Chapter 47 Chapter 47 News, Free
Mianhe Hutong was fifteen or sixteen miles from the Ministry of Justice. Qin Jingyao ignored the gazes of the surrounding officials, his clothes fluttering as he walked swiftly. As soon as he left the Dali Temple, he ordered the driver to untie the carriage, jumped on his horse, and galloped away. Jiang Ting and his guards followed him at a rapid pace.
The journey should have taken half an hour, but Qin Jingyao rode back home in less than two-quarters of an hour. He abandoned his horse, threw down his whip, and went straight into his study. There were no official files here. Instead, the shelves were filled with her playthings from her free time, including selected porcelain artwork. Hanging on the walls were his own paintings depicting her expressions of joy, anger, and rage.
There were no pens, inkstones, or papers on the desk. Only a few scattered items that people had fished out from the bottom of the water near the shore. These were the clothes and personal belongings she had been wearing when the sun went down that day and that had been salvaged one after another.
Whenever he saw these, Qin Jingyao felt heartbroken and filled with deep regret!
It was painful to see her fall before his eyes. Just when they had reconciled and were reconciling, he had to watch her lose her.
He regretted that he shouldn't have been soft-hearted and agreed to let her go out. He should have hardened his heart, kept her firmly under his wings, and forbade her to set foot in any place that was lurking with danger!
How could he not know that in such a perilous situation, her chances of survival were slim to none? He also understood that the confessions of those traitors were mostly desperate fabrications, just to gain a moment's respite.
He kept ordering the search, expanding the area with almost paranoid abandon, over and over again, seemingly tireless. But deep down, he knew clearly that she probably had no hope of survival.
But he refused to admit it, and was even more unwilling to accept the fact that she was separated from him forever.
She was so lively and bright, yet so delicate that she was so scared of getting her ears pierced that she would shrink into his arms and tremble slightly!
How terrified must she be, falling from such a height? How painful must she be, swept away by the turbulent undercurrent and crashing against the jagged rocks? How desperate must she be, with no one to turn to, as she gradually drowns!
She had called out his name over and over again, asking him for help, but in the end, she died in the cold river with no response, filled with hatred.
Day after day, he recalled the scene of her falling into the water, and each time he became more and more certain that it was all because of his call that made her look back in panic and fall into the river.
Whenever he thought of this, the self-blame would be like a knife cutting into his heart, almost crushing him!
Yet he refused to stop, as if to punish himself. Thinking of her laughter and words still ringing in his ears, his heart felt sweet, like drinking honey. Thinking of her hurried fall in the blink of an eye, his heart was torn apart, and the pain was excruciating!
He was torn between sweetness and regret, and the pain continued over and over again, like an endless self-torture.
However, at this moment, he shed his grief and examined these "relics" with a critical eye for the first time.
The broken jade, the purse, the torn clothes, the embroidered shoes, all looked normal.
He picked up the shoulder bag she always carried with her. His fingertips traced the subtle textures on it, his eyes searching every inch of it. The ribbon was as long as his arm, and the purse was only as big as his palms.
There are only a few damaged parts, which were definitely caused by impact.
Suddenly, his sharp eyes fixed on the bottom of the purse, and his blood-stained long fingers stroked a scratch about an inch long. It was narrow at the top and wide at the bottom, with the cloth turned inside out but all facing upwards.
A cold light suddenly appeared in his eyes, which had been cold and silent for many days.
The tense jaw suddenly relaxed, the thin lips parted, and a low laugh inopportunely broke the silence in the room. The laugh was very light at first, then suddenly turned into a hearty laugh. After a moment, it stopped abruptly, leaving only a deeper silence.
Her long fingers gathered together, tightly grasping the clean, pink and white butterfly purse in her palm. Blood seeped slowly from the folds, quietly staining the skin.
Qin Jingyao raised his head and closed his eyes, and for the first time calmly recalled every detail related to her.
Passing by those sweet tenderness that I chewed over and over again, I went straight to the various things she had experienced before and after the incident. The powerlessness of resentment and determination, the unwillingness to act rashly, the surrender after struggling to no avail, and the calmness of forced relief.
Every change in expression is natural, genuine and impeccable.
It was so real that it made him let down his guard and he became blindly arrogant because of her long-lost liveliness and obedience.
What a good trick of lying in wait!
What a good trick to deceive the world and attack from the east while making a feint to the west!
