Tao Wanniang saw a look of confusion and disdain on Xiao Yi's face, and she immediately shut her mouth.
Yes, these material possessions of mine are hardly worthy of a young master's attention!
"Tao, if you can escort me out of the city, I will give you a large mansion for your whole family to live in after we arrive in the capital, and I will also give you a thousand taels of silver. Is such a reward worth risking your life for me?"
Xiao Yi's handsome face showed no threatening expression. His voice was clear and gentle, and his beautiful features seemed to carry a wistful expectation.
"Oh, that depends on fate! We're just honest country folk, we can't do anything big!" Tao Wanniang said weakly.
"Tao family, you dared to hide me, the young master, here. You're no longer a decent person!" Xiao Yi teased.
Is this guy... using his good looks to seduce her?
Tao Wanniang frowned and scrutinized Xiao Yi from head to toe.
"I saved you because you intervened when my family was about to clash with another group of refugees. That was the first time. When the refugees couldn't enter Caofeng County, you helped them get into the city. That was the second time. When Caofeng County was disobeying orders and distributing disaster relief grain, you prevented the refugees from receiving it. You resolved this injustice again. That's the third time!"
Tao Wanniang said solemnly, "You, as the imperial inspector, are truly doing things and helping the refugees, which is why I am helping you. But I cannot risk my life and fortune. I cannot risk the lives of my son, daughter-in-law, and several children!"
"I think you'll definitely have a way." Xiao Yi smiled slightly, looking at Tao Wanniang with an approving expression.
"Ha, you're dreaming." Tao Wanniang scoffed and turned to leave. This man thought too highly of her.
When the stall was set up in the afternoon, Li Jianghai came in person, wearing official clothes, with his sword placed on the table.
The two sons dared not bring the wontons over, so Tao Wan's mother sighed and brought them over herself.
"Lord Li, you've come to keep watch in person!" Tao Wanniang said with a smile and amusement.
"You're quite bold, woman. Aren't you afraid I'll capture you?" Li Jianghai sized up Tao Wanniang. For a country woman to have such courage, she was either pretending to be weak to deceive others, or she was simply ignorant and fearless.
"My lord, I am a law-abiding citizen with a clean record. I have never done anything wrong!" Tao Wanniang immediately declared. "My lord, you have seen my family as well. We are truly poor and destitute, refugees who have fled here. Please, my lord, show mercy and do not make things difficult for us anymore."
Li Jianghai smiled, but his eyes were cold. He had never seen such a eloquent woman before.
"Liang Laifu said he's from the same hometown as you?" Li Jianghai asked casually.
“It’s not with me, it’s with that girl.” Tao Wanniang pointed to Xiao Qiao’er. “Her name is Liang Linglong. We met her on our way to escape famine. Her grandmother died saving me, so I will take care of her for the rest of my life.”
"Oh, Liang Laifu did this for this little girl." Li Jianghai's gaze swept over Xiao Qiao'er.
"Whether you colluded with assassins or not, the truth will eventually come out," Li Jianghai said slowly.
"Sir, you can send someone to keep an eye on me. I'm not afraid at all!" Tao Wanniang patted her chest, appearing completely innocent. She knew, of course, that they were secretly watching her!
"Sir, as soon as you come out, customers dare not come to my shop to eat wontons. My family of eight depends on this shop for a living!" Tao Wanniang said bitterly. "Sir, we fled here all the way, leaving our homes and families behind. If it weren't for survival, who would come to this unfamiliar place!"
Li Jianghai remained noncommittal. There are plenty of people suffering in this world, so why would he let go of a suspicious person?
"Since you've put it that way, even if I don't give Liang Laifu face, I should at least pity you for having to support your family at your age," Li Jianghai said slowly. "Let me make this clear from the start: your shop and your residence are guarded by government officials."
"Regardless of whether what you say is true or false, once the authorities discover that you colluded with the assassins, you can expect your whole family to suffer!"
"Don't worry, sir, this humble woman wouldn't dare to go against you!" Tao Wanniang looked utterly frightened, yet incredibly sincere.
Li Jianghai waved his hand, signaling Tao Wanniang to leave first, and then slowly began to eat his wontons.
Tao Wanniang, being quite sensible, stepped back to the stall and started wrapping her wontons.
"Mother, my heart is in my throat. This feels like it will never end!" Ling Dahu said with distress. With officials around, he didn't know what to do with his hands and feet.
“That’s right, Mother. Didn’t you say it had nothing to do with us? Why won’t the government listen?” Ling Dapeng was also worried. They had an innate fear of the government officials.
Tao Wanniang whispered, "Don't speak carelessly when doing ordinary things."
Little Qiao'er kept looking around. Tao Wan's mother knew that Little Qiao'er was waiting for her biological father to appear. Even if they couldn't recognize each other, it would be good to see him.
"Little Qiao'er, what's meant to come will come, and what doesn't want to come, you can't change your mind no matter how much you wait." Besides, she could probably guess that if Li Jianghai had a grudge against Liang Laifu, Little Qiao'er would also be implicated, and the one who gave her that push was none other than herself!
After Li Jianghai left, no government officials came in. Some regular customers gradually came to eat wontons. For this small shop that might have offended the government, and considering that they might not be able to eat there for long, business actually picked up.
After closing up shop in the evening, Tao Wanniang and the others clearly felt that someone was following them.
After returning home and waiting for her family to fall asleep, Tao Wanniang went to the stone cave again. She came to persuade Xiao Yi to leave, saying that her small temple could not contain such a great Buddha.
"Well, young master, today was another tiring day. The constables and Li Jianghai were keeping watch on my little shop. I'm starting to suspect that people will find out I came here."
"Probably not, otherwise I wouldn't be here!" Xiao Yi said confidently.
Tao Wanniang was taken aback, then said, "Young Master, why don't you find a chance to leave? If you can't leave through the main gate, I'll dig a hole for you in the backyard."
Xiao Yi's gaze fell on Tao Wanniang's face, and then he slowly smiled and said, "Sister Tao is joking!"
Oh dear, she used to call her Tao Shi, but now she calls her Big Sister. She's really stuck with her. Tao Wan's mother is suffering!
"I was poisoned before, and I only have 30% of my strength left. Even if I manage to leave your house by chance, it will be difficult for me to escape if I encounter the officials."
Xiao Yi explained, "So, I'll wait here for now!"
"But your people can't make contact with me, and even if they do, they can't get you out of here!"
Tao Wanniang said irritably, "Do you think you can fight your way out? Just the three of you?"
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