Feeding ten people for ten days is equivalent to Elder Li suddenly providing food for a hundred people for one day, which is genuinely a significant pressure for him.
He lowered his eyes, the principle of asking for the sky while sitting on the ground to settle, the first two items are negotiable, so naturally this third item is also negotiable.
But Zhao Hanzhang’s expression wasn’t very good at that mont. Elder Li really didn’t want to fall out with her, as there was still a long way to go from here to Yu State.
This group of refugees, at a glance, consisted of at least thirty thousand people, and no one knew what might be encountered on the journey ahead.
In a team, with heads bowed and raised frequently, Elder Li did not want to deepen the resentnt between the two sides.
So he gritted his teeth and said, "Miss Zhao, you must know that our Li Family is far inferior to the Wu Family among the village elders in Guangzong County, unable to be the master of everyone, so the things given to Miss Zhao are taken out by the Li Family itself, your request is indeed too high."
For an average young girl, seeing Elder Li so troubled would surely believe it, but Zhao Hanzhang is a fox, naturally understanding how exaggerated Elder Li’s words are.
She gave him a half-smiling glance and said, "The Wu Family produced the domineering Wu Yongfu, and under such circumstances, the Li Family could still hold a place among the refugees from Guangzong County. If not for Wu Yongfu, wouldn’t the Li Family be the undisputed leader?"
What does this imply?
It implies that the Li Family was originally the first in power and prestige in their team, and power and prestige always co tied with interests.
Under Zhao Hanzhang’s all-knowing gaze, the number Elder Li almost uttered inevitably rose, and he gritted his teeth saying, "I can provide food for six people for ten days."
Zhao Hanzhang stared at him for a while and asked, "During migration, how much dry food does an adult receive per day?"
Elder Li replied, "Two dry cakes, or two liang of flour, three liang of millet."
After contemplating for a while, Zhao Hanzhang said, "I want it divided into three portions: one of dry cakes, one of flour, and one of millet, and I also need a pot."
Elder Li instantly beca suspicious, not understanding why she needed a separate pot when traveling with the Gu Family, but Zhao Hanzhang’s gaze turned icy cold, prompting Elder Li to quickly collect his thoughts and agree after a mont of pondering.
They could still manage to produce a pot.
Zhao Hanzhang then instructed Shi Hongtu and the other two, "Follow Elder Li and retrieve the supplies."
Shi Hongtu and the other two stood up, their faces bruised, and looked at Elder Li.
Elder Li also arose, bending slightly to salute Zhao Hanzhang.
Zhao Hanzhang just sat and slightly leaned forward.
After handing over all the requested items to Shi Hongtu and the other two, watching them move away, Li Sanlang couldn’t hold back his anger and said, "Father, she’s too rude, you are the elder, yet she stayed seated as you gave your salutation."
Elder Li waved his hand indifferently, "No need to mind these trivialities. When out in the world, endure what can be endured. That Zhao Hezhen seems cruel and ruthless. I worried back when they were only a few, and now she has allied with the Gu Family. She might gather many people like Wu Yongfu did. It’s better to take a loss with such people than to offend them."
During migration, the refugees lacked everything except people.
Those with food and money can rally people with a call; those without food and money, as long as they have sufficient ans, can gather people alike. In this chaotic world, where laws and morals are absent, as long as there are people and force, there will be food, money, land...
Elder Li believed that Zhao Hezhen was among those with sufficient ans to gather people, hence he was reluctant to offend her.
Yet, unaware that Zhao Hanzhang planned not to stay here long.
Upon obtaining the food, she imdiately divided it into portions, instructing Fu An to start cooking so porridge for Shi Le, and then took a dry cake to eat herself.
Everyone was starving, so they sat opposite each other, eating.
Zhao Hanzhang said, "We will depart early tomorrow morning. Without horses and carrying an injured person, it might take a day to return to Wu’an County."
Shi Hongtu was puzzled, "Miss Zhao, why do we need so much food when it only takes a day?"
Clearly, bringing three days’ worth of rations would suffice.
Zhao Hanzhang replied, "This is preparation for unforeseen events."
Her gaze fell on the unconscious Shi Le. Although she once considered disposing of him, even squeezing him before discarding, she rembered the Shi Army in Shunyang County and the scattered Shi troops fighting in various places, estimated to be around a hundred thousand.
To conquer these forces, she’d need at least equal military strength and not to ntion the consumption of provisions for battle.
Therefore, she could only suppress her ill intentions and strive to save his life.
As long as Shi Le lived under her control and beca her subordinate general, the currently opposing tens of thousands, along with their territories, would belong to her.
This was not a simple equation of one plus one equals two but far exceeding.
Zhao Hanzhang supported Fu Tinghan’s hand as she struggled to get up, walked to Shi Le, sat down, touched his forehead, and sighed, "That stab was too harsh from . Do you have any other dicine?"
Fu Tinghan frowned, shook his head.
Then we’ll have to administer herbal dicine.
Getting a doctor was likely difficult until late at night, when the Li Family finally brought one.
The doctor only checked the pulse and glanced at Shi Le’s wounds saying, "Leave it to fate."
Not even planning to write a prescription.
Zhao Hanzhang insisted on a prescription, making the doctor frown and write one. Seeing her pull out several packs of dicine to sort through, he couldn’t help saying, "Miss Zhao, this person has weak breath, wounded at vital points, and suffered massive blood loss. He can’t be saved, why waste the dicine? It would be better to keep it for yourself."
Zhao Hanzhang twitched an eyebrow, "?"
The doctor nodded, "Yes, aren’t you also injured?"
Zhao Hanzhang hadn’t spoken yet, but Fu Tinghan had already nodded, "Yes, please have the doctor check her too."
Zhao Hanzhang paused but still asked the doctor to examine her injuries, despite potentially arousing the Li Family’s suspicions; health is more critical for survival.
After examining, the doctor prescribed the sa dicine for Zhao Hanzhang, only differing in dosage.
Seeing Zhao Hanzhang cherishing Shi Le, he advised, "At tis like this, consider as much as you can for one person. Miss Zhao’s injuries are lighter; you should ensure your survival first. As for him, why not reduce the dicine?"
Because he felt even without reducing the dicine, he wouldn’t survive.
Zhao Hanzhang didn’t explain much, smiled and agreed, glanced at the nearby Li Family mbers, then asked the doctor, "Would you be willing to travel with ? I’m willing to hire you."
The doctor perked up, "But I have a wife and children at ho."
Zhao Hanzhang stated she’d take them all in.
The doctor beca more interested, asking about her final destination, their total number, and how much food they would provide him each day or per consultation.
Indeed, the doctor accepted food as paynt instead of money.
Zhao Hanzhang offered favorable terms, even saying she’d arrange accommodation for them upon arrival, introduce him to work at a clinic or pharmacy as a doctor, or even open a clinic for him if skilled...
The doctor, hearing this, showed continuous interest, even giving his na, only for Zhao Hanzhang to ntion Wu’an County as her destination.
The doctor’s smile imdiately faded.
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