What a desperate move, risking one's life and then surviving!
He knew that she was bold, but he never expected that she would be so bold as to use herself as bait in such a life-threatening plan!
She is an expert in swimming, but the underwater undercurrent is turbulent and the reefs are densely packed like fangs, making the water extremely dangerous--!
In order to leave him, she was not even afraid of death.
Qin Jingyao curled his lips silently, leaving only a sneer.
It turned out that during these days, he was also distracted by his concerns, and was blinded by one thing, falling into the trap of the authorities and falling into her hands again and again.
Really, good means, good skills, and great courage!
He opened his eyes, turned and sat down at the table, flattened out the crumpled purse, and opened the blood-stained white cloth on his palm. Knowing it was futile, he still casually wiped the blood off the purse with a clean place.
The smile on her lips suddenly disappeared when she touched the torn part of the ribbon. Her fingertips gently stroked the cracks, as if through these tiny traces, she was touching every scar she had suffered that day.
"Come here,"
Jiang Ting immediately responded from outside the door, "Please give me your instructions, sir."
"Send a message to Tongze to return to the capital immediately."
Jiang Ting was suddenly startled. If what the remnant said was true, and Miss Lan was indeed alive, she must have been seriously injured. They had searched the river day and night but found nothing. How could she have hidden her tracks alone?
If the girl is safe and sound, there will definitely be someone to pick her up and hide her.
If no one helped, the girl would be seriously injured. How could a living person disappear without a trace?
unless...
Even if we think positively, we should immediately conduct a thorough investigation of the house where the doctor and medicine were sought on those two days, find out the contact person, and retrieve the girl as soon as possible, instead of withdrawing our efforts.
Although Jiang Ting was puzzled, he knew that the adults' actions had their own hidden meanings, so he immediately bowed and obeyed the order.
"yes!"
*
In the middle of the twelfth lunar month, the officials sent by the Shangshuling Mansion began to return to the capital. The Shangshuling, who had always been in good health and had never missed a court session, suddenly took sick leave and did not leave the mansion for three days.
Since then, there has been no news of further searching for the person.
The entire court knew that the Minister of State had secretly mobilized the city guards after his beloved concubine fell into the water, abusing his power for personal gain and earning a reprimand from the Emperor. Although he subsequently restrained himself somewhat, he continued his secret search for her, no longer hiding from public view. This information reached not only the nobles at court but also the common people. While the details are unknown, the long search yielded no results, and the fate of a fragile woman, missing both alive and dead, is predictable.
Now, the Minister of the Chancellery finally stopped looking for him, and suddenly fell ill. There was no other possibility except that he had finally received the news of his death.
Upon hearing about this incident, even the emperor and empress in the palace sent imperial physicians to the mansion for treatment.
At this point, everyone in the capital was talking about the Shangshu Ling's infatuation. His reputation for cruelty in the past suddenly turned around, and everyone sighed for the woman's bad luck and misfortune.
*
Shangshu Ling Mansion, Qinghui Courtyard,
The young crown prince Yuan Zhaoming was dressed in a blue satin brocade robe and a golden crown tied around his hair. Although he was young, he was steady and dignified. He frowned and said earnestly to the man who was leaning on the couch with his knees bent, his brows furrowed and his eyes closed, looking sick.
"...My cousin taught me to be upright, to care about my country and my family, to maintain stability at home, to keep the people safe, and to pacify the country. No matter your position, you must fulfill your responsibilities. The higher the power, the more you must exercise self-discipline. You must exercise power, not be controlled by it. Women may seduce, but they will eventually wither. Those who indulge in romantic affairs will never achieve great things..."
"Cousin, you're so depressed and self-depressed right now. Doesn't that contradict what we taught you?"
However, no matter how earnestly he spoke or how he tried to provoke her, the person on the couch remained indifferent.
Although Yuan Zhaoming was intelligent, he was still young and inexperienced. Most of what he learned and knew came from the people around him. His determination was so strong that it could not be shaken by a few words from others. There were very few people in the world who could make him think twice before speaking. It was really too much to ask him to persuade others.
He was born into nobility, becoming the Crown Prince from birth, enjoying the greatest honors and using the most precious treasures in the world. His father, the Emperor, taught him the ways of a ruler, and his teachers taught him the classics, history, literature, and principles, so that he could understand and abide by the rules.
