CHAPTER 53: CHAPTER 52: QI NANFENG REMEMBERS EVERYTHING CLEARLY!

This was just like seeing King Yanluo, scaring him so much that he knelt on the ground in shock.

Ruan Mian played with the knife handle and commanded him, "Why aren’t you off finding people to work yet? I’ll tell you exactly who to find for the best results."

She leaned over and whispered two sentences into the man’s ear.

The man thought she was someone with magical powers, got scared, and stumbled off to the cabin, trembling as he called for his companions, directing certain people from the Qi Mansion and Uncle’s Mansion to help break the ice.

Especially Qi Nanfeng, Ruan Mian gave him specific instructions, so he was the first to be taken away.

Tied with a rope, he was taken to the ship’s edge to chisel away, adding insult to injury to his already itchy bones!

The Liu Family were also tied and lowered, alongside her son, gritting their teeth while chiseling ice and complaining.

"Nanfeng, look at how none of them, Ruan Mian’s people, are suffering. She must’ve bribed the boatmen to set us up!!"

"Back when your father was alive, our Qi Mansion was so prosperous, and now our family is suffering because of marrying that venomous Ruan Mian!!"

Qi Nanfeng remembered all these grudges vividly!

He couldn’t wait until reaching Zhuangzhou Mountain Pass; once in Jixian County, he would act!

He would first destroy the Ruan Mansion to resolve the hatred in his heart.

Subsequently, those from the Uncle’s Mansion who were lowered too were full of complaints.

Especially Old Madam Li, whose frail body was unexpected to undergo such hardship.

At this moment, Ruan Jiao took the tools from the old lady’s hands, softly saying, "Mother-in-law, let me help you, your body can’t take this."

Old Madam Li previously had the impression of this Aunt Ruan as merely a color-serving concubine.

Now seeing her respectful to herself.

She couldn’t help but ask her, "Your Ruan Mansion is doing well now, don’t you want to go back?"

Ruan Jiao suddenly burst into tears, as if full of grievances with nowhere to express.

"Old Madam... I am already the Eldest Prince’s woman, even if dead, I’ll be a ghost of the Uncle’s. Besides, if my sister finds out I have thoughts of returning, she’ll definitely beat me to death."

Old Madam Li, upon hearing this, became furious: "Your sister is truly a beast! Even if you are a concubine-born, there is no need for such treatment. Oh well, since you are so loyal to Shen’er, once we reach Wuheng, I will not let you suffer."

Ruan Jiao was deeply grateful, occasionally glancing at Mrs. Wang, raising her voice: "Madam, why don’t you rest well, I can help you."

Mrs. Wang glanced at her and refused coldly: "Not necessary."

Ruan Jiao looked embarrassed and added to the grievances, which made Old Madam Li scold Mrs. Wang.

"Aunt Ruan meant well, how could you be so ungrateful!? Now that we’re in this predicament, Aunt Ruan still intends to help you, yet you don’t appreciate it! What image of a matron are you displaying!"

Mrs. Wang was truly taken aback, did Ruan Jiao really cozy up to the old madam?

She also took the opportunity to remind the old madam: "Mother-in-law, you also know we are in this disaster, the entire Uncle’s Mansion is gone, where’s this so-called matron?"

"You...good-for-nothing."

The old lady glared at her, motioning for Ruan Jiao to continue working.

With everyone’s strenuous effort, the ship slowly moved forward.

After much effort, the ship finally docked, and the group from the Qi Mansion was already exhausted on the ground, but the boatmen came over, and the government officer thought they were coming to collect payment, hastily moved behind Ruan Mian, indicating for her to pay the silver.

However, the boatmen not only didn’t ask for silver, but ceremoniously presented fresh lamb meat.

"Miss, this is our tribute to you, please don’t hold it against us. You have to know, this lamb meat is... a rare delicacy! Ahead is Taoqiu County, we will not go further, please feel free."

After saying this, several hurriedly ran away.

Leaving only the government officers and others looking at Ruan Mian in astonishment.

Ruan Mian gave a dismissive smile and shared some lamb meat with the government officers.

Seeing this, the Lords were elated, not caring about the Qi Mansion people’s plight, shouting for them to quickly reach the county and find a place to settle.

Although those doing hard labor were exhausted, the thought of shelter from the wind and snow kept them moving.

However, they did not expect the entire Taoqiu County to be empty, no one in sight, doors tightly shut with a faint sound of sobbing from some people.

The snow-covered town carried a chilling aura.

The government officer tried knocking on one of the doors but got no response from inside.

This aroused their curiosity: "Taoqiu County is known to be one of the wealthy counties in Jixian County, and with the highway leading to the Capital City, how has it turned into this?"

They wanted to go deeper into the county but the snow had piled above their knees, making it too difficult.

The government officers could only find a larger farmhouse, noticing one household had erected a straw shed. After knocking with no response, they simply let people shelter in the shed first.

The shed, surrounded on three sides, was warmer than outside.

The government officers found it strange, starting to chat: "Why does it feel so much colder in Taoqiu County? The snow is too thick! I wonder if the road to Jixian County is still passable."

"Wasn’t it over the past three days of travel that this snow has fallen?"

Ruan Mian and her group started a fire, and immediately the snow on the ground began to melt!

She couldn’t help but think of the time Guard Liu mentioned when they were in Changping City, the situation in Jixian County was dire. Now it seemed Jixian County might have suffered a snow disaster.

Could it be... that the natural disaster originally meant to occur in Changping City in the original book, relocated to Jixian County?

If that were the case, the current scene in Taoqiu County would make sense.

A town nearly out of food, who would leisurely wander around during a disaster?

It seemed her plans might need an adjustment, but that was a matter for later; for now, filling their bellies was the priority.

Earlier the boatmen gifted her lamb, which must have been their prized possession.

She called for Cui Zhu to bring out the stove, Shaoxi volunteered to clean and slice the lamb, handing it to Ruan Mian.

She had a special wooden box on the cart filled with condiments taken from the Qi Mansion kitchen when emptied.

And, of course, items from their own Ruan Mansion’s kitchen.

Whatever was needed was available.

Besides salt, she found some spices to remove gamey flavors, previously taken from space, some fat meat kept on the cart for use at any time.

In this cold weather, it wouldn’t spoil in ten days to half a month.

Now it was perfect to render lard, then fry the lamb to bring out its aroma, and simmer it in pots.

Soon a mouth-watering aroma of meat filled the air, while on another stove, she prepared lamb vegetable porridge, mixing shredded meat and fresh greens to spread a fragrant rice aroma.