Chapter 274: Changing into women's clothing is safer
At this tense moment, the old woman tremblingly took out a small cloth bag from the house.
As she opened it layer by layer, she found that inside was the pocket money she had saved for half her life, her funeral money.
"Sir, Sir, this is a small gift from us old ladies. Please be merciful and let them go..."
The old woman stuffed all the loose change and copper coins into the chief's hands and begged in a tearful voice.
The chief weighed the money. Although it was not much, even a little bit counts. Adding the jade pendant, he had made a lot of money.
He gave up in disappointment, but his eyes still lingered greedily on Chu Ruohan.
The look was sticky and dirty, causing Chu Ruohan's stomach to churn.
Gu Cheng'an protected Chu Ruohan tightly behind him, using his body to block out the disgusting sight.
The conscription leader left with his men cursing.
Chu Ruohan looked at their backs as they left, her nails digging deep into her palms.
After returning to Beijing, she will never let these people have an easy time!
Especially that Minister Liu!
Just as the group walked a short distance out of the yard, the soldier came up to the leader.
Rubbing his hands, he whispered in a flattering tone, "Boss, I think that young lady just now is really pretty, with such tender skin..."
"Why don't I find a chance to get her out for you?"
The leader glanced at him and snorted coldly, "What's the rush?"
"Our Minister Liu likes this kind of thing, especially this kind of beauty who looks cool and energetic."
"When we get back to the camp, I'll report this to the higher-ups. You'll definitely benefit from it."
As the recruiters walked away, the old woman said, "Let's go! We can't stay here any longer! Those ruffians might come back again anytime soon."
Gu Cheng'an nodded, quickly tied the luggage to the cart, and carefully helped Chu Ruohan get on the cart.
The old woman and the old man stood at the gate of the yard, looking at them reluctantly.
"Be careful on the road and take good care of your wife and the baby in her belly!" the old woman shouted at Gu Cheng'an.
Gu Cheng'an nodded without explaining that they were not a real couple.
He bowed deeply to the old couple to express his gratitude.
"Let's go." He whispered to Chu Ruohan, pushing the cart and slowly leaving the courtyard that provided them with shelter.
The mountain road was rugged, and Gu Cheng'an pushed the cart carefully, trying to avoid potholes and uneven places.
Chu Ruohan sat in the car, looking at the village gradually moving away, with mixed feelings in her heart.
"Gu Cheng'an." She suddenly spoke in a soft voice.
"Hmm?" Gu Cheng'an responded without stopping.
"Thank you." Chu Ruohan said sincerely. "If it weren't for you, I might have already..."
"No need to thank me." Gu Chengan interrupted her, his voice low. "I said, I owe you this."
Chu Ruohan was silent. She knew that Gu Chengan was referring to the affairs of this life, not the grudges of the past life. This made her feel even more complicated.
"How far is the capital from here?" she changed the subject.
Gu Cheng'an thought for a moment and replied, "According to normal walking distance, it will take about five days. But considering your condition, I'm afraid it will take about seven days."
Chu Ruohan nodded and said nothing more.
The sun gradually rose higher, shining down on them with warmth. Gu Cheng'an's steps were steady and powerful as he pushed the cart slowly forward on the mountain road.
Not long after, the faint sound of horse hooves and chaotic footsteps came on the wind.
Gu Cheng'an's face suddenly changed, and he immediately pulled the cart behind the dense bushes on the side of the road.
Chu Ruohan also heard it, and her heart instantly rose to her throat.
Another conscription team.
And judging from the noise, the scale seems to be larger than the previous one.
They can't hide, this road is the only way, they will be discovered sooner or later.
Gu Cheng'an gripped the handle of the cart tightly, his knuckles turning white, and scanned the surroundings sharply, looking for any possible escape route.
The mottled shadows of the trees fell on the two people's nervous faces.
Chu Ruohan looked at Gu Cheng'an's tense profile, then looked at her own belly which was not obviously bulging, and a thought suddenly popped into her mind.
"Gu Cheng'an."
Her voice was low, with an unmistakable urgency.
"We have to find a way."
Gu Cheng'an frowned. What else could he do in this situation? Forcing his way in would be tantamount to committing suicide.
Chu Ruohan's eyes fell on his tall figure, and then swept across his angular and heroic face.
"Put on women's clothes."
Gu Cheng'an suddenly turned his head to look at her, his eyes full of surprise and resistance.
"This is the most effective method right now." Chu Ruohan said calmly and quickly, "They want able-bodied men. They won't care too much about a 'woman'. Especially... a seemingly insignificant woman."
Gu Cheng'an was silent.
He knew that Chu Ruohan was right.
The jade pendant had been used up, and the old woman's coffin had also been taken with them. They were penniless, and if they encountered the conscription team again, there was no chance of survival.
Compared to exposing one's identity or being forcibly conscripted into the army, dressing as a woman is indeed the least risky option.
He took a deep breath, looked at Chu Ruohan's determined eyes, and finally nodded heavily.
"good."
Chu Ruohan breathed a sigh of relief and immediately searched her bag for some replacement clothes.
She didn't have many clothes to begin with, so she picked out a relatively loose coarse cloth dress and handed it to Gu Cheng'an.
Gu Cheng'an took the skirt with a faint scent of soapberry, his face full of awkwardness and discomfort.
He is a seven-foot-tall man and a general who has fought on the battlefield, but now he has to wear women's clothes.
But the situation was pressing, so he had no choice but to bite the bullet, turn his back, and put on the clothes with stiff movements.
Chu Ruohan suppressed her smile, found her spare hairpin, and walked behind him.
"Don't move."
She stood on tiptoe, let down Gu Cheng'an's long hair, and imitated the way the maid combed her hair in her memory, and tied it into a simple bun for him.
His hair was thick and black, with a toughness that was different from that of women.
After finally fixing her hair bun, Chu Ruohan took two steps back and looked around.
The coarse cloth long skirt looked a bit out of place on the tall and strong Gu Cheng'an. His broad shoulders and thick back made him look nothing like a woman.
But that face... because he lowered his head and let a few strands of long hair fall, his edges and corners were strangely softened.
Chu Ruohan couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Gu Cheng'an turned around suddenly, his eyes filled with anger.
"You look quite beautiful in women's clothes." Chu Ruohan quipped with her eyes curved, "I'm afraid those soldiers wouldn't be able to walk after seeing this 'beauty' like you."
Gu Cheng'an's ears turned red from her teasing, and he felt angry and helpless.
He glared at her unhappily, then bent down and grabbed a handful of wet soil from the ground.
He wiped it on his face without hesitation.
The dark mud marks covered up his overly handsome features and concealed his masculinity.
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