Chapter 84: You Are Not In Exile You Are Clearly Traveling!
Chapter 84 The Wheel of Fortune
"Four hundred taels, you only have one chance!" Captain Sun squinted at Zhang Yiquan. It wasn't a matter of whether he wanted to buy it or not; he had to buy it.
Zhang Yiquan understood this principle, but his resentment towards the carriage ran deep. These days, his legs were almost giving out. Especially since he not only had to walk with shackles but also carry his son. How fat was his son? He was nearly as fat as a pig's head!
And if they walked slowly, they would be whipped! These days were simply unbearable.
He had already lost more than ten kilograms. If this continued, he was afraid he would really die on the road.
So, even though he knew that Captain Sun would ask for a high price, he had to grit his teeth and buy it.
But having been in the officialdom for so long, with connections high and low, he naturally knew how to deal with greedy people.
"Well... Captain Sun, to be honest with you, I did have more money, but... on the road... others extorted it from me..."
He said it tactfully, but Captain Sun quickly understood. It was obvious extortion from his subordinates, not just "others."
Captain Sun naturally believed Zhang Yiquan's words. After all, extorting money from prisoners was already a common practice.
Once they entered the exile team, whose money wouldn't be squeezed dry? If there was no profit to be made, why would they join the exile team and suffer? Only a fool like Xu Tian would do such a thing!
The money extorted by his subordinates had to be partly handed over to him. Whoever didn't hand it over would not be able to survive in the team.
So, Captain Sun just needed to wait for the money to come in.
But in the past few days in the county town, he had spent lavishly, so now he planned to escape, naturally wanting to extort a little more.
Who would have thought that his subordinates would be so efficient, squeezing all the money from these people so quickly?
But he was still unwilling. "Is that so? If you can't produce the money, then get lost!"
"Captain Sun..." Zhang Yiquan hastily shouted, "I only have two hundred taels on me right now, I don't know..."
Two hundred taels? Captain Sun's eyes lit up. Two hundred taels wasn't bad at all. With his salary, it would take decades to earn two hundred taels.
If he didn't live extravagantly, two hundred taels would be enough for him to live comfortably. Like those commoners, they might not earn two hundred taels in their entire lives.
"Corrupt officials are indeed wealthy!"
Captain Sun couldn't help but feel happy. This was also the reason why he had come to the exile team.
Basically, only those officials and noble offspring would be exiled, and these people were the wealthiest.
They usually didn't care much about money, so even if they were short of money during exile, they would be willing to spend money for something they wanted.
"Good!" Captain Sun nodded, "Hand over the money, and the carriage is yours."
Zhang Yiquan had been waiting for these words. He quickly took off his shoes and took out two silver notes from the soles.
Captain Sun frowned slightly at the sight, a bit disgusted. But after all, it was two hundred taels. Even if it fell into a cesspool, he would jump in to pick it up, let alone...
So, he held his nose with one hand, took the silver notes with the other, and after confirming they were genuine, waved his hand at Zhang Yiquan.
Zhang Yiquan was thrilled. He climbed onto the carriage with haste, opened the curtain, only to find it empty inside, not even a stool.
But he didn't mind. Lying in the carriage, looking at the roof, he could vaguely smell incense and food-like aromas inside the carriage.
"Hahaha!"
Suddenly, he couldn't help but burst into laughter, startling the bailiffs who were preparing to leave.
"Lunatic!"
The bailiffs ignored him, urging the prisoners to continue walking.
"Hahaha, Chen Yuan, oh Chen Yuan, you're getting your just deserts now, aren't you? Weren't you arrogant before? Didn't you refuse to sell to me? Now the carriage is mine!"
Zhang Yiquan laughed heartily in the carriage, then began to mutter crazily.
After a moment, he brought his wife and children over.
"Did you get this carriage?" Madam Zhang's eyes lit up when she saw the carriage, and she also climbed up with the help of her husband.
Zhang Yiquan ignored her, sat beside the carriage, grabbed the reins, and urged the prisoners in front, "Get out of the way, don't block the road!"
"Lu Lu!"
Suddenly, the horse below them felt pain, lifted its feet, let out a loud neigh, and ran forward. Zhang Yiquan, sitting beside the carriage, was thrown off by the violent movement, nearly being trampled by the carriage.
Fortunately, he dodged in time, but the fall worsened the injury on his arm.
"Wait for me, I... I haven't gotten on the carriage yet?"
Ignoring the pain, he quickly got up and chased after the carriage.
Seeing the carriage rushing towards them, the prisoners quickly dodged, afraid of being hit by the carriage. The bailiffs, seeing the chaotic scene caused by the carriage, became angry.
Clang!
They drew their long swords and swung them at the approaching carriage. The horse seemed to understand the danger of the weapons and stopped abruptly, no longer charging forward.
Zhang Yiquan ran up panting, quickly climbed onto the carriage, afraid of being thrown off again.
But the bailiff ran over and reprimanded him, "Secure your horse, or else..."
Humph!
The bailiff snorted coldly, sheathing his sword with a clang that made Zhang Yiquan shiver.
"I won't, I won't!"
Zhang Yiquan nodded quickly, looking frightened. He had already realized that he couldn't handle the reins; otherwise, he wouldn't have nearly fallen off earlier.
He could only gently pat the horse's buttocks, urging it to move faster. However, the horse didn't move, and even turned its head to glare at him, exhaling heavily from its nose.
"Hahaha!"
Next to him, the servants of the Chen family couldn't help but burst into laughter when they saw this.
Hearing the laughter, Zhang Yiquan suddenly felt angry, "What are you laughing at..."
Just as he was about to curse, he noticed the Chen family members beside him and burst into laughter as well, "Hahaha, Chen Yuan, oh Chen Yuan, are you angry now? Frustrated..."
"What do you think this is? Your carriage is mine now!"
"How about that? Walking isn't so pleasant, is it?"
"You..."
Hearing his words, the Chen family members were instantly furious.
After all, the sight of this vile person reveling in his victory was infuriating.
Seeing their anger, Zhang Yiquan became even more joyful and proud.
"Why don't you beg me? If you kneel down and beg me, maybe I'll return the carriage to you..."
"Slap!"
"Are you crazy!"
Before Zhang Yiquan could finish speaking, he received a slap on the arm. It turned out that Madam Zhang, upon hearing that he was considering returning the carriage to them, became furious.
Facing his furious wife, Zhang Yiquan hurriedly smiled, "I was just joking. Even if they really knelt down and begged me, do you think I would really return it to them?"
"That's more like it!"
Madam Zhang nodded, then looked at the Chen family members, "Oh, isn't this the esteemed Master Chen? Don't you have a good relationship with them? Why don't you ask them to buy you another one!"
"Tsk tsk tsk, how come I heard that you were kicked off the carriage by the bailiffs? Did you not pay enough money? Or is Master Chen's face not big enough?"
"He has no face at all!" Zhang Yiquan sneered beside him, "Maybe he let his wife and daughter spend a night with the bailiffs in exchange."
The two of them mocked and taunted, their words becoming more and more offensive, angering the Chen family members.
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