The Daily Life of a Down-on-Hard-Life Medicine Girl Supporting Her Family

Chapter 74 Thinking of the Northern Desert
"Nuan Nuan, Grandma's knowledge is indeed limited, and we are really grateful to you."

I've been back in Sichuan for almost half a year now. I have a house to live in, land to cultivate, and a little money coming in.

At home, those who should be embroidering are embroidering, those who should be reading are reading, and the great-grandson has grown up to be chubby and fair-skinned.

This house is increasingly taking on the feel of a home.

The old lady took Chunnuan's hand and patted it.

"Oh dear, Grandma is worried about your father and the others. I wonder what's going on?"

They were all exiled to the northern desert, and they were all weak and frail. The old lady was worried that her children and grandchildren would not be able to bear it, and there was no news of them at all. She was anxious.

"Grandmother, don't worry. I've already asked around. If there are any caravans going to the northern desert, they might be able to bring some things for Father and the others."

Chunnuan had already made plans for this: "After my mother and the others finish embroidering the wedding dress, I will start making some cotton-padded clothes for my father and the others, and send them out together."

"Can you deliver it? Is that alright?"

"OK."

Actually, Chunnuan wasn't sure herself either.

She had heard about Master Zhou's affairs and knew that he owned several caravans that traveled all over the country.

I once considered going to ask Master Zhou for help.

But when she thought about celebrating her birthday, she backed down.

In Changzhou, she couldn't afford to offend anyone, so she could only lie low and slowly nurture the Xiao family until she had enough capital to show herself in front of others.

"That's good, that's good. This matter needs to be arranged by your mother and the others."

Even before spring arrived, the three Xu sisters-in-law and Zhu Ling were so excited to hear that they could send winter clothes to the men and children that they wiped away tears.

"Yes, we will definitely do it. Make sure the cotton padding on the cotton-padded clothes is thicker. Also, make sure to padded the shoes and pants with cotton. It gets very cold in the northern desert in winter, and they won't be able to stand it."

This incident reminded Chunnuan that she needed to prepare some frostbite cream. She would bring some over later.

But who should we ask to deliver it?

Chunnuan tried to go find Zhao Minghua.

You mean the caravans from the northern deserts?

"Yes, is there anyone going to the northern desert who can help us bring some things to my father and the others? If you can bring back a letter for us, I will double the reward."

"The northern desert is so vast and so far away, are you sure they can find your father and the others?"

"I'm not sure, but I have to take the gamble." Chunnuan said, "It's far from here to the northern desert. If we don't take them with us now, who knows when we'll be able to get them next time. My dad and the others didn't take much with them when they set off."

I wonder how they managed to get through this journey?
"You..." Zhao Minghua finally managed to say only two words: "I admire you!"

I admire Chunnuan's intelligence, decisiveness, and strategic thinking; she's also very magnanimous.

She wasn't afraid that these things would be taken by the caravan members if she didn't find her relatives.

"Tell me, are there any such caravans?"

"Yes, it's with Master Zhou."

Sure enough, it was Master Zhou again. Even Zhao Minghua himself couldn't guarantee that Master Zhou's caravan would be willing to help with this.

"Then, shall I go and pay a visit to Master Zhou?"

"No, no, no!" Zhao Minghua quickly stopped him. "That's a den of wolves and tigers. If you go there looking like that, you'll never come back. My parents, no, even my grandfather, would beat me to death if they knew I sent you into that den of wolves. I can't take that risk."

"Is he really that domineering? Does he force himself on women regardless of their willingness?"

“That’s right. If he takes a fancy to a woman, he’ll throw money at her. Some women who ask for money are easy to deal with, but some who don’t ask for money might even lose their lives.” Zhao Minghua said, “You’d better not take that risk.”

"By the way, I also heard from Qingsheng that you offended Aunt Li, who is Master Zhou's most favored concubine. Is that true?"

“It’s not that I offended her, it’s that she’s been throwing a tantrum without taking her medicine.” “It’s all the same thing. With Master Zhou’s influence, she can do whatever she wants in Changzhou and no one dares to offend her. You’ve really kicked a hornet’s nest.”

Chunnuan originally wanted to ask if there was any law left, but then she thought that even in the capital, under the emperor's nose, let alone in the far-off Shu region, the law was ineffective. Otherwise, her grandfather would not have been wrongfully killed.

Money and power truly make one the law.

"So you'd better not plan to visit Master Zhou alone. If something really happens, it will be too late to regret it."

Chunnuan had originally intended to humbly pay her a visit, but after hearing Zhao Minghua's words, she nipped that restless thought in the bud.

"Isn't there any other way?" Chunnuan said, "Seventh Master Zhou doesn't necessarily have to go to the northern desert with this caravan. If you find me, the leader can solve the problem, right?"

"No, the reason why Master Zhou was able to build such a large caravan, traveling all over the country without any problems, is because his rules are extremely strict. Sending a letter is fine, but if someone accepts goods privately, they're out of here."

Spring is here... I want to ask for help, but I can't harm anyone.

"Is there really no other way?"

Spring warmth brings a sense of despair.

My aunts and uncles are already working late into the night making winter clothes, but I can't deliver them myself. They'll be sad to hear that.

"Perhaps there is another way."

Zhao Minghua thought for a moment and then slowly said.

"any solution?"

Can't this person stop keeping us in suspense?
Wouldn't it be better to just give a one-sentence answer?
“I’ll go back and beg my mother to go find Zhou Qi. After all, Zhou Qi is her cousin. He might help her out of respect for his cousin,” Zhao Minghua said. “You absolutely mustn’t get involved.”

"Then I'll have to trouble Mrs. Zhao."

It might actually work out.

Chun Nuan breathed a huge sigh of relief.

"Just tell me how much it will cost when the time comes."

“Okay, I’ll go back and ask my mother for you, and tell her to go to Changzhou tomorrow.”

Mrs. Zhao sneezed several times.

"Madam, have you caught a cold?"

Mrs. Zhao said, "There's no way I'd catch a cold in this weather. I feel like someone is cursing me."

"Your wife is so good, how could anyone scold you?"

"That's not necessarily true. With the third brother's unreliable behavior, if he goes out and gets into trouble, people will curse him and his mother along with him."

Mrs. Zhao said she was already used to it.

"Madam has very high expectations for the Third Young Master. Actually, this old servant thinks the Third Young Master is quite good."

"When things are good, they're good; when things are bad, they can drive people away with their anger."

Just as Mrs. Zhao finished speaking, a figure rushed in front of her.

"Mother, your dear son is back."

Mrs. Zhao looked at him and said, "I have a strong feeling that this kid has come to our door, there must be something wrong."

"Tell me, did you mess with a cat or a dog today?"

Mrs. Zhao thought for a while, but couldn't think of any other trouble that hadn't come knocking.

"Mother, your son is very well-behaved and didn't tease the cats or dogs."

Zhao Minghua has a temper that would kick even a dog on the street if angered. Today, he was all smiles, which made Mrs. Zhao even more uneasy: this trouble might be quite serious.

(End of this chapter)