Tao Wan's mother quickly caught up with her son on horseback. She had no intention of taking the carriage, so she waved to him and said, "Son, I'm going to town first. You two hurry up!"
After speaking, Tao Wanniang spurred her horse and rode away with a flourish, leaving her two sons dumbfounded.
"That must be Mother. She shook off the bandits?" Ling Dahu said in shock.
"Mother can ride a horse?" Ling Dapeng asked, looking stunned.
"Sister Tao has driven carriages before, is it strange that she can ride a horse?" Bai Yumei said. "Young man, hurry up, Sister Tao is much faster at riding than you!"
The Ling brothers were speechless for a moment, but they didn't dare to dawdle for a second and hurried to catch the carriage, because all the family's money was in their mother's hands!
Tao Wan's mother rode her horse and waited for her son outside Shita Town. The feeling of riding the horse was so comfortable that she decided to ride a horse for the rest of the journey.
I waited for almost half an hour before my son, who was driving the carriage, finally arrived late.
"We're here! The sun's already high in the sky. Aren't you hungry or thirsty? If we waited like this, the day lilies would be cold by now!" Tao Wanniang mocked. "Hurry up and catch up."
Shita Town was bustling with people, as it was market day. Tao Wan's family entered the town without attracting much attention. Fearing that the bandits might wake up and chase after them, Tao Wan quickly went to the market to buy some things, including steamed buns, mantou, and sesame cakes, and urged the group to leave as soon as possible.
To be honest, once we leave Shanhai Prefecture, the price of rice and grain has dropped a bit. So, it's true that the inspector's claim that officials and merchants within Shanhai Prefecture colluded to inflate prices is true!
"I've checked, it'll take about half a month to get to the capital. Everyone, cheer up! We're not going to take the back roads, we'll take the main road. The main road is wide and smooth, and my horse can ride it fast!"
Tao Wanniang said with great interest, but she looked at her son driving the carriage with some disdain, as he was slowing her down!
After three to five days, Tao Wanniang felt that the threat of the mountain bandits should have been largely eliminated, and with the capital city getting closer, she gradually slowed down her pace.
That day, the group entered Jinzhou City, a major city closest to the capital. Tao Wanniang sold her horse and used the money to buy a carriage.
"Let's stay in Jinzhou for one night, and then set off again tomorrow."
"That's great, Sister Tao! I smell terrible, and I'm going to get itchy all over if I don't take a bath soon!" Bai Yumei was the first to agree. It was also her suggestion to buy a horse-drawn carriage, since it's cool in the mornings and evenings in autumn, and sitting in a carriage while delivering goods is quite unpleasant, exposed to the wind and sun.
“Alright, we’ve all been traveling for so long and we must be tired. Let’s rest today and do nothing,” Tao Wanniang said with a smile.
They found a clean-looking inn and Tao Wanniang spent eight taels of silver to book four rooms.
"Here are two taels of silver for each of you. If you want to go out for a walk, then go out for a walk!" After checking in, Tao Wan's mother called her two sons over and gave them the money.
"Mother, there's no need. We're unfamiliar with this place, and we don't need anything," Ling Dahu said without hesitation.
"Aren't you going to go back and ask your wife? Take it, save it if you don't need it. A man should always have some money in his hands," Tao Wanniang said casually, though she herself wanted to go shopping and take a look.
Upon seeing this, Ling Dahu and Ling Dapeng immediately thanked Tao Wanniang and happily took the silver away.
"Little Qiao'er, let's go for a walk and buy you a few more changes of clothes."
“Okay, Grandma Tao, you should buy a few outfits too. These drab clothes don’t suit you anymore!” Little Qiao’er said playfully. After gaining weight, her bright, sparkling eyes were especially lively.
"Then let's call Yumei, and everyone change into new clothes. When we go to the capital, we can't let people look down on us!" Tao Wanniang said with a smile, gently pinching Xiao Qiao'er's cheek. "Still so chubby!"
Jinzhou City is close to the capital, and it is not only a large place with abundant resources, but also has a large population.
Tao Wanniang and Bai Yumei, along with Xiao Qiao'er, walked along the main street of Jinzhou City, where the dazzling array of shops was enough to dazzle anyone.
Tao Wanniang carefully examined her face in a clothing store.
The rejuvenation was real, but it was absolutely impossible for her to become a young woman of sixteen. The original owner was malnourished, and after getting a wife, she hardly did any work, so she was thin, dark-skinned, and lacked energy. After she took over, although she was exposed to wind and sun along the way, she ate more, her mood improved, and she moved around more, so she became radiant and full of vitality.
"Sister Tao, what's wrong? Are you so engrossed in looking at yourself?" Bai Yumei teased.
"I really didn't know I looked like this!" Tao Wanniang joked. "How old do you think I look?"
"I can't say for sure, why don't you ask the shopkeeper?" Bai Yumei said with a smile.
Tao Wanniang wouldn't bother asking others how old she was. After seeing Xiao Qiao'er choose two sets of autumn clothes, she also prepared to choose two sets.
"Sister Tao, you shouldn't always wear gray clothes. You're tall and slender, this looks just right."
Bai Yumei picked up a ginger-yellow and dark red silk skirt and handed it to Tao Wanniang. "You'll definitely look good in this."
"Yes, sir, you must be a lady of the house. This dress suits your skin tone perfectly and will make you look several years younger," the shopkeeper immediately seized the opportunity to say.
Tao Wanniang smiled and said, "Then I'll take it. I need to find another set of clothes that are convenient for working."
"Alright, sir, you have excellent taste! This young lady must be your daughter. You two both look outstanding; you must be ladies from wealthy families!" the shopkeeper said, praising those who come to deliver money as gods of wealth.
Tao Wanniang ignored the shopkeeper's flattery and looked at Bai Yumei, saying, "Yumei, don't just look at it. It's cold, so wear more clothes. You'll catch a cold if you don't wear enough."
Bai Yumei had no reason to refuse, and in the end, the two adults and one child each bought two sets of clothes.
The innkeeper escorted Tao Wanniang and her two companions to the door. As they were exchanging pleasantries, they saw soldiers clearing the way ahead, as if they were escorting someone.
"Grandma Tao, look! It's that person!" Little Qiao'er, with her sharp eyes, was the first to spot the prisoner in shackles and prison clothes.
Tao Wanniang looked in the direction of the voice and saw that it was Li Jianghai!
"So it seems the Imperial Inspector has successfully returned to the capital. Li Jianghai has been detained and brought back to the capital. I wonder if the Prefect of Shanhai Prefecture has been convicted!" Tao Wanniang said in a low voice.
The onlookers didn't know who this person was, but seeing the prisoner in shackles, they didn't hesitate and threw whatever they had at him.
Upon being hit by the rotten egg, Li Jianghai's expression turned menacing. His sinister gaze swept towards the roadside, and just then, he spotted Tao Wanniang and Bai Yumei!
Tao Wanniang's heart tightened as she met Li Jianghai's gaze. For a moment, she felt as if she were being watched by a venomous snake. But then, she reassured herself, "He's already a prisoner, yet he's still so fierce. Does he think he can jump up and hit me?"
Not long after Tao Wanniang finished speaking, several masked men in black jumped down from the rooftops on both sides of the street. Judging from their appearance, they were going to break into the prison. Tao Wanniang immediately became alarmed.
"Go, go quickly!"
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