“Fourth child, you…” Mother Su said in surprise.
“Mother, little sister is right. Staying here is no different from waiting for death. Since that’s the case, we might as well take a chance and strive for a better future!”
Su San crossed his arms: “I don’t have any objections. You all decide.”
Su Er looked at Su Yi: “I’ll follow big brother’s decision.”
Su Yi clenched his hands tightly inside his sleeves: “I have no objections either.”
“Good, then let’s leave quickly!”
They crept along the wall on tiptoe, then climbed out through the window.
“Hurry, move faster!” Su Moli whispered, trying not to alert anyone.
The others also successfully climbed out the window and escaped from the warehouse without any major incidents.
Su Moli sneaked alone to the door and saw that Gu Mang was still asleep. She breathed a sigh of relief, immediately turned back, and led the Su family toward the village entrance.
“Mother, which way is west?”
Since Gu Mang said during the day that they should go east, they would go west.
Mother Su pointed in a direction.
Su Moli looked that way, a smile curling at the corners of her mouth.
She believed that with her abilities, she could definitely achieve great things here.
When the time came, she would make all those who looked down on her kneel at her feet, begging for forgiveness!
“Mother, let’s go!”
The horizon began to lighten with the first glow of dawn.
Shang Yueli stretched and woke up.
In the blink of an eye, she noticed that the spot where the Su family should have been lying was empty.
No way, they really ran away?
The discussion between Su Moli and the others last night was practically thunderous. No matter how Shang Yueli covered her ears, she couldn’t fall asleep.
She believed anyone who wasn’t deaf should have heard it, right?
“Where’s that annoying woman? Why is their whole family gone?” Mu Shicai had just woken up and was still groggy.
Haha, except for Mu Shicai.
When he slept, he was like a pig—not only impossible to wake but also snoring.
Shang Yueli folded her blanket and got up. The next second, she heard Lin Zhiman let out a sharp scream by her ear.
“They really left!!!”
“How could they do this? I never even thought about escaping!”
“This is so infuriating! I thought they were just joking around. How could they actually run away!”
Shang Yueli smiled and comforted her: “It’s alright, they won’t get far.”
Shang Yueli had heard every word Su Moli said last night.
She could only say that Su Moli was completely delusional.
After escaping, the Su family would first be wanted nationwide, then have their household registration revoked, and all nine clans would be demoted to slave status.
With no identity and no background, their best option would be to hide in the mountains as savages for life.
Because in Da Qing, even beggars needed to have household registration.
Not long after, Gu Mang came in to count the people in the warehouse.
Except for the Su family, everyone else was present.
He wasn’t angry; instead, it seemed expected.
The Su family wasn’t originally under his supervision anyway. Even if they really ran away, it had nothing to do with him.
“Let’s go, don’t worry about them. Continue the journey!”
“Let’s go, to Ye City!”
Ye City.
“I’ve already explained the situation to the superiors. They’re sending two more people to help with the escort. Including preparing basic supplies and such, we need to stay here for at least three days.”
“Three days, that’s great!”
Gu Mang shot Lin Zhiman a sidelong glance, and she immediately shut her mouth, though her constantly fidgeting feet betrayed her inner excitement.
“There’s no space at the post station, so we’ll be staying at an inn in the city these few days. You may move about freely, but must return before midnight.”
With guards stationed outside the city, he didn’t need to worry about this group escaping.
“By the way, you’ll cover your own accommodation costs.”
Lin Zhiman: “What about those without money?”
“Sleep on the streets.” After saying this, Gu Mang used the money he’d earned from them over the past half month to book a superior room, then left with an aloof demeanor.
“Hmph, what’s there to be proud of when he’s using our money? Right, niece-in-law?”
“Niece-in-law?”
Lin Zhiman turned around to find that the main family members had already booked their rooms and left.
She had been hoping Shang Yueli would pay for her room – how annoying!
Back in their room, Shang Yueli opened the window and looked at the crowded streets.
If it’s like this during the day, wouldn’t it be even more lively at night?
“Quite fortunate timing indeed, to be able to stay at an inn and enjoy the city even while in exile,” Shang Yueli remarked teasingly.
Mu Yunsheng smiled and took out a bag of silver, placing it in her palm.
Shang Yueli felt the substantial weight in her hand.
“Buy whatever you want. Enjoy yourself properly these three days.”
Shang Yueli glanced at him, narrowing her eyes slightly as she smiled. “You arranged this, didn’t you, husband~”
“There’s no way the authorities would truly be so kind as to let us stay in the city, let alone for three days of leisure.”
“And so?” Mu Yunsheng looked at her, his smile unwavering.
“So I suspect this is all your doing! Last time I saw you conspiring with Gu Mang!”
“My wife is truly clever!”
“Of course!”
“Hey, don’t pat my head – it’ll make me shorter!” Shang Yueli swatted away his wandering hand.
Mu Yunsheng sighed, tucking her hair behind her ear as he explained: “The magistrate of Ye City is my former classmate. Naturally, he wouldn’t make things difficult for us.”
“Rest well these next few days. Don’t worry, I won’t let you continue suffering with me forever.”
Mu Yunsheng touched her belly, his voice unconsciously softening. “Does little one want roast chicken tonight?”
Shang Yueli replied haughtily: “What, if little one doesn’t want it, you won’t give me any?”
“This humble one admits his fault. Please spare me, madam.”
Shang Yueli raised her hand and patted his head contentedly.
“Good puppy. I’m going out to buy some things. If there’s no roast chicken when I return, you’re in trouble, understand?”
“As you command.”
After Shang Yueli left, the smile vanished from Mu Yunsheng’s face.
“Enter.”
A dark figure suddenly flashed in from the window.
Completely wrapped in black cloth, he knelt on one knee.
“Greetings, master!”
“Step right up, take a look! Those with money support us financially, those without support us with your presence!”
“……”
“Shopkeeper, how much for this seashell necklace?”
“Fifty coins each.”
“I’ll take them all.”
Shang Yueli bought all the seashell necklaces from the old man’s stall, then went to purchase some pork back fat and bamboo tubes.
She checked her items against the parchment list.
Seashells, pork fat, bamboo tubes…
“Mm, that’s everything bought.”
“OK, back to enjoy roast chicken!”
While returning, Shang Yueli accidentally wandered into the slave market.
Here, there was only one type of merchandise – people.
They were either locked in iron cages or bound with ropes like twisted dough, thrown on the ground for customers to select.
All of them were disheveled and dressed in rags, either sold by their parents or kidnapped by traffickers.
Those with good fortune might be bought by others to become servants in their mansions, while those with bad luck could be beaten to death.
Just as Shang Yueli was about to leave, she caught sight of several familiar figures locked inside iron cages.
“Shang Yueli, Shang Yueli!”
“Come quickly and save us!”
Covering her nose, Shang Yueli moved closer to look, and only after a long while did she recognize who the person before her was.
“Su Moli?”