Xiaoman smiled and said, "I don't need them to be grateful. Their husbands are soldiers. I just want to relieve some of the soldiers' worries."
Wang Erni looked at Xiaoman and said, "Your awareness is really high."
Ma Xiumei: "It's not that I don't want you to help them, I'm just afraid that if you help them, they won't say anything good about you."
Wang Erni: "Really?"
Ma Xiumei: "Our military region is so big, there are all kinds of people here."
Xiaoman smiled and said, "I have treated them well. If they have wronged me, I will not be polite either."
Nao Nao looked at everyone and asked, "Mom, Aunt Erni, Aunt Xiumei, what are you saying? I don't understand."
Originally, Tang Huihui wanted the children to call Wang Erni "Aunt Wang," but Wang Erni said there were too many military wives with the surname Wang in the military region. If the children called her "Aunt Wang," a bunch of people would definitely respond. Ma Xiumei thought "Aunt Ma" didn't sound nice and wouldn't let the children call her that either.
Xiaoman patted Naonao's head: "You'll understand later."
The next day, Xiaoman invited the experienced herb gatherer over. Xiaoman had the herb gatherer emphasize several points: 1. Herb gathering is risky. Besides snakes, some herbs are also poisonous. 2. The gathered herbs must be sold at the state-run purchasing points. 3. Women should gather herbs in groups, not alone. 4. Do not venture deep into the mountains.
After talking for five days, Xiaoman asked the master to take them to the nearby mountains for two more days.
The military wives felt they had learned the skills, and only then did Xiaoman send the master craftsman back. When the master craftsman left, Xiaoman packed two bottles of medicinal wine and two packets of tea for him. The master craftsman said three times that he had made a good deal.
The military wives were initially quite confident. However, after a few days, they became discouraged. There weren't many medicinal herbs on the nearby mountains, and those that were available weren't valuable. The military wives had to evade both insects and weeds while gathering herbs.
The military wives gathered together again to discuss the matter.
A: "How about we don't go?"
B: "I didn't want to go anymore."
C: "How about we have Wang Xiaoman lead us inside?"
Ding: "I wouldn't dare."
C: "Let's not go deep into the mountains, we'll just stay a little further in."
Some military wives want to give it a try.
Xiaoman was playing in the mud with the children when the military wives arrived. Xiaoman raised an eyebrow: "You're here, come in and sit down."
Hearing the noise, Tang Huihui came out of the house: "Xiaoman, take everyone inside. Naonao, Tengteng, Grandma will play with you, okay?"
Nao Nao and Tengteng: "Okay."
Xiaoman led them inside and poured them a cup of tea. "Is there something you need?"
A was a little embarrassed and shifted in his chair: "Xiaoman, we want...we want you to take us into the mountains. There aren't many good medicinal herbs outside...outside."
B: "Don't worry, we won't wander off."
C: "If we find any medicinal herbs, we'll share half with you."
Ding: "Xiaoman, please help us. My family is almost starving."
The others also confided their grievances to Xiaoman.
Xiaoman glanced at them. "I can take you there."
Just as the military wives were about to rejoice, Xiaoman added, "However, you'll have to sign a waiver of liability." Xiaoman had the ability to protect them. But, there's no such thing as a free lunch. And, nothing is absolute. Even gods sometimes make mistakes.
The military wives were all stunned.
A: "Life...life and death...death agreement?"
Xiaoman: "Mmm."
B: "No need. We...we just need to get some medicine."
Xiaoman looked at her seriously and said, "Use it."
B: "This..."
Xiaoman continued, "Your husbands also need to sign it." Here, the man is the head of the household.
B: "Does it have to be a man's signature?"
Xiaoman: "Mmm."
B: "Then...then I won't go."
Xiaoman glanced at the others.
The others didn't want to sign either.
A: "Xiaoman, I have some things to take care of at home, I have to go now."
Xiaoman stood up from the chair: "I'll see you off."
"No need, no need, you guys chat. You guys chat."
After a while, the others also made excuses to leave.
After Xiaoman saw them off, Tang Huihui asked curiously, "What did they want from you?"
