Chapter 26: Saving Someone by the Road
Wen Xiuyi was stunned when he saw the two siblings had bought so much.
“You bought all this?” He poked at the pig’s head and caught sight of the pig offal underneath. “Yo, there’s a lot of intestines too.”
Wen Yao bumped him with her shoulder, grinning. “Knew you liked this stuff, so I got it especially.” Fifteen wen—a total bargain.
That was music to Wen Xiuyi’s ears.
“My little cotton-padded jacket never fails. If only we had some liquor to go with it.” As he spoke, he slurped dramatically—ah, he missed those days.
Wen Yao leaned in close and whispered, all mysterious, “I’ll get you a bottle of Erguotou tonight. On the sly. Don’t let Doctor Wen know.”
“Now that’s what I’m talking about.” Liquor, at last. In his past life, he quit drinking because he was diagnosed with fatty liver, but this body was way younger and healthier—fit and strong, no fatty liver in sight.
And Wen Yao knew that too, which was why she reluctantly agreed to let him have a little now and then.
Standing off to the side, Wen Jun overheard their secret whispers and could only shake his head in exasperation.
“Yao Yao, there’s way too much for you to carry. How about you head home first? Dad and I can bring the rest back when we close up shop later,” he said.
Wen Yao shook her head. “No can do. I’ve got to head back and start the braising stock and get the meat marinated. The flavor needs time to soak in to taste good.”
Wen Xiuyi looked at all the stuff they bought. No way was he letting a ten-year-old girl haul all that alone. Even if his daughter wasn’t mentally ten years old, this body was.
“Xiao Jun, take your sister back. I can handle things here. If I need help, I’ll just ask Liuzi to lend a hand for the day.” Wen Xiuyi made the call on the spot.
Liuzi nodded immediately. “That’s right, Wen Jun. It’s not just about whether she can carry it all—what if someone sees her alone and tries something? I’m here, you go on ahead.”
Wen Jun looked at the sky. It was still early. If he walked fast, he could drop Wen Yao off and get back in time to help. And Liuzi was right—he wouldn’t feel right letting her go alone.
“Alright, I’ll leave things to you then. I’ll be back soon.”
“Don’t worry, leave it to me.” Liuzi patted his chest. He’d been eating for free at their stall for days and was starting to feel guilty. Uncle Wen never even took his money—helping out was the least he could do.
So, the siblings packed up and set off again. When they got to the city gate, they looked around to see if there were any ox carts headed the same way—they wouldn’t mind paying for a ride.
Unfortunately, it was still too early. The people who’d entered the city hadn’t finished shopping, and none of the ox carts were heading back yet.
They gave up and, chatting as they walked, prepared to make the journey back on foot.
They had barely made it two hundred meters outside the gate when a sudden commotion broke out ahead. A carriage that had been traveling smoothly down the road suddenly went wild, the horses spooked and bolting toward a roadside ditch.
The carriage swayed dangerously, about to overturn. Even the coachman was thrown off, but despite his pain, he scrambled up, trying to regain control of the panicked horses.
People scattered. Many rushed over to gawk, but none dared approach to help. The crowd kept its distance, unwilling to get involved.
The siblings, without hesitation, sprinted toward the chaos.
As they got closer, they heard cries from inside the carriage. “Help! Help!”
The coachman struggled to rein in the horses, finally managing to calm them down. They snorted and huffed but ceased their mad dash.
Wen Yao quickly found a spot nearby to drop her basket where she could keep an eye on it. Then she discreetly stored the covered items from inside the basket into her space. She did the same with Wen Jun’s basket.
She didn’t dare bet on people’s kindness—if someone took off with their things in the chaos, they’d suffer a huge loss.
The carriage had tipped over, with one wheel stuck in the ditch. Wen Yao jumped down and opened the door at the back of the carriage.
A disheveled old maid crawled out and looked up to see the two of them.
When she saw Wen Yao, her face lit up with hope. But when her eyes landed on Wen Jun, her expression changed. She quickly used her body to block the carriage’s entrance.
“There’s someone else inside! What are you doing?” Wen Yao reached out to pull her aside so she could help the others inside. But the woman didn’t move. Worse, she blocked the door entirely.
Thinking of her mistress’s disheveled state, the maid stood firm. “That’s my mistress inside. You mustn’t be disrespectful.”
Wen Yao: ??????
But she quickly understood.
Damn this feudal etiquette—no contact between men and women.
“Brother, go find some aunties to help,” Wen Yao said, pushing Wen Jun back. He turned and ran.
The maid visibly relaxed, bowing her thanks. “Thank you, miss, thank you.”
Wen Yao leaned in to peek inside. There sat a young woman, hair and ornaments in disarray, cradling a child in her arms. The child’s face was turned away, so Wen Yao couldn’t see clearly.
When she noticed Wen Yao peering in, the woman nodded gratefully.
Seeing that they were alright, Wen Yao let out a breath and backed away. The maid quickly went back to tend to her mistress.
But just as Wen Yao took a step back, a shriek came from the carriage.
“Yi’er! Yi’er, what’s wrong?! Don’t scare Mama!”
Wen Yao’s expression changed. She dove back into the carriage.
The child in the woman’s arms was bright red in the face, clearly choking. His little hands clutched at his throat in agony.
He must’ve gotten something stuck in his throat.
The young woman was terrified, tears streaming down her cheeks as she clutched the child helplessly. The maid dropped to her knees in a panic.
The boy looked to be about the same age as their own Da Tou.
Seeing things getting serious, Wen Yao shouted toward the road, “Brother! Brother! Doctor Wen! Someone’s in trouble—hurry!”
Wen Jun heard the urgency in her voice and rushed back, stepping straight into a muddy ditch and splashing himself.
He pried open the door. “Yao Yao, what’s going on?”
But before Wen Yao could answer, the old maid shrieked, “You—what are you doing here?!”
Compared to her, the young woman was much calmer. If she wasn’t mistaken, the girl had just called out for a doctor.
“Please, save Yi’er! I beg you, save him!”
The maid still tried to stop him. “Madam, this is your carriage. If the old madam finds out…”
Wen Yao was about ready to explode—she was seriously sick of this old bat.
