Ah Shi hadn't expected her master's last words to be this. She cried, bit her lip, and nodded heavily, "This subordinate will take good care of this young lady until she is married. Then, I will come to find you, master!"
The contract of life and death was not something Ah Shi would betray.
Although Ren Yingjun was young, she understood what they were saying from their conversation. She was displeased, saying, "I don't need him to take care of me. You wouldn't die either."
The man didn't speak, merely smiled.
The next day, after two days of continuous medication, the condition had miraculously healed.
Zhao Jiaqi was unsure whether it was the commode or her herbal prescription that had done the trick.
In the end, she gave both items to Cui Langzhong for free, along with an explanation of the house's principles.
"Bai Zhi, though a yang herb, when combined with Xia Ku Cao, becomes exclusively yin. Di Ding, Pu Gong Ying, Sheng Gan Cao, and Bai Fan all have detoxifying properties and are also yin. Yin transforms into yin toxins, making it easy to achieve results. It aids Bai Zhi in combating snake venom: one dose reduces swelling, two doses expel toxins, and three doses result in recovery."
Cui Langzhong finally understood. As if he had found a treasure, he thanked her profusely before departing.
After the physician left, Ah Shi proactively approached Zhao Jiaqi to apologize, "Sister-in-law, I'm sorry. It was my fault for threatening you. Thank you for saving my master!"
Zhao Jiaqi crossed her arms and said coldly, "Wasn't he your brother? Why is he your master now?"
Ah Shi turned her head away. "My master saved me. My master is more important to me than a brother!"
Zhao Jiaqi believed this. She had heard every word they said in the room that day and naturally knew the relationship between the two.
Never mind, he was saved, so why should she question it further?
"You are forgiven. Your master is also well. You should leave soon. It is inconvenient for me, a lone woman, to keep you here."
Ah Shi wanted to say more, but considering their identities, she closed her mouth. "Alright."
That evening, Ah Shi returned with two dead wild chickens. She silently boiled water and cleaned them. Seeing this, Zhao Jiaqi was reminded of her husband. He used to do the same when he returned from the mountains.
"Sister Ren, please add a few more dishes tonight. Master's body is weak and needs nourishment!"
"Alright." Zhao Jiaqi did not refuse. As she took the chickens, she casually asked, "Are you hunters?"
"No!" Ah Shi replied decisively.
She was stunned. Not hunters?
Zhao Jiaqi picked up a wild chicken and examined it, noticing only one wound on its neck. This person's skills were incredible.
That evening, during dinner, Zhao Jiaqi asked, "I only know your subordinate is called Ah Shi. What is your name?"
"I am eighth in my family. Those close to me call me Eighth Brother. Sister Ren can call me Little Eight."
"Eighth Brother? Little Eight!"
Zhao Jiaqi opened her mouth, wondering what the myna bird would think if it knew someone shared its name!
The next morning, they moved to the village chief's house. The courtyard was much quieter now.
Little Junjun particularly enjoyed playing with Eighth Brother. Every day, she would be at the village chief's courtyard. When free, Ah Shi would take her to the mountains to catch chickens and train birds... and accompany Eighth Brother on his mountain strolls.
The two adults and one child climbed to the mountaintop. Standing there, they could see the entire village, town, and even further into the distance with unobstructed views.
As the saying goes, standing high allows one to see far.
"If the surprise attack is successful, then this vast land of Yun Country will be master's to command."
Ah Shi, excited, blurted this out in his hometown dialect. Eighth Brother's expression instantly changed. He turned to look at Little Junjun and, seeing her still playing with bugs on the ground, turned back to glare fiercely at Ah Shi.
He paced over, crouched down, and began playing with the unknown insects with her. "Little girls like fluffy animals, don't they? Like cats, dogs, and rabbits. Why do you only like these bugs?"
Little Junjun opened her clear eyes and smiled sweetly, replying, "Chickens eat bugs and lay eggs. When we have enough eggs, we can have steamed egg custard with Mother!"
Such a simple wish made Eighth Brother's heart ache for the child.
He gently patted her head and said solemnly, "From now on, whatever you want, whatever you want to eat, Big Brother will give it to you!"
"Really?"
Eighth Brother nodded. "Really. From now on, you won't have to worry about food or clothing, and you won't have to catch these bugs for just one egg."
Little Junjun smiled shyly and lowered her head. Her long eyelashes fluttered, and a hint of pain flashed in her eyes.
That night, Little Junjun closed all the doors and windows and listened carefully to the sounds outside. But thinking of Ah Shi's excellent martial arts skills, how he could kill a wild chicken from a distance with a single stone, she felt a bit scared.
After blowing out the kerosene lamp, her mind was filled with how to tell her mother what she had overheard today, yet she feared someone might be listening in the shadows.
Finally, she devised a plan: first, she would lull everyone into a false sense of security, then tell her mother the truth.
Jun Jun lifted her mother's blanket and crawled in. The scent of soapwort from her mother's body made her feel much more at ease.
She chirped cheerfully, "Mother, do you know? Brother Shi is very good at martial arts. He can catch wild chickens with just a stone. I want to learn martial arts too, so I can catch them for you to supplement your health!"
Zhao Jiaqi, unaware of the situation, stroked her head. In the bright moonlight outside the window, she saw the child repeatedly blinking at her. Frowning, she played along.
"Why would a girl like you learn martial arts? It would be better to find a hunter for a husband. Whatever you want to eat, he can hunt it for you. Wouldn't that be better?"
Under the covers, Little Junjun wrote two words on her mother's palm: Spy!
Jun Jun reluctantly said, "No way! I just want to learn from Brother Shi. If he doesn't teach me, I'll go to Eighth Brother. Eighth Brother spoils me the most, so I'm sure he'll listen to Eighth Brother!"
Zhao Jiaqi was shocked, goosebumps rising all over her. She felt continuous hints from Jun Jun's hand. She grabbed the small hand and forced a smile, "Mother knows. Your Eighth Brother loves you. Ah Shi will definitely listen to him!"
"Does Mother agree?"
On the rooftop, Ah Shi finished eavesdropping. Knowing the child knew nothing, he leaped into the adjacent courtyard under the cover of night. The two courtyards returned to their peaceful state.
A night of trepidation, a mother and daughter secretly communicated on each other's palms in the covers.
The next day, Zhao Jiaqi had not slept all night. Her mind was focused on urgently conveying the news to her husband. The enemy was already scouting from the mountains, and he was still unaware.
For three consecutive days, Ah Shi and Eighth Brother monitored them secretly. The mother and daughter continued as usual, showing no change. Little Junjun, however, pestered Ah Shi relentlessly, insisting on learning martial arts to catch wild chickens for her mother.
In private, Zhao Jiaqi began to work on her watermelon jam.
On the fourth day, she went to Wei Damao's house. "Village Chief, I've made my watermelon jam and want to sell it in town. But I have so much, and I don't know who to sell it to. Can you give me some advice?"
Wei Damao frowned, looking troubled. "You have nearly fifteen thousand catties of jam made from watermelon and soybeans. Regular buyers won't take such a large quantity. You'll probably have to sell it in batches."
Zhao Jiaqi sighed. "Yes, if only I could find a place with many people, even if I had to give a little less money!"
Many people?
That meant the army camp, which had many people.