Chapter 47 I have a feeling something's going to happen!
With such strength to struggle, it's impossible for it to die.
Shen Lanxi thought for a moment, took a box out of her space, placed it quietly at the door, and left quietly!
The exile caravan hadn't gone far when they encountered a small group of refugees, a dozen or so. The constables, brandishing their knives, intimidated them and dared not approach, but they didn't leave either, following them at a distance.
At first, Liu Laohu didn't realize the seriousness of the situation until at noon when an old woman brought two skinny children to beg for food.
"Xiao Fang, go and scout in the direction the old woman left. See how many of them there are. Be careful not to let anyone find out!" After carefully instructing Liu Laohu, he immediately went to find Liu Yanhui.
"Young Master Liu, why don't we let the prisoners ride in the carriage?" Liu Laohu asked worriedly.
Liu Yan thought for a moment and shook her head: "Wait a little longer!"
Liu Laohu paced anxiously back and forth, and soon Xiao Fang came to report back.
"Brother Liu, it's the same group of people we encountered before, a dozen or so. They've been following us. I secretly followed them and overheard them saying, 'We're government officials, we have plenty of food on our carts, we certainly won't let them starve to death!'"
Liu Laohu immediately became furious: "They're trying to take advantage of us! No, we have to hurry and get going. What if we run into a larger group of refugees and they team up with us to rob us?"
Liu Yanhui was anxious inside, but he didn't show it on his face. He always felt that the young master must have had his reasons for making such arrangements.
"Wait a little longer. If there are too many refugees, then let the prisoners onto the carriage!" Liu Yanhui glanced cautiously at Liu Laohu. With the young master not around, she wondered if he could keep him in check.
Liu Laohu clenched his fists, paced back and forth a few times, and finally let out a frustrated "Hmph."
"Then let's wait a bit longer. Anyway, we'll run into refugees wherever we go!"
Liu Yan felt relieved and turned to go have dinner with her mother and sister.
Thanks to the young master, his mother and sister were no longer staying with the exiled prisoners. He dared not let his mother and sister stay with the yamen runners, nor could he trouble the young master's people. So when he set off, he openly paid to rent a carriage.
The constables are happy to make money, and the prisoners won't say anything!
"Yan Hui, come and eat quickly." After Liu Yan Hui's mother finished cooking, she wrapped the food in an old cotton coat and hid it. When she saw her son come back, she quickly stuffed it into his hands like a thief.
"Son, eat quickly, so those shameless people won't covet it!" Madam Su glared at the Shen family members not far away, annoyed.
Liu Yanhui was puzzled and didn't ask, so she obediently took the rice bowl and started eating.
The fragrant rice is topped with a round egg and a few slices of salted meat. It smells so good!
Liu Yanjun couldn't help but swallow as she watched her brother eat with relish.
"Mother and sister, here's some eggs and salted meat for you!" Liu Yanhui finished her rice, but didn't touch the eggs and salted meat hidden underneath.
Although Liu Yanjun really wanted to eat, she forced herself to say, "Brother, Mother and I have already eaten. You should eat quickly, or someone will come begging for food later!"
Liu Yanhui understood why her mother had spoken so sarcastically earlier.
"Someone's begging for food? Who is it?"
With a long face, Madam Su pushed the bowl back into her son's hands and said, "Who else could it be but the Shen family! Before, when they had influential people helping them, they all became arrogant, thinking they were some kind of upright official, looking down on everyone. Now that their influential people aren't helping them anymore, they're all jumping around in a panic, trying to get something for themselves!"
Liu Yanhui frowned: "You're not from the main branch, are you?"
Liu: "I don't know which room she's from, I don't recognize her. She's a young girl, probably sent here by her elders!"
Liu Yan ate the egg and meat in her bowl in a few bites, and then she had an idea.
"Mother and sister, these next few days will be tough, so don't cook meat. We'll eat whatever the constables eat!" Boiled eggs were alright, but the aroma of meat and rice was just too overpowering. Being watched felt like being pricked by needles, extremely uncomfortable.
"Son, is something wrong?"
Liu Yan replied, "I don't know, but I have a feeling something's going to happen!"
His feeling soon came true. In the afternoon, a wealthy man stood out from the group of prisoners, claiming to be a relative of the prime minister. He said his family was rich merchants and that they had given him a lot of money when he was exiled. He also boasted that his family would send people to Dongchuan to serve him and that he would be able to live a life of luxury there!
This isn't bragging; he really did pay for his own transportation and meals, and even paid someone to massage his back and legs. He was incredibly generous!
Although the journey was arduous for the yamen runners escorting prisoners, if they happened to encounter a wealthy family, the kickbacks alone could be enough to cover their salary for a year or even several years. It was a lucrative job that depended on luck.
The constables were happy to accept money from anyone willing to pay. They didn't even have to carry anything; there were ready-made carriages available for them to ride in!
"Anyone who wants to ride in a carriage, pay up!"
Apart from the Shen family, everyone else's eyes lit up!
They're rich, they should have said that sooner!
The prisoners, who originally intended to spend money in Anzhen, ended up spending it all on transportation!
The Shen family was dumbfounded!
They have no money!
"Sirs, please have mercy! We'll have money for you when our relatives arrive. Could you please let us ride now?"
A single lash of the whip is the answer!
"You want to take a bus when you have no money? You're dreaming!"
"With things in such a mess right now, who knows if your relatives will even come? Trying to fool us? We'll whip you to death!"
Although the whip didn't actually hit the Shen family members, it still terrified them!
"Yuanjing, aren't you all supposed to be able to talk to the constables? Hurry up and go talk to them so that I can ride in the carriage with your grandfather!" Old Madam Shen looked pained; she couldn't move an inch!
Shen Yuanjing said with difficulty, "Grandmother, you already sent me to talk to her two hours ago, and I almost got whipped!"
Madam Shen was furious: "If your sister hadn't missed it, would your grandfather and I have suffered like this? She's your sister; if she's done something wrong, you have to take responsibility. Make a few more trips, consider it atonement for your sister's sins and fulfill your filial duty. Now hurry up and go!"
Shen Yuanjing felt very uncomfortable. If it weren't for his sister, they would have died long ago. Instead of being grateful, his grandmother blamed his sister.
“Grandmother, we are prisoners, that’s how it is. My sister did nothing wrong, why should I atone for her sins!”
Madam Shen was furious. Pointing at her eldest son, she scolded, "Eldest son, what a fine son you've raised! He's just like you, openly talking back to his elders and showing no respect. Is this how you raise your son?"
Shen Conglian: "Brother, it's one thing for you to upset our parents, but how did you end up raising the child as well?"
Shen Congli: "Our family doesn't tolerate unfilial descendants. If we weren't on the road to exile, I would definitely have my parents kick your whole family out of the house!"
Shen Congyi: "When children and grandchildren are unfilial, it is the beginning of misfortune for the family!"
Shen Congwen blushed and turned to scold his son.
"Yuanjing, how dare you speak to your grandmother like that? Just do whatever she tells you to do, now!"
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