Chapter 37: Entering Yunlai County

Chapter 37: Entering Yunlai County

With that, He Zhiran promptly fetched the herbs she had picked the previous day and started boiling them.

Before long, the medicine was ready.

The officers offered to fetch it, but He Zhiran stopped them.

"Inspector Peng instructed me to choose those who seem likable for treatment," she said.

Zhou Laoba, who had overheard their conversation, knew that this was indeed what their superior had meant.

"Alright, we'll help you carry it. Whoever you say gets it, gets it."

He Zhiran took the lead, heading first to the Fang family's area.

When Zhao saw her approach, she felt like she'd been saved.

"He Zhiran, I thank you on behalf of my entire family."

He Zhiran simply nodded at her, then instructed the officials to distribute the medicine.

This time, Fang Chuanzhou was not spared, though his condition was not severe. He only felt slightly dizzy and nauseous.

He Zhiran had an official give him a bowl of medicine and whispered a reminder.

"Uncle Fang, remember to visit my husband tonight."

Fang Chuanzhou held the medicine bowl. "Alright, I definitely will."

He Zhiran then had the officials administer medicine to the other heatstroke patients from the Fang family. Afterward, she headed towards the Li and He households.

Despite their hostility towards the Mo family, the Li and He families dared not show it at this moment. They were still relying on the life-saving herbs from the Mo family.

Surveying the crowd, He Zhiran observed that most people's conditions were not severe. Some even deliberately groaned as they lay there.

Perhaps they were trying to avoid further travel.

She didn't expose the truth on the spot but instead selected a few elderly individuals and young children for the officials to distribute the medicine.

As for the rest, she simply chose to ignore them.

Just as she was about to leave with the remaining bit of the medicinal liquid, Li Rouer started cursing behind her.

"He Zhiran, you're heartless for refusing to help the dying! Mo Jiuye is cursed to have a wife like you for eight lifetimes!"

In He Zhiran's world, there was no such thing as not retaliating when insulted.

Just as she was about to retort, a sharp crack of a whip and Li Rouer's screams echoed in the air.

Zhang Qing was an expert at wielding a whip, striking swiftly and fiercely.

"Shut your damn mouth! No wonder the He family refused to treat you. If I were in their shoes, I wouldn't have helped either."

The whip landed precisely on Li Rouer's right arm, grazing her exposed neck as well.

Li Rouer clutched her neck, her eyes filled with disbelief.

"Sir, this is unjust! He Zhiran withholds our medicine, yet you don't reprimand her. Instead, you strike me for speaking the truth?" Zhang Qing was amused by Li Rouer's words but still lashed out at her fiercely. "I just can't stand you, so I'll beat you to a pulp."

Seeing Li Rouer offend the officer again, Zhu quickly pulled her aside. "Sir, my lady is ignorant. Please spare her this once!" As she spoke, Zhu bowed repeatedly to Zhang Qing.

Zhang Qing's anger subsided upon witnessing this. "Control her loose tongue in the future. If I hear her spouting nonsense again, it won't be just two lashes."

Li Rouer, fueled by anger earlier, had spoken without restraint in front of the officer. Now that reason returned, she was genuinely frightened.

However, her hatred for He Zhiran intensified.

Kneeling behind Zhu's back, she sobbed quietly while calculating how to make the journey of exile more tolerable.

Li Liang felt his head throb at the sight of his usually well-behaved daughter in such a state.

Fortunately, Zhu was sensible enough to promptly apologize, preventing the officials from potentially causing trouble for the Li family during the journey.

As the officials and He Zhiran disappeared from sight, Li Liang glared fiercely at Li Rouer.

"When there are outsiders around, you'd better be as quiet as a mouse."

"Dad..." Li Rouer looked up at Li Liang with a pout, trying to explain, but he silenced her before she could say anything.

"Shut up right now."

Li Rouer fell silent, burying her face in Zhu's embrace to continue weeping.

He Zhiran glanced at the remaining medicinal broth in the iron pot and distributed it to the Fang family members who had not suffered from heatstroke as a preventative measure. She intended to demonstrate to these people that crossing the Mo family would bring no benefits.

She would rather give the medicine to those who were unharmed than to their enemies.

Returning to the ox cart, He Zhiran shared her observations with Peng Wang. "Magistrate Peng, I've just made a cursory check. Indeed, three from the Fang family have heatstroke, whereas it seems that the number of cases among the He and Li families is fewer."

With that, she left it to Peng Wang's experience to interpret her words.

Peng Wang understood perfectly well; they were merely feigning illness. In a fit of anger, he ordered the group to continue on their journey, warning that anyone lagging behind would be disciplined with a whip.

At this, no one from the He or Li families dared to pretend anymore. Though not exactly full of energy, most could keep up with the journey without issue, aside from a few genuinely suffering from heatstroke.

After traveling for over two hours, the large group finally entered Yunlai County before nightfall.

The officials seemed well-acquainted with the area and, upon entering the city, they headed straight for an inn located in the western part of it. Upon seeing the inn, everyone heaved a sigh of relief. Who knew how they had managed to survive the previous night, exposed to the wilderness? Not only was it cold and damp, but they also had to constantly fend off mosquitoes. In the morning, their faces and clothes were dotted with dewdrops. Today was different; with an inn to stay in, they could have a good night's rest. Especially those family members who had suffered from heatstroke, although they had significantly recovered after taking the medicine given by He Zhiran, they were still somewhat weak. A good rest would likely speed up their recovery. Zhou Laoba looked at the group. "For those willing to share a large dormitory with ten people, it's one tael of silver. For a room for two, it's five taels. And for those without silver, there are sheds in the inn's courtyard for you to spend the night."

Hearing this, He Zhiran couldn't help but inwardly scoff. Such a price was clearly designed to exploit them.

But upon reflection, she understood and let it go. These officials relied on exploiting people to enrich themselves; how could they pass up such an opportunity?

The other families let out sighs of disappointment.

"Sir, we really don't have any silver!"

"Yes, sir, please take pity on us. Don't make us sleep outside."

"Sir, please be merciful, even if it means we have to share a room with twenty others..."

Zhou Laoba waved his hand impatiently.

"Enough chatter. Those who have silver, pay up now. Those without will have to sleep in the sheds outside."

Sister-in-law Three hastily took out a few silver coins from her bosom and approached Old Lady Mo and He Zhiran.

"Mother, Ninth Brother's wife, there are twelve of us. I was thinking of getting one room for ten and another for two. What do you think?"

Madam Old Mo was quite pleased with the arrangement for her third daughter-in-law.

"Very well, this is excellent. Jiuye and Heshi can share a room, while I will reside with you other sister-in-laws and Hanyue in the suite that accommodates ten of us."