Xue Niang hadn't expected Liu Donghuai to do something like this.
He intended to teach the villagers about common medicinal herbs, so they could earn a meager income and sustain their lives.
This deeply touched Xue Niang. She thought it might be because Liu Donghuai had grown up here, and had feelings for this land and its people. In contrast, although she and Xiao Shan had settled in Bozi Village, they didn't have any deep connections with the villagers. That's why she had readily refused the village chief's request.
Xue Niang followed Wang Xiulan to the village ancestral hall, where many people were already seated.
Liu Donghuai was holding a plant and explaining something. When Xue Niang entered, he paused.
Everyone was a little surprised to see Xue Niang, as she didn't interact much with the villagers. It was also common knowledge that Hunter Xiao lacked money, and everything she wore and used was of the finest quality, so she had no need to worry about such small sums of money.
Then, a young woman asked, her tone tinged with displeasure, "Sister Xiao, are you also going to the mountains to pick herbs for money?"
There were already many people, and who knew how much they could gather on the mountain! Donghuai had said the valuable ones were deep in the mountains, and only Xiao Shan dared to go there. Did she want to move all the treasures from the mountains to her own home!
"I just want to learn. If I get a headache or a fever, I can pick some herbs to eat myself, instead of having to travel so far to the city."
Liu Donghuai coughed, "Sister Ouhua, Sister Xiao, please be quiet and listen carefully."
The young woman pouted and mumbled, "She sent her own father to prison, how can she have the nerve to listen? It's only because Donghuai is kind-hearted and doesn't hold grudges."
Wang Xiulan whispered to Xue Niang, "Don't mind her, she's known for being petty."
Xue Niang and Wang Xiulan stood by the wall and listened.
Liu Donghuai continued speaking, his voice gentle and unhurried, quite suitable for a teacher.
"Sister Xiulan, I'm leaving now."
Xue Niang signaled to Wang Xiulan. Xiao Shan was standing outside the ancestral hall.
Wang Xiulan smiled knowingly.
Xue Niang quietly left the ancestral hall.
"Why are you here?"
"Can't I come?"
"Who are you putting on a stern face for! If you have something to say, say it. If not, I'm going back in to listen!"
He still had the nerve to give her the cold shoulder. Don't think she had forgotten her anger. They weren't acting like husband and wife. She used to be afraid of jinxing him to death, but in reality, she was more likely to be killed by him.
"Where am I putting on a stern face? This is just how I look, you know that. Don't listen anymore, come home with me?" Xiao Shan softened his tone. "I have to go out and won't be back for several days!"
"What are you going out for?" Xue Niang's delicate brows furrowed.
At this moment, something Liu Donghuai said in the ancestral hall caused a gasp from the villagers. Xue Niang couldn't help but glance inside.
Xiao Shan grabbed her hand. "What's so interesting about it? I know about those useless herbs too. If you want to listen, I'll tell you!"
Xue Niang was thus pulled back home by him.
"Xiao Shan, we don't lack money now. Why do you have to go out? Isn't it dangerous?"
At this moment, Xue Niang forgot her anger, her face full of worry. This time, Xiao Shan was going out to escort goods for a merchant. It was introduced by Shopkeeper Feng. The merchant didn't think highly of the escort agencies in Lin'an County and only recognized Xiao Shan. They offered several times the usual payment, and Xiao Shan accepted it to give Shopkeeper Feng face.
It wasn't far; it was estimated to take three days to return.
Facing Xue Niang's concern, Xiao Shan felt immensely pleased. His voice softened. "Is there ever too much money? Don't worry, it's just a small matter, there's no danger at all. You just need to set up the soul-confusing formation at home tonight, and I'll be back soon."
If Xiao Shan had known what would happen later, he wouldn't have gone on this escort mission even if he were beaten to death. Unfortunately, there was no regret medicine in the world, and no amount of money could buy foresight.
Since he had promised, Xue Niang could do nothing but silently pack some food for him.
"Don't be unhappy! Weren't you still angry with me yesterday? Now that I'm leaving, you'll have peace and quiet, won't you?" Xiao Shan coaxed her.
"Why would I be unhappy? I wish you would..." Xue Niang stopped herself, afraid to say more. Her eyes were already red as she looked up. "You didn't even discuss it with me."
Seeing her so upset, Xiao Shan immediately regretted it. His heart felt both sweet and sour. He wished he hadn't agreed to Shopkeeper Feng.
After much dawdling and coaxing, Xiao Shan finally left home, looking back repeatedly.
Alas, he was now a married man and couldn't be as willful as before.
After Xiao Shan left, Xue Niang lost her spirit and took out the half-finished cloth shoes she had made, starting to stitch them.
She had just learned this from Sister Xiulan, and it had been several days without finishing a pair. She planned to finish them these few days so Xiao Shan could wear them when he returned.
For comfort, Xue Niang made the shoe soles very thick, which was strenuous and hard on her hands, making her fair and delicate hands red. Just as she was halfway done, there was a loud banging on the door.
Xue Niang almost pricked her finger. The sound of the door was mixed with an anxious female voice that sounded somewhat familiar.
Xue Niang ran to open the door, and a woman leaped in, nearly falling on her.
"Sister Xiao, my young lady is in trouble! Where is Hero Xiao!"
"Su Mian? What happened to Linglong?"
Su Mian looked like she had been crying; her eyes were red, and her face was filled with urgency and fear.
"She's been kidnapped! My young lady has been captured by bad people! Please save her! Please!" Su Mian said, then knelt down.
"Su Mian, what are you doing? Get up quickly. What exactly happened?"
"My young lady was discovered to be a woman and was taken to the mansion by that scoundrel surnamed Li! Hurry and ask Hero Xiao to save her! She's pregnant and can't afford to have any accidents!"
Xue Niang was greatly shocked. Linglong was pregnant? With whose child?
"Xiao Shan is not home. Let's go find Yuan Bufei!"
The urgent matter was to rescue Linglong quickly, and Yuan Bufei was the most suitable person.
Upon hearing that Xiao Shan was not home, Su Mian almost fainted. She didn't know who Yuan Bufei was and, feeling lost and helpless, followed Xue Niang into the carriage with tears streaming down her face.
The carriage headed straight for the county yamen. Su Mian only then learned that Yuan Bufei was actually the county magistrate? Just as hope flared, she was told that the magistrate was not in.
"Where is Du Ling! I am the wife of Hunter Xiao from Bozi Village. Please inform him, we have something important to discuss."
The guard heard her directly address Constable Du and saw that she had an unusual demeanor, not like a village girl, so he went inside to pass the message.
Du Ling came out quickly. Seeing that it was indeed Xiao Shan's wife, he immediately asked, "Sister Xiao, is there something urgent?"
"Du Ling, quickly find someone to go to the Li mansion to rescue her! My friend has been captured by that Li family scoundrel and taken into their mansion!"
Good heavens!
Her tone was completely commanding!
The guards were stunned, and Su Mian was also a little apprehensive.
However, Du Ling immediately responded and went back into the yamen to gather people.
It was no joke; this was someone the county magistrate himself respected. Although he didn't know the identities of Xiao Shan and his wife, he sensed they were no ordinary people.
After all, his lord came from a famous noble family in the capital. Did he dare to slight someone his lord respected?