"Not many people knew about it, except for Old Li's place, Old Tu's family who sells eggs and meat, the neighbors in front and behind, and Aunt An and my family."
"Notify everyone. If anyone asks, just don't mention me. You can bring something over." There's a saying: "He who eats another's food is bound to him, and he who takes another's gift is bound to him." If someone insists on telling her, there's nothing she can do.
"Then I'll go right away."
"Go to Aunt An first. She's the midwife, so she'll probably be the first one you ask questions."
"Okay." Qin's mother hurriedly went out.
Yao Yao still didn't understand, "Sister, what's wrong?"
Mu Run replied, "Avoid trouble. The people you met don't look like good people. They're looking for twins, how can that be a good thing? Although we don't know them and have nothing to do with them, who knows if we'll be caught in the crossfire and suffer innocent harm."
"Hmm, now that you mention it, I've thought about it, and they really were quite scary. And the county magistrate was very polite to them."
"Be cautious these next few days. When Yaozong gets back, tell him too."
...
"Open the door." Someone knocked on the outer courtyard gate.
Mu Run, who was breastfeeding her children, felt a sudden tightness in her chest. Unfortunately, Qin's mother had gone to buy groceries and was not at home, while Wang Yaozong had gone to work on the riverbank.
Yao Yao put down her embroidery and got up from the chair. "Sister, I'll go see. I know what to say."
"Be careful." Mu Run's heart was in her throat.
These past few days, they've been searching all over the county town for families who have given birth. Although Qin's mother had already explained the situation and the families had all agreed, it's better to be safe than sorry.
Yao Yao opened the door.
Looking at the constables outside the door, they seemed somewhat familiar. "Gentlemen, is there anything I can help you with?"
One of them said, "Last time I came to your house, you said your sister was giving birth. Has she finished giving birth yet?"
Yao Yao remembered and immediately wanted to slap herself for being so talkative... talking nonsense!
"It's been half a month already, she's already given birth. My sister had a daughter, but the baby is a bit weak, so it's not convenient to tell anyone yet. Thank you for your concern, officers."
"It's okay, having a daughter is fine too. You don't have to go to the battlefield. Let's keep it this way."
The two men left laughing and joking, seemingly not taking the task too seriously, just going through the motions.
After hearing Yao Yao's words, Mu Run breathed a slight sigh of relief.
*******
A small inn in a rural village about 500 miles from Jingyue County.
Qiao Dongzi took Yang Yang into the inn for a meal.
I asked the innkeeper for a pot of wine, two dishes (one meat and one vegetable), and two large bowls of fried noodles with eggs.
The waiter invited Qiao Dongzi and Yang Yang to sit down and rest.
At this moment, a middle-aged man entered the inn with a woman, four young men and women, and three children.
They look like a big family.
This family was staying at the inn; their donkey cart outside was loaded with many bags and bundles.
Qiao Dongzi glanced at it and then ignored it. Just then, the waiter brought over their food, and they began to eat.
Yang Yang took a bite, then put down his chopsticks and asked the waiter for a large bowl of noodle soup.
"It's a little salty," Yang Yang said to Qiao Dongzi.
Qiao Dongzi: "...You're such a troublemaker. You should be grateful you have anything to eat."
Yang Yang: "I didn't want to come either, but my uncle insisted that I come with you to broaden my horizons."
"You should have refused Lao Yang." Qiao Dongzi never knew that men could be so indecisive and procrastinating.
Based on his pace when he was traveling alone, he should have reached the capital long ago.
But with Yang Yang along, the journey would involve either eating or lodging. They absolutely couldn't travel without eating, as they might faint by the roadside. They also couldn't spend the night in the wilderness, as that would be dangerous.
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