be adding to that girl's burden."
Song Xingzhi: "...She really didn't run away with people?"
Old Liu couldn't stand Song Xingzhi no matter what, and sneered, "If she really wanted to run away with people, do you think you could stop her?"
Although Old Liu genuinely hoped the mother and daughter would run far away and never acknowledge this marriage, it was impossible.
He knew all too well how much Song Jin cared about Niu Tielan; for Niu Tielan's health, she would brave any danger.
Song Xingzhi, however, was blinded by his own involvement and remained unmoved by Old Liu's words.
Indeed, given Niu Tielan's physical condition, if Song Jin wanted to live any longer, she wouldn't have run away.
Thinking this, he relaxed again, sat back down, and casually fanned himself, sipping his tea with an air of leisure, behaving like a young master.
Old Liu rolled his eyes, standing to the side. He hadn't expected that Song Xingzhi's worries were actually correct this time.
Song Jin and her group are truly in trouble now.
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