The aroma of roasted sweet potatoes was impossible to hide; Tao Wanniang could almost smell the awkward fragrance permeating the air.
The man in the lead turned his head and met Tao Wanniang's gaze.
"Roasted sweet potato? What's that? Never heard of it." The man had regular features, thick eyebrows, big eyes, and dark skin, and looked quite imposing.
The sweet potatoes weren't from here; Tao Wan's mother bought them from the system for five coins and then pretended to dig them up from the forest.
“We dug it up in the mountains, and we’ve eaten it. It’s quite delicious,” Tao Wan’s mother said dryly.
"Heh, no need," Zhang Tiehao chuckled mockingly, declining the offer.
Tao Wanniang was relieved to hear the other party's refusal, as she had only been being polite out of politeness.
"Mother, let me do it," Ling Dahu said, using a branch to pull the roasted sweet potatoes out of the fire. "Hongyu, give them to the children."
Tao Wanniang and her group ate hot, fragrant roasted sweet potatoes and drank some hot water to ward off the chill brought by the heavy rain.
"Grandma, it's delicious!" Gouwa, his face covered in food, smiled sweetly at Taowan's mother.
"Grandma, grandma...eat..." Huani said in a soft, sweet voice, mimicking her brother.
"Eeya eeya~" There was also a little grandson who drooled as soon as he opened his mouth. The children's soft and sweet voices sounded particularly clear in this dilapidated temple.
"Boss, it smells amazing, I want some too." A man spoke first, his eyes fixed on Tao Wanniang.
"You're so greedy, you'll be drooling!" Zhang Tiehao glared at his subordinate, but to be honest, it really did smell delicious.
"Um... do you have any more?" Zhang Tiehao asked Tao Wanniang, even after reprimanding his men.
Tao Wanniang rolled her eyes. She had just asked if she wanted it, and she had said no, but now she wanted it.
"That's all, we've finished eating!" she said bluntly, spreading her hands.
"Hey, what are you doing here?" the man next to Zhang Tiehao called out to Tao Wanniang. "You don't look like locals!"
“We’re refugees. Our village suffered a drought, so we fled,” Tao Wanniang replied.
“Refugees? That doesn’t seem like it!” the man continued. “Big sister, you guys seem to be having a very leisurely time, boss, don’t you think?”
Zhang Tiehao also looked at Tao Wanniang and her group, and finally nodded, saying, "They certainly don't seem like it. Although their clothes are ordinary, they are neat. And that horse outside is yours too, right? There are also two trunks..."
“Brother, we really are fleeing from disaster. A large area of villages and towns in the western part of Shanhai Prefecture has been hit by drought. We are from Lingjia Village in Ping'an Town. All the adults in the village have run away.” Tao Wanniang said, playing the victim. “We had already established ourselves in Shanhai Prefecture, but we offended the government and had no choice but to move our whole family.”
"Brothers, what do you guys do?" Tao Wanniang asked casually.
"What do you think we do?" Zhang Tiehao asked Tao Wanniang, seemingly quite interested.
“Brother, you have such a distinguished air about you, completely different from us commoners. I dare not make any assumptions,” Tao Wanniang said weakly. “We originally wanted to go to town, but after this rain, we probably have to spend the night here. My poor grandchildren, they’re suffering so much with us adults!”
Zhang Tiehao smiled jokingly, subtly observing Tao Wanniang and everyone else.
The two grown men looked cowardly, and the two women holding children seemed very restrained.
The woman wearing a veil, whose face is obscured, will be left aside for now. So, this only woman who appears somewhat attractive and courageous is already a grandmother?!
Tao Wanniang felt a little nervous. Three grown men—this was not something they could handle alone. She was fairly certain that these three were bandits; their clothing, demeanor, and manner of speaking convinced her of their identity.
She pretended to be relaxed and didn't tell her son and daughter-in-law, hoping to get away with it. She deliberately avoided revealing their bandit identities, treating them like complete strangers, hoping they would also see them as insignificant.
"Are you the owner of this house?" Zhang Tiehao asked. "You don't look like someone who could have two such grown sons."
"What do you mean? My mother doesn't look like she couldn't have given birth to both of us!" Ling Dahu immediately retorted, acting like a protective father.
"That's right, my older brother and I were both born after my mother carried us for ten months!" Ling Dapeng chimed in.
Tao Wan's mother was heartbroken. Her two sons were such a terrible child. Why couldn't she just go along with what people said?
“Brother, you’re joking. How can an old woman like me look like one? I’m lucky; I already have a grandson!” Tao Wanniang said in a deliberately old-fashioned tone.
“You’re quite lucky. You outsiders probably don’t know, but bandits roam around here. The most notorious are the Black Wind Stronghold. If you run into them, you’re finished,” Zhang Tiehao said deliberately.
"Heh, we probably won't run into them," Tao Wanniang said with a dry laugh. "Our family is honest and law-abiding, and we don't have much money. Even if we encounter bandits, they won't be able to squeeze anything out of us."
“That’s not necessarily true. Your family has men, women, and children, which is perfect for recruiting men for the mountain stronghold,” Zhang Tiehao said deliberately.
“My two sons are all tall but not smart, my daughters-in-law are weak and sickly, and my grandson and granddaughter are still little babies!” Tao Wanniang said self-deprecatingly, “If we were really captured by the mountain stronghold, they would all be good for eating but not good for working.”
“I’ve also heard that Black Wind Stronghold is looking for a wife. I think you two would be a good match,” Zhang Tiehao said.
“That won’t do. Both of my daughters-in-law are members of the Ling family!” Tao Wanniang immediately said. “As for Yu Mei… that’s even more unacceptable.” Tao Wanniang couldn’t guess what the man meant, but she still upheld her humanity.
“I think you’re quite suitable!” Zhang Tiehao continued. A woman, facing three burly men, could still answer fluently and protect her family. This courage and care for her family were quite suitable for their Black Wind Stronghold.
"How could you do this, making fun of my mother!" Ling Dahu suddenly stood up.
"Mom, don't be angry. We will never let anyone bully you." Ling Dapeng also stood up. The two of them together looked quite imposing.
Tao Wanniang sized up the other person, trying to figure out their identity.
"Brother, you know so much about Black Wind Stronghold, could you be the leader of Black Wind Stronghold?" Tao Wanniang asked. What a ridiculous name for a stronghold. Isn't the leader of Black Wind Stronghold a black bear spirit?
"Hahaha, big sister guessed right, I am Zhang Tiehao, the chief of Black Wind Stronghold. I need a wife to take as my wife, and you seem quite suitable. So, come up the mountain with me!" Zhang Tiehao laughed heartily, looking at Tao Wanniang with bright eyes.
"Brother!" His two subordinates were shocked. The mountain stronghold might be lacking a wife, but surely it shouldn't be an old woman!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com