"I see, they're pitiful people too." Zhou Chen pondered for a moment, then asked, "Where is Li Family Village?"

"It's just ahead, about five miles away."

“Okay, then come with me.” Zhou Chen agreed and led Li Qingqing to the carriage.

Zhou Chen got into the carriage first, and Li Qingqing followed suit, climbing up into the carriage as well.

Unexpectedly, Zhou Chen turned around and stopped her, "My sister doesn't like being near strangers, so please sit in the front of the car."

Li Qingqing paused for a moment, then nodded somewhat unhappily, "Okay."

Yue Ziqi cracked his whip, and the horse started moving again.

“I find your accent strange, young master. May I ask where you are from?” Li Qingqing asked.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Chen glanced at Su Jinxia, ​​who was resting her chin on her hand, looking completely unconcerned.

Zhou Chen replied vaguely, "From out of town."

Where are we going?

"Visiting relatives."

"Which relative are you from?"

Li Qingqing pressed for an answer, but the carriage fell silent.

Li Qingqing chuckled awkwardly, "Country folks like to ask all sorts of silly questions, please don't take offense, young master."

Zhou Chen didn't say anything, so Li Qingqing had no choice but to give up and stop asking. After a while, she sneezed and said, "It's so cold!"

Seeing that no one was paying attention to her, Li Qingqing sneezed several more times and said, "I think I'm going to get sick."

Zhou Chen said calmly, "We'll be there in no time, Miss Li, please bear with it."

Li Qingqing's face darkened. She thought he was a kind person, but she didn't expect him to be a cold-blooded animal.

No, this young master speaks softly and seems easy to get along with. Perhaps it's his spoiled older sister who's causing trouble.

Li Qingqing felt unhappy as she thought about it, but there was nothing she could do about it.

Fifteen minutes later, we finally arrived at Lijia Village.

Zhou Chen stepped out of the carriage, glanced at the quiet village, and said, "Now that we've delivered you, we'll be going. Take care, Miss Li."

"Hey, wait a minute." Li Qingqing said anxiously, "It's getting so late. If you keep going, you'll probably have to sleep in the open. Why don't you come to my house, have a hot meal, and then continue your journey tomorrow?"

"Wouldn't that be too much trouble?" Zhou Chen asked, somewhat troubled.

"No, no!" Li Qingqing quickly said, "You saved me, you are my saviors, how could staying one night be a trouble?"

"In that case, I'll trouble you." Zhou Chen readily agreed.

So the carriage entered the village and stopped in front of a large house with blue bricks and red tiles, and such houses were everywhere in the village.

This is a wealthy village.

"I wonder what kind of business Li Family Village runs?" Zhou Chen asked curiously.

Li Qingqing smiled and said, "There's a mine in our village, so we live a fairly well-off life."

"Didn't your family ever provide you with any financial support? That's why you were living such a miserable life in your husband's family," Zhou Chen said calmly.

Li Qingqing was taken aback for a moment, then said, "After all, she's a married woman."

Li Qingqing went up and knocked on the door. A woman came to open it and looked at Li Qingqing with surprise. "My good daughter, why are you back?"

Li Qingqing sniffed and told the woman, who was her mother, about her experience.

Li's mother berated Li Qingqing's in-laws for being inhumane, then turned her gaze to Zhou Chen.

Li Qingqing explained the reason, and Li's mother earnestly invited Zhou Chen in.

Zhou Chen walked to the side of the carriage and softly called out, "Sister."

Su Jin yawned, put on a thick coat and cloak and stepped out of the carriage. She wore a half-mask, covering the upper half of her face, only revealing her perfect jawline and rosy, full lips.

Her fair and delicate skin, so smooth it seemed as if one could pinch water from it, made one sigh with wonder at the pampering and care one must have received to produce such a stunning woman.

Li Qingqing's eyes reddened. She hadn't expected such a stunning beauty to be hidden in the car. No wonder she wasn't even allowed to enter the carriage.

Everyone entered the courtyard. Li's mother went to cook, while Li Qingqing chatted with her.

"Where is your father? Are you an only child?" Zhou Chen asked.

Li Qingqing was surprised for a moment, then realized, "You probably don't know yet, do you?"

"Oh, what do you know?"

"Alas!" Li Qingqing sighed. "The government doesn't allow this to be said, but since you are my savior, I might as well tell you."

"All the able-bodied men in these surrounding villages have been conscripted by the government, not a single one has been spared! Not only can I not find any men in my family, but you can't find many strong men in the whole city!"

Zhou Chen was puzzled. "It's the government's doing. Why? Has the imperial court's military situation become this tense?"

"Who knows? It was an order from the imperial court. When the government came with knives and guns to demand people, what could we ordinary people do but obey? Those who refused to go were simply beheaded on the spot." Li Qingqing patted her chest, as if she still felt lingering fear.

"Do you know where the conscripted men are taken to serve in the army?" Zhou Chen asked.

Li Qingqing shook her head. "I don't know. The government forbids us from talking about it or asking. They're very secretive. If anyone is heard discussing this matter, they'll be immediately thrown into jail." Then Li Qingqing smiled. "If you really want to know, young master, why don't you join the army?"

Zhou Chen...

That sounds strange.

The food was served quickly, and Li's mother warmly invited everyone to eat and even served wine.

"This is homemade wine. Please have a taste to warm yourselves up."

"Thank you." Zhou Chen nodded to show his gratitude, but did not drink.

Su Jinxia ate her meal by herself, and to be honest, her cooking skills were quite good.

Even in the dead of winter, the meals were plentiful.

Li Qingqing raised her glass and said, "Thank you all for saving my life. Qingqing toasts you all."

Zhou Chen and Yue Ziqi had no choice but to pick up their wine glasses.

Li Qingqing stared intently at Su Jinxia, ​​who was only focused on eating her food.

Su Jin looked up, suddenly realizing, "Oh, I don't drink."

"This is a toast I made to you, Miss, and you're being quite disrespectful!" Li Qingqing said unhappily.

Su Jin smiled helplessly and picked up her wine glass. "Alright, let's have a drink then."

So everyone picked up their glasses. Su Jin took a small sip, and Zhou Chen and Yue Ziqi also took a sip before putting their glasses down.

Li Qingqing looked at Zhou Chen and asked in confusion, "I've always wanted to ask a question: why do you and your sister wear masks?"

Zhou Chen hesitated for a moment, then gave a perfunctory reply, "It's fun..."

Suddenly, Zhou Chen swayed, put his hand on his forehead, and soon collapsed onto the table.

Yue Ziqi and Su Jinxia also collapsed one after another.

Li Qingqing and her mother exchanged a glance and smiled.

Li Qingqing ran out and soon brought in a group of men.

Upon seeing this, everyone remarked, "That's right, the two men are just the right age!"

"There's another woman; she's easy to manipulate."

"Quick, tie them up first, we can talk properly when they wake up."

A man rushed up to Su Jin and exclaimed, "Wow, this girl is so pretty! Can she be my wife? Why is she wearing a mask?"

As he spoke, the man reached out and removed the mask from Su Jin's face.