“They wanted me to take them into the mountains, but I made them sign a waiver of their right to life or death, and they were too scared.”
"A death waiver? You made Yongzi and the others sign death waivers when you took them into the mountains before?"
"No need. They are soldiers."
"That's true. They have the ability to protect themselves."
"No, they follow orders."
“Yes.” Tang Huihui glanced towards the door. “They might not listen to you.”
"Um."
Nao Nao tugged at Xiao Man's sleeve: "Mom, Mom, my house is finished."
Xiaoman looked down and said, "Not bad, it would be even better if we added a courtyard around it."
Nao Nao: "Okay."
Tengteng: "Mom, I've finished making my toy car too."
Xiaoman looked at it and said, "Not bad. We can put things in the cart now."
Tengteng: "Okay."
The mother and her two children were kneading clay. Someone entered through the door: "Xiao...Xiaoman."
Xiaoman looked back.
Zhou Lihua was a little timid: "Xiao...Xiaoman, I...I'm willing to sign a waiver of life and death. Can...can you take me into the mountains?"
Xiaoman thought for a moment. This Zhou Lihua was a child bride. Her husband's surname was Kong, and he was a battalion commander. Battalion Commander Kong was very ugly, and his mother was afraid that he would not be able to find a wife when he grew up, so she found him a child bride.
Battalion Commander Kong was only sixteen when his mother forced him to consummate his marriage with Zhou Lihua. Although Zhou Lihua had given birth to three sons and two daughters for Battalion Commander Kong, she had no status in the family. Even her children didn't respect her much. If Battalion Commander Kong hadn't been ugly and hadn't held a low rank, he probably would have abandoned her long ago.
Zhou Lihua, afraid that Xiaoman hadn't heard her clearly, repeated, "Xiaoman, I'm willing to sign a waiver of my life. Can you take me into the mountains?"
"Did Battalion Commander Kong agree?"
Zhou Lihua's eyes dimmed: "He will definitely agree."
"I'll take you there if he agrees."
Zhou Lihua's eyes lit up: "Really?"
"Um."
"Then I'll sign it for you now."
Xiaoman looked at Zhou Lihua and said, "You'd better think this through. Going into the mountains is no joke."
Zhou Lihua's gaze was particularly fixed: "I've thought it through."
“Alright.” Xiaoman found a piece of paper and wrote a life-or-death agreement: “If Battalion Commander Kong signs it, I’ll take you into the mountains.”
"Okay. Xiaoman, thank you."
"You're welcome."
As soon as Battalion Commander Kong got home, Zhou Lihua handed him the death warrant. Battalion Commander Kong took it and glanced at it: "Death warrant? You want to go into the mountains with Wang Xiaoman? Okay, go ahead."
Zhou Lihua glanced at Battalion Commander Kong. She had borne him five children, yet he showed no concern whatsoever. A pang of pain shot through her heart. After the pain subsided, she smiled again. In his heart, she was probably nothing more than a servant. "You need to sign."
"Okay." After signing the document, Battalion Commander Kong handed the paper to Zhou Lihua: "Is the food ready?"
"alright."
Battalion Commander Kong glanced at the table: "More cornbread? Can't you make something else?"
"This is all we have at home."
Battalion Commander Kong fell silent.
After finishing her meal, Zhou Lihua brought the death certificate to Xiaoman.
Xiaoman looked at it and asked, "When do you want to go?"
Zhou Lihua wanted to go early. But she knew that Xiaoman was only there to help. "I'll go with you."
"Then let's do it tomorrow."
"Okay. Do I need to prepare anything?"
"You can decide what to prepare."
"good."
The next day, Xiaoman took Xiaohei and Zhou Lihua into the mountains. Naonao and Tengteng wanted to come along, but Xiaoman said she would take them when they grew as tall as their older brother Erwa.
Three days later, Xiaoman returned with Xiaohei and Zhou Lihua. Zhou Lihua was covered in injuries, and Xiaoman and Xiaohei were also in a sorry state. The family quarters were in an uproar.
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