Chapter 38: Does your family have gods to protect you?
"Then let's just follow and see. After all, these are just rumors, they can't be taken seriously."
Min Zhong kept the matter of the Xie family in mind, but did not take it to heart. At this moment, Manager Min did not know how much he regretted not establishing a good relationship with Xie Yuchuan earlier.
Wu Liang was a servant of the Min family. He only spoke about what he knew and did not interfere.
Min Zhong was worried that he would be robbed by bandits again when passing Panlongling on the way back, so he led the caravan to follow the exile group. It didn't matter if the journey was delayed. The most important thing was to get through that damn bandit's nest safely.
Wu Liang glanced at the two figures not far away and reminded Min Zhong: "Those two people over there have been following us for quite some time."
Min Zhong looked over and said with a smile, "I know, it's the two little brothers selling straw sandals just now."
Dongzi sold his straw sandals and happily sat in the cart with the money for marrying his wife. Gao Shanhe, who was strong, pushed the small wheelbarrow and followed him all the way easily and effortlessly.
Dongzi asked, "Brother Shanhe, how far away is Laozhou? When we were selling straw sandals just now, I heard them say that their place of exile was at the northernmost border, Laozhou."
Gao Shanhe shook his head, "I haven't been there."
"I heard it's so cold that crops can't grow. We have to sleep in snow pits in winter. It's so miserable!" Dongzi muttered to himself the information he had heard before.
Gao Shanhe was pushing the cart when he remembered something and asked Dongzi, "Do you remember what Sister Qionghua said when she suddenly sat up in the middle of the night with a high fever?"
Dongzi was stunned, thought for a while, and nodded.
"Remember! Sister Qionghua said that our village will face a great disaster in the future, and no one in the village will survive, unless... unless someone comes to our aid!"
Dongzi finished speaking, rubbing his hands, and raised his head after a while: "Is it this year, Brother Shanhe?"
Gao Shanhe's face was solemn, and he whispered to him, "I always feel that the noble person Sister Qionghua mentioned is among those people in front."
Dongzi turned his head and looked forward. "Ah? They are all prisoners who are being taken to the north. How could they be noble people?"
Gao Shanhe couldn't explain it, but there was always a feeling in his heart telling him that he couldn't miss the family with the surname Xie.
Don’t they have a household god at home?
We are all gods, can you also help other people?
Dongzi didn't quite understand, so Gao Shanhe said, "After we cross the river, go back to the village and give Uncle Gao a message. I'll follow them."
"OK."
He did not hesitate at all when Gao Shanhe asked him to do something.
The team was sparse, but they finally reached the bank of Songjiang River step by step.
When they reached the water, both the officers and prisoners needed some supplies, but Xiong Jiushan did not allow them to stop. He ordered the officers and soldiers to drive the prisoners forward. They had to cross the river in one go before they could repair on the other side.
Otherwise, if we relax here, the prisoners will be even less willing to move, and then there will be a lot of trouble. It is better to take them all to the other side.
The Min family's caravan also had the same intention.
Both sides tacitly did not stop and headed straight for the river bridge ahead.
Songjiang Bridge is built at the narrowest part of the entire Songjiang River. It is a must-pass passage for many people traveling from south to north.
If it were other places, the two sides of the stone bridge would probably collect some "checkpoint fees" like the city gates, but Songjiang Bridge does not.
The exile teams and merchant caravans passed across the bridge one by one, with the rushing water of Songjiang River flowing past their feet. The rich water vapor hit their faces, and the rustling sound of the rushing river filled their ears, which made people feel inexplicably comfortable.
When Xie Yuchuan passed by the bridge, he saw a monument of merit erected on one side of the bridge. On the front was the three regular script characters "Songjianghe", and on the back was a slightly smaller font with several family names engraved on it.
Headed by the Qiao family, Uncle Qiao Pu.
Xie Yuchuan was somewhat familiar with the name. He was the principal of Zhizhen Academy in Beijing. He opened up many schools and did not reject poor students. He was well-known among the scholars.
