Grandma Qin, upon learning that her eldest granddaughter had a high fever again, cast some bronze coins and got a favorable omen.
The previous favorable omen amidst ill fortune at the city gate had, as Grandma Qin saw it, manifested as the chaos at the city gate. The good fortune, she analyzed herself, was Qin Junyao's "enlightenment."
After being "enlightened," Qin Junyao could produce a greater variety of things, and she figured this time would be no different.
Doctor Mo, infuriated by Grandma Qin's scolding, turned and left, not wanting to exchange words with these ignorant villagers.
Qian Duo showed a worried expression. First, she called out to the departing Doctor Mo, then she said to Grandma Qin, "Grandma Qin, we mean well. If Sister Qin were truly in trouble, none of us would feel good."
"Cousin, please persuade Grandma Qin. I'll go find Doctor Mo and bring him back."
"No need. Doctor Sheng is also a divine doctor. Do you think divine doctors are some rare commodity? We have our own," Grandma Qin wasn't swayed by Qian Duo's plea.
Besides, she didn't think much of that Doctor Mo. Divine doctors should have beards, and this Mo fellow didn't have a single one.
Doctor Sheng, at least, had a goatee under his chin, though it was a bit short. He counted as half a divine doctor.
Half a divine doctor, Doctor Sheng, didn't feel any joy at being promoted from "quack doctor" to "divine doctor." The old woman's words hardly sounded complimentary.
He called his grandson and granddaughter to re-examine Qin Junyao's pulse. This pulse was different from the last one.
Cases where the pulse did not match the symptoms were also rare in his lifetime. He took this opportunity to let Sheng Huaijin and Sheng Yining gain some experience.
Inside the spatial dimension, Qin Junyao listened intently to Doctor Sheng's explanations to Sheng Yining and the others.
Unfortunately, she didn't understand.
After this ordeal, she was certain that the fever was caused by the expansion of her spatial dimension, and the headache was due to overexertion within it.
Yesterday, Qin Junyao had heard Sheng Yining mention that the further they went into the mountains, the more animals they would encounter. That's why she had decided to work overtime last night to expand the spatial dimension, preparing ample provisions for any unforeseen circumstances.
Time passed quickly. A day and a night went by in the blink of an eye, and Qin Junyao still hadn't woken up. Fortunately, the fever had subsided.
"When are we leaving? Is she going to sleep forever? Do we wait for her whole life?"
"No, I'm going to find them," Zhao Rui impatiently brushed an ant crawling on her and got up. Qian Shi also didn't want to wait and followed her.
Qian Duo didn't stop them this time. Having someone stir up trouble might be good to see Zhao Liangcai's reaction.
Deng Zitui was also asking Zhao Liangcai about setting off. Traveling with the Qin and Hou families had already slowed them down, and now they had been delayed for another day and night. By the time they left the mountains, they didn't know what the outside world would be like.
"It's fine. Deputy Officer Zhou will make arrangements when he returns," Zhao Liangcai referred to Zhou Fuyan as Suozi.
He looked in the direction of Qin Junyao with some concern, unsure if he was worried about the person or the journey ahead.
"Boss, the young lady and madam are going over," Deng Zitui saw Zhao Rui striding towards the Qin family with her skirt lifted and felt it wasn't a good sign.
"Let's go take a look."
By the time the two of them walked over, Zhao Rui was already arguing with Grandma Qin.
"Old woman, I've put up with you for a long time. You're just clinging to us, wanting to take advantage, aren't you? You say you saved Fuzi, but others would have saved him too. Are you trying to show off?" Zhao Rui was going all out today.
Grandma Qin rolled up her sleeves and spat on the ground. "Hmph, a mere young girl dares to put on airs in front of Grandma? My granddaughter is not awake, and I didn't want to bother with you, yet you come looking for trouble."
"Putting on airs? Towards you peasants, this young lady can put on airs. Now, return what you've eaten of ours, and this young lady..."
"Ah~~~!"
Zhao Rui's scream startled a flock of birds watching the commotion in the trees.
