RYEY – Chapter 216 A Fate That Could Wipe Out Entire Families

“One hundred things would be fine too.”

“Your magical treasure is both your stroke of fortune and your calamity. It must not be exposed. If it is, our Cheng family, the Li family, and even the Zhao family could all be wiped out.”

Both Cheng Qiao and Li Huan were frightened by Cheng Liguo’s words. Wiped out—was it really that terrifying? But as Cheng Qiao thought of certain things, she nodded heavily.

Li Huan’s heart was pounding. In his more than twenty years of life, this was the first time he had truly felt fear—fear rising from the depths of his heart. At the same time, he secretly swore that he must become stronger, strong enough to protect both the Cheng and Li families.

“Qiao, go,” he said. “Go boldly and do whatever you want to do over there. I’ll practice the martial arts Uncle Ye taught me properly. When you come back, I might even become a martial arts master.”

Cheng Liguo burst out laughing with a puchi. Realizing it was impolite, he quickly apologized to Li Huan. He didn’t mean to mock him—it was just that the title of “martial arts master” was built on generations of reputation. It wasn’t something one could achieve in just a few years of hard work.

Everyone understood that Cheng Liguo had finally relented, and Li Huan had also agreed to let Cheng Qiao take little Cheng Li to the Hexi Corridor. Mother Li felt reluctant, especially toward her little grandson—the first of the Li family’s younger generation.

“Mother, I’ll go over there and find Big Brother, make him hurry up and get married, and then have a whole string of children for you.”

“You child…”

Mother Li laughed through her tears. She took an apron down from the wall and tied it around her waist. “I’ll help you prepare some food for the road—egg pancakes, flatbreads, dumplings, a bit of everything. And I’ll buy some sponge cakes too. Little Cheng Li will need snacks on the way.”

“Yes, Mother. My dad is leaving the day after tomorrow. We’ll go to the county town early tomorrow morning to buy some pastries and snacks at the supply and marketing cooperative. And Mother, if you have anything you want to send to Big Brother, get it ready—I’ll take it with me tomorrow.”

Mother Li nodded repeatedly. She had knitted a set of woolen sweater and pants for Li Bing—of course, the yarn was provided by Cheng Qiao. Whenever she had free time, she knitted, and she even taught Li Le how to knit. After everyone in the family had their own sweaters and pants, she started knitting for Li Bing.

“Second Sister-in-law, this is an essay I wrote praising our People’s Liberation Army. Take it and show it to my big brother too.”

Li Le also took out her composition notebook and handed it to Cheng Qiao. Cheng Qiao agreed readily and placed the notebook on the heated kang, planning to pack it up together that evening.

The entire afternoon, Cheng Qiao discussed medicinal herbs with Ye Jun. In the ancient prescriptions recorded in old medical texts, many of the herbs had already become extinct with the passage of time.

They wanted to see whether precious herbs like fritillaria and cistanche could still be found in the Qilian Mountains, so Ye Jun had to tell Cheng Qiao everything he knew.

“Master, these are some commonly used medicines. I’ll have to trouble you to look after my mother-in-law and the others. I’ll write to you as well. Oh, and these cigarettes and wine, plus milk candies and nutritional supplements—please keep them for now.”

Ye Jun accepted everything Cheng Qiao handed over with a smile. A master teaching a disciple his unique skills, and the disciple supporting the master—this was only right.

That night before going to bed, Cheng Qiao placed several bags of white rice and flour in her room. She also took out some pork, beef, cured sausages, eggs, milk powder, white sugar, brown sugar, and other daily necessities.

“Mother, if you need anything in the future, just come here and take it. And keep this money and these ration coupons—if anything happens, you won’t panic.”

“I don’t want them,” Mother Li said firmly. “I still have several hundred yuan here. You’ll be traveling far—poor at home, rich on the road. You should take it with you.”

Mother Li refused no matter what. In Xiangyang Village, as long as there was food and drink, there was hardly any money to spend. Even if someone fell ill, Ye Jun was still around.

Cheng Qiao had no choice but to nod in agreement. Still, she secretly gave Li Le and Xu Hui five yuan each as pocket money. If the school needed to collect fees or they had to buy paper and pens, they shouldn’t have to ask Mother Li.

Aunt and nephew both beamed with joy as they hid the money away. This was the first large sum of money in their lives—it had to be saved properly.

“Li Huan, tomorrow I’ll take out some more supplies for Qin Guoqing to take with him. As for the money he gave you, keep it for now. Business will only get bigger—your capital can’t be reduced.”

“Qiao, the ten thousand yuan you gave me last time has already grown to twelve thousand. So it’s better if you keep the money. Aren’t you afraid that once a man has money, he’ll turn bad?”

“Try turning bad and let me see,” Cheng Qiao snorted. “I’d like to see just how bad you can become. Oh right—while I’m away, you’re not allowed to go up the mountains or near the river. Can you do that?”

Cheng Qiao suddenly put on a stern expression and looked at Li Huan seriously. Li Huan had been about to say that he wasn’t a child—why couldn’t he go up the mountain? Besides, the river was already frozen, and everyone was playing there.

But recalling what Cheng Qiao had said before, he quickly nodded seriously. Only then did Cheng Qiao feel reassured. Li Huan was a real man—once he gave his word, it was set in stone.

“Store these medicines properly. I’ve labeled all their uses. And this pill—although it can’t bring the dead back to life, it can still save a life. Keep it safe and don’t use it unless it’s absolutely necessary, because there are no more herbs left to refine it.”

Li Huan opened the jar and immediately smelled a surge of vitality. He knew this was the Soul-Stabilizing Pill Cheng Qiao had prepared. He quickly stuffed it back into Cheng Qiao’s hand. With all the hardships of travel ahead, she was the one who needed it most.

After some thought, Cheng Qiao put the Soul-Stabilizing Pill back into her space. The customs in the Hexi Corridor were fierce, and the Qilian Mountains were fraught with danger—she really did need to make preparations on both fronts.

Early the next morning, Uncle Niu drove his ox cart to the Li family’s gate. Naturally, he stayed to enjoy a hot, hearty, and delicious breakfast. Watching Li Huan throw big and small bundles onto the cart, he couldn’t help feeling envious.

That little rascal had really found himself a good wife. Cheng Qiao’s natal family was powerful, and she herself was sensible and considerate. Who knew how many lifetimes of accumulated blessings it took to earn this? As for himself—he must have been a villain in his past life, and the one before that too.

When the ox cart hurried to the county courtyard, Qin Guoqing was already sitting at the gate. He had run this route several times and was thoroughly familiar with it now, so his speed had clearly improved.

“Brother Huan, you’re here! I’ve been waiting for you for an hour.”

“Huh? Didn’t you say you’d arrive tomorrow? Why are you here so early? Have you had breakfast?”

“Not yet.”

“Uncle Niu, take this money and these coupons. Please take this kid to eat breakfast. When you head back later, help me bring some things back for Zhao Guoliang and the others.”

Uncle Niu nodded. Once all the packages on the cart were unloaded, he took Qin Guoqing to eat breakfast. Cheng Qiao quickly entered the second courtyard and took out the supplies from her space.

Looking at the room full of goods, Cheng Liguo couldn’t help clasping his hands together and bowing several times toward the direction of the rising sun. His daughter must have been sent down by the immortals—to save people like them who had suffered so much.