Only his cousin taught him to apply what he learned and put it into practice.
His cousin was a man of extraordinary talent, aspirations to rule the world, and the ability to handle everything with ease. He should have been maneuvering in the court, reveling in the world, and realizing his ambitions, but he shouldn't have been drowned in love.
Although Yuan Zhaoming did not understand love, he also understood human nature. He pondered for a moment and advised again,
"The dead cannot be brought back to life. If that girl knew, she would not be able to bear to see my cousin in such excessive grief. My father, the emperor, and my mother, the empress, are so worried about my cousin that they can't eat. The important affairs of the court need my cousin to take charge. Everyone is counting on me. I hope my cousin will take good care of himself, take his medicine and eat his meals on time, and return to court in good health soon."
After the young prince left, the indifferent Qin Jingyao finally opened his eyes. Perhaps stung by the word "death," a surge of resentment surged through him, and he sneered.
If she couldn't bear it, how could she let him watch her fall and suffer the pain of separation?
She was willing to leave at the risk of death and injury, without taking anything he gave her?
She hated his deception so much that she wanted to cut off all ties with him forever.
The hand that was supporting his forehead suddenly clenched, and veins on the back of his hand bulged.
*
Changle Village borders the capital, about seventy miles from the city walls. Benefiting from its suburban location, it boasts abundant water resources and fertile soil. This year's harvest was plentiful, ensuring even the most indolent of families could find food and clothing. Several village heads have served with some literary proficiency, possessing broad perspectives and integrity. They governed with reason and commanded respect through virtue, fostering a harmonious and virtuous atmosphere within the village.
The village has nearly a hundred households, some with children and grandchildren, flourishing. Others are widowed, widowed, and lonely. The latter are often given extra care by the villagers. Even when encountering a hot-tempered or unreasonable individual, the villagers are generally tolerant, either giving them some leniency or avoiding them, minimizing contact. Bullying of the weak and vulnerable is unheard of.
Widow Li's name was Li Fenfang, a beautiful name, and she had always been gentle and cheerful. However, after her husband died of a cold that no medicine could cure, her parents-in-law, heartbroken at the loss of their beloved, also died one after another. The family's money was exhausted on medical treatment and funeral expenses, leaving them penniless.
She raised her toddler daughter alone, fearing that she and her daughter would be bullied, and forced herself into a fierce character. Although she was alienated, often alone, and had slow news, she eventually found her place.
They had no parents-in-law to support, and there were many people in the village to take care of them. In addition, they were extremely hardworking and capable, so they had nothing to lack for whatever other people had.
Li Fenfang's husband's surname was Li, and her daughter, Li Jiaolan, inherited their bold, outgoing, and fearless nature. The mother and daughter enjoyed a prosperous life, far more comfortable than those women tasked with tending to large families.
The fields were bountiful, and the mother and daughter, sewing and spinning cotton, along with the fruit they grew in the yard, could all be traded in the city for silver. Her parents, out of pity, had recently sent her a large pig's hind leg, which they sold for nearly two taels of silver. They also spent three fen to buy a piece of pickled meat from the village butcher and hung it on the beam.
They had no worries about food and drink, and they bought new clothes, saved some money, and had surplus food. They had a prosperous and plentiful year.
The charcoal fire in the main room was burning brightly, and the thick cotton curtain kept the biting cold out, so one could feel warm even wearing only a single layer of clothing.
Li Fenfang was preoccupied with something, and she sighed from time to time. Especially when she looked up and saw her daughter, who was smiling foolishly across from the brazier while holding a storybook, and who had been raised by her to be plump and blessed, she couldn't help but sigh inwardly once again, "How could such a gentleman be mute?"
Otherwise, standing together with this naive girl, they would be such a perfect match!
Although she looked a little frail, she and her daughter were both strong. Although she did not look like the pale-faced scholar in her daughter's storybooks, her speech and behavior were very polite, like a scholar.
The last time he came, the clothes and shoes he wore had very rough stitching, and the fabric looked like the first time she had given it to him. It seemed that this young man had no caring woman around him.
But come to think of it, the first time he looked like he had suffered a great disaster, with tattered clothes, no woman would look at him. It was fortunate that he met a kind-hearted woman like her.
He is grateful and has a gentle personality, what a good candidate for a son-in-law.
Why is he a mute?
