My whole family time-traveled! I became a god during my exile in a famine.

Chapter 18 Intentionally Making Friends
"Stop joking, hurry up and give your big son some water." Xie Ninglan urged Xin Wenyuan to take care of the unconscious Xin Mochen.

"Dad, go quickly. I'll grind some medicine powder first, and then I'll brew a pot for my brother tonight."

Xin Nian had just given Xin Wenyuan a lot of healing energy, so Xin Wenyuan was full of energy.

As soon as his wife and daughter gave the order, he immediately took the imperial decree and went.

Xie Ninglan glanced towards the main house and said, "Daughter, the errand boy has gone."

"Of course, if there's suddenly an extra person in the group, the escorts will definitely ask questions." Xin Nian used the basket as a cover to take out a medicine grinder from her crystal space.

My mother's family was really helpful; most of the herbs they provided had already had their roots and stems processed, making them much easier to grind.

Xie Ninglan deliberately sat opposite her daughter, using her back to block many inquiring gazes.

"Who are those people? Why are they staring at us like that?"

"Old Xin said they are from the Yongkang Marquis's Mansion and the Enyi Marquis's Mansion, and the two mansions are related by marriage." Xin Nian ground the herbs on his own.

Since yesterday, she has sensed that people from both mansions have been observing them.

It doesn't matter, let them look. They're all unfortunate exiles anyway, it won't hurt them to look.

"Daughter, do you know why our Duke's mansion was exiled?" Xie Ninglan leaned closer to Xin Nian mysteriously. "Could it be that someone in the Xin family is plotting a rebellion?"

Xin Nian rolled her eyes. "Treason is a serious crime. You'd be dragged out and beheaded in a heartbeat, and your entire family would be implicated. How could we possibly exile you?"

"Nine generations?"

“From top to bottom, your grandfather, father, brothers, sisters, sons, grandsons, daughters, sons-in-law, nephews, nieces, and so on, including even a dog that passes by the gate, I will kill them all.”

"So ruthless?" Xie Ninglan opened her mouth, "He wouldn't even spare a dog?"

“That’s right.” Xin Nian nodded seriously. “The rulers of the dynasty are all perverted. We’re just ordinary people, we must never get involved with these powerful and wealthy people.”

"Then tell me, why were we exiled?"

"I heard it was a defeat on the battlefield." Xin Nian rubbed the medicine mortar and pestle and replied casually, "Da Xia, that's the dynasty we're living in now. They're constantly fighting with the southwestern Yan Kingdom for control of the border."

"My grandfather, the old Duke, led his eldest uncle, elder brother, and second elder brother to the battlefield to fight against the Yan dogs. As a result, they suffered a defeat and the four of them mysteriously disappeared."

"There are rumors in the court that the old Duke has taken his son and grandson to defect to the enemy and is now living a life of luxury in Yan. It is also said that my uncle has become the son-in-law of the princess of Yan."

"I think my eldest uncle is almost forty, so being a prince consort is no match for having an older brother. If the princess of Yan isn't blind, she'd definitely choose one of her older brothers! Why would she choose a rough old man like Xu's father?"

Xie Ninglan was both amused and exasperated.

"Daughter, this is a very serious matter, but the way you put it makes it hilarious."

Xin Nian grinned at her mother, "This is truly an undeserved disaster. The old Duke and his sons and grandsons died for their country on the front lines, and the dog emperor wiped out our Duke's mansion!"

"Honey, what are your thoughts now?"

"When a great edifice is about to collapse, a monstrous figure will inevitably emerge. I'm starting to believe the prediction of the Heavenly Fire attack by the Imperial Observatory." Xin Nian stroked his chin. "The Imperial Observatory definitely can't handle such a foolish emperor."

"We need to prepare in advance. You never know when something big might happen to you on the way, and then you'll have nowhere to run."

Xie Ninglan nodded with a serious expression.

"Girl, look at that old man, could he be the Director of the Imperial Observatory who was exiled by that dog emperor?"

Xin Nian was grinding the herbs when she glanced to the side.

Everyone else was gathered in small groups, but the old man was all alone, leaning against a tree with his legs crossed. His back looked like it was being bitten by lice, and he kept rubbing against the tree. He didn't look like a wise old man at all; he was just a sleazy old man. Two young men were standing not far away, probably the old man's two apprentices.

I handed the old man half a brown rice cake, but he waved it away dismissively.

The two apprentices were quite filial; they even went to Xin Wanqing's place and took out money to buy sesame cakes for their master.

Xin Wanqing hesitated for a second, turned to look at the old man, and took out a small bag of things to sell to the two of them.

After a while, the apprentice suddenly ran up to them and bowed respectfully to Xin Nian.

Xin Nian's face was full of bewilderment. She looked at her mother, who was also confused, and then at the old man's apprentice.

"What's the matter with you?"

"Greetings, young lady. My master said that you have an excellent face and are destined for greatness. Your fortune is beyond words. You will surely help me on my journey. He specifically instructed me to give you this package of food so that we can become acquainted."

Xin Nian didn't take anything, staring at the other person with a question mark on her face.

The apprentice was not embarrassed at all. He stuffed the things into Xie Ninglan's hands, who looked completely bewildered, and bowed to take his leave.

"Honey, isn't this the food they just bought from Xin Wanqing? Why are they giving it to you?"

Xin Nian squinted at the old man, who seemed pleased to meet her. He clasped his hands in a fist and grinned, then waved the sesame cake in his hand at her.

"What's up with this old man? Is he trying to befriend you?" Xie Ninglan asked nervously. "Could he have seen through something?"

"He can't possibly see through anything." Xin Nian took the small bag from Xie Ninglan's hand, opened it, and glanced inside. It contained five sesame cakes and half a roast chicken.

She raised an eyebrow and, using the basket on her back as cover, threw the items back into the Ningzhu storage.

If the old man is willing to give, she dares to take it. Every little bit counts, and if she doesn't take it, it's a waste. Even a mosquito's leg is still meat.

She had previously thrown a lot of food that was difficult to store into the cart using her backpack.

Xin Nian secretly calculated that, aside from her unconscious older brother, the food they had stored was barely enough to feed their family for seven days.

If a natural disaster were to strike, this amount of food would certainly be far from enough.

She is currently unable to access her previous storage space, so she feels a great sense of urgency and needs to collect a batch of food as soon as possible for any eventuality.

After Xin Wenyuan finished serving his eldest son water, the guards began to put chains on everyone and called for them to set off.

Many people lay down and fell asleep under the blazing sun, only to be woken up by the guards kicking them awake, each one complaining and sighing.

"Let's get going. There are no inns to rest for the next few days, so we need to hurry on our way and reach the nearest water source before sunset."

"Don't blame me for not warning you, you'll all be thirsty if we don't reach a water source."

"Cheer up! You've rested for so long, don't look like a weakling."

The crowd staggered along in their straw sandals, which were already worn out easily. Without careful walking, some people wore through the soles in just two days, making walking barefoot even more difficult.

Xie Ninglan is now used to these wailing and howling. Whenever they travel, it's like a dirge is being played.

It's unclear how the eldest son's family dealt with the escorts, but as soon as they set off, Xie Ning and Lan Xin Nian noticed that the horse Xin Wan Qing had ridden had now been moved to the rafters' rear.

Half of the two baskets of goods they carried were confiscated by the guards.

(End of this chapter)