Chapter 11: The Peasant Girl’s Splendid Manor
Chapter 11 Saving People (Part 1)
"Dad, the old man said there's a town called Longshi not far ahead. Shall we enter the town first and take a rest this afternoon instead of continuing on the road? We can stay in the town tonight!" Mo Yan said to Mo Qingze while gulping down water from a bamboo tube, relaying the information she had just obtained from an elderly passerby.
Mo Qingze looked at his exhausted daughter and son sitting on the ground, then looked up at the sky and nodded. "It seems like the weather might change tonight. Let's rest in the town for two days until the heavy rain passes."
Mo Yan had great respect for her father's ability to predict the weather. Wiping the sweat from her forehead as she looked at the glaring sun outside the shade of the trees, she couldn't help but feel relieved. It had been half a month since they crossed over, and during this time, they had been rushing non-stop. Fortunately, the journey had been smooth, and apart from encountering some people fleeing north like them, they hadn't encountered any more robberies or kidnappings.
The heat of the past two days had been unbearable, and the two children couldn't take it anymore. If they continued to travel in the rain, they might get sick.
...
"Please, kind sirs, my grandfather is critically ill. Please let us in to find a doctor!"
At the gate of Longshi Town, Li Yan knelt in pain, clinging tightly to her grandfather lying on the ground with barely audible breaths. Unable to hold back her tears, her parents were already gone, and she couldn't bear to lose her only relative, her grandfather.
"You, a poor family who can't even come up with twenty wen, want to enter Longshi Town? Are you daydreaming?" one of the seemingly leading gatekeepers impatiently waved his hand, pushing Li Yan away. The young girl lost her balance and fell to the ground.
Ignoring the pain in her palms, she got up again and knelt on the ground, clutching the gatekeeper's clothes, pleading, "We were on our way to the capital to find relatives when we were robbed. My parents were killed, and all our money was taken. We really can't come up with twenty wen. My grandfather is my only relative left. Please, sir, let us into the town to find a doctor!"
After speaking, she knocked her forehead forcefully on the ground, the sound echoing one after another. In no time, her forehead became bloody and covered in mud.
The gatekeeper's impatience was evident on his face, and he had no intention of letting her in.
Beside him, another sneaky gatekeeper rolled his eyes with ill intent and said ingratiatingly, "Boss, this little girl is fair-skinned. Why don't you take her in as a concubine for Dashuang? Train her slowly, and you can save a lot of bride price! "
"I also think this is a good idea. If others know, they will only praise you for being kind-hearted, boss!"
"Yes, yes, this little girl looks gentle. She will definitely be obedient to your son, Dashuang!"
The other gatekeepers nodded and chimed in.
Thinking of his already adult but hot-tempered and violent son at home, the leading gatekeeper did consider the idea for a moment. However, if he did this, others might laugh at him for being unable to find a wife for his son and resorting to taking in a poor girl as a concubine.
Thinking of this, his face darkened, and he kicked the little girl heavily, scolding, "According to the rules set by the town mayor, outsiders who want to enter the town need to pay ten wen per person. If you don't have the money, even if you knock your head on the ground until it's broken, I won't let you in."
The kick was heavy, and Li Yan's petite body was directly knocked over. She struggled for a long time before she could get up.
Many bystanders watched helplessly, but no one dared to speak out for justice, let alone step forward to help her up.
The leading gatekeeper looked at her disdainfully, snorted coldly, and turned away. The other gatekeepers, who had just been flattering, dared not follow him. They continued to stand at the gate collecting "tolls."
Comments
Post a Comment