"I have two rooms in my house that you can borrow to stay."
The old man looked at Zhao Minghua, who seemed decent enough not to be a bad person, and then noticing the herbs in the basket, he asked, "Are you doctors?"
"Yes."
When traveling, one’s identity is self-assigned.
Zhao Minghua knew that ordinary folks still respected doctors.
"That’s perfect. My wife’s foot is hurting, can you take a look at it?"
"Certainly."
"Alright, alright, come with me."
The old man’s house was at the end of the town, consisting of five rooms and a small courtyard, with a woodshed behind the house where they could tie the horses.
"Old man, do you have horse feed?"
"No."
"Is there a grain store in town?"
Without evening feed, horses won’t be strong, especially since these three horses have to travel such long distances.
Especially Chun Nuan’s horse, which was still in recovery and couldn’t skip night feed.
"There’s one place, but they’ve run out of rice, and other grains are expensive."
"Old man, what exactly happened here?"
Zhao Minghua decided he should understand the situation first: "A month ago when we passed through here it was peaceful, why does it look like it’s been raided today?"
"Ah, it’s a long story."
The old man sighed and began to talk about the events from half a month ago.
"They claimed to be people of the Third Prince, preaching about clearing the throne and supporting the legitimate heir, while eating and taking medicines along their journey."
"People of the Third Prince?"
Zhao Minghua recalled some rumors from the Jianghu: they said the Third Prince nearly ascended to the throne, but the current ruler used tactics to make him disappear.
The disappeared prince is now coming back?
This seems to be the prelude to chaos?
Should this information be reported to General Xia?
Hmm, it’s quite necessary.
Maybe the master can earn merit from this?
Being brothers-in-law is a shared honor.
Zhao Minghua had already made up his mind to report.
"What’s the story with the inn then?"
"..." The old man was a bit embarrassed.
"It’s fine, just speak if you can. If not, it’s alright," Zhao Minghua could guess the situation but didn’t know the truth: "Old man, could you help me buy some fava beans?"
"Sure, I’ll go and buy them for you."
Zhao Minghua gave him two taels of silver.
"While you’re at it, see what else is available in town to eat, and please bring some back for us; we’re looking to have dinner at your place tonight."
"This..."
That’s quite a lot of silver, two taels?
"There are three of us, and horses to feed, just buy whatever food you think is suitable."
"Aren’t you afraid of me running away with your money?"
These outsiders are really naive, aren’t they?
"Well, old man, would you run away?"
The old man shook his head.
"That’s settled then, I never mistake people. Besides, once my sister wakes up, she still needs to look at your wife’s foot; she’s the best doctor."
"Your sister is a doctor?"
"Yes, I am too, but it’s more suitable for my sister to examine your wife’s foot."
"Makes sense, makes sense." The old man was clearly persuaded: "Wait here, I’ll go buy you some grain and food."
The old man gave the two empty rooms to Zhao Minghua.
Zhao Minghua carried Chun Nuan from the cart back into the room.
He almost wanted to kick Qingsheng as he carried him—this useless guy should really stay in the cart.
But fine, he’s been with him since childhood, so he brought him back into the room.
After all, the place wasn’t safe.
"Where is this?"
When Zhao Minghua carried Qingsheng into the empty room and returned to Chun Nuan’s room, he saw Chun Nuan sitting on the bed, looking puzzled.
"We’re at an old man’s house," Zhao Minghua hurried over and held her hand: "Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere, is it because of the medicine?"
Isn’t that stating the obvious?
"I developed it for self-defense," said Chun Nuan. "Take it with you whenever you go out; if you can avoid a hard fight, then avoid it. It doesn’t harm their lives... By the way, you didn’t harm their lives, did you?"
"They were about to take you as the village bride, and you’re still concerned about their lives."
So, he and Chun Nuan are of the same type: easily forgiving those who haven’t truly harmed them.
"I can tell they’re just putting on a show; they’re not real mountain bandits."
"How do you know?"
Zhao Minghua was surprised: "You study mountain bandits too?"
"They have a fundamental difference from the group that appeared in the Northern Desert."
When real mountain bandits show up, their aura is different; their hands are stained with blood, and that look in their eyes is unmistakable.
But this group, despite their loud threats, they’re actually suffering.