When everyone looked over, they saw a group of officials gathered around Peng Wang, inquiring after 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 then he didn't know anything.
"I was bitten by a snake but didn't die?"
In order to confirm that all of this was true, Peng Wang pinched his own cheek.
Only after feeling the pain did he believe it all.
Zhang Qing stepped forward: "Boss, you really 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 in the direction of the Mo family: "It was Mo Jiuye's new bride, He Zhiran."
Speaking of He Zhiran, 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 had snapped at her.
He swept his eyes around and finally rested his gaze on the several large packages brought from the capital.
"Old Zhou, go give each person from the Mo 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 too 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 Mo 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 Mo 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 Mo family couldn't help swallowing.
They were really too hungry.
Despite this, everyone tacitly did not move, their eyes unconsciously looking towards He Zhiran.
He Zhiran was also hungry, but her composure was stronger than the others.
She didn't say anything, just looked at Old Zhou the Eighth, knowing he had more to say.
"Our boss said that Miss He 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 Mo family women lit up.
Did this mean their days ahead could get better?
He Zhiran 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 favor all at once, so things could continue as they were afterwards.
Since this was the case, she had to seize this opportunity.
Although He Zhiran already had plans in mind, she still looked at Old Lady Mo.
No matter what, it wasn't good to overstep the elder.
He Zhiran's behavior once again won Old Lady Mo's favor, and made her even more convinced of this daughter-in-law.
"You saved the man, so think of what conditions you want. Just don't be too greedy."
Old Lady Mo 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, He Zhiran 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 not much. We only hope that when you pass through the next county, you'll allow us to purchase some supplies."
For now, He Zhiran felt this one condition was enough.
She had endless silver in her hands. She just needed to buy more daily necessities, and other matters could be discussed.
Old Zhou the Eighth could hardly believe that when he let He Zhiran 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." He Zhiran 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 didn't rush to leave.
He Zhiran 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 beat 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." He Zhiran 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, He Zhiran didn't want to keep delaying him either.
"I've said all my conditions."
"Good, I'll go back and report to the boss now."
In Old Zhou the Eighth's mind, He Zhiran 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. Seeing that those people don't seem to have much money, they probably can't afford them. So we might as well 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 He Zhiran, Old Zhou the Eighth turned around and left.
He Zhiran efficiently distributed two buns to each person.
Although the white flour buns weren't bad tasting, with no side dishes they were still difficult to swallow when so dry.
He Zhiran suddenly had an idea as her gaze fell upon the package He Yuanming had given her.
She hadn't had a chance to open the package and check the contents yet, so no one else knew what was inside.
He Zhiran 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 packaging was a plastic bag, which of course could not be taken out for others to see. And she couldn't find the oil paper commonly used in this era for a moment.
Left with no choice, He Zhiran could only grab a large handful of braised beef with her hand.
In special times, being too particular was just being pretentious. As long as they could eat a little better, what mattered hygiene or lack thereof...
"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."
When they saw He Zhiran clutching a large handful of braised beef in her hand, everyone's eyes lit up.
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 Mo spoke up.
"We should relax our rules a bit for now."
Old Lady Mo was a clear-minded person. She was the first to recognize the reality of the situation. By saying this, she intended to try accepting everything.
After all, they were no longer the wives and daughters of prominent families.
