Chapter 104 Everything is an illusion
"Brother Lin, I have no choice but to keep you locked up here. Take off your outer clothes later so I can explain."
People in prison can fake their wounds, and Officer Li happened to have learned two tricks for it.
"I am already very grateful that Brother Li spared me from physical pain."
Lin Anyuan took off his outer garment and handed it to Constable Li. He had thought he would have to go through some trouble and suffer some physical pain, but unexpectedly, Constable Li was right there.
"It's good that you can understand your brother's difficulties. Don't feel like you owe me anything. It was your sister-in-law who came to me and said that as long as I could see you in the yamen, she would take care of these things. The money just now was also given by her. In fact, I benefited from it."
As he spoke, Officer Li lashed his clothes with a whip.
They even added some chicken blood, making it look like he'd been whipped; it was quite realistic.
When Lin Anyuan thought of Ye Wan, the corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up, and the light in his eyes brightened a bit.
Then it went dark again.
He has nothing now, so anything he says is meaningless.
After Officer Li had finished beating him, he returned the clothes to Lin Anyuan, then put him in a separate cell, leaving behind some water and steamed buns before leaving.
"Lin Anyuan, do you know the people in the prison?"
Someone spoke from the cell next door.
"You forgot that he used to work in the government office. It's true that having connections in the government office means you'll suffer less."
The people talking were from the surrounding villages. They were people who couldn't pay their taxes and were conscripted into the army. They had nowhere else to be locked up, so they were being held here.
It was awful to see so many people crammed together, and the food they brought was spoiled. No wonder nobody wanted to join the army; it was like being imprisoned.
“I don’t want to join the army. Why fight a war when everything is fine? My mother is still lying on the bed. If I can’t go back, she won’t survive!”
Suddenly, someone in the cell started crying.
Then one after another, people started crying, "My wife is about to give birth, I miss her!"
"Shut up! Look down and see if you're even men. Your crying is awful!" the guard shouted.
Lin Anyuan was interrupted from his thoughts as he leaned against the corner.
Late at night, the cell door creaked open.
The yamen runner on night duty mumbled something and then fell into a deep sleep again.
Lin Anyuan tore off a piece of cloth from his undergarment and covered his face without expression.
"If you don't want to die, cover your mouths tightly and come with me right now."
...
...
The next day, Pan Dong received news that all those who had been captured and sent to the army had disappeared, including the person he was supposed to offer to his superiors.
"Lord Pan, what do you think we should do?" Magistrate Wu wiped the sweat from his brow.
So many people disappeared overnight, and the worst part is that he only received the news at dawn, and it was the yamen runner who delivered the food who discovered it.
It's like they opened the door and let people run away, otherwise how come there wasn't a sound? Who did this?
"Search them! With so many people, they couldn't have gone far. They're all a bunch of good-for-nothings! Also, check the village to see if they've gone back!"
Pan Dong was so angry he almost fainted. He could tolerate those lowly commoners, but that superior one had also run away.
"Yes, yes," Magistrate Wu replied hastily.
"By the way, the grain and medicinal herbs I asked you to collect should be transported away by now."
Youzhou had already become the territory of the rebels, and Pan Dong felt that he could not delay any longer and had to get the grain away as quickly as possible.
Even if the rebels attack, they will have to stop because they have no food.
Upon hearing this, Magistrate Wu broke out in a cold sweat again. "This... Lin Anyuan prepared everything. I didn't even ask where it was!"
He was very busy at the time, and Lin Anyuan was quick and efficient, so he didn't expect...
The problem is that Lin Anyuan has also disappeared, and nobody knows where the things are.
"You idiot! Find someone right now!"
Little did they know that Lin Anyuan had already led his men up Snake Mountain.
Those who came out with him couldn't go home either, so they simply settled down on Snake Mountain.
Now there are no more bandits on Snake Mountain, only heroes.
...
...
"It's been so many days, I wonder how Lin Anyuan is doing."
Ye Wan sat in the yard, picking vegetables and chatting casually with Ye Hua.
Er Ya ran in, panting, and said, "Mother, I heard that the rebels have already taken Youzhou, and all the officials in Youzhou are dead. Their next stop is here. Let's run away then."
Minxian is the closest to Youzhou. The rebels will need to rest and regroup for a while and probably won't come over, but it's only a matter of time before they take Minxian.
I heard that the rebels left nothing but barren land in their wake, and those with relatives far away have already begun packing their belongings to flee.
Otherwise, if a fight breaks out, it will be the ordinary people who suffer.
"Er Ya, don't wander around if you have nothing to do." Ye Hua handed Er Ya a glass of water.
Er Ya retorted, "I went to gather information, I didn't wander off."
Then, looking at Ye Wan, he said, "Mother, I'm talking to you. Let's pack our things and head south. I heard it's safer there."
Ye Wan stood up. "Where could they possibly run off to? Don't believe everything you hear."
"Little sister, are you going out again today?" Ye Hua asked Ye Wan with concern.
Ye Wan has been going out every day these past few days. It's very chaotic outside, and she's really scared.
"Okay, I'll be right back. Please be careful."
Ye Wan put down the vegetables and told Daya to cook.
"Don't worry, I will take good care of the three children."
She's been eating and drinking well at her younger sister's place every day, and she's starting to feel a little embarrassed about staying there.
Ye Wan went straight to town after leaving the house; she was going to visit Aunt Cai and Old Man Cough today.
Fortunately, I've already gotten used to walking, so this road doesn't feel that far.
"Poor scholar, get out of here."
Tao Chuang was pushed, and the steamed buns he had just bought fell to the ground. In the blink of an eye, someone picked them up.
Having not eaten all day, Tao Chuang was on the verge of a breakdown.
"Why am I so unlucky? Waaah, my benefactor, where are you? Why haven't you come to see me for so long?"
The more she talked, the sadder she became, so she simply sat on the ground and started crying.
Ye Wan happened to be passing by him and almost got her foot sat on.
Ye Wan frowned. "Are you out of your mind? What are you doing crying in the street? Get up!"
It's really an eyesore to see a grown man crying so sadly, especially since he's blocking the way.
"So what if I cry? What's it to you?" Tao Chuang looked up and cried even harder.
"You're blocking my way."
Ye Wan remained silent.
Ye Yaozu peeked out from the entrance of the gambling den not far away.
"Brother Wen, it's her!"
The man called Brother Wen was short, dark-skinned, and thin. He touched his chin, his eyes gleaming with a sinister light.
"Are you sure this woman is rich? She's not wearing any jewelry, but she has a nice figure, just a bit dark-skinned!"
"He doesn't look like he's rich. You're not kidding me, are you?"
As he spoke, he slapped Ye Yaozu on the forehead.
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