The Lucky Farmgirl-Chapter 2077 - 2052: Setting Out (Wishing Our Motherland Health and Peace)
Manbao said, "You can go to the Imperial Hospital and find Zheng Gu, he can do it for you."
Yin Huo shook his head and said, "Forget it, I’d rather wait for you to come back and do it. I’m not used to others doing it."
Bai Shan lifted his head from the teacup and looked at Manbao, saying, "It’s all because you’ve spoiled him."
Yin Huo smiled slightly and asked, "What time are you departing tomorrow? I’ll come see you off."
Manbao said, "We’ll leave before dawn. That’s when the yin energy is at its peak, and it’s cold. You better not come."
Bai Shan also said, "If you get sick then, we wouldn’t leave with peace of mind."
Yin Huo was silent for a moment, then sighed after a while, agreeing to the suggestion.
Manbao and Bai Shan both breathed a sigh of relief.
Yin Huo looked around and asked, "Where’s Bai Er?"
Manbao also looked at Bai Shan.
Bai Shan said, "He said he doesn’t know if he can make it back for the New Year, so he went to see Zhao Liulang. Last time, Zhao Liulang lost a bet with him and promised to treat him to a drink at the Primus Pavilion. This time, he’s going to remind Zhao Liulang not to forget their debt."
Alright then, the two of them suddenly went silent.
Bai Erlang returned in the evening with a round belly, unable to eat dinner, and took two digestive pills from Manbao before he could sleep soundly.
But before dawn, he got up against the cold.
He wrapped the blanket around him and sat on the bed, while his Xiaos hurriedly laid out the clothes he was going to wear, saying, "Second Young Master, the Cousin Young Master is getting dressed..."
A while later, he said, "Second Young Master, the Cousin Young Master has heated water and is already washing up..."
"Second Young Master, the Cousin Young Master is pouring water, he seems to be putting on shoes and socks..."
Only then did Bai Erlang dizzily abandon the blanket on his shoulder, reached out for his clothes, not understanding why two days ago he insisted on following them to Xiazhou?
Actually, he could worry even if he stayed in the capital.
Bai Erlang got dressed, grabbed a towel and roughly wiped his face, then sat on a stool to let the Xiaos comb his hair, and shrank his neck to have breakfast in the front.
Most of the Zhou Family and Bai Family members got up and followed. When he reached the front, Bai Shan and Manbao were already seated, having breakfast.
Seeing him appear, both of them waved together, while Bai Dalang sat beside, chanting that when he arrived at Xiazhou, he should listen to Lord Yang’s orders, not run around, and not cause trouble...
Bai Erlang was still a little dazed, so those words went in one ear and out the other, only circling around his ears, blocked by his brain, with a humming sound, not understanding anything.
It wasn’t until he was out the door, mounted on his horse, and faced the cold wind that he woke up, looked down to see his Grandmother, Auntie Zheng, and Big Brother looking up at them with concern.
Bai Shan and Manbao waved their hands in farewell to their family, and Bai Dalang also looked at Bai Erlang, sighing, "Erlang, you must take care."
Bai Erlang was somewhat touched, nodded and whipped his horse to catch up with Bai Shan and Manbao.
Daji and other guards rode horses, driving their carriages and following along.
At the city gate, it was a coincidence that Imperial Doctor Lu and others had just arrived. Hearing the sound of hooves, they lifted the curtain to see Zhou Man leading a large group of people.
Having brought only one attendant, Imperial Doctor Lu and Imperial Doctor Zheng were speechless: ...
Even the lieutenant commander of the Imperial Guard assigned to escort them was surprised to look at them.
As the person responsible for this trip, Imperial Doctor Lu couldn’t help but get out of the carriage, displeased, looking at Zhou Man, "Imperial Doctor Zhou, why did you bring so many people?"
Manbao said, "They are all here to help."
Imperial Doctor Lu frowned, "What help can they provide..."
Manbao said, "I’ll be responsible for them, Imperial Doctor Lu. Don’t worry, they won’t cause us any trouble."
Imperial Doctor Lu’s gaze shifted from Bai Shan and Bai Erlang to the guards and carriages behind them, discovering they had filled an entire carriage with belongings, along with a blue cloth carriage, clearly for them to ride.
In addition to two coachmen, there were three guards, meaning Zhou Man had brought seven people in total.
Imperial Doctor Lu’s face twitched as he pulled the curtain shut, his voice coming through, "Imperial Doctor Zhou can bring as many as she wants, but don’t say I didn’t warn you; smallpox doesn’t care who’s in its way. If these people haven’t had it yet, going there would be akin to sending them to their deaths. Also, we’re on a forced march; don’t let them hold up our pace."
Manbao hurriedly said, "We won’t slow down the march."
Not to mention, these five were guards, and even Manbao and the others wouldn’t slow down the pace.
It was truly a forced march. Once they met up, they all began heading out of the city, and the carriages and horses began sprinting. The back had the best mules for pulling medicine, with ample speed and endurance.
The group only stopped at noon for a quick bite of dry rations, didn’t even boil water, and took less than fifteen minutes between stopping and setting off again — this was the most hurried journey for Manbao and the trio.
Yet after half a day’s run, Manbao still felt it was slow, primarily because the carriages lagged behind compared to the horses in speed.
She simply had the carriage halt, switched to a horse, and rode to Imperial Doctor Lu’s carriage window, knocking and braving the cold wind to say, "Imperial Doctor Lu, should we ride ahead and let the medicine lag behind?"
Imperial Doctor Lu glanced at her, then his own old arms and legs, waved and said, "You go ahead if you want."
He could not ride a horse; if he did, he’d likely be sick before reaching Xiazhou.
Manbao was regretful, went to find Imperial Doctor Zheng, who hesitated for a moment, and also refused riding, not wanting it in such cold weather.
So, Manbao turned back, gathered her group and carriages to the side and stopped. She ordered the two carriages to follow the convoy, while they took Daji and three guards ahead.
The group opened their luggage, took out pre-packed lightweight bundles, grabbed more dry rations, donned cloaks, wrapped their necks with scarves, and Manbao even pulled out masks, handing one to each person, then said, "Let’s go; we’re riding swiftly to Xiazhou, aiming to arrive in five days."
It’s not easy to complete an eight-day trip in five days.
Daji frowned, but Manbao said, "I have orders from the Imperial Hospital; we can change horses at the post stations."
She patted her beloved horse Chiji, "When they reach the post station, they can take Chiji and the other three to Xiazhou."
Bai Shan instinctively touched his money pouch, "Do we have enough money? If they take our swapped horses, won’t there be a deposit?"
Manbao confidently waved, "I brought enough."
Bai Shan looked at Manbao’s pouch, wondering if she really had that much money.
Manbao didn’t elaborate further. She left written instructions for the two coachmen, arranged the post station for horse change, and then mounted her horse with her belongings. The trio, along with three guards, quickly arrived at the front convoy. Manbao knocked on Imperial Doctor Lu’s carriage window, calling out, "Imperial Doctor Lu, I’m leaving my coachmen and carriages with you; please take care of them, and we’ll wait for you in Xiazhou."
Seeing her really ride away, Imperial Doctor Lu was upset but had no choice. He lifted the curtain, called a medical assistant, "You ride fast and catch up, wait for us in Xiazhou, keep an eye on her, don’t let her cause trouble for our hospital."
The medical assistant agreed and quickly pursued on horseback...
