Seeing Zhang Ruoan's face turn grim, the couple's smiles grew even brighter.
But just as they expected him to punish Zhao Chunhua severely, he suddenly pointed at them and shouted, "You really don't know what's good for you! You drank the medicine Zhao Chunhua worked so hard to collect, and yet you slandered her. Have you completely lost your conscience?"
Everyone froze for a moment, then stubbornly retorted, "Those are just ordinary weeds, growing everywhere along the roadside. How is that hard work?"
Zhang Ruoan's anger flared at their obstinacy. "Since you think it's so easy, then go and try it yourselves. Let's see how easy it really is."
Zhang Youcai quickly supported Zhang Ruoan, who was trembling with rage, and shouted at the crowd, "To gather these herbs for all of you, Aunt Zhao's Xiaoshuan son was bitten by a snake—and you still don't appreciate it!"
When Zhang Heizi heard this, he looked at Dajun in astonishment. "Brother, were you really bitten by a snake?"
Dajun smiled sheepishly. "Mom helped me apply medicine, and I'm fine now."
Zhang Heizi let out a sigh of relief and motioned for him to show everyone the wound.
Dajun rolled up his sleeves, revealing his strong arms.
Sure enough, a piece of cloth was tied around his blackened arm, with faint bloodstains visible.
Zhang Heizi quickly removed the cloth, revealing a clear wound with two small red puncture marks.
Seeing this, everyone was shocked. "He was really bitten by a snake!"
The crowd gasped in unison.
This was life-threatening!
Seeing that the villagers were still unsettled, Bai Xiaowei hurriedly said, "But It's true that she used pig grass to fool people. This indigo root was originally used to feed pigs."
The blue root was indeed common and could be found all along the roads.
Of course, Zhang Ruoan knew this as well.
But he also knew that in the team, only Zhao Chunhua truly understood herbs.
After a moment of thought, he said, "Who says pig grass can't be used as medicine? In extreme situations, when there is no food, let alone pig grass even grass roots and tree bark must be eaten."
Even so, seeing the village chief fully supporting Zhao Chunhua, everyone was still unconvinced.
Seeing their stubborn attitude, Zhang Ruoan shook his head in frustration and said angrily, "You all think you're lucky, don't you? Fine, I don't care anymore."
With that, he stormed off in anger.
Seeing how things had developed, Zhang Youcai frowned. "How foolish! Aunt Zhao is the only one on our team who knows herbs. You're being so picky. When illness gets serious, let's see what you'll do then!"
Hearing this, the villagers began to panic.
But since they had just offended someone, they didn't dare bow their heads. Instead, they muttered, "We don't need her."
Zhang Youcai sighed helplessly and cast another deep look at them. "You'll regret this later."
Earlier, while the village chief was still arguing with the villagers, Zhao Chunhua had already brought her family back to their temporary quarters.
She didn't want to waste time arguing with such foolish people.
Just as the family lit a fire to cook, the village chief arrived.
Zhao Chunhua knew why he had come, and before the village chief could speak, she said, "Village chief, since no one appreciates my kindness and thinks I would harm them, I will no longer bother. Go find someone else to help you collect herbs."
"Well…"
Zhang Ruoan sighed, knowing that the villagers had hurt her feelings. He wanted to say more, but when he saw Zhao Chunhua turning to direct her family to prepare dinner, he had no choice but to remain silent.
Not long after Zhang Ruoan left, he sent his son to deliver a pound of brown rice.
"Aunt Zhao, my father asked me to give this to you," he said.
Zhang Youcai handed her the rice along with a few comforting words.
"Aunt Zhao, don't listen to their nonsense. My father and I know you are a good person, and we believe the herbs are useful. They're the ungrateful ones—so don't worry about them."
Zhao Chunhua simply nodded. She said nothing.
Zhang Youcai stayed a while longer, then set down the rice bag and left.
Her children had been staring at the bag the whole time. The moment Zhang Youcai departed, they rushed over and picked it up.
When they opened the bag, the rich aroma of rice filled the air. Several of them swallowed hard and looked at Zhao Chunhua.
"Mom, can we cook this tonight?"
"You are so useless, You are greedy for a little brown rice," Zhao Chunhua said, frowning.
Still, she nodded and asked Xie Lanqin to cook the rice.
A pound of rice was clearly not enough to make a full pot of porridge, so Xie Lanqin added more water.
Once the rice was in the pot, Zhao Chunhua approached with a handful of dried meat.
"Cut these into small pieces and cook them in the pot," she said firmly.
Xie Lanqin's eyes widened in surprise. "Mom, didn't you say we had finished eating all of it before? Where did you bring out so much from?"
Zhao Chunhua shot her a sideways glance. "Still daring to question me? Stop asking questions. Just cook it. I'm hungry."
She then turned her attention to treating Zhang Dajun's wound, leaving Xie Lanqin standing there, holding the dried meat and looking both aggrieved and exasperated.
Zhang Tianbao saw his wife looking upset and came over to comfort her. "Lanqin, don't be angry with Mom. You know her temper—she speaks harshly sometimes. Don't take it personally."
Xie Lanqin nodded sullenly. "I just don't understand… how does she always have these delicious dried meats?"
Zhang Tianbao's expression shifted slightly at her words.
Noticing his reaction, Xie Lanqin asked in surprise, "Tianbao… do you know something about this?"
He shook his head. "No, I don't know."
"Don't you consider me part of the family? Are you hiding something from me?"
Seeing his guilty look, Xie Lanqin's eyes turned red.
"No… I didn't mean that," Zhang Tianbao said nervously.
Xie Lanqin glared at him. "Then why won't you tell me?"
"I didn't mean to hide it from you. It's just… this is a little magical."
He glanced around. When he was sure no one was nearby, he leaned close and whispered into Xie Lanqin's ear.
"My mother met a master before she died…"
"Master? Tianbao… you're not lying to me, are you?"
Xie Lanqin's eyes widened.
"This is what my mother said herself. The reason she has so many skills is that a master taught her in her dreams."
Zhang Tianbao quickly pressed a hand against her lips, urging her to keep quiet.
"My mother told me not to tell anyone about this. You have to keep it a secret. Anyway, we have a master protecting us, and life will get better."
Xie Lanqin didn't speak. Even though Zhang Tianbao said it so earnestly, it sounded too incredible to believe.
How could such a magical thing even happen?
As the two whispered, Zhao Chunhua came over carrying a cloth bag.
"What are you doing? Why are you taking so long? Why are you so slow?"
She glanced helplessly at the dried meat still lying outside.
Startled, Xie Lanqin immediately hurried to cut the dried meat and put it into the pot to cook.