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

Chapter 7 Confidence
“That good-for-nothing Xin Wenyuan has ruined you, my son!”

Xie Ninglan was a little uncomfortable being held in the old lady's arms at first, but gradually relaxed and stiffly patted the old lady's back to comfort her.

Xin Nian learned from her maternal grandmother's intermittent account that her mother was actually a complete love-obsessed person!
In fact, Xie Ninglan came from a noble family. His father was the Minister of Personnel, and his elder brother was the Prefect of Binzhou. Both of them held real power.

Her family had originally arranged a perfect husband for her, a man of excellent character and talent, but Xie Ninglan was blind to fall for Xin Wenyuan, a playboy. She made a huge scene and broke off the engagement, then became hopelessly infatuated with Xin Wenyuan...

As for Xin Wenyuan, he indulges in all sorts of pleasures, including eating, drinking, and having fun, and his daily life revolves around cockfighting and bird-walking. But to say he's a bad person isn't entirely accurate.

At least this person may have fun, but he doesn't get involved in anything related to gambling, prostitution, or drugs.

Even when he played cockfighting and cricket fighting with his cronies, he never made any money. They were always stingy. In addition, the family always controlled the finances, so he didn't dare to challenge his parents' authority.

Although Xie Ninglan has a fiery temper, she's a paper tiger and can't control her playboy husband at all.

Moreover, the playboy's daily expenses were limited, so Xie Ninglan mostly turned a blind eye. When she got really angry, she would secretly hide under the covers and cry, which was quite useless.

The couple argued frequently, having minor squabbles every three days and major fights every five. The daily life of the fourth branch of the Duke's mansion was chaotic, and everyone had gotten used to it...

Xie Ninglan was somewhat bewildered as the wife of Minister Xie pointed at her forehead and berated her.

What kind of life has the original owner endured all these years of swallowing her anger? The legitimate daughter of a high-ranking official, wasting her days with a petty hoodlum.

And yet, she still managed to have three kids with that hoodlum? She must have had her brains slammed in a door.

Seeing her clueless behavior, the Minister's wife couldn't help but feel annoyed. "You useless thing, if only you had listened to your mother, you would have come home with the children years ago. You wouldn't be stuck in this mess."

"Now you've not only harmed my Niannian, but also Chen-ge'er and Han-ge'er. Tell me, do you regret it now?"

Xie Ninglan nodded hesitantly, but what she was thinking was that it was fortunate they hadn't divorced, otherwise she would have been separated from her husband, Lao Xin, for no reason.

The Minister's wife wiped away her tears, and the nanny beside her helped her up and advised, "Madam, don't worry too much. Time is of the essence, let's quickly explain things to the young lady and the young miss."

Madam Xie nodded, looking at Xie Ninglan with a serious expression, "It's too late to say all this now. Since you've decided to go with Xin Wenyuan, you'll have to take on the responsibility of being a mother and take good care of your three children along the way."

Xie Ninglan nodded quickly.

Madam Xie couldn't help but shed tears again, "You have never suffered like this in your life. Just thinking about how you couldn't eat or sleep well on the road makes my heart ache."

The old lady stayed by her side for a while, weeping, and offered some words of comfort.

Madam Xie then stopped crying, turned around and waved, "Dali."

A burly, short girl pushed a cart piled high with goods, walking briskly towards them.

The Minister's wife took Xin Nian's hand and said with a worried expression, "Niannian, from now on, let Dali stay by your side."

"This girl is eighteen years old this year, and she is as strong as an ox. She can protect you and your mother."

After saying that, he went on and on about what he had prepared for them. Clothes, bedding, food, medicine, and even more than a dozen water bags were provided.

To make it easier for them to walk, the old lady specially had the soles of their straw sandals thickened, with thick sheepskin sewn into the lining and at the instep. Even if the soles of the straw sandals wore out halfway through the journey, the sheepskin soles would still provide support, preventing their feet from getting blistered.

When it came to provisions, they prepared all the available items, including flatbread, pickled vegetables, and dried meat, in considerable quantities. Xin Nian's heart, hardened for hundreds of years, was inexplicably moved.

She rarely draws warmth from anyone other than her parents and brothers.

Especially in those deceitful and treacherous end times, the only conflict between people is the struggle for interests and exploitation.

This nominal maternal grandmother made her feel a deep love and care for her daughter.

"Be more careful in everything you do. Always give things to your own children first, don't be foolish and give them all away. Your whole family can only take care of one thing and not another. At times like these, you can only take care of yourselves first." The old lady kept reminding her with concern.

Xie Ninglan felt a pang of sadness and nodded emphatically, "Mother, I understand."

With tears in her eyes, Madam Xie tidied her daughter's disheveled hair. "When you arrive in Binzhou, your brother will come to meet you. Don't worry, we won't make your journey too difficult. We will continue to arrange for people to send you emergency supplies along the way."

"The manor has already sent someone to make arrangements with the escorts." The old lady took two plain cotton belts with simple patterns and personally tied them inside Xie Ning and Lan Xin Nian's prison clothes.

He tugged hard, but couldn't pull it off. Then, with a serious expression, he nodded and said in a low voice, "Each of you has a hundred gold leaves hidden in your waistband, for your use in settling down in the far north. Don't take them out easily on the road."

She then took a packet of loose silver from the nanny, tucked it into Xie Ninglan's arms, and patted it, saying, "Use these carefully on the road. Those constables have big appetites; don't spoil them all at once."

Xie Ninglan's nose tingled with emotion. The atmosphere had reached this point, so she quickly knelt down and solemnly kowtowed to her elderly mother.

"Mother, please take care of yourselves as well as Father."

Madam Xie wept uncontrollably, choking back tears as she said, "You will leave the outskirts of the capital early tomorrow morning, marking your complete departure from the capital. Is there anything else you wish for before then? I will send someone to deliver some more."

Xin Nian got excited when she heard this, and quickly asked the nanny to bring her paper and pen. She then wrote down a list in great detail.

The old nanny was somewhat bewildered.

The list consisted of items such as mortars, pestles, herbs, and silver needles. Although Madam Xie found it strange, she did not ask any further questions and simply nodded in agreement, instructing the nanny to prepare them.

Three generations of a family bid each other a reluctant farewell.

Dali, a man with a saw-like mouth, pushed a cart full of things at the front, while the prisoners stared at the cart and screamed in surprise.

The mother and daughter followed behind Dali, facing envious, greedy, jealous, and disdainful gazes.

The old escort rubbed his hands together and greeted her with a smile, "Congratulations to the Fourth Madam and the Sixth Miss."

This cartload of stuff is quite a lot; it's more useful than gold on the road to exile!
Moreover, the Minister's wife even sent a maid to accompany the master on his journey; this preferential treatment was obvious to everyone with discerning eyes.

Someone scoffed disdainfully, half out of jealousy and half out of envy, "Some people, even in exile, don't forget to act like young ladies and mistresses. They're practically ready to be carried away in a sedan chair!"

The mother and daughter were too lazy to pay attention to these shallow strangers. They thanked the old escort for a few perfunctory words and left.

“Daughter, I understand now why that old escort was so polite to us earlier. It was because of your grandfather.”

(End of this chapter)