"There's still half a year until the River God Sacrifice!"
"By then, I will definitely save you!"
Qin Wang did not respond to Qin Xuemei's question but spoke with determined eyes.
"I..."
Qin Xuemei stared at Qin Wang in a daze, her mouth agape. She couldn't comprehend how her brother knew this information.
After a long pause, Qin Xuemei took a deep breath and looked at Qin Wang. "Ah Wang, the Chen family is powerful. We cannot go against them. The old lady has spoken. If we don't comply, the outcome is the same—death. Using my life to make your future a bit smoother is worth it."
"Moreover, if I don't comply, neither of us will survive. Be obedient."
Qin Xuemei shook her head.
She understood in her heart.
By bringing back the Chen family's silver, the Chen family wasn't worried about her escaping.
In Da Cang Country, under the household registration system, leaving the county required a travel permit, which was in the Chen family's hands.
Moreover, if she escaped, the Chen family would immediately come after her brother, leaving both siblings with no way out.
"For now, I truly can't go against the Chen family!"
"But I might have a way to save you in half a year!"
Qin Wang spoke thoughtfully.
"Ah Wang, there's no hope. Do you know? Chen Kun, the head of the Chen family, is highly skilled, one of the top five martial arts masters in Yan Yun County, on par with Chief Constable Zheng Kecheng! Opposing him leads to no good end!"
"This is my choice."
Qin Xuemei shook her head and sighed.
"In half a year, I'll come to save you!"
Qin Wang looked at Qin Xuemei with firm resolve.
Qin Xuemei said nothing more. She knew that for the siblings, the Chen family head was like an insurmountable mountain!
Resigned to their fate, there was no other path to take.
Qin Wang informed his sister and then went to Baicao Hall to request two days off.
"In a mountain ditch and water puddle?"
Qin Wang left Qingniu Market and headed to Qingniu Mountain, ten miles away, searching for the ditch and water puddle mentioned in the information.
Qingniu Mountain was vast and seemingly endless.
The ditch was at the foot of the mountain. There were four or five water puddles of varying sizes, each about a square yard. Qin Wang, with a stick the thickness of a copper coin, searched the puddles for the broken bowl mentioned in the information.
After searching three puddles and poking around with the stick, he didn't find the broken bowl from the information.
When he checked the fourth puddle, he saw a gray object floating on the water's surface, resembling half a bowl. He immediately approached and used the stick to pry the bowl.
Muddy water swirled, and a broken, gray, dirt-covered bowl emerged.
"Is this the broken bowl that Li Xinhai and Yu Yunzhang encountered and discarded?"
Qin Wang stepped forward, picked up the bowl, and examined it closely.
The bowl had an inner diameter of about four inches and was relatively intact, except for numerous black stains covering it. The stains seemed inseparable from the bowl, as if part of it.
However, beneath the black grime, the bowl appeared to be made of a dark material.
It felt heavy in his hand, weighing over a pound.
"This thing can help with my cultivation?"
Qin Wang looked at the bowl, deep in thought.
He decided to clean the bowl. Despite his efforts, it remained black and grimy, no wonder it had been discarded.
"I'll take it back and see."
Qin Wang's eyes flashed with a thought.
"The next step is to prepare a dose of the Zhuangxue Decoction and take it."
Qin Wang planned.
Baicao Hall
"Big brother, are you quitting to go to the county?"
Bai Fenghuan looked at Qin Wang, her big eyes blinking in disbelief.
"Yes."
Qin Wang nodded and looked at Dr. Bai, who was deep in thought.
He knew that if he bought medicine at Baicao Hall, he wouldn't be able to hide it from Dr. Bai. How would he explain the source of the silver? And how would he address the matter of the Zhuangxue Decoction?
The only solution was to go to the county.
Going to the county offered more opportunities, easier access to medicine, and more information about the Chen family, aiding in rescuing his sister.
"Xiao Qin, I have high hopes for you. Since you insist on leaving, I won't hold you back."
"If you ever change your mind, come back."
Dr. Bai sighed, sensing Qin Wang's resolve.
"Thank you, Grandpa Bai."
"If I return to Qingniu Market, I will definitely visit you and Fenghuan."
Qin Wang thanked Dr. Bai and left.
Night
In the old mud-walled thatched house.
"Brother, it seems like you've gotten much stronger over the past two months, even though you still look thin."
"Seeing you improve puts me at ease."
Qin Xuemei sat on the side, watching Qin Wang practice Taizu Long Fist, her eyes filled with relief. She reminded him, "Brother, promise me, don't go to the county. We can't fight the Chen family."
For the past two days, Qin Xuemei had repeatedly advised Qin Wang to abandon the idea of confronting the Chen family.
"Okay, I won't go to the Chen family."
Qin Wang remained silent but had already decided to go to the county as soon as his sister left. The county offered more opportunities and better information!
"As long as you're safe, I'm at ease."
Seeing Qin Wang nod, Qin Xuemei felt relieved.
Unbeknownst to her, Qin Wang had already made up his mind to seek opportunities in the county.
Qin Xuemei left, leaving behind 20 taels of silver.
The next day, Qin Wang also obtained a travel permit from the village head and set off for the county with 100 taels of silver.
Yan Yun County, North of the City
Five miles behind the street, in an old two-unit house, Qin Wang was cleaning. He had rented this house for a year. Due to its remote location, the rent was cheap, meeting his expectations.
With 100 taels of silver, he had enough for now. If he needed more, he would return to get it.
Taking too much silver at once would draw attention.
Moreover, he hadn't yet taken Li Laocai's 850 taels of silver, planning to retrieve it after getting the secret manual from Zheng Kecheng's villa. Li Family Village had become a ghost place, almost deserted.
Ding! [Daily Information Refreshed!]
[Today's Information]
[1: Yesterday, you went to the county office and obtained related information. County Magistrate Chen Hao is preparing for the River God Sacrifice in half a year!]
[2: Yesterday, you met landlord Lin Ruhai and obtained related information. Lin Ruhai will visit Youzhou County in three days and die at the hands of Black Wind Village bandits.]
[3: Yesterday, you tried to spy on Zheng Kecheng at the county office but failed. You learned that Li Chunxia has taken over Li Laocai's land deeds, and Zheng Kecheng plans to visit Youzhou County tomorrow.]
[4: Yesterday, you went to the east of the city to find Granny Yan but failed. You learned that Granny Yan discovered the county magistrate's preference for young boys and thought of you, a handsome boy from Qingniu Market.]
[5: Yesterday, you went to the east of the city to find Granny Yan but failed. You learned that Granny Yan's villa is located in the third alley of the back street in the east of the city.]
[6: Yesterday, you met Ding Wen, a waiter at Xing Sheng Inn, and obtained related information. Ding Wen wants to find a wife but is troubled by insufficient betrothal gifts.]
[7: Yesterday, you tried to observe Zheng Kecheng at the county office and obtained related information. His wife, Li Chunxia, will go to Yuema Bridge to relax tomorrow.]
[8: Yesterday, you bought medicinal materials at Tongrentang and obtained related information. Tongrentang sells Qi and Blood Pills and Zhuangxue Pills.]
[9: Yesterday, you bought medicinal materials at Xinglin Spring Hall and obtained related information. Xinglin Spring Hall will be robbed tonight, suffering heavy losses.]
[10: Yesterday, you passed Dingzi Teahouse and obtained related information. Jin Wang's forces are rapidly advancing, conquering thirty-six cities. Grain prices are soaring everywhere.]