Chapter 14: Closing the distance

Seeing Madam Liu's eyes light up, Qin Xiaoyao continued. "But that place is deep in the mountains, and the path is not easy to walk on. It's not safe for you to go there."

Seeing the hesitation on Madam Liu's face, Qin Xiaoyao continued. "Mother, don't worry about digging up the Chinese yam. Leave it to me!"

"You only need to take care of the house. I'll take care of the rest of the things." As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao patted her chest.

Madam Liu was a little touched.

"Deep in the mountains?" Then, she looked at Qin Xiaoyao worriedly.

If it was in the past, she would not care if her daughter-in-law went deep into the mountains.

However, now that she knew what her daughter-in-law was doing in the mountains, how could she watch her take the risk helplessly?

What if something happened to her daughter-in-law, or she lost her life? Wouldn't she feel guilty for the rest of her life?

Seeing the worry in Madam Liu's eyes, Qin Xiaoyao was quite touched.

"Don't worry. Although it's deep in the mountains, it's not far from the mountaintop where the villagers work."

"Besides, I'm not planning to dig up those Chinese yams by myself."

According to her predecessor's memory, the price of seeing a doctor and getting medicine in this era was not low.

Her attractive husband's injuries weren't light. If she wanted to provide proper treatment for him, she was afraid that she would have to spend a lot of money.

Although she was strong, her ability was limited if she worked alone. It was not easy to dig out the Chinese yam.

The yam was in the mountains and did not belong to anyone.

If someone saw the earth holes she dug out and found out that the Chinese yam was edible, then all the remaining Chinese yams might not belong to her anymore.

In this case, she might as well find someone to help her dig up all the Chinese yams as soon as possible, then sell them for money.

This way, her attractive husband would have enough money to treat his injuries.

"Why… why don't we forget about getting outside help? We… we'll go together." Madam Liu hesitated for a moment, but she still spoke up eventually. She even looked at the two little ones on the table.

If they got other people to help, surely they would have to pay them?

Moreover, it was something that came from the mountains. If others found out that it was edible, wouldn't they go and dig it up themselves?

Their family was so poor that they couldn't even feed themselves.

It wasn't easy to find something that could fill their stomachs, so she had to protect this source of food.

When the two little ones heard that their mother was going to bring them to the mountains to dig for Chinese yam with their sister-in-law, their eyes lit up, and they nodded.

The Chinese yam was so delicious. Naturally, they wanted to dig it up for themselves.

After digging and bringing them back home, they would not have to go hungry for a long time.

Qin Xiaoyao was amused by the trio's expressions.

"Mother, I understand your intention. But I really can't let you go." 

Madam Liu became a little anxious.

Qin Xiaoyao waved at her and continued. "Digging up Chinese yam is hard work, but your body is not in good shape. Even if you go, you won't be of much help." 

She then looked at the two little ones.

"It's the same for Yun'er and Ye'er." 

Qin Xiaoyao ignored the disappointed expressions of the two little ones and turned back to look at Madam Liu.

"Furthermore, the mountain paths are not easy to walk on. If you fall on the way, the loss will outweigh the gain. "

Seeing that Madam Liu no longer insisted, Qin Xiaoyao picked up another piece of Chinese yam for her.

"I'll go to town tomorrow to see if I can find a market for the Chinese yam." 

"If there is a demand for it, then I'll get some people to dig it up. I'll try to gather enough money for Husband's medical expenses." 

Madam Liu was stunned, speechless.

Then, she turned to look at Qin Xiaoyao, her eyes filled with gratitude.

"Que'er's legs..." 

"Husband's leg is seriously injured. How can those herbs given by Hunter Huang be of any use?"

"Husband is a scholar. Although our family is in decline now and can't let Husband go to the academy for the time being, we can't give up." 

"When our family's situation improves in the future, I will still let Husband continue his studies."

"If he injures his leg and ends up with some disability, by the time the Imperial examinations come around, he may not stand a chance, and his future will be ruined." 

When she heard this, Madam Liu had no more opinions.

"Alright, we'll do as you say then. Sell those Chinese yams to raise money to treat Que'er's legs." 

As long as her eldest son's leg could recover, she didn't mind her family eating rice husks and swallowing vegetable stems.

Following that, the dining table became livelier.

Qin Xiaoyao teased the two little ones from time to time and joked with Madam Liu from time to time.

The three of them gradually started to reply and were no longer as reserved as before.

After they finished the bowl of Chinese yam, Qin Xiaoyao went to the pot to get another bowl.

In addition, she also took the time to go next door.

She took Song Que's empty bowl and returned to the kitchen to get him a bowl of Chinese yam.

Afraid that Song Que didn't know what the Chinese yam was, Qin Xiaoyao took pains to explain to him before leaving.

The family of five ate until they were full.

After the meal, Qin Xiaoyao washed the dishes and sent her mother-in-law and the two kids to the courtyard to exercise and digest their food.

Soon, she was in the kitchen and could hear the cheerful sounds of Song Ye and Song Yun playing in the courtyard. She couldn't help but smile when she heard them.

After washing the dishes and tidying up the kitchen, Qin Xiaoyao took out a wooden bucket and filled it with hot water.

Then, she took the hot water to the room next door.

Song Que, who was on the bed, saw Qin Xiaoyao walk in with hot water and sat up on the bed.

As the action dragged against his wound, he winced involuntarily a few times.

Qin Xiaoyao couldn't help but laugh heartlessly in her heart when she saw his expression.

Then, she went to get a face towel, put it in the bucket, and wrung it dry.

"Honey, do you need me to help give you a wipe?" As she asked, she handed over a wrung towel.

Of course, she was just asking casually. She did not dare to hope for such a lucky break.

Song Que frowned.

"No need," he replied.

He snatched the face towel over.

Then, he turned to the side and wiped his own face.

Qin Xiaoyao simply smiled and didn't feel disappointed.

After Song Que had wiped his face and returned the towel, she washed it in the bucket and wrung it dry again.

"You need to wipe your leg too." This time, however, she didn't pass him the towel.

This was because she knew that Song Que had no way of wiping it himself.

"No need." Song Que said in a low voice and laid back on the bed.

He even turned his back on Qin Xiaoyao.

Qin Xiaoyao stood there, speechless.

"Fine, I won't wipe it then. In any case, Hunter Huang had just helped him clean it up yesterday," she thought.

The early spring had just passed, and the weather was not hot, so he should not be sweating much.

Qin Xiaoyao took another look at the figure who had turned his back to her and sighed in her heart. Then, she carried the wooden bucket and went out.

Back in the kitchen, Qin Xiaoyao scooped some water for Madam Liu and the two little ones to wash their faces.

Then, they washed their feet.

After making arrangements for the three of them, she finally took care of herself and went to get water for a bath.

No doubt, though it was spring and the weather wasn't too hot, she had a lot of exercises today. Moreover, she was very fat and tended to sweat a lot.

If she didn't take a shower, she would feel disgusted with herself, let alone her attractive husband.

During the apocalypse, the conditions were too austere, so she rarely took a bath.

As for now, there was no need to make herself suffer.

After getting the hot water into the rudimentary bathroom, Qin Xiaoyao returned to the room to get her clothes.

Then, she went to take a shower.