Song Qingchao was groggy.
She felt a slight heaviness in her head.
When she opened her eyes, she found herself lying on the couch of the carriage, while Bai Youan was leaning against the couch with a lazy expression.
Seeing that she was awake, he put down the scroll he was holding and looked at Song Qingchao with a weary expression, "You really know how to cause trouble for me."
"What are you talking about?"
Song Qingchao frowned and reached up to her throat.
Her voice was surprisingly hoarse, and her arms felt sore when she moved.
Bai Youan propped himself up on the couch with his arm, resting his face on his hand, "I said you're troublesome."
He wasn't wearing his eye mask in the carriage, and due to his poor eyesight,
He preferred to look at people up close.
Song Qingchao looked at the enlarged face in front of her, forgetting to breathe, "You're the one who's troublesome."
Bai Youan's lips curved imperceptibly, "Yes, I'm troublesome."
He used his other hand, which held a fan, to touch the wound on Song Qingchao's left shoulder, "In just one night, the wound has reopened. Don't you want your arm anymore?"
Arm?
Song Qingchao sat up abruptly, but due to the sudden movement, her shoulder sent a jolt of pain through her.
She gasped and instinctively reached for her shoulder.
Before she could touch it, Bai Youan batted her hand away, and her wrist throbbed with pain.
Holding her wrist, she glared at Bai Youan, "What are you doing!"
Bai Youan slumped back again, "You have a wound on your shoulder, don't move around."
Song Qingchao used her good hand to snatch the fan from Bai Youan's grasp, "Don't push it."
Bai Youan leaned back slightly, holding the fan to avoid Song Qingchao's lunge, his expression somewhat roguish.
"Rest quietly. The rain last night was too heavy, and everyone was busy rescuing people, so they didn't pay attention. When they took roll call this morning, they found a few people had been washed away, and several carts carrying food were also washed away."
After saying this, his expression softened slightly.
Song Qingchao forgot to move for a moment, just lying there in front of him.
"The rain hasn't stopped all morning. Shouhou hasn't stopped either to make progress. Those who were rescued last night, I don't know if they can hold on."
"Where are Zhe'er and Mu Mu? Why aren't they in the carriage?"
Song Qingchao's grip on Bai Youan's clothes tightened instantly.
Bai Youan patted her hand, "They're fine."
As soon as he finished speaking, Song Qingmu and a few others scrambled into the carriage.
Three youthful faces were crowded at the curtain of the carriage.
Ying Zhong chuckled, Song Qingmu wanted to hit someone, and Liu Zhe'er blushed.
Song Qingchao decisively let go of Bai Youan and shifted back, "Come in quickly, don't get wet."
The three looked at each other and finally entered the carriage.
Each of them brought a pot of something and placed it on the table.
Bai Youan took a bowl of medicine with one hand and raised an eyebrow, "Drink it."
Song Qingchao snatched it over, she really wanted to hit him.
"Have you seen Zhe'er's hand?" Song Qingchao said, her face puckered, she wiped her mouth, and put another piece of candied fruit into her mouth.
"Her arm is just broken, she's fine."
Liu Zhe'er nodded vigorously and even moved her arm in response.
Song Qingchao: ...
"Your concept of 'fine' seems a bit vague."
Bai Youan rolled his eyes at her and moved to the table to eat by himself, "Shouhou is the one in trouble. He and the supplies are gone, and the road is blocked now."
Song Qingchao hurried down from the couch and lifted the curtain to look.
The rainwater had reached past her calves, and Shouhou, wearing a conical hat, was directing the few available laborers to clear the road.
Some women were sheltering their children under trees.
Bai Youan pulled her to the dining table, his brow furrowing unconsciously, but he quickly returned to his usual lazy demeanor.
Song Qingchao also became worried.
But she didn't have the ability to save everyone, nor was it reasonable to put herself in danger to save others.
Save yourself before saving others.
She had always been this selfish.
Song Qingchao had barely taken a few sips of soup from her bowl when there was a knocking sound from outside the carriage.
Ying Zhong, sitting at the outermost part, frowned, but he still put down his chopsticks and lifted the curtain.
Several women's faces instantly appeared outside the carriage.
Song Qingchao's expression also sank instantly.
"Young lady, the rain outside is too heavy, please let us come in to take shelter."
"Young master, young master, save us."
"My child has been crying, the water is too much, please be kind, the child is small and doesn't take up much space."
Everyone's faces were full of hope, convinced that Song Qingchao would agree, and they began pushing their children inside.
Ying Zhong, who was at the door, was instantly pushed by two or three children. He twisted his head, "Master?"
Bai Youan, who was usually playful, remained silent this time, his face grim, "Miss Song, what do you think?"
Song Qingchao put down her soup bowl, picked up a straw mat stuffed under the couch and threw it to Song Qingmu, gesturing for him to pass it over.
"I think we cannot save them."
She lowered her head and wiped her mouth with a handkerchief, "Mu Mu, give them the straw mat to shelter from the rain, and Ying Zhong, return the children to their mothers. Our humble abode cannot accommodate such honored guests."
Song Qingmu and Ying Zhong both complied.
The mothers who had their children pushed back instantly changed their expressions.
Some cursed her viciously, "So young, with such a hard heart, no conscience."
Some, however, understood their difficulties.
As people were about to disperse, Madam Hu suddenly pushed her way through from behind. She was holding Liu Fubao and was about to squeeze into the carriage.
Ying Zhong stopped her several times before pushing her out, "Auntie, our young lady said she does not take in outsiders. Please go out. If you keep pushing like this, I might hurt you."
Madam Hu glared, "She always saves us!"
She wiped the rain from her face and turned her criticism to Bai Youan, "Aren't you a doctor? Doctors save people, it's natural and right!"
Her fuss made Bai Youan laugh. He leaned lazily in his seat and opened his fan with a "snap," "That's what a good doctor would do, but I have no medical ethics."
"You!" Madam Hu was so angry her mouth twisted.
Liu Fubao was still making a fuss in her arms. He suddenly saw Liu Zhe'er sitting properly in the carriage and started crying loudly again.
"Why can that jinx get in and I can't?"
When Madam Hu heard her precious son say this, she immediately followed up, "You saved our daughter, so why not take this little one as well?"
She forcefully pushed Liu Fubao into the carriage, "A son is better than a daughter, a doctor's heart is compassionate. Please show mercy, and I will thank you properly!"
Seeing Liu Fubao climb in, she turned and left immediately.
Ying Zhong dragged Liu Fubao. He didn't know where this child got his strength from. He climbed onto the table, grabbed a steamed bun, and stuffed it into his mouth, all the while glaring at Liu Zhe'er.
Seeing that Liu Fubao had entered the carriage and was not driven out, the other women also began to let their children climb in.
For a moment, the front half of the carriage was crowded with children.
Song Qingchao's face turned as black as charcoal.
"I said throw them out."
She drew a sword from under the couch and with a "swish," pressed it to Liu Fubao's face, "I'll count to three. Jump off the carriage yourself."