CHAPTER 98: CHAPTER 96

"And Ah Qing knows that I’ve been studying medical books, often researching with me. Ah Qing has indeed grown up."

Ruan Mian couldn’t believe they were so ambitious: "Father, since you have this thought, why didn’t you tell me earlier? I have a lot of medical books on hand."

Hearing this, Mr. Ruan was shocked: "Where did those medical books of yours come from..."

"I’ve always carried them with me. Before we were exiled, I took some medical books from your medicine shop. When I was a widow at the Qi Mansion, I used to read those books."

"Father, please wait, I’ll get them for you now."

She then turned to the place where supplies were stored, and when no one was around, she took out a few medical books from the space.

If there is indeed an effect, we truly can open a clinic to make a living.

This place, Wuheng, has many exiles, and there are quite a few former exiles who have been registered as commoners.

With the court’s frequency of exiling people, Wuheng will soon be populated even more.

By then, it’s only a matter of time before this place develops into a town. Although it’s too early to think about this now, it doesn’t hurt to learn.

At night, she suddenly remembered about the accounts book.

Almost forgot.

She then found Yun Xiu and handed him the accounts book taken from the General’s Mansion.

"Ashu, you’ll have to make another trip to the post station."

She thought of passing these account books to Xie Huai’an, who would then give them to General Huo. Following Sun Jian’s lead and the information in the account books, they should be able to uncover more about their secret clay coal digs.

This matter involved the vast majority of government officers in the reception camp. Once exposed, there would be a complete overhaul of the officers here.

Given the large clay coal deposits here, the reception camp might also be relocated elsewhere.

By then, there would be more ways to escape this bitter environment, and it would be easier to use space supplies to craft an ideal little house.

She was just uncertain how long it would take for Huo Zong to thoroughly investigate this matter. If it involved the Governor, it probably wouldn’t be resolved quickly.

Not even two days later, news suddenly came from the reception camp.

That day, they went to work as usual, only to be told that the Ruan Family’s shift had changed.

For the next few days, they didn’t have to go to the logging camp for labor, but were assigned to do odd jobs at the post station.

Recently, they had heard that a new station master was appointed at the post station, and that many arduous tasks were being assigned.

For these past few days, everyone was on edge, afraid of being assigned to do hard labor at the post station.

There were many new messengers there, and the work was tough and tiring, often ending in brawls, unbearable for anyone.

Now, upon hearing that the entire Ruan Family was assigned there, some people from the Qi Mansion and Uncle’s Mansion felt relieved, but they also couldn’t help but feel a little smug.

Upon hearing the news, Liu Family couldn’t hide her smile.

"Heaven really opened its eyes! Their entire family will finally have a tough time. Who doesn’t know how grinding the hard labor at the post station is?"

"Hmph, I thought Ruan Mian really latched onto the General, but it seems that’s all there is to it."

She watched as the Ruan Family packed their things and came out of the cellar, purposely raising her voice as she sat on a wooden stump, pretending to care.

"Mrs. Ruan, walk a little slower, won’t you be more tired if you go too early?"

Nanny Fang couldn’t stand her mouthy demeanor and retorted immediately: "What does it matter to you whether our madam walks fast or slow?"

"You ungrateful old thing! Do you really think you are one of them Ruan people now? Don’t forget your deed of sale is still with our Qi Mansion!" Liu Family yelled at once.

Nanny Fang sneered: "Deed of sale? Qi Mansion is gone, and you’re still dreaming up daydreams! Now you’re just a coarse woman like me."

"But at least I am treated well in the Ruan Family, living better than you! Unlike you, a once distinguished lady reduced to a disgraceful vulgar woman."

Nanny Fang’s words hit Liu Family right in the heart, making her shout angrily on the spot.

"You old thing, your wings have hardened now! I’ll see how you manage doing hard labor at the post station without being skinned alive!"

"Now my son is with the gatekeeper’s daughter, we won’t have to do hard labor from tomorrow, and we can move back to the small town. You can envy us!"

Nanny Fang snorted disdainfully: "Your shameless son climbed into Golden Phoenix’s bed, yet he’s just a lowly Rouge Slave, and you’re still showing off?"

"Really think you’ve become the mother-in-law to Golden Phoenix, putting on airs! If I were you, I wouldn’t even have a place to save face."

"You, you, you... you sharp-tongued blabbermouth, I’ll teach you a lesson now!" Liu Family, unable to outfight Nanny Fang verbally, stood up with her sleeves rolled up, ready to fight, only to be interrupted by a familiar voice of scolding.

"Liu Family!! Where is Qi Nanfeng?!"

She turned to look and saw Ah Ruolan, with a whip in her hand, walking up angrily.

Liu Family immediately put on an ingratiating smile and respectfully said.

"Lan’er, wasn’t Nanfeng still in the cell just now? Right, are you planning to move us mother and son to the cave today?"

Before she could finish, Ah Ruolan kicked her, and Liu Family cried out as she took a hard fall!

"You’re an exile and you dare call me by my first name? No manners! Now go find your son for me! I haven’t seen him all day. Could it be he’s run off?"

"Run... run off? Impossible, Lan... I mean, Miss. I’ll find him for you now."

Seeing the mocking faces around her, Liu Family gnashed her teeth, wishing she could tear them all apart.

But thinking about it, she felt extremely wronged herself.

Her son had finally latched onto the daughter of someone in power, hoping to escape hardship and become a mother-in-law with someone to serve her.

Now look, even a woman who isn’t her daughter-in-law is now bullying her forward!

After turning the cell upside down, she finally found Qi Nanfeng hiding under a pile of firewood.

Seeing this, Liu Family shouted angrily.

"Ah Ruolan is looking everywhere for you! Why don’t you go out? Do you know she’ll take it out on me if she can’t find you! How can you not even placate a woman?!"

Qi Nanfeng snapped a glare at his mother, shoving her away: "If you think she’s so easy to placate, why don’t you try?"

That woman didn’t even see him as a person. For several nights, he toiled like an old ox about to collapse from exhaustion, not even given a sip of water.

Yet despite all that, there was no grandeur in return, she was harder to serve than the Princess!!

Liu Family suddenly felt her prospects dim, plopping down with a sigh: "If this goes on, we might not even be spared from labor, let alone moving out of the reception camp! Why is my life such misery..."

But on second thought: "The Ruan Family has been assigned to the post station for hard labor, so they’re not any better off. Just thinking of that brings me some comfort!"

No sooner had she spoken than Qi Nanfeng kicked over the pile of firewood in anger.

"What did you say? They were assigned to the post station? Isn’t that living a better life?!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Family was baffled: "Son, what do you mean by that?"