Li Jiaolan listened to her mother muttering and sighing without raising her head. Ever since her mother brought back the silver last time, she had been muttering like this from time to time. Her ears were almost callused from hearing it. She didn't care whether the man was mute or not. Anyway, it wouldn't delay her having children. As long as she could carry on the family line, it was enough.
Anyway, she has her mother watching over her and will never let her suffer any loss.
Hearing her mother still mumbling, Li Jiaolan interrupted, "Since mother has chosen her, just ask directly the next time you see her. As long as she's not born mute, then so be it. Wouldn't it be perfect for her to come to our house?"
When Li Fenfang heard this, she thought about it for a moment and realized that it was indeed the case. She and her mother were strong-willed and could support the family, while her son-in-law was gentle and kind, so the family was peaceful.
There was no way such a brilliant man could marry into her family. If they were willing, they would have to grumble, fearing he might have some hidden illness. But those who were willing to marry into her family were all ugly, useless, and useless, and Jiaojiao looked down on them.
Thinking about it this way, the young man had a handsome appearance, was grateful and polite, but was speechless, just like a beautiful jade with a slight flaw, which was a perfect match for her Jiaojiao.
When he gets to her house, she and her daughter will take care of him and will definitely make sure he wears appropriate clothes.
Li Fenfang suddenly understood, her eyebrows dancing with joy as she said repeatedly: "Mother is so old, yet she is not as knowledgeable as Jiaojiao! Good things should not be delayed. In two days, mother will go to Liu Housheng Village to ask around!"
"Mother, remember to ask that young man if he's willing. We don't have to have him, but we can't force him."
"Remember, remember, good things always require mutual consent. We won't do such immoral things as forcing others to eat something."
As the mother and daughter were talking, they heard someone knocking on the door. Li Fenfang stopped talking and asked. When she heard it was the head of the village, she didn't delay, put on her coat, lifted the curtain and went to open the door.
*
About three months ago, at the end of September, the Shangshu Ling Mansion in the capital sent people to Changle Village to investigate whether anyone had been to the river, whether anyone had been seen in the river, whether anyone had rescued or salvaged anyone from the river, or even buried a body, etc.
Any clues that are even slightly related to it must be reported in detail.
The village had fewer than a hundred households, and the villagers lived closely together. Any disturbance would spread throughout the village within a day. The Shangshu Ling Mansion was extremely powerful, so the village head did not dare to neglect it and immediately summoned the entire village to question them one by one.
Although he didn't know what the specific matter was, he knew that the people coming from the Shangshu Ling Mansion must be of great importance. The village head sternly rebuked the villagers not to hide anything. After repeatedly confirming that no one dared to deceive, he sent away the group of powerful and knife-wielding nobles.
Unexpectedly, after such a long time, the Shangshu Ling Mansion sent people again. However, this time, they were not as grand as last time, but were extremely low-key and avoided people.
The visitor did not search for the body as covertly as he did last time. After searching for the body again and again without success, he specifically instructed the village head before leaving that if any trace of a living person was found in the village, he must not make it public. Regardless of whether he was a man or a woman, he must report it to the government immediately, and he would be rewarded handsomely.
As the village head, the village head was supposed to protect the villagers. However, the instructions were strange, and although he felt puzzled, he dared not ask further questions, let alone speak out. He simply instructed his son to search the village with him in secret and to guard the village entrance day and night in shifts.
The reward is secondary. I am just afraid that the villagers will be implicated.
The father and son had been on edge for days, seeing nothing unusual in the village, nor any sign of strangers. Just as they breathed a sigh of relief, they both fell ill from exhaustion.
He was worried because no one was watching him, but he didn't dare to reveal the matter casually. The more anxious he was, the worse his condition got. It took him five or six days before he was able to get out of bed.
Who would have thought that during these few days of recuperation, as soon as I left home today, I heard that Widow Li from the east village had hurried out of the village with the pig's hind leg that her parents had sent her, which she had shown off so much. When she came back, she was empty-handed. I wonder if she had secretly given it to someone.
On ordinary days, the village head would never have interfered, no matter whether she gave her away or sold her. But at this critical moment, he dared not be careless in the slightest, for fear of alerting the enemy.
He first inquired privately about whether anyone in the village had exchanged or bought the item with her. After confirming that no one from the village had done it, he felt relieved. He stopped asking questions and didn't dare delay for a moment. He didn't care about the snowy and dangerous road and the need to travel at night. He didn't dare say much to his wife and daughter-in-law, but simply said it was an important matter in the village and hurriedly called his son, who had just recovered from an illness, to deliver a letter to the city.
