The wicked mother-in-law doesn't try to whitewash herself; she only abuses her awful children.

"Old He, don't hesitate any longer, come with us today. We'll put thick blankets on the donkey cart, so your wife won't get jostled around."

“Your wife told me about that scoundrel in the house across the street. In my opinion, the little grievances he brings to your wife are more unbearable than traveling by donkey cart. The worst thing for a patient is mental illness. He curses like that in the yard all day long. How can your wife not feel bad? Believe me or not, as soon as Dashu and I leave, he will immediately start causing trouble.”

Tong Huaqiong suggested that He Chao should not wait any longer and should go to Yanguan Town with them that day.

Gu Dashu also chimed in, "Uncle He, you can stay in the storeroom of Peach Blossom Desserts for now, and rent a house once you've settled down. It's better than being mistreated here. If you're not comfortable in the storeroom, let your aunt stay in Qinghe Bay for a while."

Hong's voice came from the inner room, saying, "Old He, let's listen to the master and leave today. Anyway, we don't have much to pack, so don't worry, I can manage on the way."

“Alright, let’s go to Yanguan Town today.” He Chao thought for a moment and agreed, then added, “But we’ll have to wait a while. The medicine was kicked over, so I need to brew a fresh bowl.”

Anyway, he had already paid a month's rent and didn't have a deposit. The end of the month was just around the corner, so there was nothing to regret about the remaining rent.

Tong Huaqiong said, "Don't bother brewing that medicine. I learned medicine for a few days from a traveling doctor when I was at my parents' home. I can also diagnose your wife's condition. I'll get some medicine for her later."

He Chao has already established trust in Tong Huaqiong, and he believes everything she says.

So Gu Dashu helped tidy up the things in the house.

It was just some clothes, packed in two bundles.

In addition, there were things that Tong Huaqiong had carried out of the dark-faced man's house, which she planned to take away as well.

We can't let that bastard get away with it.

Tong Huaqiong helped Hong Shi onto the donkey cart, with Man'er following beside her carrying bird's nest.

Tong Huaqiong clicked her tongue in amazement. Old He was really good to his wife. Even though they were so poor, he was still willing to feed Hong Shi bird's nest.

The dark-faced man was still thinking about going to He Chao's house to carry back his own belongings after Tong Huaqiong left.
Seeing Gu Dashu hitch up the donkey cart, he became excited, but when he saw He Chao and Hong Shi get on the cart, he realized something was wrong.

They ran away with their belongings.

He gritted his teeth in anger, but there was nothing he could do.

As if in a show of defiance, Tong Huaqiong hung the two pieces of cured meat she had scavenged from the dark-faced man's house on the handlebars of the donkey cart.

Gu Dashu drove his donkey cart out of Zishi Street.

It was past lunchtime, and Tong Huaqiong hadn't eaten yet. He Chao felt a little bad and wanted to get out of the car to buy some steamed buns and pastries for Tong Huaqiong and Man'er.

Tong Huaqiong waved her hand. He Chao was now her employee, and as the boss, how could she let her employee pay for a meal?

She asked Gu Dashu to buy some food.

Tong Huaqiong tore off a chicken leg and handed it to Hong Shi, but He Chao stretched out his hand to block it, saying, "She can't eat meat."

Tong Huaqiong said, "What kind of quack doctor is spouting such nonsense? The patient is already weak, how can he withstand it if he doesn't get better nutrition?"

He then forcefully shoved the chicken leg into Hong's hand.

Hong had no appetite, but when she smelled the aroma of the chicken leg, she couldn't resist taking it and taking a bite.

Seeing that his wife was enjoying her meal, He Chao didn't want to say anything that would spoil the mood.

Tong Huaqiong continued to brainwash He Chao, emphasizing the benefits of patients eating meat, eggs, and drinking milk.

"It's better than wasting your money on bird's nest," Tong Huaqiong concluded.

After finishing the whole chicken leg, Mrs. Hong said, "I think what the boss said makes sense. I can digest this chicken leg."

He Chao took the water from Man'er and fed it to Hong Shi. After Hong Shi finished drinking the water, He Chao helped her wipe her face and covered her with a blanket.

