On the Difficulties of Escape in Ancient Times

Chapter 11 Kicked
  When He Dalang came in, he saw the luggage wrapped in oilcloth and smelled the tangy aroma of meat.

His mother was very picky at home, so she didn't buy much braised chicken, and she didn't prepare enough dishes. The two of them had great appetites, so he really didn't dare to eat more.

If I happen to meet them for dinner now, they will definitely invite me.

Unfortunately, when Xiao Xiu saw him coming in, he picked up the dishes and went to the kitchen.

The future mother-in-law, who originally smiled when she saw him, also looked at him with a complicated expression.

He was thinking in his mind that it must be his mother's decision to ask Xiao Xiu to come in as soon as possible, which made his mother-in-law unhappy.

He never thought about the other possibility. After all, how could a cooked duck fly away?

They also have to rely on themselves on the road, so they can only say a few good words if they want to be a little fudi on their own at this moment.

He cupped his fists and saluted, but was interrupted by Xiao Youfu before he could say anything: "We are not going to Jiangsu and Zhejiang. Our cousin is in the capital. We are planning to go to the capital and are reluctant to leave Xiu'er behind."

After saying that, he handed him the purse and silver hairpin that he had prepared earlier: "In it are the eight taels of silver and silver hairpin from the lower body. From now on, the marriage between man and woman will have nothing to do with each other."

Fortunately, they are not as particular in the countryside as they are in the town. They did not prepare a marriage certificate when they were hired. They promised to go to the Yamen to get the marriage certificate when they got married. It would be easier to regret the marriage now.

According to Xiao Youfu's original intention, he didn't want to return the betrothal gift, since they would never meet again in the future.

Unfortunately, his wife insisted on paying it back, and he didn't want to show his despicable thoughts in front of her, so he had to agree.

He Dalang was dumbfounded and said hurriedly: "Uncle, it's not peaceful outside. Wouldn't it be easier for you to go with us?"

He didn't hide it anymore: "My uncle is now a hundred households. If you come with us, you can find a good place to settle down."

"And the two people who came to pick us up are also highly skilled in martial arts..."

"Okay, you don't need to say more." Xiao Youfu was worried that if he continued to listen, he would be tempted to sell his daughter for glory: "We want to go to the capital with someone, but we can't bear to not see our daughter in the future, so we will blame your mother. With her bossy attitude, she will never let her go to Jiangsu and Zhejiang with you."

After saying that, she glared at him and said angrily: "You're not leaving yet!"

He Dalang couldn't believe that this almost cooked duck could fly away. He looked unwilling: "I will be good to Xiu'er! Uncle, will you let her go with me?"

Xiao Dalang winked at his younger brother, and the two brothers held him out, one on the left and the other on the right. Xiao Dalang then said to him sneakily: "Brother He, I overheard that the uncle and the others were going to give the eldest sister to the king's bookkeeper as a pawn. Concubine, the Wang family took care of us going to the capital and even sent a mule cart to our family?"

He Dalang didn't doubt that he would lie to him. He had also heard that Chief Wang was from the capital. Thinking that the Xiao family could not afford a mule cart, he could only leave with a pale face.

No matter how unwilling he was, he would not dare to go against Master Wang.

This is of course false.

Xiao Youfu was afraid that the He family would not agree and that the He family would rob him, so he taught his eldest nephew to say this just in case.

Anyway, his family is leaving, and the He family is leaving too, so there is no need to worry about the daughter's reputation being harmed.

After He Dalang left, Xiao Youfu put on a bamboo hat and asked his eldest nephew to go out with him: "You guys are waiting for the news at home."

They had already visited the east side before, and now there were government officials guarding the entrance to the town. It was true that no one was allowed in or out.

Xiao Youfu had no choice but to keep an eye on the He family to see how and where they were going.

It was already dark outside and drizzling, so they could only walk by the candlelight in other people's houses.

Xiao Youfu was afraid of the two guards of the He family and did not dare to get too close. He hid at the door of the house diagonally opposite and stared at them. Xiao Dalang was panicked when he came back from the academy. Now that his uncle had an idea, he asked in a low voice: "Uncle, do we really want to go to the capital?"

Xiao Youfu glared at him with disgust: "What nonsense are you talking about? The capital is so far away, and our expenses are simply not enough."

He thought that he would have to use his eldest nephew more in the future, so he patiently gave him guidance: "Although we are not well-informed, the fact that someone from the He family came to pick him up from Jiangsu and Zhejiang means that the situation there is better than ours..."

And he suspected that Jiangsu and Zhejiang had long known that there would be chaos in Yuzhang. Otherwise, how could the He family's daughter send people back in such a timely manner?
  About half an hour later, two mule carts came to the door of He's house. The door of He's house opened quickly, and a mule cart came out.

Three mule carts walked eastward one behind the other.

It was already dark, and the mule cart could not move fast. Two wind lamps hanging in front of the cart swayed in the dark rainy night, making it even more eerie. It was like the gates of hell were opening and ghosts were traveling.

But this also makes it easier for Xiao Youfu and the others to keep up.

When they saw the east gate from a distance, they found that not only the He family's mule cart, but also about ten horse-drawn carriages were waiting there.

He immediately sent Xiao Dalang back to call his family over. He lowered his bamboo hat and stepped forward to inquire about the news.

There is a wind lamp in front of each mule cart, so it is not difficult to see the five fingers.

He also discovered that He Dalang and the two men in fine clothes each drove a mule cart.

There were also two carriages with several guards on horseback guarding them.

After about a cup of tea, two more carriages came over and went to the front.

The government officials guarding the gate immediately removed the wooden stakes blocking the passage.

After the carriage in front went out, the carriage behind followed, and the mule cart behind was given one or two silver coins to the government servant in front before being allowed to go.

Seeing this, Xiao Youfu knew what was going on.

He hurried to the back and happened to see his younger brother driving a mule cart slowly over.

"Yougui, you have to pay two taels of silver before you can go out." He was not going to pay the money. After saying that, he walked to the back and saw his parents, Mrs. Liu and the youngest daughter sitting in the mule cart. Xiao Xiu and Xiao Lian was wearing a raincoat and a bamboo hat, but it was hard to tell whether she was a man or a woman.

He was relieved and continued to walk behind his two daughters, comforting him in a low voice: "Don't be afraid! You will take turns to go in and sit for a while."

When it was their turn and after paying two taels of silver and going out, Xiao Youfu secretly breathed a sigh of relief and told his younger brother to follow the team in front.

They don’t know the way anyway, so they can only follow others first.

Fortunately, it was late at night and the mule cart couldn't move very fast, so Xiao Xiu and the others were able to keep up.

Mrs. Liu felt sorry for her daughter and wanted to come down and let the sisters go up and squeeze her while she came down and walked.

Mrs. Wu took the opportunity to put her little son into her mother-in-law's arms and prayed in a low voice: "Mom, can you hold my mistress for a while?"

Mrs. Xiao did not refuse. She loved her grandson.

More than an hour later, Xiao Youfu replaced his younger brother and drove the mule cart.

He was thinking that he would only be able to walk thirty or forty miles tonight at most, and he might be discovered by the He family. It would be safer for him to stop earlier in the morning.

(End of this chapter)