The Shangshuling Mansion took this matter very seriously. His son had left the capital in a donkey cart at noon the previous day. The roads were slippery in the snow, so he would have arrived in Beijing at least at noon the next day. Unexpectedly, just after noon today, someone arrived on a fast horse.
Upon learning that his son had been properly accommodated after delivering the letter and would return on his own, the village head felt a little relieved and followed the visitor's instructions to lead the way to Widow Li's home in the east of the village.
It was also a good luck for his son that when he knocked on the door, Tongze just returned from somewhere else without success.
In recent days, there have been so many reports of abnormal discoveries. Since Tongze knows the most detailed information, he has to personally check every case.
For over a month, he had been on the move non-stop, running day and night, with less than two hours of rest each day. The palace guards could still take turns, but he had no one to replace him, and he was gradually finding it difficult to hold on.
However, whenever there was news, he would set off immediately without saying a word. Even though he had received many false reports, he still gave his all every time.
How could a village woman like Li Fenfang withstand the might of the Shangshu Lingfu guards? Before the village head could even shout an order, she felt her knees and waist weaken at the sight of his respectful demeanor.
Once interrogated, he no longer cared about his "son-in-law" and just tremblingly told out everything he knew, for fear of getting into trouble. He didn't even dare to hide a penny of the silver he had received twice.
Tongze's expression changed drastically when he heard the word "mute". When he heard about the man's appearance, clothing, and the things he had exchanged twice, his scalp suddenly tingled and his spirits lifted.
We are 60% sure that we can determine that person's identity!
However, he didn't dare to relax until he saw the woman in person and confirmed her identity. He questioned her again and again until he was sure that he could not squeeze any more useful information out of her. Only then did he count out the equivalent amount of silver and exchange it for the money.
Afterwards, he asked the head of the village in detail about the situation in the village. Tongze did not delay any longer and strictly ordered that today's matter should be limited to the few people present. If anyone leaked it again, he would be punished severely. Then he quickly searched the village with the three guards behind him. After confirming that there was no one there, he left the village to meet up with the other guards.
All the things he exchanged were for clothing and shelter, which shows that it was difficult to get supplies where that person was, but he could still ensure that he had enough food.
When he first appeared, he was shoeless, ragged, and unkempt, clearly trying to avoid people and hiding in the wilderness outside the village. The fact that he chose a lone widow from among the crowd as his trading partner, far from the village, further indicated that his hiding place was not far from the village and that he had been secretly observing it for some time.
A location where one can observe the situation in the village while being concealed enough -
Changle Village relied on farming, and the surrounding terrain was flat, with the nearest village six or seven miles away. With only paths through the fields, anyone walking would be seen. While there were a few empty houses in the village, they were constantly watched over by neighbors and the village head, making it difficult to hide anyone.
Tongze glanced around and walked to the place where the two men were doing business. His eyes went straight to the distant mountains about four or five miles southeast of Changle Village, which were still lush and green even in this cold winter.
"Start from this place, hide your tracks, and search the mountain."
"Understood!"
*
Lan Nongnong's hometown is located in the south, where snow is rare, but she loves snowy days. It's not because she's being pretentious, but because she simply enjoys the subtle rustling of falling snowflakes and the crisp crunch of her feet on the snow.
Therefore, almost every winter, she would go north with her family to enjoy the snow, and she learned how to ice skate and ski.
However, time and space had suddenly changed, and now the most difficult time for her was winter. Most people used cloaks, capes, and hand warmers to keep warm, which were mostly made of fur, but she couldn't use any of them.
During the first winter I spent here, although I had cotton clothes to cover my body, I had to stay indoors most of the time and burn charcoal to keep warm.
The roads were difficult to travel in winter and there were few pilgrims. After learning that Aunt Yun Ning knew how to spin yarn, she told her the essentials orally and she tried it herself and actually made some velvet cotton yarn.
But what she knew was limited after all. Fortunately, Aunt Yun Ning was able to learn by analogy and after only three or four attempts, she had figured it out.
Every time at this moment, she couldn't help but feel grateful again to Emperor Wu Sheng for introducing cotton, which allowed her to suffer less from the cold winter and enjoy its convenience.
