CHAPTER 54: CHAPTER 53: HOW MUCH DO YOU WANT?

The first bowl of soup was given to Mrs. Chen, as this sister-in-law should indeed replenish her strength.

The people from the Qi Mansion and Uncle’s Mansion looked on eagerly as their family enjoyed the steaming mutton soup, while they could only gnaw on the government-officer-issued cakes day after day, which tasted like wax, indescribably bitter.

Madam Liu bitterly bit into the cake, having become accustomed to the disparity between them. As long as she cursed in her heart, the cake seemed to taste a little better.

Yet Old Madam Li couldn’t stand the bitterness of the cake and was utterly tempted by the aroma. After thinking for a while, she suddenly called Ruan Jiao over.

"Aunt Ruan, if you go ask your father for something tasty, he wouldn’t deny you, would he?" Ruan Jiao’s face stiffened slightly, understanding the old madam’s implication.

Old Madam Li was still useful to her, so she couldn’t refuse directly.

She could only muster her courage and moved a little towards the Ruan Mansion.

Knowing it was useless to speak with Ruan Mian, she quietly found Mr. Ruan. However, before she could say anything, Ruan Mian read her mind and spoke directly in front of everyone.

"If you want something nice to eat, why not use some silver to buy it."

Madam Liu, with keen ears, heard that silver could be used to purchase it, and like everyone else, she perked up her ears, instructing Nanny Zhang to find out: "See how much silver it takes!"

They did have a little silver, and if they could buy a bowl of mutton soup, it would be worthwhile.

Ruan Jiao suppressed her anger and asked, "How much?"

Ruan Mian replied calmly, "If it’s anyone else, just one tael, but for you, it’s twenty taels."

This remark infuriated Ruan Jiao, "Why should it be twenty taels for me? Are you robbing me? I’m still from the Ruan Mansion, how can you bully me like this?"

"You remember you are from the Ruan Mansion, don’t you? When you and that concubine bound us back then, why didn’t you remember that you were from the Ruan Mansion?"

"This mutton soup is made by me, whether to sell it, and for how much, is up to my mood."

This grudge over a sack of rice made Ruan Jiao want to tear her apart on the spot!

But she couldn’t possibly waste twenty taels just for a bowl of mutton soup for the old madam!

So she angrily returned to the old madam in tears, heartbroken: "Madam, it’s not that I didn’t get it for you, but... they are just bullying too much!"

That scene was also witnessed by Old Madam Li, naturally making her resentful.

After Ruan Jiao left, Nanny Zhang, from Madam Liu’s side, ran to buy soup, only for Ruan Mian to say: "No sales for the Qi Mansion."

Which nearly angered the entire Qi Mansion to death.

Just then, the door of a peasant’s house suddenly opened!!

A gaunt man rushed out, throwing himself next to their stove, ignoring the scalding mutton soup, and devoured it like a starving wolf!

Frightening others to retreat continuously... this man seemed like he hadn’t eaten in years, ravenously wolfing down the food!

Even if it fell to the ground, he seemed eager to lick it clean with his tongue.

Although he was dressed warmly, his exposed hands revealed his extreme thinness, looking like someone suffering long-term malnutrition.

Ruan Qingsong worried he might be a bad man, intending to harm his family, so he hurried forward. Just as he was about to grab the man and rebuke him, Ruan Mian suddenly stopped him.

"Brother, wait."

Ruan Mian handed the remaining porridge beside her to the man.

The man suddenly looked up, cautiously cradling the bowl of porridge in his arms.

Meanwhile, Ruan Mian thought of something, turned around, and walked to the house door. Taking a deep breath, she pushed it open.

The original book briefly described some events after the natural disaster, including roads being blocked by snow and the whole city running out of food.

Countless were starved to death.

As she opened the door, she saw an old man lying on the ground, face livid.

Ruan Qingsong hurried over, recoiling as soon as he touched the cold, lifeless skin: "He... froze to death..."

Or maybe starved to death.

He was emaciated to the point of having no flesh left.

Ruan Mian immediately sought the government officers, glanced at their supply carriage, and said.

"Lord, the situation here is dire. To be safe, we should unload the carriage quickly and temporarily store the supplies in this house."

The officers did not understand, but upon seeing the deceased inside, they also had a bad feeling.

So they followed her suggestion.

The others looked at each other in confusion, unaware of the situation. Ruan Mian also called Cui Zhu to bring some cakes for the starving man, negotiating to borrow his house.

With food in hand, he agreed without hesitation.

But just as Ruan Mian was about to inquire, some commotion arose outside the courtyard.

First came shouting, then the noise grew mixed and chaotic.

They all stayed inside the house, while Ruan Mian and the others followed the sound and saw many people running from their homes, cramming and shouting loudly at the intersection.

Ruan Qingsong rushed over and soon returned: "The county magistrate is distributing food, so everyone came out. Mianmian, why don’t we also go get some as a precaution?"

Ruan Mian thought for a moment, then walked over. Upon arriving, they saw several strong men kick away the women in line with one kick!

Those squeezing in the front were all tough men, even someone as grown as Ruan Qingsong found it hard to squeeze in.

In no time, the food had all been distributed.

Some women and children who didn’t receive any food began to cry miserably, kneeling and begging the Lord County Magistrate for more.

Even the Lord County Magistrate, thin and gaunt, moved despairingly among the bags, not letting the last bit of grain go to waste.

But without more food, he slapped his thigh, wiping tears with guilt and sorrow.

"This... is already the last of the grain. Please hold on a bit longer, the court’s relief grain is on its way, it will definitely arrive in a few days!"

Some time had passed, surely the granary had opened.

Likely, the continuous snow had made the journey difficult, delaying the grain’s arrival.

Ruan Mian stepped forward to ask more questions, only to suddenly see the county magistrate fainting unexpectedly!

"My lord! My lord!" Several messengers hurried forth, and seeing this, Ruan Mian immediately rushed over.

Realizing his body was icy cold, she knew there was no time to lose, promptly instructing the messengers to carry him indoors.

Into a separate room, allowing no one to approach.

Ruan Mian first had her brother fetch some charcoal and warm blankets, propped his neck up, tilted his head to one side, and let it recline as much as possible.

His limbs were freezing but his forehead was feverish.

Surely it was caused by a cold paired with over-exhaustion, inducing shock.

Without further ado, Ruan Mian touched the Jade Bracelet to enter the space, took some pills she had moved from the pharmacy, and gave him some spiritual spring water.

She then kept him warm, believing he would wake up shortly.

Just as she reached the door, the red-faced, tearful messenger spoke to Ruan Mian: "Miss, are you a doctor? You can save the Lord County Magistrate, right?"