Tugging the horse back to their flat cart, Jiang Pan asked Chen Yuezhi to take out some silver, intending to go into the city to buy two horse-drawn carriages.
The flat cart was unsuitable for the horse, being too small and lacking the necessary harness.
Chen Yuezhi instructed Da Lang and the others to set up the tent. Da Lang asked with some confusion, "Mother, are we setting it up this early?"
"Wan'er isn't feeling well. We'll set up the tent so she can have a good sleep."
Only then did they realize Jiang Wan had not yet woken. She hadn't stirred even when so many people had gathered to look at the horse.
"Mother, what's wrong with Wan'er?"
Chen Yuezhi waved her hand, "It's nothing serious, just very tired."
Su Shi quickly helped Da Lang set up the tent and boiled some water. "Mother, let the boiled water cool down. Wan'er can drink it when she wakes up."
Chen Yuezhi nodded, looking at Jiang Wan with a face full of worry.
Although Jiang Wan's condition was similar to the last time, she was still afraid something might happen.
Jiang Pan entered the city with the silver. After paying the entrance fee, he pulled a constable aside, saying he wanted to inquire about something. Before the constable could refuse, he slipped him a handful of copper coins.
The constable, finding him agreeable, accepted the copper coins and asked, "What do you want to know?"
Jiang Pan adopted a humble attitude, "This humble one wishes to know where old horse-drawn carriages are sold in this city."
The constable replied, "Old horse-drawn carriages? You've come to the right person. Next to the carriage and horse shop up ahead, there's a small storefront. Yesterday, I saw several old carriages there. You can go take a look and mention that He Wu from the yamen introduced you. They'll surely give you a fair price."
After thanking him, Jiang Pan hurried in that direction. He soon spotted the carriage and horse shop and glanced at the small storefront next to it. Indeed, there were several old carriages displayed there.
He went forward and inspected them, picking out two of the most worn-looking ones, but with all their parts complete. "Shopkeeper, how much are these old carriages?"
The shopkeeper, seeing a customer, hurried out. "These two? One tael of silver each. If you take both, I'll give you a discount of one hundred and ten wen, so one tael and nine hundred wen. Brother, you can ask around the entire city for this price; no one can be cheaper than me. In previous years, you couldn't buy these two carriages for less than three taels of silver."
Jiang Pan smiled and cupped his hands. "Shopkeeper, I was introduced by He Wu from the yamen. Could you perhaps offer a slightly better price?"
"Oh, introduced by Master He Wu? Alright then, since we're acquainted, I'll let them go for one tael and seven hundred wen."
The paper on the carriage roofs was quite tattered, so Jiang Pan also bought two oilcloths to nail onto the carriages.
Two carriages and two oilcloths cost one tael and nine hundred wen.
Jiang Pan took out two taels of loose silver. After the shopkeeper weighed it, he returned one hundred wen in copper coins. "Where should these carriages be delivered?"
"Just to the city gate is fine. Thank you for your trouble, shopkeeper."
The shopkeeper was very accommodating and immediately found people to help push the carriages towards the city gate.
As they passed the city gate, Jiang Pan cupped his hands in thanks to the constable, who waved back at him.
Outside the city gate, the shopkeeper's men turned back. Jiang Pan had good relationships with the villagers, and seeing him return with two carriages, they quickly came to help.
However, as they looked at the carriages, they couldn't help but frown. "Da Pan, these carriages are so dilapidated, why did you buy them?"
"Yes, your two horses are so beautiful; it's a waste to have them pull such worn-out carts."
Jiang Pan was unconcerned. "You do what you can with what you have. These carts are a bit worn, but they're cheap. If we tidy them up properly, they'll still be able to carry things."
The villagers listened to him and smiled, "What you say makes sense."
After pushing the carriages to the spot, the villagers didn't leave immediately, saying they wanted to help fix them up.
Jiang Pan didn't stand on ceremony and had Da Lang and his brothers unload the luggage from the flat cart. The wooden planks on the flat cart were planed just a few days ago, fresh and sturdy, perfect for repairing the carriages.
Among them were carpenters, so they worked professionally. They busied themselves with hammering and sawing until dark, then lit a bonfire for light and worked until almost midnight, finally finishing the two carriages.
With new and old planks pieced together and covered with dark oilcloth, they looked as ugly as could be. However, no one in the family minded. They quickly began moving their luggage onto the carriages.
The carriages were spacious. The luggage that had filled two flat carts now fit almost entirely into one carriage.
Chen Yuezhi had them pack the bedding into the other carriage, making it easier to find and allowing people to sleep inside.
Although the oilcloth could block moisture from the ground, sleeping on the ground continuously was still taxing. With the carriages, the women of the family could now sleep inside, saving them the trouble of setting up a tent and making things more comfortable.
As soon as the carriages were ready, Chen Yuezhi carried Jiang Wan into one of them. Jiang Wan was still fast asleep, showing no signs of waking.
Su Shi came in after tidying up and saw Chen Yuezhi still watching over Jiang Wan. She said, "Mother, you should go sleep. I'll watch Wan'er."
Chen Yuezhi waved her hand, "You sleep. I need to check her pulse periodically, and you can't do that."
Su Shi had no choice but to lie down. She reached out and felt Jiang Wan's little hands and feet. The little girl was warm, showing no signs of being unwell.
Chen Yuezhi stayed with Jiang Wan all night. By dawn, she was so exhausted that she leaned against the carriage wall and dozed off.
Not long after she fell asleep, Jiang Wan opened her eyes.
Looking at her sister-in-law beside her and her mother sitting nearby, Jiang Wan didn't want to wake them, so she lay still.
Calming herself, she checked her abilities and couldn't help but smile.
Her abilities had strengthened a bit more. Although the progress was small, it was quite good for her.
It was just that the method of upgrading was somewhat frustrating; she had to be completely depleted to upgrade even a little. And after each depletion, she would immediately fall into a deep sleep. If this happened during a dangerous situation, it could be fatal.
But there was no other way. This world had no crystal cores or energy stones. To upgrade her abilities, this was the only method.
Fortunately, this world wasn't that dangerous, and her abilities didn't need to be rushed.
She would take it slow.
Chen Yuezhi dozed off for a moment, then her head tilted, and she startled awake. She quickly looked down to check on Jiang Wan, only to find the little girl looking at her with a smiling expression, her eyes wide open. "Mother, why are you sleeping while sitting up?"
"My darling, you're finally awake. You have no idea how scared I was."
Jiang Wan pursed her lips and smiled. "Mother, there will likely be many more situations like this in the future. You need to learn to be calm. Don't worry, I'll be fine."
Chen Yuezhi glanced at Su Shi, making sure she was sound asleep. Then, she leaned closer to Jiang Wan's ear and asked, "Ask the old immortal if, when you use your divine abilities in the future, you can let Father and Mother take your place. You're still young, and Mother and Father worry that these abilities might affect your health."
Jiang Wan's heart warmed. She smiled and said, "Mother, since they are divine abilities, how could they have any negative effects? Don't worry, the old immortal said that every time I fall asleep and wake up, my body becomes even better."
Chen Yuezhi thought back carefully. It seemed to be true. Although Jiang Wan's health hadn't been bad before, it wasn't as good as it was these past few days. The little girl's complexion was noticeably rosier, and her limbs looked sturdier.
"Since that's the case, then consider it as if Mother never said anything."
Su Shi woke up around her usual time. As soon as she got up, she saw Jiang Wan sleeping soundly, hugging Chen Yuezhi's neck. She reached out and felt the little girl's forehead to check her temperature, then smiled. It was good that she was alright.