Chapter 11: Truly Skilled at Reading People and Seizing the Moment
“My feet hurt so much, the blisters must have burst. What should I do?”
“The blisters on the soles of my feet might have burst too. Just walking is so painful.”
“There’s blood on the soles of my shoes, but I’m afraid to take them off, worried the soles might stick to my feet.”
Seeing her mother weakly leaning on the table, Song Shiwei gently checked the condition of her mother’s feet. “Mother, let me see if the blisters on your feet have burst.”
Her mother hissed in pain. “Shiwei, you don’t need to check. The blisters on my feet must have burst.”
She forced a faint smile, trying to comfort her, “It’s alright. After walking a bit more, the wounds will scab over, and the pain will ease.”
They were on the road to exile; she could not ask for much, nor could she add trouble for her daughter.
Hearing this, Song Shiwei dared not touch her mother’s feet again.
She supported herself and sat down on a long bench, her brow furrowed deeply. The blisters on her own feet might have burst as well; the pain was searing.
She needed to go out to buy medicine, or the blisters would fester, risking their lives.
“Mother, I’m going out for a moment. I’ll be back soon.”
Her mother was worried and puzzled. “Where are you going?”
“We’re criminals. If we go out, trouble is inevitable.”
Song Shiwei didn’t explain further. “I’m going to see if I can find something to eat or use.”
“It would be best to get some medicine from the post station master. We must treat these wounds.”
Others listened eagerly, hoping she could bring back more medicine.
Her mother wanted to stop her but, thinking of their situation, could not bring herself to say no.
“Take your brothers with you,” she advised. “With men around, those people won’t dare to do anything.”
Song Shiwei hadn’t planned to go alone anyway. “Okay.”
Enduring the pain, she stepped outside.
…
At the pawnshop.
The moment Song Shiwei and Song Mingting appeared, the pawnshop owner took notice.
“Is this a dead pawn or a live pawn?”
The owner seemed experienced with such cases, showing no surprise or unusual reaction.
“A dead pawn.” Song Shiwei produced a gold hairpin she had prepared in advance and handed it over.
“Master, leave some leeway—it’s better for everyone, don’t you think?”
She guessed that the pawnshop would lowball them, especially since they were criminals.
The owner glanced at her, then took the gold hairpin to examine.
It was a finely carved gold hairpin adorned with pomegranate flowers, exquisite in both craftsmanship and material.
“Twenty taels.”
Song Shiwei immediately took back the hairpin. “Second brother, let’s go back and ask the post station master to help pawn it.”
No matter how much she wanted a low price, it wasn’t this low.
Song Mingting protected her as they left. “The post station master will surely owe us a favor.”
“Father isn’t beyond revival.”
“With this favor, once Father recovers, the post station master could rise in rank and fortune.”
Song Shiwei nodded. “Second brother, let’s leave quickly.”
“One hundred taels!” The pawnshop owner knew full well the siblings were deliberately making their bargaining audible.
But as they said, if their father recovered, he would be in trouble.
Besides, the owner could resell the hairpin for at least three hundred taels.
“Fine.” Song Shiwei understood this was the highest price.
Being a criminal, getting one hundred taels for the hairpin was already fortunate.
After receiving the hundred taels, Song Shiwei gave Song Mingting ten taels. “Second brother, keep this silver for emergencies.”
Song Mingting immediately returned it. “Little sister, we’re in this together. I don’t need silver.”
“If I really need silver, I’ll ask you.”
She pressed the silver into his hand again, speaking earnestly, “Second brother, the road ahead is long. Sometimes you, big brother, and third brother will need to buy things.”
“Take this. Trust me.”
Song Mingting was silent for a moment, then finally accepted the silver.
He understood that along the way, the three brothers would inevitably have expenses and couldn’t always ask their little sister for money.
“Little sister, I promise I won’t waste it.”
Song Shiwei smiled faintly. “Second brother, though we’re broke, we still have to spend when necessary.”
“In a few days, I’ll think about how we can earn money.”
Song Mingting made a mental note. Even on the road to exile, there were ways to make money.
He had to think carefully about how to earn money during their journey.
“Second brother, let’s buy some medicine first,” Song Shiwei said.
Song Mingting looked at her feet. “Little sister, when we reach the pharmacy, have a female doctor apply the medicine.”
He had noticed something was wrong with her walking.
…
Song Shiwei shook her head. “Let the female doctor come to the post station and check on everyone.”
She just didn’t know if she’d be able to walk the next day after applying medicine.
Even if she couldn’t walk, they had no choice but to continue their exile.
The siblings went to a nearby medical clinic.
Song Mingting dropped his usual pride and impulsiveness, politely inquiring, “May I ask if there is a female doctor? We need a female doctor.”
The manager saw their appearance and knew they were on the road to exile, showing no prejudice.
Anyone who came to the clinic and paid without causing trouble was welcome.
“There is one, but…”
Though he didn’t finish his sentence, Song Shiwei and Song Mingting understood.
Song Shiwei took out a ten-tael silver ingot and handed it to the manager. “Manager, we need some medicine for the road and treatment for blisters.”
These silver ingots had been prepared by the pawnshop owner for convenience.
Otherwise, she would have had to cut a silver ingot, which was risky.
The manager’s smile brightened upon seeing the silver. “We do have a female doctor. She can go with you to the post station.”
“Also, I’ll have the doctor prepare some medicine for your journey.”
Ten taels could buy quite a lot of medicine.
Song Shiwei thanked him and asked, “I wonder, after applying medicine to blisters, can one travel the next day?”
The manager replied, “It shouldn’t be a problem, but the medicine must be reapplied every night. After a few days, it will heal.”
Song Shiwei felt somewhat reassured. “May I ask if the female doctor can apply the medicine now?”
The manager agreed and invited her inside.
Song Mingting followed closely.
He could turn his back to his sister, but he would never leave her alone.
The siblings followed the manager to a side room in the back courtyard.
As they sat down, a gentle-looking middle-aged female doctor entered.
She stood and gave a respectful bow. “Thank you, doctor.”
The female doctor was surprised by her manners. “What’s the problem?”
Song Shiwei pointed to her foot and signaled Song Mingting to turn away.
Though Song Mingting turned his back, he stayed close—just in case.