To thank the aunts for their patience and willingness to waste materials to try again and again with her, she knitted two sets of hats, scarves and gloves for each aunt and herself throughout the winter.
Weaving cotton yarn is not a difficult task. You can master the basics by watching it a few times and trying it yourself. With diligent practice, you can become a master. For someone as talented as Aunt Yunning, it is not difficult to create her own needlework.
But at that time, everyone regarded craftsmanship as a secret treasure. When she first asked her aunts to weave together, no one wanted to get involved, for fear that she would violate the family precepts and reveal the family skills.
After she repeatedly stated that this was not a family secret and could be made public, and swore an oath to heaven, she finally convinced the aunts.
Thus, every winter, these cotton products were sent to Caichunju for sale, bringing in a considerable amount of income for Qingyun Temple. Even after she moved to Yuqing City, she was still able to add a considerable amount of income every winter.
If she were in Yuqing, she would be sitting in a warm room with a kang, drawing patterns, or helping the aunts at the nunnery with cotton thread. Then, drinking a bowl of steaming hot soup, gathering around a specially built small stove, enjoying the hot pot and watching the heavy snow fall, nothing could be more comfortable.
"call,"
A faint white mist flashed across her lips, and Lan Nongnong covered her cold stomach with her cracked and red hands. She let out a light breath, raised her eyes and glanced at this house which was quite simple compared to Yuqing's residence, patted her cheeks, and stopped thinking about it.
Compared to the bare walls of more than two months ago, now at least there is a bed, a quilt, and a brazier for warmth. Although everything looks shabby, it is all kept clean.
The aunts often say, "Live by the mountain, live by the mountain," and it's true. These days, she's relied entirely on this mountain to get by. The mountain is full of treasures, so food and drink are no worries, but clothing is a real problem.
Fortunately, everyone's potential can be brought out, and she also learned a lot of life skills from the aunts in the nunnery. Without a bed or a quilt, she gathered a lot of dry firewood, put it on a tattered door panel, and dried a lot of large leaves, and wove rattan strips into a bed cover and door curtains.
In short, there are always more solutions than problems, and she managed to make quite a few practical things, enough for her to make the temporary transition.
Lan Nongnong warmed her hands over the brazier, then stood up, donned a coarse cotton jacket, and carefully put on cotton gloves. She lifted the thick door curtain, made of several layers of rags, and quickly scooped up the solidified lard on the ground.
As she stood up, she looked up at the sky, then hurried back into the house in two steps.
Lan Nongnong had never suffered hardship since her childhood. Even after traveling to this difficult ancient time, she was always carefully cared for. Although she wasn't completely untouched by domestic violence, she could be considered spoiled.
Now, for more than two months, she has had to fend for herself for food, clothing, housing and transportation. This is truly the most difficult time in her life.
A pair of hands were rubbed by firewood, branches, and vines, forming blisters, broken skin, and bleeding. The palms and fingertips were covered with scars of varying lengths, and the joints of the index fingers were calloused and hardened.
When the weather gets cold, you need to touch cold water when washing, eating and drinking. Although you are not frostbitten, your fingers will be red all day long and itchy when it gets hot, which are signs of frostbite.
Lan Nongnong sat back in front of the brazier, removed her gloves, and scooped some lard onto a smooth-edged piece of wood. She then carefully smeared it across her fingers and the backs of her hands. The greasy oil moisturized the lacerations, and the itching and pain subsided.
Fortunately, the most difficult times were over. For over two months, though she dared not show her face to anyone, she kept a close eye on the activities in the village below. Then, more than two weeks ago, the weather suddenly turned cold. Her few clothes, increasingly ragged from washing, proved insufficient to withstand the bitter cold. While there were reed catkins and cotton in the mountains, the catkins were unusable, and the cotton was only a few sprigs, hardly enough for her needs. Alone, she dared not venture into the dense forest.
As there was no sign of pursuers in the village, she decided to go down the mountain to exchange for some necessities.
Having lived here for over two years, she'd learned that people in both urban and rural areas were wary of outsiders. Even when she'd moved into Wulan Hutong, she'd been able to find safety thanks to her relationship with her aunts.
Her current status was sensitive, and for her own safety, she absolutely could not rashly enter the village alone. Therefore, over the past two months, she had carefully observed the villagers' daily routines and common routes, carefully studying them.
