Er Lang grabbed his bow and arrows and entered the forest, hoping to find some game to nourish Zhang Qiaoxiu.
After yesterday's thrilling scene, he was much more cautious now, moving through the woods with extreme care, observing his surroundings to ensure there were no hidden dangers.
After toiling in the forest for a while, he managed to catch a pheasant.
Carrying the pheasant back, he hadn't walked far when he saw a young woman approaching.
"Zheng Cui'er, why are you in this forest? What are you doing running around in here, a young lady? Aren't you afraid of dying?"
Zheng Cui'er smiled shyly, "I wanted to see if there was anything edible in the forest; our food is running out. Er Lang, did you catch this? You're really amazing."
Er Lang grunted. Thinking of the shameless nature of the Zheng Dayou family, he was afraid Zheng Cui'er would ask him for the pheasant, so he quickly said, "You keep looking slowly, I'm leaving. Don't go deep into the forest, it's dangerous."
With that, Er Lang ran off with the pheasant.
Zheng Cui'er quickly followed, "Er Lang, can you show me around the forest for a while? I'm scared."
Er Lang didn't look back, "No time. If you're scared, go back quickly and have your father come. It's truly shameful for a grown man to let a young lady go into the forest to find food!"
As a young woman, Zheng Cui'er couldn't keep up with Er Lang, a young man. Moreover, the forest was covered in snow, making every step slippery. Zheng Cui'er almost fell. When she finally regained her balance, she saw Er Lang had already gone far ahead.
Her efforts had been in vain, and Zheng Cui'er stomped her feet in frustration.
Er Lang returned to the campsite with the pheasant. Madam Su quickly brought hot water, and Er Lang poured it over the pheasant before skillfully plucking its feathers.
Su Qin found some dried goods and peeled some chestnuts. As soon as the pheasant was cleaned, she put the ingredients into a clay pot to stew.
Chen Yuezhi took out a few slices of ginseng, put them into the pot, and then said to Madam Su, "When the soup is ready, you should drink more too. You are pregnant now and need to nourish yourself properly."
Madam Su smiled and nodded, "Thank you, Mother."
After the chicken soup was ready, Chen Yuezhi ladled a bowl and took it into the carriage.
Madam Zhang Wang quickly took it and said with a smile, "Sister-in-law, your medical skills are getting better and better. Qiaoxiu said her wound doesn't hurt at all after drinking your medicine."
Chen Yuezhi felt a little guilty and gave a dry laugh, "I added a few pain-relieving herbs. As long as it's effective, that's good. This way, the child will suffer less."
However, despite her words, Chen Yuezhi truly took this matter to heart.
When she had some free time, she found Jiang Wan and asked, "Wan Wan, is there really medicine that can relieve pain?"
Jiang Wan nodded, "The old immortal said there is. Have you ever heard of Ma Feisan, Mother?"
Chen Yuezhi shook her head.
"What about Meng Han medicine?"
This, Chen Yuezhi naturally knew.
Jiang Wan said, "The old immortal said that these medicines are actually all the same, it's just a matter of dosage. Put a little less, and it's a good medicine that alleviates the patient's suffering. Put more, and it becomes a poison that harms people."
Chen Yuezhi looked astonished, "So that's how it is."
Jiang Wan smiled and said, "Mother, when we get to Jiangnan, you should study medicine properly. You will surely become a renowned doctor in the future."
Chen Yuezhi was amused, "Do you little girl even know what a renowned doctor is? Your mother is just a woman. It's good enough if I can treat minor ailments like headaches and colds. I wouldn't dare to have such daydreams."
Jiang Wan, however, said, "What's wrong with being a woman? What men can do, women can do too! On the contrary, there are things women can do that men might not be able to."
Madam Cheng in the nearby carriage burst into laughter at her use of 'men' and lifted the carriage curtain to ask, "Then tell me, what are some things women can do that men cannot?"
Jiang Wan put her small hands behind her back, tilted her chin up, and said, "Giving birth!"
The two adults were stunned. They never expected a five-year-old girl to say something like that.
Jiang Wan cleared her throat, "In this world, there is nothing women cannot do."
Cheng Sinian was unconvinced, "Men can fight on the battlefield and serve in court. Can women do that?"
Jiang Wan glanced at him, "Do you think I cannot fight on the battlefield? As for serving in court, as long as the imperial court dares to allow women to participate in the imperial examinations and enter the court, I believe many women can make men bow their heads in admiration!"
Cheng Sinian did not believe it, "How is that possible? Women have always been inferior to men..."
Jiang Wan chuckled, "If you don't believe me, shall we have a competition?"
Saying that, she raised her small arms.
Cheng Sinian immediately backed down, "You... you are an exception..."
Madam Cheng couldn't help but chuckle at his timid reaction.
Chen Yuezhi, however, felt a bit embarrassed, "Wan Wan, don't be naughty. How can you bully Sinian!"
Jiang Wan shrugged, "Alright then, I admit my mistake. I shouldn't bully the older ones."
Cheng Sinian's face turned red, and he turned back into the carriage to cry.
Madam Cheng looked at him, both amused and annoyed, "Look at you!"
Cheng Sinian said aggrievedly, "Her arms are thicker than my legs, I..."
Jiang Wan exploded, "Cheng Sinian, say that again if you dare!"
She had only gained a tiny bit of weight, how could her arms be thicker than his legs? Even if they were, it was because he was too thin!
A boy who was weaker and more delicate than a young girl, and he had the nerve to say that!
Cheng Sinian naturally dared not say anything more, afraid that Jiang Wan would rush in and hit him.
He truly couldn't beat that little chubby girl.
Madam Cheng laughed until her stomach hurt, "Cheng Sinian, Cheng Sinian, this is what you get! If you don't behave in the future, I know how to deal with you."
After she finished laughing, she said to Chen Yuezhi, "Sister-in-law, I think what Wan Wan said is right. There's nothing women can't do in this world. You have a great talent for medicine, you can't waste it. There's a skilled physician in Yaoxian. When we return, I'll have Sinian's father introduce you. If you can study under him, you'll surely make a name for yourself."
Chen Yuezhi was moved, "Can I really learn?"
Madam Cheng nodded, "Of course."
Chen Yuezhi then took this matter to heart and began to look forward to her days in Jiangnan.
Due to the melting snow, the roads were muddy and impassable. The small mountain village's procession moved with great difficulty, and they couldn't travel far in a whole day.
Finally arriving at a town ahead, Jiang Pan discussed with the villagers to stop here for a while and wait for the snow to melt before continuing.
The villagers had no objections. After all, it had taken them two or three days to travel less than a hundred li from that small village to this town. Especially with the carts getting stuck in the mud, they were impossible to push. They had fallen countless times along the way, and the children cried all the way. It was truly too difficult.
So, the procession found a place outside the town and temporarily set up camp.
This town was of medium size. Unlike other places, entering the city only required a five-wen entrance fee.
Many villagers were excited and quickly sent one person from each family into the city to purchase supplies.
Madam Cheng discussed with Chen Yuezhi about finding an inn in the city and renting two rooms so the family could have a good bath.
They had been out for several months, and the family had only bathed once before the Chinese New Year, using melted snow heated for water.
Jiang Wan strongly supported this suggestion.
So, they left the carriage outside the city under the care of the villagers and entered the city together.
Just as they reached the city gate, a beggar covered in dirt suddenly rushed out and blocked their way.