Liu Zhe'er and Ying Zhong systematically started fires and brewed medicine, one person for each task.
Song Qingmu, who wanted to help, found himself unable to lend a hand.
It was time to move again, and the constables were banging their gongs to announce mealtime.
The meals were the same for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Mixed vegetable buns with clear congee.
He pursed his lips, watching Bai You'an apply needles to Song Qingchao, and did not go to collect breakfast.
His sleeve was tugged, and he looked down at Liu Zhe'er, who had a small frown on her face.
"Brother, I'll go get the food. Sister will need to eat when she wakes up."
Song Qingmu's voice caught in his throat.
His gaze returned to Song Qingchao.
Her face was pale, her lips faintly stained with a striking red, her breathing shallow as if on her last breath.
He was worried about his elder sister's condition, but with Bai You'an there, she should be fine.
He didn't know why he always trusted this man first.
His rational mind told him this man was dangerous.
"Please take care of my elder sister for me, sir."
Bai You'an smiled broadly, "It's nothing."
After bowing, Song Qingmu nodded and followed Liu Zhe'er.
Given the current situation, he didn't want Liu Zhe'er to go alone.
He held Liu Zhe'er's hand as they went to get the food.
After a long wait, the constable serving the food didn't even bother to lift his eyelids, ladling out only a few spoonfuls before running out.
Finally, he tapped Song Qingmu's bowl twice with an empty ladle, his tone carrying a warning, "You caused trouble yesterday. Our lord has decreed that you only get one meal today."
He slammed the large iron ladle into the wooden bucket with a clang and then tossed three mixed vegetable buns at them.
Song Qingmu's face darkened.
"What are you looking at?"
The constable glared, pointing at Song Qingmu.
"You're so sick, and you still cause trouble. You deserve it..."
Liu Zhe'er fumbled to collect the vegetable buns and pulled Song Qingmu back, forcing a smile as she apologized, "Thank you for your hard work, sir."
The constable spat a mouthful of yellow phlegm onto the ground.
"Eat quickly, then we'll be moving. You people are so slow; you can't even catch up to eat shit while it's hot."
He glanced at Song Qingmu's hand and then looked over at Song Qingchao's location.
A dismissive smile appeared on his face, and he snorted, "You'll die on the road sooner or later."
As he said this,
even Liu Zhe'er's smile froze.
But she still thanked him with a smile.
Song Qingmu's fingers tightened around the rim of the bowl. He really wanted to smash this bowl onto the donkey's face opposite him!
He could tolerate insults directed at himself, but not curses upon his elder sister!
"Brother, let's not cause trouble."
His hand was tightly held by Liu Zhe'er, and he could feel a thin layer of sweat on her small, soft palm.
Song Qingmu glanced indifferently at the constable, imprinting his appearance in his mind.
One day, he would make him truly eat shit.
Song Qingmu took the bowl from Liu Zhe'er and pulled her back.
Not long after they walked away, Liu Zhe'er let out a sigh of relief, patting her chest.
"That scared me."
She shook Song Qingmu's hand. "I thought you were going to smash the bowl in his face just now."
Song Qingmu didn't reply, and Liu Zhe'er continued to talk to herself.
The little girl's chatter also helped to relax his tense mood.
But suddenly, the little girl stopped talking.
She was clinging to his clothes and hiding behind him.
Song Qingmu lowered his head in confusion to look at her, only to see Liu Zhe'er staring ahead.
He followed her gaze and saw the child who had thrown stones that morning.
Liu Fubao, realizing he was being watched, did not seem afraid. Instead, he puffed out his belly and strode aggressively towards them.
"Liu Zhe'er! Are your ears stuffed with donkey hair?"
He directly grabbed Liu Zhe'er's pigtail. "I told you to go back to work. Can't you hear or what?"
Song Qingmu frowned and pushed him away with his hand. "What are you doing?"
Liu Fubao glared at him. "It's a family matter! Outsiders should mind their own business!"
He made a move to pull Liu Zhe'er again, but Song Qingmu stopped him directly.
Although Song Qingmu's martial arts were weakened due to poisoning, his years of training made his body stronger than that of an ordinary person.
Moreover, his opponent was a little fatty.
Liu Zhe'er poked her head out weakly from behind Song Qingmu. "Did Mother ask me to go back?"
A flicker of hope shone in her eyes.
But Liu Fubao spat, "If you going back didn't mean an extra portion of food, do you think Mother would have agreed to let you go?"
Liu Zhe'er's pupils contracted instantly, and her hands, clutching her clothes, began to tremble involuntarily.
Seeing that she wasn't going back, Liu Fubao glared at her viciously.
"You useless thing! If you don't go back, give me your food!"
"No! You get lost!"
Liu Zhe'er spoke calmly.
"What do I mean to you all? Even livestock working in the fields get a meal."
Her whole body trembled with anger.
Liu Zhe'er stepped out from behind Song Qingmu, pointing at her tear-streaked face.
"And me? I took care of you and Father, only to end up with no food and be abandoned!"
Liu Fubao was speechless.
He never expected Liu Zhe'er, who usually obeyed him without question, to retort today!
"If it weren't for you, why would we only get one meal today!"
His face turned red with anger, and finally, he flailed his arms, rolling on the ground and cursing.
Liu Zhe'er watched Liu Fubao's tantrum quietly.
She wearily took Song Qingmu's hand. "Let's go."
"I forbid it!"
Liu Fubao immediately latched onto Liu Zhe'er's leg, crying for food.
No matter how much Liu Zhe'er kicked, she couldn't shake off this clingy pest.
She cried out, "This food is for Sister. Sister is sick. Do you have any conscience at all? When you needed water the most, it was Sister who gave it to you!"
"I don't care!" Liu Fubao also grew anxious and bit Liu Zhe'er's hand.
Liu Zhe'er gasped in pain.
Finally, she slapped Liu Fubao directly across the face.
Song Qingmu, watching from the side, was somewhat surprised.
He didn't expect Liu Zhe'er to hit her doting younger brother.
He looked down at her expression of disappointment, which reminded him of the slap his elder sister had given him.
"You hit me?" Liu Fubao covered his face, looking at Liu Zhe'er in disbelief.
Liu Zhe'er lowered her head, her hands hanging down, and replied coldly, "You deserved it."
"Liu Zhe'er!"
A woman's scream came from the side.
Madam Hu's eyes were red with anger as she ran over, rolling up her sleeves as she ran.
Song Qingmu frowned as he watched her.
He held Liu Zhe'er's hand in one and the scalding hot congee in the other.
He glanced down at the congee.
Then, indifferently, as Madam Hu approached, he directly poured the congee onto her face.
"Why are you running so fast? I was afraid you would fall, so I tried to stop you. It's a shame the congee spilled."
Madam Hu screamed, holding her hands up to protect her face. Liu Fubao cried even louder.
Song Qingmu, however, was unconcerned. He took a used handkerchief, dipped it in the medicine powder his elder sister had given him, and rubbed it onto Madam Hu's face.
"Hurry and wipe it off. Look at all this commotion."
He sighed, with feigned regret, "What a waste of this congee."
Madam Hu recoiled, her words slurring, and she yelled frantically, "I'll kill you! I'll kill you!"