While Zhao Rui was speaking, Grandma Qin had already rolled up her sleeves, tied her belt, and fastened her headscarf.
She took a step forward and grabbed Zhao Rui's hair with her left hand, pulling her head back. It was at this moment that Zhao Rui let out her scream.
Then, Grandma Qin's free right hand swung out in a large slap.
Qian Shi hesitated for a moment before stepping forward to help, but Qin Xiaoyu rushed forward and bit Qian Shi's thigh.
The shouts of Zhao Rui and Qian Shi, this mother and daughter duo, alternated.
The women from the Hou family, as well as Qin Mu and her sisters-in-law, did not step forward. Grandma Qin preferred to fight her own battles first.
Her subordinates couldn't just stand by and watch Grandma Qin fight. When they tried to intervene, they were blocked by Qin Lin and his son.
Qin Sen stood aside, saying that in their village, men didn't interfere in women's fights.
Zhao Liangcai stood by, also preventing his subordinates from intervening.
Qin Junyao woke up to see a brawl and was still a bit dazed. She had been studying bamboo slips in the spatial dimension. How did people get out and start fighting?
"Wuu~~ wuu~~, don't hit my mother, don't hit Grandma Qin, stop fighting."
"Wuu~~ Brother, tell them to stop fighting," Fuzi, awakened by Zhao Rui's scream, ran over and saw the fighting. Crying, he looked for Zhao Liangcai to break it up.
Zhao Liangcai picked up Fuzi and wiped his tears. Seeing that Qian Shi had also been slapped by Grandma Qin, he gave Deng Zitui a look.
Deng Zitui understood. He patted his brothers' shoulders, and they all charged into the fray.
Qin Lin and his two sons were not idle, nor were the Hou family men just watching. Even the Hou women were ready to provide backup and interception. Zhao Liangcai's ten men were all able-bodied adults, and if they were outnumbered, they would be at a disadvantage.
"Stop fighting! Miss Qin is awake," Doctor Sheng's hearty shout made everyone halt.
Qin Junyao stood up, proving that she was indeed awake.
"Pah! What's the use of just having a sharp tongue," Grandma Qin released Qian Shi's hair and said disdainfully. Then, she casually hit Qin Xiaoyu, who had joined the fight, on the back of the head and pulled her out of the scuffle.
"Showing off? Your cousin didn't even make a move, why are you, a little brat, trying to be heroic?"
"Grandma, I was helping you," Qin Xiaoyu retorted, unconvinced.
"Did I need your help? Have your mother comb your hair again. We don't raise crazy people in our family."
Zhao Rui, who had never been hit before, cried her heart out, but in between her sobs, she could still hear Grandma Qin's veiled insults.
"Zhao Liangcai, she's calling your sister crazy. She's hitting your mother and your sister, and you're not doing anything? Ah~~ Are you even a man? How can you be a son and a brother like this?"
"Mother~~," Zhao Rui said, then cried out "Mother" pitifully again.
Zhao Rui's words made Zhao Liangcai's soldiers exchange glances.
"Rui'er, don't talk about your brother. It's my fault. Blame me, not your brother. Your brother is a good person," Qian Shi cried as she got up and hugged her daughter's head.
Qian Shi and her daughter were both good-looking. Now their faces were red from being hit, and tears streamed down their faces. As they embraced, Zhao Liangcai's soldiers stared, mesmerized.
They all felt that the general's actions were somewhat improper. How could he watch his own family get beaten?
"Third Brother, take out the wheat we haven't eaten and settle the debt. From now on, we go our separate ways. Who cares about traveling with you?" Grandma Qin remained unmoved by the two crying on the ground.
She also looked disdainfully at the soldiers whose eyes were wide open. If they didn't travel with Zhao Cui, Yao Yao could generously offer provisions. Doctor Sheng's granddaughter was the best friend of Junyao.
Without Doctor Sheng leading the way, how would they get out? If they had the ability, they could go back and travel from Anshun Prefecture city.