CHAPTER 100: CHAPTER 98

In recent days, the Ruan Family has lived well at the post station, but upon receiving news of the logging camp needing laborers, the family had to move again.

Fortunately, due to Xie Huai’an’s intervention, their workload was reduced somewhat.

Especially Mrs. Chen, who’s heavily pregnant and unfit for hard labor; she was accompanied by Ah Qing to do some odd jobs at the reception camp.

Perhaps due to the unpredictable weather, Mrs. Chen’s pregnancy reactions were worsening, worrying Ah Qing about complications, so she took on all the odd jobs herself.

"Sister-in-law, let me handle it, you should go back and rest well."

Though Mrs. Chen didn’t want to trouble her sister-in-law, she could barely hold on.

Forced to return temporarily, she steamed some buns to prepare for Ah Qing and her companions.

As Ah Qing moved back and forth in the reception camp, she didn’t notice a pair of eyes constantly watching her.

Not until some noises arose from behind her did Ah Qing quickly turn around, to find a constable staring directly at her.

Sensing trouble, Ah Qing greeted him and tried to leave but was grabbed by the arm by the constable.

Terrified, Ah Qing anxiously shook off his hand, only to be momentarily halted by a shout from him, accidentally tripping over stones and falling.

This constable was indeed the same man who had watched Ah Qing before, named Lv Meng.

With wariness, Ah Qing began to stutter.

"Don’t come closer..."

The constable surveyed her with malevolent intent, his eyes dark and fierce.

He spoke in a low voice: "I’ve fancied you for a while, young lady. If you obediently follow me, I’ll find a way to get you out of this reception camp to become my concubine. At least you wouldn’t starve."

Ah Qing couldn’t believe her ears. In panic, she had already drawn a dagger tied around her wrist from her sleeve.

This was the defense weapon her sister had given her, and if the man dared to disrespect her, Ah Qing would fight him to the death!

To prevent him from succeeding!

But just at this moment, Mrs. Chen suddenly lifted a stone and struck the constable’s head hard!

Lv Meng immediately saw stars and shook his head violently.

Mrs. Chen quickly reached over to Ah Qing: "Ah Qing! Run!"

"Sister-in-law..."

How could Ah Qing abandon her heavily pregnant sister-in-law? Seeing Lv Meng charging forward, she acted decisively, clutching the dagger and, without hesitation, stabbed Lv Meng in the abdomen.

With a cry of pain, Ah Qing froze on the spot.

Staring at the blood flowing from the dagger, she was momentarily stunned.

Luckily, Ruan Mian had just returned, hearing Ah Qing’s familiar voice, and rushed over without hesitating.

Seeing the scene, she didn’t think twice, delivering a sharp slap to Lv Meng’s face and fiercely stomping on his wound.

Lv Meng spat blood and grabbed Mrs. Chen’s ankle.

Mrs. Chen’s face blanched in fear, instantly resisting.

But she accidentally fell heavily to the ground, pain assaulting her, twisting her expression.

Ruan Mian and Ah Qing both startled: "Sister-in-law!"

Mrs. Chen’s complexion turned pale as she felt the crimson bleed on her skirt, breaking out in a cold sweat and immediately speaking.

"Mianmian... the... the child..." Ruan Mian knocked out Lv Meng, calling Ah Qing to help Mrs. Chen into the cellar.

She calmed down a few degrees and had Ah Qing prepare hot water, towels, and clean clothes; meanwhile, she went to the wooden box pretending to fetch herbs, actually entering the space to first fill a water bag with Spiritual Spring water.

Next, she went to the herbal area to take some fetus-preserving medicine and some pills that can harmonize internal organs and blood.

But these were just preparatory drugs; the most important thing was exchanging for some progesterone gel, as this can reduce uterine sensitivity to prostaglandins.

She first applied these to Mrs. Chen, also carefully checking her condition.

Fortunately, it was minor bleeding during pregnancy, and Mrs. Chen didn’t suffer severe pain; the situation was relatively stable.

After applying the gel, she administered the fetus-preserving medicine to calm Mrs. Chen’s emotions first.

Ah Qing’s eyes were red, fearing her actions endangered her sister-in-law, but didn’t dare say so, trembling slightly.

Ruan Mian stood as a calming anchor, comforting the two.

"Don’t be afraid; the child is fine, and sister-in-law is fine too, Ah Qing, it’s not because of you; you’re very brave."

She then took Ah Qing’s hand to encourage her.

Finally, Ah Qing unable to hold back her emotions, fell into Ruan Mian’s arms and cried.

"Sister, it’s all my fault, I’m useless... I almost caused something terrible to happen to sister-in-law."

Seeing this, Mrs. Chen forced herself to sit up and console her: "Ah Qing, I’m fine now, don’t blame yourself. I believe in Mianmian; if she says the child is alright, then it surely is."

Ruan Zhiyao needed time to calm down, overwhelmed by emotions.

When other family members heard about this, they were startled.

Fortunately, it was just a false alarm, and the child was safe, which was good.

But Mrs. Chen’s health needed more care subsequently; she couldn’t catch cold or do labor anymore.

In order to provide Mrs. Chen with a better environment, Ruan Zhiyao began to use Silver Coins to shore up relationships everywhere; anyway, she was a pregnant woman, and her absence didn’t matter much, but her presence wasn’t excessive.

With connections, Mrs. Chen wasn’t forced into hard labor.

As for inside the cellar, Ruan Mian even moved her bed to another spot, and to make her more comfortable, she built several small fire beds.

Arranged together wasn’t convenient for everyone, so the eldest brother and sister-in-law had one, parents another, and she shared one with Ah Qing, Cui Zhu, and Shaoxi.

Other house servants also built a large bed at the other end of the cellar.

This innovation made things warmer, and Ah Qing had never slept on such a comfortable bed before.

Moreover, those mattresses were made of soft cotton and animal hides, covered with down quilts.

But for some reason, this fire bed of theirs was discovered by others in less than three days.

They had just come back from their work to find a crowd gathered in front of the cellar.

As soon as Ruan Mian appeared, a government officer inquired.

"Ruan Family, how did you make the fire bed? Can you tell us the method?"

Someone took advantage of their labor time to explore the cellar and found the fire bed.

Those who lay on it found it very comfortable, but they could only observe and couldn’t guess what was inside.

Thus, they awaited Ruan Mian to inquire. Ruan Mian had nothing to hide, considering it as doing the government officer a favor.

But unexpectedly, Lv Meng stepped forward, glaring at Ruan Mian with a look that wished to kill her.

He threatened out loud: "If you don’t tell, none of these Lords will spare you!!"

Despite his wound apparently not being fatal, could he still threaten her with such vigor now?

Ruan Mian smirked.

"Originally, I intended to tell everyone, but someone happened to threaten me? If you disdain me as a convict, then you can figure it out yourselves, why bother asking me?"

She cast a meaningful glance at Lv Meng, adding: "Of course, my words are not aimed at the other Lords; they’re specifically directed at... this one."