Chapter 964 - 941: Glory Amidst Chaos 9

Chapter 964: Chapter 941: Glory Amidst Chaos 9

Xiao Yin wiped while talking to Xiao Fu: "Elder sister, please give mother some clean water to drink."

Xiao Fu carefully poured some water from the jar into Anning’s mouth.

After such a busy half night, Anning finally woke up.

She opened her eyes and looked at the children: "You all drink some water, but don’t stay too close to me, lest you catch the sickness."

At this moment, Xiao Ying couldn’t help but cry: "Mother, are you alright?"

Anning nodded: "I’m alright, I won’t die, I still need to take care of you all."

Upon hearing this, the five children couldn’t help but burst into tears.

"Mother, we aren’t afraid, we’ll stay with you."

Anning smiled, her eyes narrowed slightly, pondering Xiao Yuan’s situation on the men’s side of the prison.

She intentionally brought about this illness.

Anning understood Xiao Yuan’s thoughts; he must have started thinking about family separation by now.

Truth be told, Anning wanted to separate the family too.

They didn’t want to drag along such a big family to the Southern Yi, these people were far from being considerate, the journey wouldn’t be easy, and even once they reached the Southern Yi, these people wouldn’t work to support themselves. Would Anning and Xiao Yuan have to work themselves to death to support the whole family?

The original self might not mind, but Anning certainly did.

She and Xiao Yuan only wanted to care for the five children, ensuring the children’s well-being, unwilling to bear any other burdens.

Anning pondered Xiao Yuan’s constant coughing on the men’s side.

At night, when dinner was distributed in the prison, the Old Master and Xiao Jue couldn’t eat the food that was even worse than pig feed. The Old Master took out a jade pendant he had secretly kept and asked Xiao Jue to exchange it with the jailer for some food and clean water.

But the exchanged food was not much; only the Old Master and Xiao Jue ate it, while Xiao Yuan and Xiao Jin had to eat the unbearable biscuits and vegetable soup.

Because of this, Xiao Jin was even more dissatisfied with the eldest branch of the family.

At midnight, Xiao Yuan fell ill, his cheeks flushed, and he kept speaking nonsense.

Xiao Jin became anxious and discussed with the Old Master: "Father, what should we do with Third Brother like this? Do we have anything left to ask the jailer for help in getting some medicine for Third Brother, or even some clean water?"

The Old Master lowered his eyelids, looking as if he hadn’t fully woken up: "I don’t have anything left, and even that jade pendant, I don’t know when it ended up with us. Now, there’s not a single valuable thing left on me."

Xiao Jin asked Xiao Jue again: "Elder brother, do you have any valuable items left?"

Xiao Jue shook his head: "No."

Actually, he still had some items, but he was unwilling to bring them out. He wanted to save them; if he fell ill, these items could be life-saving.

Upon hearing Xiao Jue’s words, Xiao Jin was even more disheartened.

He went to support Xiao Yuan, but Xiao Jue said: "Fourth Brother, stay away from Third Brother, lest you catch the sickness."

Xiao Jin laughed angrily: "Elder brother, he’s our own brother, our real brother from the same parents, are you just going to watch and not do anything?"

Xiao Jue’s voice was hoarse: "How should I help? How can I help?"

Xiao Jin supported Xiao Yuan and checked his temperature again.

Xiao Yuan’s body was hotter; Xiao Jin was extremely anxious.

He searched himself thoroughly and found nothing, then searched Xiao Yuan, eventually finding a wallet with some scattered silver inside.

He poured out two pieces and called the jailer by the door to exchange silver for some water.

Xiao Jin took the water and tore a piece of cloth from his clothes, wetting it to wipe Xiao Yuan’s forehead, face, and behind his ears.

Xiao Jue was talking to the Old Master.

"Father, I see Third Brother is seriously ill, should we ask the jailer for help to move Third Brother somewhere else?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jin was so angry he didn’t want to speak.

Xiao Jue looked at Xiao Yuan: "If something were to happen to Third Brother, what would we do if we were to be exiled soon? Especially since Third Brother’s family is the largest, and the children are young."

Xiao Jue was also contemplating the situation now.

In fact, he had hidden some items as well, and he’d heard Xiao Yuan say Mrs. Zhao had hidden money on her before the house search. If they were exiled in a few days, they might survive with this money.

However, judging from the third and fourth branches’ appearance, they probably hadn’t hidden anything.

If it really is the case, they would just be dragging them down.

Moreover, with Xiao Yuan being so ill, sickness comes like a mountain and goes like a thread, Xiao Yuan won’t die immediately, but he won’t get better quickly either. Along the journey, he’d need money for treatment, medications, and care, which would be troublesome.

Another consideration for Xiao Jue.

The families of the wives of the third and fourth branches can’t be relied upon; they don’t have much money to support them.

But the family of the eldest branch’s wife, Mrs. Zhao, is noble and rich. When they are released, the Zhao family won’t ignore them, at least provide some travel money to help them on the way.

If they take the travel money and have to divide it among the third and fourth branches, it would dilute the eldest branch’s benefits.

"Father."

Xiao Jue lowered his voice in conversation with the Old Master: "In a few days, grandfather’s family and the Zhao family are likely to come with money and goods. By then, we should find a reputable merchant team to follow, but like Third Brother’s current condition, how can we take him along? At times like this, the more people you bring, the more burden it incurs; it’s better for everyone to find their own way."

The Old Master stayed silent, prompting Xiao Jue to continue: "Given our family’s current situation, separation might be better than staying together. Separation means each wife’s family would take better care, and everyone could find a way; thus, survival chances increase. Staying together could mean that if one falters, it burdens the whole clan. Father, the priority now is survival, as long as one branch survives, Xiao Family still has hope."

These words resonated with the Old Master.

The Xiao Family may have fallen, but their relatives in court hadn’t heard of any from the family being searched.

Once they were released, relying on the relatives might be a must.

If they were all together, how would they proceed? Could they all visit one single family?

The eldest daughter-in-law Mrs. Zhao’s family is the most illustrious, naturally, they’d ask Zhao Family for aid, but with Xiao Family’s six branches, would Zhao Family be keen to take all in?

Separated, it’s different. Eldest branch could visit Zhao Family; second branch could visit Wei Family.

Although the Wei Family isn’t prominent, they’re merchants; money isn’t an issue.

As for the third and fourth branches, the Old Master couldn’t worry about them for now.

Even if Mrs. Liu and Hui Family’s families are poorer, they should at least provide some survival silver tael.

Thinking this, the Old Master nodded at Xiao Jue: "I understand."

Xiao Jue was delighted, knowing the plan was set.