Song Liyun asked in surprise, "Uncle Kui, what brings you here?"
The person who arrived was Song Dekui, who had parted ways with them long ago.
As soon as he arrived, the soldiers beside him quickly spurred their horses and galloped away.
In the swaying carriage, Song Dekui raised his eyebrows and said, "What were you thinking! I just said I'd think about it, and you disappeared the moment I turned around. I promised my father I'd take good care of you."
Song Zhenping was surprised, delighted, and embarrassed: "Uncle Kui, you said that building the border fortress is hard work, so we don't want to burden you."
He just said he wanted to go to the border village, but Song Dekui didn't agree, only saying he would think about it.
Song Zhenping didn't want to make things difficult for others, so he quietly left with Song Liyun and found soldiers to volunteer to board the carriage. Unexpectedly, Song Dekui would chase after them.
It was Song Zhenping's first time going out in complete darkness, and he also had to think about protecting his younger sister and brother. It would be impossible for him not to be flustered.
Having a trustworthy elder by your side is naturally a great joy.
Song Dekui slapped his thigh: "I'm your uncle, what do you mean by implicating me? Before, it was your grandma... oh, Granny Gu was too powerful, she didn't dare to talk to you. But it's different now, no one cares! Hey! Tell me, what's the border village like? Isn't it interesting?"
Upon hearing this, Song Liyun couldn't help but smile.
This Song Dekui is the youngest son of Song Lizheng. Although he calls him "uncle" all the time, he is actually only two years older than Song Zhenping, and he still speaks like a child.
At the age of twenty-one, he had no desire to settle down. He spent his days hanging out in the mule and horse market, listening to people talk about things from all over the country. His heart had long been restless.
When he heard that his family had arranged for him to perform corvée labor and take care of Song Zhenping and his sister, he agreed without hesitation.
Now that Song Zhenping and his sister are going to the border village, he naturally wants to go with them.
Yes! It's about taking care of them, not just playing around.
With him around, Song Liyun didn't dislike it; having more people around was a good thing.
Anyway, I'm going to the border village and I don't plan to go back, so it doesn't matter if Song Dekui finds out.
As Song Zhenping moved further away from Xiaoshi Village, his mood underwent a complete transformation.
At this moment, a smile appeared on his scarred face, his eyes were full of hope, and he spoke much more casually to his uncle, Song Dekui.
Upon hearing Song Dekui ask what the border village was like, Song Zhenping murmured, "It must be a very, very big village, where everyone can walk around freely and speak loudly!"
Song Liyun: "...That's it?"
She also thought about what to say.
Song Dekui laughed so hard he almost cried, his tall, thin body shaking like a bamboo pole.
Besides the four of them, there were a few others sitting on the other side of the carriage, resting with their eyes closed. Hearing the laughter and chatter, they couldn't help but glance at them: "They're all fools. If the border village were so nice, everyone would want to go. Why do soldiers have to come out and kidnap people from the government? They'll be crying when they get there."
A commotion erupted outside the carriage as a horse galloped past, kicking up dust and drawing curses from the escorting soldiers.
Song Dekui spat out some dust, squinted at the yellow-robed official on horseback, and looked at him with a puzzled expression. He whispered, "Hey, it's Brother He from Qingping Town's public office. What's he doing sending an urgent document to the county town so early in the morning..."
He stopped abruptly before he could finish speaking. He thought of Song Liyun's elopement. Could it be that the Xue family had already reported it to the police?
Most people don't know the Xue family's background in town, but he does.
Master Xue is a ruthless loan shark who has never suffered a loss. If he finds out that Song Liyun has run away from her wedding, he will definitely send people to hunt her down.
Song Zhenping also thought of his second sister's elopement, and his face turned pale. His fingers, which were gripping the edge of the carriage, were trembling. He wished that the carriage beneath him could run away to the border village and hide.
Song Liyun's lips curved into a smile: It seems that Song Lao Er reported the theft, but it's much later than I expected. The Xue family should get the news soon.
Thinking about how she had deliberately agreed to the marriage proposal from Master Xue and how the Xue family had sent her a gift box, Song Liyun couldn't help but smile.
With a prior engagement, and seeing Song Shuirong's beautiful appearance, which man would be willing to let her go?
Even if Song Lao Er were to sell everything he owned to try and break off the engagement, Master Xue would never agree.
What's more, Song Lao Er hasn't even smashed the pot yet.
What kind of life Song Shuirong will lead then will depend on what her biological father said and what promises he made to Master Xue.
There's nothing to blame for this.
In that courtyard, apart from the pigs and chickens whose blood was still warm, everyone was a zombie devoid of humanity, unworthy of sympathy.
The town's clerk rode his horse at full speed, quickly leaving the carriage behind.
No one knew that he had already recognized Song Dekui as he passed by these laborers.
Seeing the soldiers with dark faces nearby, he didn't dare to go forward and ask.
As for the people next to them, they didn't look closely.
Anyway, Song Dequan had said in the public housing that all you needed to do was report the case to the county government, and you were not allowed to get involved in any other people or things you encountered on the way.
Unlike the rollercoaster of emotions experienced in the carriage, Song Lao Er in Xiaoshi Village was truly like an ant on a hot pan.
Once the people from the town government office left, the villagers scattered, and the words of help and comfort they had offered vanished.
Song Lao Er's forehead was covered in sweat. He looked at the three sobbing women beside him and said angrily, "Crying, all you know is how to cry. Are you waiting for Master Xue to come and invite you to dinner?"
"Hurry up and pack your things, we're going to stay in Gujia Village for a few days."
If we can't find the items or the people, Master Xue will definitely come demanding money.
Now, apart from the two taels of silver that were placed on Song Lao Er's person, the twenty taels that were sent with the gift box have all been lost.
It doesn't matter if I lose both my money and my people, but what about Master Xue?
They're definitely going to skin me alive. If I don't run now, when will I? I'll go to my in-laws' house to lay low for now.
Reminded by Song Lao Er, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law hurriedly started tidying up.
Even a wrecked ship has three thousand nails.
Although Song Liyun had tidied up thoroughly, some things were still left behind, such as unwashed dirty clothes left on the kang (a heated brick bed), a few copper coins in a hole in the wall, a sickle in the corner of the room, and Song Shuirong's two large trunks and bedding on the kang.
While wiping away her tears, Madam Gu knelt down by the stove and reached inside to rummage around. After a while, she pulled out a ceramic jar and took out some loose silver coins, which she had secretly hidden away.
Granny Gu also pulled out a handful of copper coins from her tattered shoes in the corner of the room.
Only Song Shuirong, with red eyes, rolled up the bedding. She had spent all her money on perfumes and cosmetics, leaving not a single penny behind.
Song Lao Er's eyes widened in disbelief; he had no idea his house could hide money.
Ignoring the cries of the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, Song Lao Er snatched the silver and stuffed it all into his pocket: "This silver is all mine, what are you snatching? You'll both be relying on me to live in the future."
Before they could finish packing, the courtyard gate was suddenly kicked open.
"Song Lao Er, where are you going? Should I find someone to give you a ride?"
The gaunt Master Xue, dressed in a dark red brocade jacket with floral patterns, was surrounded by seven or eight burly men as he slowly entered the courtyard. He looked at the bundles of luggage that had already been packed and said coldly.
"Master Xue! We...we're just packing up some things at home." Song Lao Er trembled all over, his voice shaking.
He had just been full of energy, fighting with his wife for money, but now he was as weak as a rope.
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