During the prosperous Sheng Dynasty, there were several people in the village who bought and sold goods every day. Even the peddlers who walked the streets would come here every ten days or half a month.
She hadn't seen anyone for a long time, so she needed a reliable partner. The woman in the village who often left early and returned late, always keeping to herself, was the best choice.
To be cautious, she changed into men's clothing, covered all exposed skin with ashes and mud, and even made her hair gray.
The clothes had already been torn by the rocks in the water or by walking through the woods, so there was no need to make them look old. They just had a few marks on them from being rubbed in the ashes.
However, she did not dare to make herself too messy and sloppy, trying her best not to attract attention.
In recent years, the weather has been favorable, with no natural disasters, so refugees are rare. While the village isn't wealthy, every household has enough food, and everyone has a rosy complexion. Working from sunrise to sunset, life is simple yet peaceful. Given these circumstances, banditry is a rare problem.
Therefore, she only slightly modified her appearance, acting like a weak scholar who had lost his way and was in trouble, and she also pretended to be speechless to avoid causing trouble.
She had been studying for many years, and having lived here for a long time, she had gradually acquired the gentle and gentle demeanor of contemporary scholars. She also carefully reviewed the gentlemanly behavior she had seen, studying and practicing it, so even in her downtrodden state, she still exuded a certain elegance and refinement.
So at that time, she would wait by the road that the woman had to pass every day to return home. When she saw someone coming from afar, she would bow and greet them humbly to stop them.
At first, he used a tree branch as a pen to write questions on the ground. Seeing that the other party could not read, he pondered for a moment, then calmly changed to using gestures, and then respectfully offered silver and money.
In this way, he finally got the thick clothes and needlework that the other party had prepared for the winter. With these ordinary clothes, it was naturally much easier to meet people and ask for help later.
Thinking back to that day, the aunt was at a loss when she suddenly bowed to stop her. When she realized that she was speechless and dressed in rags, her face was filled with shock and pity. Thinking of this, Lan Nongnong couldn't help laughing, and a hint of complacency arose in her heart.
After a moment, her smile faded, and the lively expression between her eyebrows and eyes slowly faded.
I wonder how my aunts are doing now, if everything is okay, and if the news of her falling into the water has reached them...
Lan Nongnong stared at the brazier in a daze for a long time before she suddenly woke up. She took a deep breath, stood up, lifted the curtain and walked out, walked to the next room, and counted the items she had saved up.
When she fled that day, she didn't dare take much luggage with her, for fear of alerting the enemy. She left behind no important items, such as her household registration, travel permit, or large banknotes.
To lure the tiger away from the mountain, he waited until the current slowed down a bit, then took off his outer shirt, abandoned his shoulder bag and spare purse, and let them be swept away by the waves. The hairpins in his hair and the pearls on his ears had already been scattered in the turbulent current.
Now, all he had left were the twenty or so taels of silver that he had hidden with him every day and had managed to save by chance.
Although she had no worries about food and clothing, she still faced many inconveniences. The most important thing was not to fall ill. She had found some cold-repelling herbs in the mountains and had dried them and stored them, but she still couldn't find the right remedy, and she felt uneasy.
After all, she was a stranger, and she had pretended to be lost, so it was inconvenient for her to show up in public often. Later, when she expected the peddler to arrive, she went to the aunt again, under the pretext of thanking him, and exchanged some items for her, and bought some additional expenses. This arrangement was barely enough for her current situation.
In a few days, with heavy snow and frost, it would be difficult to go out again. She could still filter the snow for drinking water, and she had stored a good supply of wild rice and vegetables. Last time, the aunt hadn't expected her to come with gifts, and she couldn't refuse. She hurried home, brought back a large piece of pork, a mixture of fat and lean, and stuffed it into her arms.
Fortunately, she had some silver with her, and when the other party waved his hand and hurried away, she quickly threw a piece of silver weighing about two taels, then turned around and left quickly.
Just like the winter clothes the aunt had given her earlier, this piece of pork was exactly what she needed right now. With the nourishing meat, her body would gradually regain strength, and the fat from the meat would also moisturize her skin and prevent cracking, so it was very useful in any case.
After she had overcome the crisis, before leaving, she would definitely find that aunt, ask her name solemnly, and thank her sincerely.