When he was in the northwest, he had a friend who graduated from Zhizhen Academy and was very grateful to Uncle Qiao Pu.
It turns out that the Qiao family’s ancestral home is Songjiang.
He crossed the river with just a quick glance. Xie Wuying, who was behind him, held the water bag in his arms carefully along the way.
The surging river is pleasant, especially for a group of prisoners who are covered in dust and dirt after walking all day.
Standing on the bridge, you can hear the sound of gurgling water and feel the cool water vapor on your face. Some prisoners stopped there to feel the water for a while, but were kicked down by the police!
"Don't stand on the bridge! Leave!"
"well……"
After crossing the river, the leading old yamen runner took his men to choose a place to rest.
It was not yet dark, so the officers gave the prisoners time to go to the river to quench their thirst, fetch some water, or even take a shower.
Today we have completed half of the missed journey. Calculating the remaining distance, it should not delay the arrival at the next stop. Xiong Jiushan's intention is to let everyone relax.
It is not good to be too harsh. If you are a little more lenient, the prisoners will be more obedient.
Where there are rivers, there will also be wild animals, so you should pay attention to the movements around you when resting.
Xie Wenjie patted Xie Wuying on the shoulder and said, "Let's go, Hezhi, go to the river to fetch some water."
Xie Wuying wanted to say that there was something in my water bag... but then he met Xie Wenjie's eyes, turned around and gently placed the water bag in Xie Yuchuan's arms.
"Sixth brother, help me take a look."
He got up, collected the water bags of other members of the Xie family, and went to the river with several other people from the Xie family to fetch water.
Among the prisoners, not many had water bags. Most of them rushed directly to the riverside and scooped up water with their hands and drank it all in one gulp.
When the two brothers were fetching water, not far from next door lived the former prince of Dongbohou Mansion who was exiled for refusing to marry the princess.
The people of Dongbohou Mansion have little connection with the Xie family.
Like Ruan Hanlin, who was exiled with him, he was into literature; and the Xie family, they were into military affairs.
The Dongbohou Mansion is a branch of an old aristocratic family. There is another branch in the capital. The whole family has its roots in the southeast. The old Dongbohou also got this title by accident. Before he died, he passed it on to his son and gave him some advice.
"The title of Marquis was easy to come by, and it will probably be easy to lose in the future. Don't take it too seriously. If you can't take it seriously, take your family back to the southeast."
After the old marquis passed away, the new marquis took over the family, but he did not pass the title to his son, which angered the emperor. The whole family did not return to their hometown in the southeast, but went straight north.
Xie Wuying looked at the unlucky prince with some curiosity.
"Marquis Dongbo is quite impressive. He even dared to reject Princess Shaoyang's proposal of marriage."
"Princess Shaoyang is a womanizer. No family would want their outstanding son to marry a prince consort from Shaoyang, let alone the only son of the Marquis of Dongbo."
Xie Wuying nodded: "That's right."
By the river, Chai Jin, the former young marquis, fetched some water, bent down and washed his face thoroughly.
He also heard the conversation between the two brothers of the Xie family next door.
There's no way around it, his hearing has been better than that of ordinary people since he was a child.
Unlike the Xie family who encountered endless troubles during their exile, the people from the Dongbo Marquis Mansion seemed to have disappeared in the team.
Another branch of the Chai family in Jingmen, although their status is not as high as that of the Marquis's family, but the advantage is that the head of the family is smart and entered the officialdom directly through the imperial examination. Now he also has his own power in the court.
Considering that they are of the same clan, they did not complain too much even though they were implicated. Fortunately, the emperor's anger was only directed at this branch of the marquisate.
Before leaving, he made a request for the escorting officials to the Marquis' Mansion.
Therefore, the Chai family was treated well on the road. Apart from being tired, they suffered less physical pain.
But the Chai family is facing a difficult problem right now.
So after Xie Wuying and the other man finished fetching water, he suddenly came over.
"Excuse me, may I ask if your family's gods are guardian spirits?"
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