Chapter 29: A Son
A tablecloth could not cover everything, so Li Baisong had to wrap Li Laoer's lower body first.
Qin Fangci found two worn burlap bags from the corner of the wall. She covered Li Laoer's chest and back with the burlap bags, one in front and one in the back. She tied the two corners on the shoulders together to form a waistcoat, and tied a knot at the waist so that he would not be exposed in the wind.
Li Laoer felt so aggrieved that he wanted to complain but was in the wrong, so he could only swallow his anger and swallow it down until his eyes turned red.
"Mom, if I go out like this, will I be arrested by the police?"
I really don't dare to report to the police. Unless it's a matter of life and death, ordinary people are most afraid of dealing with the government.
When the previous county magistrate was in office, a man from the next village went to report to the authorities. It was said that his pig was lost. As a result, he was beaten before reporting to the authorities. In the end, the pig was found, but the man was almost dead.
Now that the county magistrate has finally left, who knows what kind of person the new county magistrate is.
Li Laoer looked at Li Baisong deeply and thought, it would be great if his younger brother could pass the imperial examination and become a scholar.
A scholar doesn't have to kneel when he meets an official. If a scholar goes to file a complaint, the county magistrate won't beat him first, right?
Li Baisong understood the unspoken meaning in Li Laoer's eyes and put a finger to his lips, "Shh, second brother."
Qin Fangci hung the two baskets on Li Laoer, one in front and one behind, and it finally didn't look so strange anymore.
Li Laoer rubbed his arms, feeling cold.
Li Baisong's eyes lit up, he got it.
I suppressed my nausea and picked up the strips of cloth they had just vomited away.
"Second brother, I'll wrap this around your arm."
Li Laoer was disgusted but had no better way, so he could only raise his hand.
Three strips of cloth were used to tie up half an arm, leaving the right arm from the elbow to the wrist exposed.
It still looks a bit strange, but at least it's not as cold as before.
"Let's go."
The three of them carefully opened the door and went out. Qin Fangci also carefully closed the courtyard gate so that no one from the outside could see what was unusual inside. Turning around, Li Laoer shrank his head as if he was afraid that others would not know that there was a ghost here.
Qin Fangci was not polite at all. She leaned over and leaned on Li Laoer's waist. "Stand tall and straight. Being sneaky makes people suspicious. If you want to die, keep cowering."
Li Laoer: "..."
The three of them left Ye'er Lane and turned onto the main street. Li Laoer's outfit did attract some attention, but only a few.
Ordinary people were poor, and there were families that took turns wearing the same set of clothes. People like Li Laoer who were still wrapped in cloth were nothing special.
Looking at the people around him, there was an old lady with a sad face and a weak and injured boy with his head drooped. Li Laoer's image seemed to be secretly taller.
He is a filial child and a friendly brother.
Even if his own clothes were tattered, he would still dress his mother properly and take his younger brother to the doctor.
The three packets of medicine in the basket became irrefutable evidence.
Of course, Li Laoer didn’t know all this. He just felt like someone was watching him, and he couldn’t raise his head anymore.
The three of them walked straight out of the city along the main street. What they didn't know was that Huai Bo had been following them. He stopped only after he saw them leave the city and get on the ox cart. He made sure that they were scared and went back before he left.
Qin Fangci had no money left, so of course she had no money to take the bus.
But Qin Fangci knew all the drivers, so she discussed with them that since all the money had been spent on medical treatment, she would send them back first and ask them to wait for her at the entrance of Liantang Village. She would then take her son back to get the money.
The driver looked at the mother and her two children, especially Li Laoer, who was wearing clothes that seemed to reveal some of his sexuality, and was not very happy. How could they have money to pay for the fare? Wouldn't they owe him a few cents when they got to the destination?
Looking at the two large baskets on Li Laoer's back, the driver had an idea. "If I can't pay, I can use these two baskets as payment."
Li Laoer wanted to curse. How dare he think that. He was asking him to give a basket worth ten cents for a three-cent fare. He was simply dreaming!
When you live under someone's roof, you have to bow your head.
My mother and younger brother both said that it would not be a good idea for them to go alone now and that it would be safer if they went with everyone else.
Forget it, let the driver take care of their baskets first.
It was just past noon when the driver waved the whip in his hand and the ox cart drove slowly along the country road.
Qin Fangci and Li Baisong sandwiched Li Laoer on the left and right, their eyes always looking towards the city gate. No suspicious people followed them.
The two of them were still worried. No one spoke along the way. They arrived at the village entrance in silence. Qin Fangci handed Li Laoer and the basket to the coachman and took Li Baisong home to get the money.
Li Laoer: "..."
The mother and son finally had room to talk. Li Bosong first comforted Qin Fangci, saying, "Mom, don't worry. I'm not scared. I've been watching behind us all the way. No one is following us."
They drove in reverse all the way so that they could look up and see if anyone was following them.
Qin Fangci nodded. "Do you think you should tell your family about your second brother being cheated?"
"Mom, I think we should tell you." They had earned their reputation. They promised not to report it to the police and never said they wouldn't tell their family. Besides, Li Baisong had other concerns. "Mom, our dried meat is gone, and our money is gone. It's hard to explain. And what about those bad guys? What if our family runs into them again one day?"
"Okay, I understand. Let's talk about it when everyone is gathered tonight." Li Laoer was given a clear trial.
Old Li's yard is quite quiet. The children have all gone out to dig wild vegetables. Spring is the season when wild vegetables grow wildly.
Li Lao Da and Yuan Shi went to plant beans in the field again. They originally wanted to plant vegetables, but they both felt that planting beans was easier and switched with Li Lao San and his wife. Li Lao San then took Wang Shi to plant vegetables in another field.
Only Mrs. Du and Li Yulan were at home.
Mrs. Du was cutting the meat according to Qin Fangci's instructions. Li Yulan almost couldn't help but want to secretly take some meat out several times.
Every time this happens, Qin Fangci’s words will ring in my mind again.
In Mrs. Du's eyes, her sister-in-law was very strange, as if she had something on her mind. She would come to her and stare at her cutting meat, then sigh and walk away with her hands behind her back. She would squat in the corner and poke at the wall with a small wooden stick, mumbling something inaudible.
She thought that her sister-in-law must be worried about her mother-in-law going out.
She was actually very worried because she didn't know if she could sell the dried meat after adding so many ingredients.
Qin Fangci and Li Baisong returned home in worry.
Li Yulan, who was squatting in the corner, was the first to see them. She immediately smiled like a flower, "Mom, little brother, you're back?"
"Mom, how are the dried meats selling?"
"Not very good." Qin Fangci said and went into the house. Li Yulan wanted to follow her, but Li Bosong held her back, "Fourth sister."
"What did Mom mean by that?" Li Yulan wondered. "What do you mean the dried meat isn't selling well?"
"When everyone comes back later, Mom will ask you, 'Do you still remember the four words you learned yesterday?'"
"Hey, little brother, why don't you tell me first? If you tell me, you will test me. I will memorize it all morning and not forget a single word. I will write it down for you later." Li Yulan couldn't wait.
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