Chapter 140 Xiao Xiuning is about to die from her illness
After traveling for half a day, the exiled caravan finally arrived at Chenliu County.
This time, Lao Liao allowed everyone to enter the city.
We must gather at the inn entrance in one hour; those who are late will be whipped.
Passersby stopped to stare at the prison uniforms the prisoners were wearing, whispering among themselves, "Have the prisoners escaped from their cells? Why are there so many prisoners?"
“There are officials here, so they probably didn’t run away.”
"Were they taken out for a stroll by government officials?"
"I guess he's a convict from the capital."
When had the exiled group ever been pointed at like this before? They immediately felt their faces burning and turned away, raising their hands to cover their faces.
Look, look, what's so interesting? Haven't you ever seen a convict before?
After Lao Liao finished explaining a few points to note, he announced the disbandment of the group, but someone stopped him:
"Master Liao, wait a minute. We'd like to find an inn to bathe and wash our hair. We haven't bathed for so many days and we smell terrible, so... could you please unlock our handcuffs and shackles?"
"No way, what if you run away? Where am I supposed to find you?"
"Master Liao, all land under heaven belongs to the emperor. Where can we go without a travel permit? To Jingguo? That's impossible."
"That's right, Mr. Liao, we promise we won't run away."
"Why should some people not have to wear shackles while we do? That's not fair."
...
Old Liao sneered inwardly, "Why? I'll tell you right now, it's because they pay more, and some of them have merit in killing bandits? Wait until you do those two things, then come and ask me why."
The Third Prince gave them enough money that they didn't need shackles or prison clothes.
Xiao Xuance and Yun Zhaoxue's shackles were used as tripwires, and they didn't need to wear them afterward.
With one person taking the lead, others also voiced their dissatisfaction and protested. If they could avoid wearing them, they really didn't want to; the shackles were too heavy and they couldn't move around easily.
"Master Liao, is it alright if we just take it off for a little while?"
"Yes, we'll just take it off for a little while. We promise we won't run away. We just want to find a place to shower, and we'll put it back on in the afternoon."
Old Liao and the guards, their stomachs growling with hunger from the aroma of food and wine wafting from the restaurant, had no time to listen to their arguing. They compromised, saying, "Alright, stop yelling. I'll untie you. You can all keep your own. If anyone loses it, I'll beat you to death!"
Yun Xiuwen squeezed forward and asked the guards to help him remove his handcuffs. He repeatedly flattered them, saying, "Yes, yes, Master Liao, our Yun family has elderly parents and young children. We certainly can't reach the place of exile on foot. Could our family buy a carriage? Just one will do."
Wang's family sent someone to deliver it. A thousand taels of silver came over, and they had money now.
Old Liao raised his whip to lash him, "Get lost! You're really pushing your luck, aren't you?"
Yun Xiuwen was so frightened that he ran away.
The second and third wives had gone hungry for two meals due to lack of money and food, and their mouths watered at the smell of the food.
Yao'er tugged at Zhang's hand and pointed to the steamed bun shop not far away, saying, "Grandma, Grandma, meat buns, I want to eat meat buns, buy me meat buns."
The two families could only scrape together two copper coins, enough to buy one meat bun or two white flour steamed buns.
Mrs. Wu was worried about how to solve this problem. It was not easy to come to the city, and seeing others eating and drinking well while they could only eat cornbread made her feel very sad.
Hearing Yao'er clamoring for meat buns again, she vented her anger on him, "Meat buns, meat buns, if you want to eat them, buy them with your own money."
Not satisfied with just scolding, she also reached out and pinched his arm.
Yao'er cried out in pain, "Waaah..."
Zhang felt sorry for her grandson and rushed over to slap Wu's hand away, saying, "Second sister-in-law, why are you taking your anger out on my Yao'er?"
"Was I wrong to hit him? What kind of time is this to still want to eat meat buns? He's not young anymore, and he's still so immature."
Xiao Xuanjing helped Ye Hongying up from the ground and tried to feed her water, but she couldn't swallow it because she was burning up. Seeing others entering the clinic one after another, he became anxious, realizing that even a hero can be brought down by a lack of money.
He said, "Mother, Hongying is burning up with fever. If she doesn't get treatment soon, she might die. Why don't we go and borrow some money from Auntie?"
He couldn't think of anyone else besides the eldest son's family who would lend them money.
Wu rolled her eyes at the eldest son's family and sneered, "Borrowing money from them is less profitable than begging. It's good enough if they don't kick us when we're down."
After saying that, she glanced at Xiao Mingshu not far away, and her eyes suddenly lit up. She squatted down and said to Yao'er, "Yao'er, do you want to eat steamed buns? If you want to eat them, go find your aunt. Apologize to her and say a few nice words. Maybe she will soften her heart."
When Zhang saw Xiao Mingshu, she slapped her forehead, "That's right, Shu'er, and Shu'er too, how could we forget about her..."
As she spoke, she pulled her grandson over, "Shu'er, Shu'er..."
Xiao Xuanwu instinctively reached out and pulled Xiao Mingshu behind him, asking, "What do you want to do?"
Xiao Mingshu was moved. She finally had family to protect her, and she no longer had to be bullied or envy others.
"Shu'er, we have no money for food. Give me twenty... ten taels of silver. Yao'er keeps saying he's hungry and wants to eat meat buns."
As she spoke, she pushed her grandson forward, "Yao'er, quickly let your aunt give you some money."
Yao'er reached out to Xiao Mingshu, "Auntie, I want to eat meat buns. Give me some money to buy some meat buns."
Xiao Mingshu shook her head firmly, "I have no money."
Zhang shamelessly added, "With so many people in your main branch, a few taels of silver from each person can easily be pooled together."
“I will not give my family’s money to outsiders. Even if I had twenty taels, I would not give it to you.”
"No need for twenty taels, ten taels will do. We've raised you for over ten years, and Yao'er has called you aunt since birth. You can't be so heartless."
"Yang rushed out of the clinic, grabbed Zhang's arm, and slapped her twice, left and right, slap! slap!"
"Get out! I've seen how you've treated Shu'er all these years, and you still dare to repay kindness? Not only have you treated Shu'er badly, but last night you also abandoned Ning'er halfway through the journey. She's about to die from illness. Even tigers don't eat their cubs. You're utterly unworthy of being a mother!"
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