"Auntie, could you tell us what those two people looked like?"
Ling Ran's serious and righteous demeanor frightened everyone around him, and the person being asked for directions trembled and didn't dare to look him in the eye.
Ling Ran had his back to me. I stood in a dilapidated thatched hut in the distance and could see his back through a hole.
A peasant woman who seemed to be close to us comforted me, saying, "Don't worry, you're not bad people. We won't betray you."
She pouted and huffed, looking incredibly cute: "Maybe they're the bad guys."
I sniffed and was so touched. The people here are so kind and simple. If you spend enough time with them, they will treat you like family!
"What if they ask you to draw what we look like, Aunt Song?"
This question stumped everyone. Ling Ran coldly asked, "Could you draw a portrait of them?"
He then took out a silver ingot as a condition: "Whoever draws it will receive this silver ingot."
Some people, who had lived most of their lives without ever seeing such a large sum of money, stared wide-eyed, their eyes brimming with desire.
A withered hand was raised high in the crowd, uttering a long, hoarse voice: "I'll do it!"
Aunt Song glanced at him and stamped her foot: "That damned old Zhang!"
Upon seeing him step forward, several young men from the village burst into laughter: "Uncle Zhang, can you still hold a pen?"
This remark caused everyone to burst into laughter: "Hahaha!"
Despite his advanced age, Grandpa Zhang still carries a hoe to the fields every day to hoe the land with his son and daughter-in-law.
I touched my backpack and found that my pens and drawing paper were still inside. On a whim, I decided to show them off.
"Got it!"
Under the curious gazes of Aunt Song and Yu Shaoqing, I began my masterpiece.
Drawing is something that comes naturally to me, an art student.
Without lifting a finger, a masterpiece was created.
However, when they saw my painting, the expressions on their faces were indescribable, like those of someone suffering from constipation.
After holding it in for a long time, Aunt Song asked, "Who are these people you've drawn?"
The figures in the painting were truly masterpieces; the bearded man and the disfigured young woman were completely unrecognizable.
Yu Shaoqing burst out laughing; it was the first time I'd ever seen them laugh so brightly.
"You're trying to confuse them so you can hide us."
"This child is teachable!"
I nodded in satisfaction, handed the painting to Aunt Song, and said, "Give the painting to them, and the silver ingot will naturally be yours."
Seeing the cunning glint in my eyes, Aunt Song had a sudden realization and said, "I know what to do."
Grandpa Zhang picked up a piece of dead wood and started drawing on the ground. Because of a tremor in his hand, he could barely hold onto the tree trunk.
Just then, Aunt Song appeared before everyone with a painting in her hand: "I have a painting ready here."
"What?"
Ling Ran took the painting, her brows furrowing even more deeply: "Where did those two people go?"
"They left in a hurry when they heard you were coming!"
"Do you know where they went?" Ling Ran asked.
Aunt Song pointed to the waterway and said, "The boat just left, but I don't know where it went!"
Ling Ran nodded gratefully and handed over a silver ingot. Everyone who saw the silver ingot was envious and their eyes lit up.
Seeing this, Grandpa Zhang felt very uncomfortable. He glanced at the portrait on the paper and said, "Aunt Song, when did you learn to paint? It doesn't look like you at all..."
Afraid that he would reveal the truth, Aunt Song hurriedly pushed him to the ground, causing him to fall face-first into the mud. If he hadn't been a hard-working person, he would have definitely broken apart from the fall.
"You old man, you can't just make things up because you didn't get the money."
Tell me what's not right!
Just as Grandpa Zhang was about to speak, she cut him off.
Ling Ran glanced disdainfully at Grandpa Zhang on the ground and said somewhat impatiently but still politely, "Thank you for your guidance, sister-in-law. Please forgive me if I have offended you."
After saying that, he turned and left, leaving everyone with a trail of dashing black silhouettes.
I couldn't stand it inside any longer, and as soon as they left, I burst out laughing, almost rolling on the ground.
"Hahaha!"
"Hahaha!"
"These people are hilarious!"
Yu Shaoqing, however, said calmly, "We can't stay in this place any longer!"
I looked up at him abruptly, knowing exactly what he meant.
I really can't stay here any longer. During my time here, I've gotten a general understanding of the situation and I know all too well how many eyes are watching me in the shadows.
It was all for the imperial edict that would grant him the throne.
Where should we go?
The spring breeze blew so urgently that the branches outside the openwork window trembled wildly in the wind.
Yu Shaoqing's melodious yet husky voice rang out, sounding incredibly calm: "Lan Yi."
...
Three months later
Yellow sand swirled everywhere, and not a single person could be seen within a hundred meters. Apart from the scorching heat, the only sounds were the whistling of the wind chimes.
Camels leave a long trail of footprints wherever they go, which are then buried by the wind.
"Spring Breeze Ten Miles Spring Restaurant's new menu is freshly launched, welcome everyone to come and taste it."
A charming and beautiful voice rang out, accompanied by a delightful fragrance.
It made the stomachs of passersby rumble.
Chunfeng Shili Inn is located at the border of Lingqi and Lanyi. It is frequented by dignitaries or talented individuals from various countries.
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