Old Master Wu squinted and looked around. After hearing the different local dialect, he guessed:
"Is this the border between Taohua County and Ping'an County?"
"Yes, sir, after another fifteen minutes of travel, we'll reach Ping'an County. We don't need to go through any towns; we'll take the county road directly. There won't be any teahouses left then, so we'll replenish our energy and catch up on any shortcomings here. We won't be able to leave Ping'an County until evening..."
Qingshan explained that he didn't reduce his work and personally poured tea for everyone.
"You guys really need to get out and about more; it broadens your horizons. Unlike me, I've been holed up in Wu Family Village for decades!"
Grandpa Wu's smile widened, and he couldn't stop praising his grandson.
However, a hint of melancholy lingered in his smile.
Who doesn't want to travel the world when they're young? It's just that reality doesn't allow it...
"Master, this time we have plenty of time to see the beautiful landscapes of Tianyao. When we arrive in Sishui County later, your grandson will accompany you to find the most famous tavern there and buy a few jugs of fine wine."
Qingshan was good at coaxing people; from the words in the letter his second brother sent back, he knew that he had the upcoming itinerary memorized.
So she coaxed her grandfather, wanting to take him for a walk.
"Gentlemen, are you going to Sishui County?"
The stall owner brought over hot tea, and while pouring it, a hint of worry appeared on his face.
Noticing that the other person's expression was somewhat off, Old Master Wu asked:
Yes, is there a problem?
"Old sir, you may not know this, but since autumn began, my stall has received many merchants and peddlers leaving Sishui County. They all say they encountered bandits lying in ambush in the woods near the official road, demanding tolls..."
These days, people who become outlaws are fearless. If you have money, you can pay to save your life. If you don't, you'll get a good beating and you're lucky if you survive.
"I see, thank you for letting me know. We will be more careful."
After hearing this, Old Master Wu felt somewhat worried. In this peaceful and prosperous era, there were still people who had turned to banditry.
They were traveling in two horse-drawn carriages, carrying women and children; they were clearly targets for robbers...
"The food is here! Please enjoy your meal, sir!"
The woman brought in the food and laid it out one by one.
Jiang Yue wasn't afraid of the robbers. Not only was she prepared with self-defense spray, hidden darts, and gas, but the He'er and Hua'er sisters were her trump cards, while the coachman and bodyguard were her open weapons.
When soldiers come, we'll block them; when water comes, we'll dam it!
"Grandma, I want to eat fried pork crackling buns!"
When Wenhao saw his sister eating fried pork crackling buns, he immediately started to act cute towards his great-grandmother.
"You can only eat one. After you finish that, you can have another meat bun and drink more water."
Seeing this, Old Zhang wiped her great-grandson's fingers clean before picking up a fried pork crackling bun for him.
Mmm~ Delicious.
After receiving the steamed bun, Wenhao took a big bite. It smelled delicious!
"No matter how delicious it is, you can't eat too much with your small frame."
Grandpa Wu was just as hypocritical as the pot calling the kettle black; he was actually eating glutinous rice cakes, and like everyone else, he'd been warned by the younger generation not to eat too many, as his stomach couldn't handle it...
After finishing their meal, the group filled their water bags, bid farewell to the stall owner, boarded the carriage again, and continued their journey.
Perhaps because I've eaten and drunk my fill, I feel drowsy after swaying around.
The镖师 (bodyguards/escorts) had their own professional ethics, concentrating intently on driving the carriage. Most of the passengers in the carriage were asleep, only gradually waking up towards evening...
"Everyone, stay alert, we're almost at Sishui County."
Jiang Yue rolled down the car window and saw the city wall in the distance, still some distance away. All around, the trees were lush and the weeds grew thickly...
"Why."
Da Xue responded, adjusted her posture, and held her daughter in her arms.
Qingshan felt as if facing a formidable enemy. He touched his right wrist, where his mother had given him a hidden dart for self-defense, the arrowhead coated with a sleeping potion she had concocted...
Inside the carriage behind, the Ye He and Ye Hua sisters heard the whistle from the carriage in front and immediately went on alert.
Not to mention that both of them had hidden darts in their right wrists, both of them also had daggers hidden in their boots!
Inside the carriage were the family's elders and relatives; their mission was to protect them!
Grandpa Wu and Mrs. Zhou sensed the tense atmosphere. They tacitly protected their great-grandson in the middle and instructed him not to leave the carriage no matter what happened.
Wenhao is naturally intelligent; although he may not fully understand, he's sure to listen to advice.
She nodded obediently and nestled close to her great-grandparents.
An unexpected incident occurred quickly. The镖师 (bodyguard/escort) in the lead carriage noticed something was wrong and immediately pulled on the reins, bringing the carriage to a sudden stop.
Fortunately, Qingshan was prepared, with soft cushions everywhere to firmly protect his wife.
The carriage swayed, but the people inside were mentally prepared and didn't panic much.
The two little ones, in particular, were overjoyed!
Mountain bandits?
Bandits?
Whatever it is, it's not good!
Six masked men, dressed in tattered clothes, emerged from the woods.
With a single glance from the leader, the other five began to shout:
"This road is mine, these trees are mine, if you want to pass, leave your toll!"
What a joke! These petty thugs are all illiterate.
This is the official road, built by order of the emperor. What does it have to do with them?
They're just sent by the monkeys to make people laugh.
"May I ask what kind of gang you gentlemen belong to? Have you ever heard of our Mighty Escort Agency?"
The bodyguard dismounted, trying to get more information out of him.
"We're from Qingfeng Village. What's the Mighty Escort Agency? I've never heard of it."
A simple-minded bandit answers every question, inadvertently revealing the origins of his companions.
"Oh~ Qingfeng Village."
The bodyguard chuckled and gave a casual "oh."
The small village, with fewer than a hundred people, was only a motley crew, except for the village chief who knew some martial arts. The rest of the villagers were no threat whatsoever.
"You underestimate Qingfeng Village? Let me tell you, our chief—"
Before he could finish speaking, someone hit him on the head.
After beating his men, the leader of the bandits stepped forward, brandishing his knife and pointing it at the镖师 (bodyguards/escorts), saying:
"I don't care where you're from, I only want money, not lives. If you know what's good for you, hand over the silver, and I'll spare your lives!"
Seeing this, the bodyguard drew a sharp sword from under the carriage frame, and with lightning speed, deflected the opponent's knife, pressed the blade against the opponent's neck, and said coldly:
"I'll give you one more chance. Tell me, do you want the money, or do you want us to let you go?"
"Hero, spare my life!"
The bandit leader had never encountered such a tough opponent before. Those who were able to succeed were mostly ordinary people who were powerless to even kill a chicken!
I ran into a brick wall today, what bad luck!
Who cares about losing face? As long as my head is above my head, that's all that matters!
"Make way, make way!"
"Sweetie, you should have done this earlier~"
Which bodyguard hasn't practiced martial arts since childhood?
What's more, the employer is offering a very high reward this time, and the escort agency has sent their two best and most skilled fighters!
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