In the end, it was the Chen Family who couldn’t bear it anymore; they gave them half a waterskin of water to drink and wipe with, finally reviving them.

"Mother, I can’t walk anymore," Gu Antong began to cry as soon as she opened her eyes.

"What are we going to do now that you can’t walk?" Liu Yun sighed with relief when her daughter woke up, only to be faced with this new problem.

"I don’t have much strength either. Why don’t you let your father help you walk, okay?"

Gu Kaiping’s face was full of refusal; he was almost unable to walk himself. Along this journey, the three brothers had been taking turns helping Xu Huizhen.

If his daughter also clung to him, would his life still hold up?

"I don’t have much strength either, can you just hold on a little longer?

Otherwise, you two, mother and daughter, help each other walk like before?"

"I can’t walk anymore either, my husband," Liu Yun, still carrying Gu Antong’s quilt, was at her limit as well.

The couple looked to the others.

Gu Kaicheng and Xu Yulan hurriedly waved their hands, "An Wei is still young, we have to take care of him over here.

I think Anliang is doing quite well; he’s big enough, he can help. Why don’t we let him support his sister?"

Although the Gu Family lived frugally, their living conditions spoke for themselves. Even though Gu Anliang was only ten, his height was catching up with Gu Kaiping.

These two boys had shown good performance along the journey. Apart from occasionally craving good food, they walked on their own.

"Third Brother."

Gu Kaiyuan had predicted this and didn’t foolishly pick up Gu Antong like last time, "Brother, Suihe is still pregnant; we can’t leave her alone here."

"I think Third Sister-in-law looks okay, let her hold on a bit longer," Gu Anping said with a smile. "Once we get to the post station, I’ll buy sister-in-law a bowl of noodles to make up for it."

Gu Kaiyuan raised his voice, "Brother, Suihe is still a pregnant woman."

"Did you forget the rule? Men and women at seven don’t sit together.

Even as a father, you must avoid such situations, let alone I, as an uncle."

"It’s not the time to be particular about these things," Gu Kaiping awkwardly laughed, "Let’s focus on staying alive first."

Bai Suihe, holding her waist, spoke weakly, "We are worried too; it’s all my body’s fault. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be so hard for everyone.

Husband, why don’t you help Antong? It doesn’t matter to me; if I can’t walk, then so be it."

Mrs. Chen couldn’t stand it anymore. The Gu Family’s main branch, with three able-bodied adults, couldn’t even take care of one Gu Antong.

Although Gu Kaiyuan was hefty, he had to care for his pregnant wife and wanted to pawn off his daughter who couldn’t walk onto someone else. The Gu Family’s main branch truly did things without much consideration.

Mrs. Chen couldn’t help but speak up, "You can’t say that. You’re pregnant; if you give up, what about the child in your belly?

We’re all family, and what parent would bear to give up on their children? Suffering a bit more, we will get through this hard time."

She then looked at Xu Huizhen, "Mrs. Gu, don’t you think I’m right?"

Xu Huizhen looked at Mrs. Chen, "The children are suffering too, as elders we should be more considerate."

"It’s also because your family has a good upbringing, with such an understanding Mrs. Gu," Chen Dafu praised Gu Baijiang, "With loving parents and obedient children, if you really struggle, we can actually help out.

How about my grandsons? Pick one to lend a hand."

Gu Kaiping and his wife’s faces suddenly changed, wondering what Mr. Chen intended to do.

Didn’t he know how important a woman’s reputation was? What motive did he have for wanting his grandson to carry their Tong Er?

Gu Kaiyuan acted as if he didn’t understand, gratefully responding to Chen Dafu, "Thank you, Mr. Chen, for your help. These extraordinary times require we set aside formalities; I believe my elder brother won’t make things difficult for you, thank you for the trouble, Young Master Chen."

Gu Kaiping’s face darkened further, suspecting his third brother was doing it on purpose, yet he couldn’t argue against him.

Bai Suihe quickly recalled the miserable situations they had experienced over the years to stop her smile from spreading.

"Kaiyuan, what nonsense are you talking?

Antong is just throwing a little tantrum; it’s not so bad that she can’t walk," Gu Baijiang looked at Chen Dafu’s big and strong children with disdain.

Chen Dafu’s family didn’t have any promising members. Though they had studied for a few years, fights and brawls happened frequently.

For such people to dare hope for his delicately raised granddaughter was utter madness.

"How could Antong be so unreasonable?" Gu Kaiyuan’s face darkened as he scolded in the direction of Gu Antong, "If you don’t want to walk, you can’t be lazy. You’re not even better than your two younger brothers.

Eldest brother and sister-in-law, you really need to teach your children properly; look how spoiled they’ve become, telling lies like this.

Quickly get the child up, or when the escort comes, no one will have it easy."

Since it was just a little tantrum, let her bear the blame for it.

In fact, he’d be even more pleased if Gu Antong got close to the Chen Family’s young masters and married off early.

But he knew Gu Baijiang, and Gu Kaiping wouldn’t agree, so he had to settle for giving her a little reprimand for now.

Mrs. Chen didn’t understand the intention behind Mr. Chen’s words, but thinking of her unmarried grandsons, she thought that if they could pick up a bride-to-be during these times, that wouldn’t be bad.

Gu Antong’s reputation was good in the capital. It was said she started managing the whole Gu Family at a young age, especially with her elegant attire at the princess’s banquet, leaving a deep impression and not being one of those extravagantly cultivated types, making her quite suitable for their Chen Family.

"Alas, I actually think what our master says makes sense. With our two families supporting each other, the road ahead will be better.

Our family doesn’t lack strong workers, and we can do the heavy lifting. If she really can’t walk, we can carry her."

The Chen family’s young masters were eager after hearing this. Their family couldn’t afford a dowry and didn’t want them to marry a girl from a small household, so the marriage had been delayed.

Now, with everyone exiled together, no one had status or rank, so no one should look down on anyone else.

Moreover, the Gu Family’s young lady was famous. Marrying her would be much better than casually finding someone in the countryside later.

"We’re willing to work like dogs and horses." Five or six suitable grandsons of the Chen family lined up, their eyes fervently fixed on Gu Antong.

Gu Antong turned pale with fright. How could she not know the situation of the Chen family?

They were marriage prospects that all noblewomen in the capital avoided. She didn’t want to marry before, let alone now.

She struggled to stand up immediately, her face pale, "No need to trouble you all; after resting, I feel much better."

Liu Yun also hastened to support Gu Antong, "Yes, there’s no need to trouble everyone."

The Chen family’s young masters were somewhat disappointed, but they also anticipated that the Gu Family’s young lady was so delicate she couldn’t possibly hold on much longer.