Seeing that Ning Zhao was suffering from a high fever, Jiang Yuwei quickly got dressed and fetched some spiritual spring water to wipe Ning Zhao's body. She then found a towel, wet it, and placed it on Ning Zhao's head to help him cool down.
Jiang Yuwei remembered that there was a honeysuckle tree at the foot of the back mountain, so she hurriedly took a basket and went out. In no time, she had picked a full basket of honeysuckle.
Back in the courtyard, Jiang Yuwei first boiled some honeysuckle in a pot of water, then cooked a pot of white porridge, prepared two cold dishes, and called everyone out for breakfast.
Jiang Yuwei ladled out a bowl of porridge for Ning Huaizhi and handed it to him, saying:
“I see that Ning Zhao has a high fever today. I want to stay home and take care of her. You can look after the shop. By the way, when you leave, take Wan’er with you to help out. I’m worried that we won’t have enough manpower if I don’t go today. Take Wan’er with you to the shop so that she doesn’t catch a cold at home.”
Ning Huai nodded with a worried look in his eyes:
"Alright, then I'll have to trouble you to take care of Ning Zhao. Leave the shop to me, don't worry about it."
Jiang Yuwei nodded and poured the boiled honeysuckle water into the bathtub, then asked Ning Wu and Tie Zhu to help carry the bathtub to Ning Zhao's room.
After Jiang Yuwei closed the doors and windows tightly, she helped Ning Zhao take off his clothes and carried him into the bathtub to soak in a honeysuckle medicinal bath. While wiping Ning Zhao's body, Jiang Yuwei added hot water to the tub to help him dispel the cold and sweat.
When Jiang Yuwei saw that Ning Zhao had woken up, she quickly went out to get a bowl of honeysuckle water and slowly fed it to Ning Zhao. Then she went out to get a bowl of white rice porridge and brought in a small dish of pickled vegetables to feed Ning Zhao.
However, Ning Zhao was still delirious with fever and had almost no appetite. She ate less than half a bowl of white rice porridge and only a few bites of pickled vegetables, which made Jiang Yuwei very anxious.
Jiang Yuwei wiped Ning Zhao's body, then laid him down on the bed. She then went to her own room to get another quilt to cover Ning Zhao with. Seeing that Ning Zhao had fallen asleep again, Jiang Yuwei took a cool towel and placed it on Ning Zhao's head.
Then he took out some white wine and wiped Ning Zhao's palms, soles, and armpits. After covering Ning Zhao with a blanket and closing the doors and windows, he came out.
Jiang Yuwei kneaded dough and made many flatbreads, then heated the kang (heated brick bed) where Ning Zhao was lying before going to sweep the yard. She was cleaning the stove when the village head rushed in in a panic.
"Yuwei, stop what you're doing, come here quickly, I have something to tell you!"
Seeing the village head's nervous expression, Jiang Yuwei dared not be negligent. She quickly put down the rag she was holding, took off her apron, and invited the village head to sit down at the stone table.
"Village head, what's wrong? Why are you in such a hurry?"
As she spoke, Jiang Yuwei picked up the tea set on the stone table and poured a cup of tea for the steward.
Upon seeing this, the village head quickly waved his hand and said:
"No need to bother. I've come today to tell you that news has come from the government that an uprising has broken out in Guanzhong, and a large number of bandits and outlaws are heading south!"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yuwei's hand holding the teacup trembled slightly.
"Village head, is this news confirmed?"
The village head frowned and nodded, saying:
"It's true. I didn't believe it at first either, but Sunjia Village has already been completely wiped out. I heard that not a single person was left alive. This has caused widespread panic. I was thinking that your courtyard is quite conspicuous, and you've opened a paper mill. I'm just afraid..."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yuwei's face was filled with worry. She naturally knew the gravity of the situation. These mountain bandits and outlaws were ruthless killers who killed without blinking an eye for a living. She feared that she wouldn't be able to buy her life even if she tried.
Jiang Yuwei grew increasingly worried. Ning Huaizhi's leg was just starting to improve, but Ning Zhao had a persistent high fever. If those bandits from Guanzhong really came to Ningjia Village, the lives of her entire family would be in danger.
The village head looked at Jiang Yuwei and sighed, saying:
“Yuwei, I was thinking that your home is at the foot of this mountain, far from the village. I was worried that you might not know the situation and panic at the last minute, leaving you helpless and in danger. So I came to tell you as soon as I got the news. You should make plans as soon as possible.”
Seeing that the village head had finished his tea in one gulp, Jiang Yuwei quickly stood up as well and said:
"I have to thank the village head for informing me of this. If it weren't for him, I would still be in the dark."
The village head waved his hand and said:
“You are on good terms with my Ningqiu, so naturally I had to inform you as soon as possible after this happened. Alright, alright, you go ahead with your work. I need to rush off to discuss countermeasures with the village elders.”
Seeing this, Jiang Yuwei quickly saw the village head out.
After the village head left, Jiang Yuwei sat down to think things over carefully. It was impossible for her to move her whole family just because she heard some news. After all, she had put a lot of effort and money into this little courtyard, and it held many happy memories for her.
If it weren't for a last resort, I would never move. After all, my shop on North Street has only just opened, and I've only just earned back the money I spent on buying it. I've only just broken even and haven't started making a profit yet. If I leave now, all my previous plans will have been in vain.
With that thought in mind, Jiang Yuwei got up and looked around her small courtyard, pacing back and forth. The most important thing right now was to strengthen the protection inside and outside the courtyard and store all the important things in her spatial storage.
Jiang Yuwei then went to the backyard to check on the chickens, ducks, sheep, and pigs in the pen. She thought that if it really was a bandit invasion, people's lives would be in danger, and these things should not be allowed to fall into the hands of those people.
With that thought in mind, Jiang Yuwei began to slaughter chickens and sheep, preparing to store these things in her spatial storage so that even if she were forced to flee to the road at the last minute, she would still have meat to eat.
Jiang Yuwei spent the whole afternoon dealing with all these things. Then she went to check on Ning Zhao in the room and saw that his fever had subsided, so she quickly changed his handkerchief.
Then she went out of the courtyard to cut bamboo. Jiang Yuwei planned to make more bamboo arrows and crossbows for backup. It would be best to dig a tunnel through the courtyard to get out.
After Jiang Yuwei cut down the bamboo, she busied herself making many crossbow bolts, which could be fixed to the original wall and the ropes set up so that they could hold off thieves for a while if they came.
After Jiang Yuwei finished making the crossbow bolts, she drew a blueprint based on the appearance of the courtyard, planning to have everyone help dig an escape tunnel that night.
When Jiang Yuwei finished her work, she saw Ning Zhao walking out, leaning against the wall, his face pale, his lips cracked, and he coughing incessantly.
"Cough cough cough... Mother, Mother, what are you busy with?"
Jiang Yuwei turned around and saw the weak Ning Zhao. She quickly went to support him, touched his forehead, and said:
"Be careful not to catch a cold. If you need anything, just ask your mother for it. You've only just recovered from your fever, and you're still weak."
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