Mistakenly Connected to the Jade Flower Branch

Chapter 213 Method

Batu resided in the central command tent, and Luo An, as a physician, was not far from him. The military camp was heavily fortified, making it no easy task to enter and find him.

To avoid alerting the enemy, Nianyao rested during the day and spent several days patrolling outside the military camp at dusk and dawn, but she couldn't find a suitable breakthrough. She was almost discovered several times.

If brute force doesn't work, then strategy will have to prevail. Nianyao, after wandering around for the past few days, discovered that beef was delivered to the army every morning. After tracking them for two days, Nianyao found a cattle farm in the northwest corner of Tumote that specifically supplied beef to the army.

After figuring out the way, Nianyao lay down in the roadside bushes on the way back from delivering the meat truck, crying out pitifully, "Help! Is anyone there?...Help! Is anyone there?..."

The first car didn't stop, but the car behind it was driven by a young man who leaned out and said, "Uncle, someone's injured."

The man in front said in a serious voice, "Grang, mind your own business."

Grand said, "It's all blood. Mother said that saving a life is like building a seven-story pagoda. How can we just stand by and watch someone die?"

When Grand stopped the car to check, he saw that Nianyao's face was covered in filth, her clothes were tattered, and her left calf was covered in blood, which had stained her pants red and even the grass was covered in blood.

Nianyao cried, tears streaming down her face: "There were wolves! I was bitten by a wolf. I escaped from that side, and the wolves only ran away when they saw the carriage..."

Following Nianyao's finger, Grang saw bloodstains all over the grass, and then he saw that Nianyao's calf was haphazardly bandaged with strips of cloth torn from her clothes, and blood was seeping out.

Uncle urged, "Grang, we have to go back."

Grang looked at his uncle, then at Nianyao, struggling with his thoughts.

Nianyao tugged at Gelang's trouser leg: "Big brother, save me! I'll be your slave in my next life, and I'll be your slave in this life too... I can herd horses and sheep, cook, wash dishes, wipe tables, massage shoulders and backs, give massages, and wash feet..."

Nianyao was crying and talking, and she almost couldn't catch her breath, her face turning blue from holding it in.

Grand couldn't bear it, so he carried her on his back and put her in the car: "She's a little dirty, just bear with it, we'll be home soon."

Nianyao nodded repeatedly: "It's not dirty, it's not dirty, it's okay."

He nodded and said it wasn't dirty, which looked quite comical.

Laughing at this moment would be inappropriate, so Grang suppressed his laughter and said to the person in front of him, "Uncle, Mother will definitely praise me."

When they got home, Grange tied up the horse and looked back to find that Nianyao had fainted.

Grang carried Nianyao home on his back: "Mother, come and help."

Gelang's mother was startled and quickly told Gelang to put Nianyao on the bed. She then helped Nianyao clean her wounds, apply medicine, and bandage them. Seeing that she was too dirty, she also helped her wash her face and told Gelang to bring clean clothes.

When Grang brought the clothes over, Nianyao had already woken up and was thanking Grang's mother.

Grandma said kindly, "Your clothes are too dirty. Take them off and put on a clean set. You'll be more comfortable."

Without hesitation, Nianyao took off her dirty coat and put on Grange's coat.

Grand took out a complete set from head to toe and said enthusiastically, "You should change all of these."

Nianyao said, "I changed into my undergarments without showering, which will get my brother's clothes dirty. It's alright, I'm comfortable like this. Thank you, Auntie and Brother."

Grand didn't press the issue, and sat on the edge of the bed: "What's your name? How old are you? Where do you live?"

Nianyao's face was filled with sorrow: "My name is Zhuoli, I'm nineteen years old, I... I have no home, my parents died early, and I've always herded sheep for others. Today, a few sheep were missing, so I went to look for them, and I encountered wolves... Luckily, I met a kind older brother, otherwise, if I died, there would be no one to collect my body..."

Grand patted him on the shoulder: "Alright, it's okay. I'm the same age as you, so you don't need to call me big brother, just call me Grand. You don't need to herd sheep anymore, you can help my family raise cattle."

Grandma sighed, "The young man is quite pitiful."

Nianyao's injury looked terrifying, but it healed quickly; she was walking normally again in seven or eight days. After recovering, Nianyao followed Gelang to herd cattle. She was busy from early morning to late at night every day, and everyone liked her very much.

That day, Nianyao saw Gelang carrying beef onto the carriage, so she quickly went over to help.

As usual, Grand stopped her, saying, "Don't carry it, you'll hurt your foot."

Nianyao tossed a large cow leg onto the cart, kicked it, and said, "Look, it's nothing, not a thing. Auntie said I'm lucky and didn't break any bones, it's just skin and bones that healed quickly."

Grand laughed and said, "If you keep working like this, I'll have to ask your mother to give you your monthly allowance. Zhuoli, your uncle is going home for Qingming Festival and won't be back for a few more days. Why don't you come with me to deliver beef these next few days?"

Nianyao had been hoping for this opportunity. Suppressing her inner elation, she replied humbly, "My life was saved by my elder brother. I'd be content with just a meal. No need for money."

Grand said, "You promised to call me Grand, no need to call me Big Brother, we're the same age."

Nianyao readily agreed: "Okay, Grang."

The beef was delivered directly to the cooks, who had no access to the tents inside. When Grang saw Nianyao peeking inside on tiptoe, he quickly stopped her: "Don't look around, it's a capital offense."

Nianyao's voice was neither too loud nor too soft: "Gelang, this is the first time I've ever seen such a large military camp. It's truly magnificent."

Seeing that Nianyao was naive and unsophisticated, the cook replied, "This is nothing. There are even bigger ones."

Nianyao asked, "How can we cook for so many people?"

The cook brandished the large iron shovel in his hand: "This is a shovel."

Nianyao looked at her with admiration: "Master is so amazing. It must be hard work to cook like that."

The cook, flattered, said smugly, "Your brother is quite interesting, is he new here?"

Nianyao quickly answered, "Yes, I'm new here. Practice makes perfect, and I'll get used to it after that."

When the two returned, Grange said to Nianyao, "That cook has a bad temper, but he's quite nice to you."

Nianyao said proudly, "Of course, I'm very popular."

Grand laughed heartily: "Li Zhu especially likes it."

Nianyao immediately fell silent.

Lizhu is Uncle's daughter. She works on the ranch, milking cows and making wine, and lets Nianyao taste all kinds of wine. Everyone teases her when they see Lizhu giving Nianyao wine.

After delivering beef for several days in a row, Grang said to Nianyao, "Uncle will be back tomorrow, so you don't need to trouble yourself."

Nianyao's heart skipped a beat, but she replied, "It's not hard work, it's not hard work."

As the carriage approached the camp gate, Nianyao clutched her stomach, her brows furrowed, and remained silent.

Grand noticed something was wrong: "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

Nianyao looked pained and shook her head, saying, "I'm fine, don't worry."

How could I not be worried? The military camp was right ahead, and it was impossible to turn back now.

Grand rode in quickly, not letting Nianyao help with unloading: "You sit here and rest, I'll be done in a bit."

Nianyao sat curled up next to him, frowning and pressing her stomach. The cook asked Grang, "What's wrong with your brother?"

Grand could only say, "He's been drinking too much and too much alcohol lately, and he has an upset stomach."

Before she could finish speaking, Nianyao tumbled to the ground. Her face was pale, and beads of sweat dotted her forehead. She spoke haltingly, "Lizhu's wine... I can't drink it..."