Tong Huaqiong sighed again, "He Chao is indeed a man who dotes on his wife."

Even though Mrs. Hong did not have any children, He Chao still did not mind.

Although whether or not a woman has children is not always her problem, in an era where infertility is often blamed on women, it is rare to find a man like He Chao who does not take concubines and cherishes his wife.

Unfortunately, in Tong Dajiao's previous life, Madam Hong passed away not long after He Chao was driven out of the Zheng family. Tong Huaqiong thought to herself, how could her body not break down after being insulted by the dark-faced man every day in the tenement and listening to the quack doctor's advice to abstain from meat and get no nutrition?
"Once we get to Yanguan Town, I'll find you a good doctor to treat you properly," He Chao said to Madam Hong.

As Tong Huaqiong listened to Hong's intermittent coughing, she thought of how Hong had developed pneumonia and fever after being caught in the rain while camping in her previous life. The medicine prescribed by the doctor was still in the drawer in the house.

"Man'er, go with Grandma to get some things," Tong Huaqiong whispered to Man'er.

Man'er smiled knowingly; she knew her grandmother was going into the mysterious space to retrieve something important.

Soon, Tong Huaqiong entered the space, and then saw Man'er walk in as well.

The two grandmothers went into Tong Huaqiong's room together.

Tong Huaqiong led Man'er to the table and pointed to the middle drawer, asking Man'er to get the medicine.

Man'er took the medicine that Tong Huaqiong had specified and skillfully stuffed it into her clothes.

"My boss?"

He Chao was talking to Tong Huaqiong when he realized there was no response. He looked up and saw that Tong Huaqiong had closed her eyes, and thought she had fallen asleep.

Seeing that Man'er, who was sitting in her lap, had also fallen asleep, He Chao picked up a piece of clothing from the side and draped it over Man'er.

Hong coughed a few times.

Tong Huaqiong opened her eyes.

Anyone who didn't know better would have thought she was awakened by Mrs. Hong's coughing.

While He Chao wasn't paying attention, Tong Huaqiong took a few pills from Man'er's pocket and handed them to He Chao.

He Chao asked curiously, "Boss, what is this?"

Tong Huaqiong said with a serious expression, "Old He, since you acknowledge me as your boss, I hope we have absolute trust. I won't interfere with your management of the shop, and I hope you will give me enough trust, like right now."

"I mentioned to you in your room today that when I was young, I studied medicine with a wandering doctor. He gave me some life-saving prescriptions and pills, which I always carry with me, thinking of saving lives. I've observed that my sister's illness is exactly what I need. Now I'm asking you whether you trust me and whether you want your sister to take them."

Thinking that the patient's opinion should also be respected, Tong Huaqiong asked Hong, "Sister Hong, it's your body, you should make the decision."

He Chao looked at the pills, which he had never seen before, and he didn't know whether he should believe in their effects.

If he were sick, he would definitely eat it without hesitation, seizing every glimmer of hope.

But when it came to his own wife, he hesitated.

Hong said, "Master, I'm willing to eat."

Despite her gentle appearance, Ms. Hong has a strong sense of purpose.

Rather than suffer from illness, it's better to fight to the death.

Once she recovers, she will regard Tong Huaqiong as her benefactor.

Even if she died, she wouldn't complain.

Seeing that Madam Hong had agreed, He Chao gritted his teeth and said, "Boss, I believe you too."

Madam Hong took the pill and turned to He Chao, saying, "Although I don't know how you and the boss became acquainted, I think the boss is a magnanimous person. She is already doing us a great favor by taking the risk to give us the pill to save us. If something happens to me after I take the pill, you don't need to cause trouble for the boss or hold a grudge against her. You can still help the boss manage the shop, and find a wife and have a child in the future."

After speaking, Madam Hong looked at Man'er, a lovely child, whom she also wished to have.

These words brought tears to He Chao's eyes.

Tong Huaqiong couldn't help but look at Hong Shi with newfound respect. Her words were a disclaimer on behalf of Tong Huaqiong.

Tong Huaqiong said with a smile, "Don't say such discouraging things. Since I gave you the pills, I'm confident. Don't worry, even if the pills don't work for you, nothing bad will happen to you." (End of this chapter)