On the Difficulties of Escape in Ancient Times

Chapter 9 Marriage
  Even though Xiao Youfu was prepared, he couldn't help but gritted his teeth: "The mule cart originally cost forty taels? Is this an increase too much?"

The shopkeeper smiled bitterly after hearing this: "Today, all the mules and carts were sold for sixty-five taels. With the war and chaos, the prices of everything have increased. It is us common people who are suffering."

When Xiao Xiao heard what he said, he understood that there was no possibility of counteroffer.

However, my family has a small financial background and I am afraid I won’t have much money left after buying a mule cart.

Hey, she decided to practice bow and arrow diligently when she returned, so that she could do some heroic deeds on the road and earn some extra money along the way.

"These three horses and mules are very strong, stronger than donkeys and mules, gentle in temperament, and have a longer life span than both horses and donkeys."

"As long as the horses and mules are well fed and well rested, they can pull about a thousand kilograms and walk seventy or eighty miles a day."

In the end, they bought a strong mule for sixty taels, and the simplest carriage for another sixty taels.

The shopkeeper presented some additional oilcloths and two large bags of feed, and whispered: "The entry and exit controls have been tightened since yesterday. I heard that some people tried to come in and were injured several times by the yamen with knives. Even if they wanted to go out, it would not be easy." .”

After saying that, when he heard the boy calling him, he patted Mr. Xiao on the shoulder and sighed: "Brother, take care of yourself!"

Mr. Xiao couldn't hide his sadness: "Take care of yourself too!"

Xiao Youfu was now short of money again.

Mr. Xiao cherished the mule he bought for a large price and drove the mule cart himself to prepare for home.

Xiao Youfu simply asked his father to drive the mule cart back, and he took his three daughters to the He family.

The He family is at the end of the street, in a relatively remote location. There are three large stores in the front, and their home is in the back.

When they looked at each other, Mrs. Liu was not only satisfied with He Dalang as a person, but she was also satisfied that the He family had its own store and house.

There are five main rooms, three wing rooms on the left and right, and a large yard.

This will be left to the eldest son from now on, so my daughter will not have to worry about her livelihood in the future.

"Hey, why is the door closed?" After Xiao Xiao finished speaking, he stepped forward and knocked on the door.

After a while, He Sanlang came to open the door and was surprised when he saw them: "Why are you here?"

He is only twelve years old and cannot yet express his emotions and anger.

Xiao Youfu's originally smiling face sank: "What? Can't we come?"

He Sanlang also looked angry: "People who have been infected with the epidemic have been imprisoned in the mountains, how can you come out to harm others?"

After saying that, I wanted to close the door.

"Little bastard, it's not your turn to show off to me here." Xiao Youfu kicked the door open with his foot. He was not a good man to begin with, but now that he saw that this naughty kid dared to show off to him, he could still bear it.

Not only did He Sanlang not lock the door out, he was also casually pushed by Xiao Youfu. When he fell, his chin hit the stool, which made him cry loudly in pain.

Xiao Xiu's face suddenly became ugly, but she did not stop her father from attacking, but followed him in.

Xiao Lian glanced at her sister warily.

My younger sister originally disliked the gangster look of her father. She was afraid that she would get into trouble with him again, and instead let the He family watch the fun.

Xiao Xiao wanted to help her forehead. The only reason was that the original owner had studied in the town for several years and liked gentle and polite scholars at a young age. But she had no choice but to take the blame.

She pretended that she didn't know what the second sister meant: "Why are you looking at me? Pay more attention to the eldest sister!"

When Father He and his two other sons heard their youngest son's cry, they also came out. They happened to see the Xiao family's father and daughter coming from the back door of the store.

He Dalang is of medium height, with a light wheat-colored face and thick eyebrows and big eyes. He always smiles when he meets everyone. In a place like this town, he can be regarded as a good-looking young man.

But when he saw Xiao Xiu, he was surprised: "Xiu'er, just be okay!"

He didn't even bother to care about his younger brother who was still crying in the shop. He only had eyes for Xiao Xiu.

Even though Xiao Xiu was wearing white-washed green shorts and brown, she still couldn't hide her beauty.

He still remembered the first time he saw her. She was wearing a goose-yellow cross-collar dress, and her complexion became increasingly whiter. Her oval face had willow-shaped eyebrows and almond-shaped eyes. When she smiled slightly, her eyes were as delicate as the peach blossoms blooming on the branches in spring.

After hearing that the adults were driving all the patients infected with the epidemic into the reservoir, he was also very anxious. If his parents hadn't stopped him, he would have wanted to take her out.

Xiao Xiu glanced at him, then at the mule cart in the yard and the luggage wrapped in oil paper. She didn't say anything, but just stood behind her father with her eyes lowered.

Shopkeeper He didn't expect the Xiao family's father and daughter to show up at his home.

He resisted the urge to step back, smiled and clasped his fists in salute: "In-laws, it's great that you are all safe. I originally wanted to go to the old man to inquire about you."

Mainly because he saw that the father and daughter were all rosy-cheeked and not sick, and they either came here with their luggage, or they had come out early and settled down with Xiao Laoer.

Therefore, his tone became more sincere, as if he was confiding in his heart: "I found out that the town is now under martial law, and no one is allowed in or out. I spent money on it and prepared to leave quietly at night."

"If you want to leave too, then let's go together."

On the other side, Mrs. He was partial to her younger son, so she went to the shop to coax him. When she realized that Xiao Youfu had bullied him, her eyebrows stood up in anger.

She didn't like Xiao Xiu. Xiao Youfu was a bastard and Liu lived in the countryside. They all suspected that the betrothal gift given to Xiao Xiu had been spent.

Thinking about how her boss had single-mindedly identified Xiao Xiu and was still thinking about finding Xiao Xiu a few days ago, she was still filled with anger when she thought about it.

However, she also knew that as she was about to leave home, she still had to rely on her husband and eldest son, so she came over and said: "The young couple originally got married at the end of the year. Now I don't know if we can see each other again in the future. I think it's better to let them now Just pay homage to Gaotang, will you come with us from now on?"

Then he looked at Xiao Youfu and said with a bit of showoff, "My cousin is married to Jiangsu and Zhejiang, and my brother-in-law is also working in the government office. We are going to join them."

"If Xiao Xiu comes in today, then we will be real in-laws, and you can follow us to Jiangsu and Zhejiang."

It's not that she thinks highly of Xiao Xiu, but that the family originally hired two women to help with laundry, cooking and cleaning. Now they have quit their jobs, and the whole family's work falls on her, which is really hard.

If Xiao Xiu is willing to come in now, he can leave these things to her in the future, and he will be free.

Xiao Youfu raised his foot and kicked He Dalang: "It's a dream of yours. I'm not dead yet, and you dare to wrong my daughter!"

He Dalang also didn't expect that his future father-in-law would kick him. Without warning, he was really kicked to the ground. The pain was so painful that he couldn't get up for a while.

Mrs. He turned pale with fright and took a few steps back before she dared to scream: "Come here, help!"

(End of this chapter)