Chapter 76: Don’t miss the God!

Outside the courtyard, the view was desolate.

I don’t know if it’s because of the chill in the early morning of winter, or the feeling of having an unobstructed view, but some of the dead grass in the bare ground is reflecting the frost that has not yet dissipated from the fog.

The chains on my wrists restrain me, so I can only stretch my arms slightly to loosen my shoulders and elbows. It is inconvenient to stretch too much.

Xie Yuchuan looked down, his eyes calm.

In the past, he would have to do a set of kung fu exercises to warm up when he got up early. But now the situation is different, and he doesn’t have too much thought about it. He just stretches his body and practices static exercises similar to standing still.

The mountains and forests are quiet and peaceful, surrounded by fresh air, which is suitable for breathing in and out, raising the clear and lowering the turbid.

As far as the eye can see, there is curling smoke from every household in Gaojia Village in the distance.

There is movement in stillness, and he sees endless vitality in calmness and tranquility.

At the age of fifteen, Xie Yuchuan accompanied his father and brothers to the frontier for training. At seventeen, he began leading troops in battle, achieving a resounding victory in his first battle, earning him some fame within the military. From then on, he spent most of his life in barracks on the northwestern frontier. The wealth and extravagance once enjoyed by a prominent Kyoto nobleman seemed like a thing of the past.

It has been a long time since I have experienced such a peaceful state of mind.

If the family god had not appeared in the imperial prison that day, he didn't know what he would be like now.

In the distance, a figure was swaying.

Xie Yuchuan narrowed his eyes and saw the figure sway for a while, then turned and ran towards the village.

Somehow, he remembered what Zhang Dayi said when he entered Gaojia Village, that there was something special about the village.

Coincidentally, the intuition of both Xie Yuchuan and Xiong Jiushan was secretly reminding them that something was wrong.

Gao Shanhe family.

Dongzi came early in the morning to bring rice soup and dry steamed buns to Gao Shanhe.

Gao Shanhe got up early and was chopping firewood in the yard. Someone was cooking in the kitchen. Dongzi came over with rice and soup and found that there was someone else at Gao Shanhe's house today.

"Ah, Uncle San, Auntie! Oh, I forgot you stayed here yesterday."

"Brother Dongzi is here. Let's eat something together later?" Gao Shusheng's wife wiped her hands and came out. Seeing the food in Dongzi's hand, she took it first.

"Did your mother ask you to get it?"

"Ah, isn't this next door?"

Dongzi smiled and thought that today was a bit unusual. He gave the things and turned around to help Gao Shanhe chop firewood.

Gao Shanhe saw him coming and asked, "What's going on in the eastern suburbs?"

Dongzi glanced into the house and shook his head, "I don't know. My uncle and the others told me yesterday that we younger ones are not allowed to join in the fun. There are people watching over there."

Gao Shanhe nodded without saying anything, picked up the axe and continued to chop wood. With the sound of bangs and clangs, Gao Shusheng, who was taking a nap in the inner room, woke up soon. He came out with his clothes on and yawned, and passed by his daughter-in-law who was adding wood and water to the stove.

"Shanhe got up so early to chop wood?"

Mrs. Gao smiled and said, "He said he couldn't sleep."

Gao Lizheng clicked his tongue and said, "This kid." Then he opened the door curtain and went outside.

"Third Uncle!" Gao Shanhe.

"Third Uncle!!" Dongzi.

Gao Lizheng nodded at the two of them, raised his arms to put on his sleeves and button them. Seeing that a small pile of firewood had piled up next to Gao Shanhe in a short time, he couldn't help but curse, "You didn't sleep all night?"

Dongzi turned his head to look at Gao Shanhe, only to see the latter hesitate and nod.

"You kid, if there is a big thing in the village, the elders and adults will take care of it. Why are you so worried?" Gao Lizheng said this, but he was a little happy in his heart.

After Gao Shanhe's parents passed away, he grew up eating food from hundreds of families in the village. When he grew up, he had a good character and was in good health. The younger generation Gao Lizheng was quite optimistic about him. If there was a disaster in the village, he would worry more than anyone else.

"After breakfast, come with me over there and take a look."

Gao Shanhe nodded. The side that Uncle San was talking about was the side where the fugitives were.

"There is one more thing. It's the result of our discussion last night. After you finish your work with me, go to the mountains..." Gao Shuangsheng was talking to Gao Shanhe about today's arrangements when he was interrupted by a shout from a distance.

"Village head!"

The person who came was none other than Erhan's father. He had just finished handing over the news to his fellow villagers after getting up early, and hurried over to report the news to Gao Shusheng.

"What's wrong?"

Erhan's father Gao Shangen pushed the door open around the low wall, nodded and greeted Gao Shanhe, then ran straight to Gao Lizheng.

"Many of the exiled prisoners have woken up, and several officials who were staying overnight have also left. Other villagers came early in the morning to inquire about the plans for the day."

Gao Lizheng frowned: "How to arrange it? Didn't everyone notify the family yesterday? Wait until the village bell rings."

"But when I came here, I saw the yamen runners returning to breakfast. They looked like they would be leaving early in the morning." Gao Shangen had heard the elders' thoughts in the ancestral hall last night. "What should we do if they leave early?"

Gao Shanhe also looked at Gao Shanhe while holding the axe, his face solemn: "Uncle, we can't let them go for the time being."

"Of course we can't let them leave so early. We haven't contacted the Xie family members among the exiled prisoners over there yet. Besides, we have to go into the mountains today to see if we can succeed." Gao Shanhe turned his head and shouted inside: "I'm not eating anymore! I'm going home to check!"

Mrs. Gao came out and said, "Then I'll go back with you. If the adults are awake, I'll make them some delicious food."

"No need, someone has been arranged to serve over there."

"Uncle, then I'll go with you." Gao Shanhe put down his axe and followed him.

The three of them returned to the headman's house together.

Xiong Jiushan got up early and stretched his muscles in the yard. Half of the others were still asleep. Some were too tired, while others had drunk too much the previous day.

Before dawn, he saw Gao Lizheng coming with two people, with a look of surprise in his eyes.

Thinking of what his colleagues had said to him last night, he saw that there seemed to be hidden secrets on the faces of the three people. He couldn't help but narrow his eyes slightly and became alert.

The excessive enthusiasm was not in vain.

Gao Lizheng came forward with a smile on his face and asked, "Did you sleep well last night, Mr. Xiong?"

Xiong Jiushan didn't understand why they came, so he just nodded lightly.

The other party didn't respond, and Gao Lizheng's heart sank slightly. The topic seemed to be stuck here, and he clearly felt that the adult in front of him seemed difficult to approach.

Gao Shusheng also understood that their Gaojia Village did show a little "concern" in receiving these officials and fugitives, which might arouse suspicion, but things had come to this point and they did not want to miss the opportunity.

Seeing that he seemed to be hesitant, Xiong Jiushan sheathed his knife and stood up straight.

"Gori is thinking about something?"

Gao Shusheng didn't answer directly, but asked tentatively, "When do you plan to set off? The road ahead of the village is not easy to walk on. If you need me, I can call a boy to lead the way."

In fact, Gao Lizheng just wanted to know when their team would set off and whether they could have some contact with each other before setting off.

Xiong Jiushan frowned and then relaxed.

"We'll set off at the latest at Chen." After a moment's thought, he remembered the villagers' bartering and selling of goods he had mentioned earlier, and added, "I'll have to trouble the village head to take care of the supplies for the journey yesterday."