Lan Nongnong calculated carefully, realizing that what she needed most was firewood. Furthermore, she had very little money left. Although she wouldn't have to spend much if she stayed at home, she was hiding here for the time being. Firstly, it was better to stay still than to move, and secondly, she really had nowhere else to go.
In addition, the seasons change and the journey becomes difficult. After this winter, when the wind dies down, she will eventually leave. Naturally, she needs to make plans early and prepare enough money.
Without money, she could hardly move forward, and the skills she had used to make a living were no longer useful. These days, apart from maintaining her daily expenses, she used the rough paper and pens she bought from the peddler to write storybooks to make a living.
Having adapted to the life here, my writing became a little sloppy, and my handwriting was no longer as neat and tidy as it used to be when my mother checked it.
But now, Lan Nongnong was actually glad for her momentary laziness. Not to mention her aunt, she was afraid no one else would know that she could actually write in such a neat and tidy handwriting that was completely different from her usual one.
Even if the content of the storybook was carefully tailored to the local customs, even if it was circulated, no one would have to worry about the handwriting being recognized. Naturally, these strange and romantic stories would not catch the eye of the high official.
During this winter, I will write a few more volumes of storybooks. In the spring of next year, I will go to the peddler and sell them at a low price, so as to get some silver to cover my travel expenses.
As long as she leaves this world, she will have plenty of ways to make a living in the future.
Lan Nongnong took the clay pot from the brazier, where the shredded pork and vegetable porridge was bubbling. She picked up a two-finger-thick fire stick and poked the charcoal fire in the basin. She fished out two bird eggs, slightly larger than glass beads, peeled them alternately, and buried them in the porridge.
The steam rises, wrapped in the aroma of meat, the sweetness of rice and the freshness of vegetable leaves, all rushing into your mouth and nose. Before you even take a bite, the warmth of happiness fills your heart.
The previous incident had damaged his foundation, and coupled with poor appetite, he often had dull pain in his stomach.
Lan Nongnong held the pot loosely, sipping and chewing slowly. After half the pot of warm meat and vegetable porridge had gone down her throat, she felt a warmth growing in her stomach, which then slowly spread to her limbs and bones, and her entire body was no longer cold.
She grabbed a nearby fire extinguisher and placed it over the brazier. She dressed and went outside, but saw the sky was thick with clouds, showing no sign of a change in the weather. Lan Nongnong carefully closed the door curtain, turned, and went to the compartment to retrieve a backpack, a hemp rope, and a wooden staff, then headed straight for the mountain.
With the arrival of winter, the wild animals hibernate, and the mountains seem even more peaceful. Fortunately, I haven't encountered any large or furry beasts in recent days. The occasional small insects and snakes are no longer a threat.
Now, except when she was asleep, she would dress as a man even when she was alone in the house. She had already prepared some self-defense items as soon as she had enough supplies. If she really encountered someone from the mountain, there was no need to panic.
Winter wood was dry and brittle, with branches naturally falling off. She used a kitchen knife to chop off the broken branches, and she managed to collect quite a bit of dry firewood. After she had a full pile, she bent over and picked some cold-resistant wild vegetables. However, it was freezing cold, and even the birds had already migrated south. She was afraid that she would have a hard time finding bird eggs like she had last time.
Returning with her load of firewood, Lan Nongnong was steaming hot, her hair beneath her hat damp with sweat, and a thick mist hung from her mouth and nose. She unloaded the firewood from her back, sorted the wild vegetables and set them aside, stretched her aching shoulders and arms briefly, and hurried back to the house.
There were still embers from the firewood I'd burned earlier, and with a handful of hay, the flames slowly reignited. Lunch was simply reheating the meat and vegetable porridge from the morning. Afterward, I took a short nap and slowly stretched out in the house.
She knew that her body had not yet recovered, so she did not dare to overexert herself and did not go out in the afternoon.
After lunch, he moved to the old wooden table, which was fixed with rattan ropes, took out his pen and paper, and began to write his storybook, pausing occasionally to stretch his stiff neck and shoulders.
A day passes quietly in such trivial yet fulfilling busyness.
As the night deepened, the fire basin still glowed faintly, and the door was slightly ajar. Lan Nongnong curled up in bed, her whole body sunk into the thick mattress, with only the tip of her nose exposed.
She deliberately kept her mind occupied, mulling over and over various trivial matters, her thoughts running through her mind like a revolving lantern. With survival at the top of her mind, she had no room for other distractions.
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