"Uncle, please wait a moment."
Qiao Lian'er stepped forward: "If anyone asks, don't say you're going to do escort work, just say you're looking for short jobs."
He then looked at Brother Yang and said, "Uncle, please help us keep this a secret as well."
"Why, Sickle?" Da Meng asked, puzzled.
He was now brimming with ambition, feeling like he was going to conquer the world. He was just waiting for the villagers to ask so he could brag about going to work as a镖师 (bodyguard/escort).
In the mind of the spirited young man, fighting bandits from other countries was even more important than earning two hundred taels of silver.
"Don't flaunt your wealth," Qiao Lian'er said. "Listen to me."
Yang Lao Da and Yang Lao Er exchanged a glance. They were from a security escort agency in the big city of Yuezhou. In the past two days, the government officials had been investigating the profits of various restaurants and shops. Their boss had secretly inquired and found out that things were not peaceful in the north and the imperial court was short of funds and needed money.
Could it be that this little girl has gotten wind of something?
But this place is quite isolated, so she probably doesn't have any sources of information. Perhaps she observed and figured out the situation while in the county town.
This made Brother Yang admire him even more.
"Don't worry, little girl. We won't say we'll take your uncles and cousins on a delivery mission; we'll just say we'll take them to do hard labor."
Qiao Lian'er caught the unspoken exchange between the two earlier and thought that they must know something.
In such circumstances, some people will know some information, while most will be kept in the dark. Some people are more perceptive, while most are less so. After this baptism, everyone will go down different paths, and everything in everyone's home and possessions will change.
She can't save others; she can only save herself and her family.
"Thank you very much, Uncle." Qiao Lian'er bowed to them solemnly.
This matter is far too important. If the villagers find out that this trip is for escorting goods, and they are about to earn two hundred taels of silver, someone will definitely report them.
Seeing Qiao Lian'er so serious, the men of the Qiao family all calmed down, feeling that Qiao Lian'er had a reason for doing so.
With their fighting prowess, they have no need to worry about losing money; others can only be envious, but no one dares to cause trouble.
But since Lian'er was so determined, they kept it a secret.
Sure enough, two tall, dark-faced men I'd never seen before led the Qiao family men away, exuding an imposing aura and looking ready to pounce.
Some villagers asked curiously, "Where are you going? Are you going on a镖师 (escort/cargo escort) mission?"
"Take the Qiao brothers to do some hard labor," said the eldest brother, Yang.
"Ah, why do you have to do manual labor? Doesn't your family have a stall in the county town?"
"We're not setting up for now. We're busy building a house at home, and we don't have enough manpower to take care of everything."
Another villager chuckled and said, "Anyway, you've already earned enough money to build your houses, so you don't need to rush to the county town before dark. You can easily make some extra money on the side."
Upon hearing this, the Qiao family knew that some villagers did not want them to earn too much money, even though they usually had a harmonious relationship.
Some things are better kept hidden if possible.
The men left, and the women continued harvesting rice in the fields that afternoon.
Qiao Lian'er tidied up the space; the Jade Needle Incense she planted had sprouted ears and would be ready for harvest in a few days.
She planned to go up the mountain with Qiao Zhizhi to "gather" some fruit.
A lean, fast horse arrived at the Qiao family's gate. A man of about thirty years old, whom I had never seen before, dismounted from the horse.
This person recognized Qiao Lian'er at first glance.
"Miss Qiao, your letter."
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