Xu Huizhen still couldn’t let it go, "There’s no need to buy five. The eldest already has one, so one each for us and the second child will be enough."

"And what about the kids?" Gu Baijiang really felt like slapping her, how could this woman become so stingy? It wasn’t like this when giving to the Xu family before.

Thinking of the Xu family made his anger simmer again, "From now on, don’t associate with the Xu family anymore. They’re just a bunch of ungrateful people."

"How can you blame the Xu family? They’re just ordinary folk, afraid of getting involved," Xu Huizhen still spoke up for her family, "We’re down on our luck now. Their days won’t be easy in the future either. Who’s to blame? It’s your fault."

He’d known Xu Huizhen’s nature for a long time but didn’t realize the depth of it until now.

"Saying that, are you asking me to give you a divorce letter?"

"Go ahead, better to kick us out and let your mistress serve you. But it’s a pity she’s probably run off somewhere by now.

Maybe she took your house and silver, and found a handsome young man."

"Dad, Mom, stop fighting," Gu Kaichen reached out his hand, "I’ll quickly go and buy the water pouches; they’re already lining up to fill them."

Xu Huizhen handed him a tael of silver, "Only buy two." 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Gu Kaichen glanced at Gu Baijiang, and without getting a response, hurried off with the silver.

When he returned, sure enough, he only carried two water pouches.

Gu Baijiang sighed, well, they’ll learn their lesson after this.

Liu Yun helped apply medicine to herself and the children before passing the bottle to Xu Huizhen.

Xu Huizhen grabbed the bottle and stretched out both her feet, "Liu Family, help me pop these blisters."

Liu Yun’s expression stiffened, she forced a smile after thinking for a bit, "...Mother, didn’t you say Second Sister-in-law was more adept? I’m clumsy and might hurt you.

Also, look, I don’t have a needle, I use my nails."

Saying this, she showed her palm, her nails still had traces of blood, "My hands are filthy, they might dirty your feet."

Thankfully, she had felt sorry for her handkerchief earlier and just wiped it on the grass mat.

Sure enough, Xu Huizhen, full of disdain, turned to Xu Yulan, "Yulan, you do it."

Xu Yulan tried to find an excuse but didn’t see Ms. Bai, so she had to brace herself, hold her breath, and help.

During this, Xu Huizhen winced in pain a few times and even kicked her.

...

"Your feet are okay?" Gu Kaiyuan supported Bai Suihe as they got the buns, then bought ten eggs at the post station, peeled two for Bai Suihe, ate one himself, and stuffed the rest into the bag.

"Applied some medicine yesterday and had a good rest, there shouldn’t be any major issue." After all, it’s flesh, still slightly sore, but likely better than most people.

"Hang in there for another day," Gu Kaiyuan also knew they weren’t far from the capital, and even with ideas, they couldn’t act on them.

"Brother Gu," eating breakfast in the hall, Liu Pingkang saw Gu Kaiyuan and waved.

Gu Kaiyuan helped Bai Suihe over, "Mr. Liu, didn’t expect we’d have such a fate."

"Hey, aren’t you making fun of me? What kind of lord am I? Just keep calling me Brother Liu as before.

This must be your wife," Liu Pingkang looked at Bai Suihe, indeed she had the delicate appearance of a girl from a wealthy family.

"That’s my wife," Gu Kaiyuan sighed, "I had thought of finding time to have a good drink with Brother Liu, but things changed so quickly, now I’m a prisoner."

"Don’t say that, brother," Liu Pingkang stood up, and the escorts at the table also stood up.

"Let me introduce you all, this is a good brother of mine. On the journey ahead, please take care of him." Liu Pingkang specifically introduced Bai Suihe, "His wife is a daughter from the Bai family, and she’s also pregnant. If you can extend any help, please do."

This statement made everything clear, after all, last night Liu Pingkang had given each person a silver note, courtesy of the Bai family, with promises of a generous reward upon safe delivery.

"Of course, Brother Liu’s friend is our friend; feel free to ask for anything."

Gu Kaiyuan cupped his hands to everyone, "Thank you, everyone. Once we arrive, I will treat the brothers to drinks."

This was also a signal, and with him being a son-in-law of the Bai family, no one doubted his capability.

"Haven’t had breakfast yet? How about joining us for some?" Ma Zhi, responsible for escorting the Gu family, politely offered.

"No need, we just bought some from over there," Gu Kaiyuan pointed to the counter where there were buns and eggs.

"We won’t disturb your breakfast, we’ll wait outside!"

Gu Kaiyuan cupped his hands again and left with Bai Suihe.

The sky was barely lit, and everyone had already started to line up to set off.

However, after yesterday, many people’s feet were blistered, and the pace slowed significantly.

The sound of whips cracking and cries of pain echoed constantly.

"Kai Yuan, don’t just mind Ms. Bai, help your mother a bit too." When Xu Huizhen leaned on his shoulder, Gu Baijiang immediately spoke up.

"Father, it’s not that I’m unfilial, but Suihe is pregnant. If I don’t help her, how will she manage?"

"Big Brother, Second Brother, why don’t you first support Mother, and we brothers can take turns."

Gu Kaiyuan knew it was impossible not to lend a hand at all, but expecting him to bear it all alone was out of the question.

"Kai Yuan has a point, you three brothers take turns," said Gu Baijiang, then untied the blanket from his back, "also help me carry this quilt, I’m getting old, it’s getting a bit much for me."

"Big Brother, start first, one hour each person." Gu Kaichen pursed his lips, Mother truly didn’t pity her sons.

Gu Kaiping grimaced as he took over, for the first time disliking the role of the eldest.

"Mother," Gu Kaiping supported Xu Huizhen, "Though I’m a weak scholar without much strength, I can still help you bear everything. Just lean on me."

Xu Huizhen looked at Gu Kaiping’s frail figure, displeased with this son for the first time due to his frailness, "You carry my blanket first and just hold my hand."

With four quilts weighing down, Gu Kaiping felt his back about to bend.

Even though Xu Huizhen verbally sympathized with her son, she was unmerciful with her force, using Gu Kaiping as a crutch with most of her weight on him.

They had only taken a few steps when Gu Kaiping’s forehead was covered in cold sweat, "Mother, I can’t hold on, it’s too much."

"Then have the second take over," Xu Huizhen was also afraid of falling, so they switched sooner than the full time.

Gu Kaichen was even less capable than Gu Kaiping, unable to hold on for even a quarter of an hour.