When everyone looked over, they saw a group of officials gathered around Peng Wang, inquiring about his health.
Peng Wang was still somewhat weak at this moment, but it didn't stop him from speaking.
"Old Zhou the Eighth, what exactly happened to me?"
"Boss, you were bitten by a snake."
Hearing this, Peng Wang carefully recalled the situation before he lost consciousness.
The first thing he felt was that the place on his calf where the poisonous snake had bitten him felt a little numb, and the numb feeling gradually spread.
After that, he felt like he couldn't breathe and didn't know anything.
"A snake bit me but didn't die?"
To confirm that all of this was true, Peng Wang pinched his cheek.
Only after feeling the pain did he believe it all.
Zhang Qing stepped forward: "Boss, you didn't die."
"Who helped me get the poison out?" Peng Wang looked around and made sure he was still in this desolate wilderness. Where did these people find a doctor?
Old Zhou the Eighth pointed toward the Qin family: "It was Qin Yichen's new bride, Li Xinyue."
Speaking of Li Xinyue, the scene of her warning him appeared in Peng Wang's mind.
Thinking of this, Peng Wang felt somewhat ashamed.
At first, when the girl was kind enough to warn him, he snapped at her.
He swept his eyes around and finally rested his gaze on the several large packages brought from the capital.
"Old Zhou, give each person from the Qin family two steamed buns made of white flour. Also, ask them if they have any other requests. Try to satisfy them as much as possible, as long as it's not excessive."
Old Zhou the Eighth knew that Peng Wang was someone who knew how to be grateful.
He also knew clearly that Peng Wang was doing this because he didn't want to owe the Qin family anything. After all, they still had a long road ahead, and their duty didn't allow them to be too lenient towards the exiles.
Seeing Old Zhou the Eighth walking over carrying a bag, the Qin family women became a little nervous.
Old Zhou the Eighth put the bag in front of everyone.
"Our boss said to give each of you two steamed buns made of white flour."
Hearing that there were white flour buns, the Qin family couldn't help swallowing.
They were too hungry.
Despite this, everyone tacitly did not move, their eyes unconsciously looking towards Li Xinyue.
Li Xinyue was also hungry, but her composure was stronger than the others.
She didn't say anything; she just looked at Old Zhou the Eighth, knowing he had more to say.
"Our boss said that Miss Li saved his life, so if there are any conditions you want to propose, you can mention them now."
Hearing they could propose conditions, the eyes of the Qin family women lit up.
Did this mean their days ahead could get better?
Li Xinyue didn't expect that Peng Wang would take the initiative to let her propose conditions.
At the same time, she also thought of a possibility - that Peng Wang wanted to repay the life-saving favour all at once, so things could continue as they were afterwards.
Since this was the case, she had to seize this opportunity.
Although Li Xinyue already had plans, she still looked at Old Lady Mo.
No matter what, it wasn't good to overstep the elder.
Li Xinyue's behaviour again won Old Lady Mo's favour and convinced her even more of this daughter-in-law.
"You saved the man, so think of what conditions you want. Just don't be too greedy."
Old Lady Qin knew her daughter-in-law was a very wise woman and that she would certainly be even more thoughtful than herself when handling matters. She just needed to give a little reminder.
Since this was the case, Li Xinyue didn't intend to be polite any longer.
At the same time, she fully agreed with Old Lady Mo's words - she couldn't be greedy and had to leave some room for the future.
"Sir, our requests are modest. We hope that when you pass through the next county, you'll allow us to purchase some supplies."
For now, Li Xinyue felt this one condition was enough.
She had endless silver in her hands. She just needed to buy more daily necessities, and then we could discuss other matters.
Old Zhou the Eighth could hardly believe that when he let Li Xinyue propose conditions, she had only made such a small request.
He could have agreed to this without reporting back to Peng Wang.
"No problem, I promise you this. We'll pass through Yunlai County at noon tomorrow. We'll resupply there, and I'll send someone to accompany you shopping."
"Good, thank you, sir." Li Xinyue didn't show much excitement when the other party agreed to her condition. She just calmly responded.
"Don't you have any other requests?" Old Zhou the Eighth took their time to leave.
Li Xinyue hadn't intended to be greedy in the first place. But seeing Old Zhou the Eighth's manner, it seemed he looked down on her for not proposing enough conditions.
"Since the sir is letting me speak, I also want the snake that was beaten to death today."
Old Zhou the Eighth knitted his brows: "What does a woman like you want that thing for?"
"Many things from the snake's body can be used in medicine." Li Xinyue answered evasively. She couldn't tell them she wanted to make poison.
"I'll agree to this too."
Seeing Old Zhou the Eighth's readiness to consent, Li Xinyue didn't want to keep delaying him either.
"I've said all my conditions."
"Good, I'll report to the boss now."
In Old Zhou the Eighth's mind, Li Xinyue had saved Peng Wang's life, so these few things were far from enough to repay her.
After returning and reporting the matter to Peng Wang, he took the initiative to bring back several waterskins and the silver snake.
"These waterskins were prepared to sell to the exiled criminals. Those people don't seem to have much money, so they probably can't afford them. So we could give them to you.
We still have some white flour buns there. Now that the weather is hot, they'll go bad if we don't finish them, so I'll give you some more tomorrow morning."
After throwing the waterskins and the silver snake in front of Li Xinyue, Old Zhou the Eighth turned around and left.
Li Xinyue efficiently distributed two buns to each person.
Although the white flour buns weren't bad tasting, without side dishes, they were still difficult to swallow when so dry.
Li Xinyue suddenly had an idea as her gaze fell upon the package Li Yuanming had given her.
She hadn't opened the package and checked the contents yet, so no one else knew what was inside.
Li Xinyue stretched one hand into the package while her consciousness entered her space.
The sliced braised beef she had newly bought was in the fridge there.
The braised beef was packaged in a plastic bag, which could not be removed for others to see. And she couldn't find the oil paper commonly used in this era for a moment.
Left with no choice, Li Xinyue could only grab a large handful of braised beef with her hand.
In extraordinary times, being too particular was being pretentious. As long as they could eat a little better, hygiene or lack thereof mattered.
"Mother, sisters-in-law, little sisters, this is the braised beef my father and mother sent me today. Please eat it together with the buns."
Everyone's eyes lit up when they saw Li Xinyue clutching a large handful of braised beef in her hand.
But the rules they had followed since childhood told them that women could not eat so crudely like this, especially grabbing food and eating directly with their hands.
Just when everyone was conflicted, Old Lady Qin spoke up.
"We should relax our rules a bit for now."
Old Lady Qin was a clear-minded person. She was the first to recognise the reality of the situation. By saying this, she intended to try to accept everything.
After all, they were no longer the wives and daughters of prominent families.