Over there, Li Qingyao was finally about to arrive in Shao County.
After Fu Yu killed Xu Datou's henchmen, he became the undisputed leader of the exiled group.
Life was much better than when Xu Datou was in charge, since the incident of officials raping female prisoners had stopped.
However, even if the officials and soldiers didn't oppress them during their exile, life wasn't much better.
After all, the people in the team used to be sons of officials, but now they are prisoners, bound in chains for months, which is really tough.
Li Qingyao dared not provoke Fu Yu, so he became even more cautious and timid, walking quietly and taking care of his mother Yan Shi and Wang Jiao, becoming increasingly taciturn.
Looking at the mottled city walls of Shaoguan, Li Qingyao let out a heavy sigh of relief. They had finally arrived.
But the next second, Li Qingyao hesitated again. They were now an orphan and a widow, with nothing to their name, and they didn't know how to survive in this world. Could he really support the Li family and protect his mother from the wind and rain?
He didn't know, and he dared not think about it anymore.
"You don't need to worry about me."
Wang Jiao noticed Li Qingyao's low spirits. He was intelligent from a young age and naturally guessed what Li Qingyao was thinking.
"What nonsense are you talking about? I've said it before, we're family now."
Li Qingyao reprimanded him, saying that life is full of hardships, and if Wang Jiao were alone, he might have died somewhere that day. He couldn't let that happen.
————
Nothing was said that night.
The next morning.
"Yan Shi, Li Qingyao, Wang Jiao."
The jailer opened the cell door, brought the three men out, and removed their chains.
"Your destinations have been assigned. Follow me."
Li Qingyao and Wang Jiao exchanged a glance, and Madam Yan held the two boys tightly.
"Don't be afraid, follow the adults."
They didn't try to talk to the jailers or ask them anything; they were prisoners now and could only accept their fate.
Stepping from the dimly lit cell outside, the sunlight was dazzling, and the autumn air was crisp and clear. In the capital, people would probably be wearing thick clothes at this time of year.
The jailer led the three men out, and Li Qingyao was wondering if they had gone to the wrong place.
The jailer suddenly laughed and ran towards a dilapidated carriage.
Are we going to take a horse-drawn carriage? Are prisoners treated this well?
"Brother Li, I've been looking for you."
"Haha, Brother Gao." Li Xuming took a bamboo basket of tofu off the carriage. "Thank you for your hard work, Brother Gao. It's homemade. Take it home and have a taste."
"Brother Li, you're too kind. I heard you're planning to sell this for money, how could I take it for free?"
“Brother Gao, why are you being so formal with me? Take it, it’s not worth much anyway. Just take it home for your family to try something new. If I don’t take it, how will I face you in the future? I won’t dare to trouble you again. You really have to take this…”
The jailer surnamed Gao beamed with joy after Li Xuming's words.
“Brother Li, if you put it that way, I’ll be impolite to refuse. I’ve heard about your family’s affairs before. The bamboo plaque you made for Lord Cao is now very popular among the noble families in the county, and everyone says your tofu is delicious. I must go home today and make some to try.”
"Brother Gao, you've heard about it too? We're just a small business owner. Shuxia Village is very poor. We have a lot of family members, so we only earn a little money to spend. Unlike you, Brother Gao, who works at the garrison and has a bright future ahead of him."
"·····"
The two men flattered each other, especially Li Xuming, who made the prison guard very happy.
"Alright, my good brother, these are the three people. The formalities have been completed as instructed by Lord Cao. They are now in your hands."
"Thank you, Brother Gao."
After the two finished talking, the jailer Gao left with a basket of tofu, leaving only Yan Shi, Li Qingyao, and Wang Jiao behind.
"Excuse me, sir, how should I address you?"
As the only adult among the three, Yan Shi, seeing that the jailer had left and that the man seemed to have no official rank, quickly asked him a question.
"Li, Li Xuming."
————
The reason Li Xuming appeared here goes back to a few days ago.
A few days ago, Fang Xiang arrived in Shaoxian ahead of schedule and spread the news to Shuxia Village. Pan Jinhua then learned that Yan Shi and Li Qingyao had finally arrived.
Li Xuming immediately took the tofu and went to Cao Shangjin's house.
Ever since the Li family started selling tofu, Li Xuming would send about ten catties of tofu to the Cao family every few days.
Now Cao Shangjin finds the Li family quite agreeable, not for any other reason than their sincerity.
He wasn't after the tofu; although it was a novel dish, he'd eat it occasionally to change things up, but it wasn't as delicious as meat.
What he liked was the Li family's attitude towards him. They would quickly send him food and toys whenever they had them, showing that they cared about him and respected him.
Sending a few people to Shuxia Village is a simple matter. They were going to be assigned anyway, so it doesn't matter where they go. Besides, those three are penniless, orphans, and widows. Sending them to Shuxia Village is the right thing to do.
"Take the person back tomorrow; someone has made arrangements."
"Xu Ming thanks you, sir!"
————
"It's Brother Ming?!"
Yan burst into tears instantly. After going through countless hardships to reach Shao County, she felt lost and uncertain about the future. But unexpectedly, she found a way out and was able to meet members of the Li family. With the protection of her family, her child would no longer have to shoulder everything on his own and would have an elder to rely on in the future.
"Quick, Yao'er, this is a member of the Li family from Nanze. According to seniority, you should call him Uncle."
Yan's voice trembled, as if she was afraid that what she was seeing was a dream. She hurriedly pushed Li Qingyao forward to pay his respects.
"Li Qingyao greets Uncle."
Li Qingyao was also stunned by the news, feeling as if his bones had become several pounds lighter, but he dared not let his guard down completely. Unlike his mother, he dared not fully trust his clansmen.
Because of his father's crime, the collateral branches of the Li family also suffered exile. If the collateral branches harbor resentment, he, as the bloodline of the main branch, should bear the hatred and anger of the collateral branches.
He dared not place any hope in Li Xuming; after all, who knew if he might be another Wang Tongji?
Li Qingyao bowed respectfully, his eyes deep and intense.
How did this uncle know that they had arrived in Shaoxian?
How did they manage to pull some strings and get the three of them brought up?
Judging from his actions, he was very shrewd and tactful, and he even treated the minor officials in the prison as brothers.
Having experienced exile, Li Qingyao knew that only this kind of person could live well.
Wang Jiao hid behind and secretly sized up Li Xuming.
He didn't show anything on his face, and his smile was warm.
Adults should be like this, possessing countless faces.
She can be gentle yet ruthless, obsequious yet authoritative and not to be underestimated.
The interaction between good and evil may depend on whether you are useful to them.
Wang Jiao tilted his head slightly, his eyes innocent.
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