Ten soldiers formed two lines, sandwiching the Xiao family in between as they proceeded in order.
Ever since leaving the Xiao residence, there had been onlookers all along the way, watching the two Xiao brothers with deep sorrow and indignation.
“The Xiao family has been struck by a great calamity, all because they married that wanton woman Cheng Lan! If not for her, how could General Xiao’s descendants suffer such a disaster!”
“That woman is a scourge, she deserves to die!”
“Truly a shameless wretch who deserves to be ridden by thousands and cursed by tens of thousands—why don’t you just go and dash yourself to death!” Xiao Fuchuan grew angrier the more he thought about it. He had always been wealthy and powerful—when had he ever suffered such hardship? He wished he could kill Cheng Lan with his glare.
“Had I known it would come to this, I would have strangled you back then rather than let you enter the Xiao family!”
“Isn’t that right? It’s all because of you, you shameless woman! You jinx!” Liu Manwen suppressed her pent-up resentment and spat fiercely at Cheng Lan.
If it weren’t for Cheng Lan meddling, she wouldn’t have had to marry such a useless man!
Liu Manwen’s gaze fell on Xiao Fuchuan, filled with disdain.
Xiao Muchen and Xiao Yunqing, along with Li Xuerong and Xiao Qin’er, the entire family, kept their heads down in silence.
It seemed these children were still kind to the original host—at least none of them joined in the cursing.
Cheng Lan shrugged and continued walking. The deeds were done by the original host—why should she take it to heart and upset herself?
Besides, Liu Manwen was now shouting fiercely, but once they left the city, things might not be the same.
However, after walking less than a hundred meters further, as the city gate appeared at the end of the road, she suddenly caught sight of something out of the corner of her eye. She paused for a moment, and an egg flew past her face, followed by a shower of vegetable leaves falling like raindrops.
“Die, die! You poisonous woman are utterly unworthy of the Xiao family, let alone General Xiao!”
Amidst the thunderous outcry of the people, vegetable leaves, eggs, and whatever the commoners had in their hands were hurled fiercely at Cheng Lan.
Unable to avoid them all, she dodged only the eggs and hard objects.
Behind her, Xiao Yunqing’s face darkened, his green robe stained with egg yolk, and a few vegetable leaves clinging to his head.
Cheng Lan felt as if a hole had been burned into her back by the intensity of the stares.
Sun Tong delighted in this, grinning from ear to ear, deliberately slowing the pace.
What should have been a quarter-hour journey took more than twice as long.
Seeing the family’s wretched state, Sun Tong was utterly satisfied. Once they left the city, he began striding ahead at a brisk pace.
The soldiers had carts and horses, making their journey easy, but the Xiao family was shackled with iron chains and fetters. By the time they left the city gate, they were already drenched in sweat.
They could not stop, nor could they slow down. After walking for two hours under the scorching sun, the formation had become crooked and scattered.
Cheng Lan’s body could not endure it, and she had fallen to the back. Seeing the wound on Xiao Muchen’s back split open and bleed, his tall frame swaying unsteadily as if he might collapse at any moment, she grew concerned.
Xiao Yunqing, already frail and sickly, looked even paler and more haggard.
Nannan had been carried by Li Xuerong the whole way, crying from the heat, and Li Xuerong herself was not faring well either.
So she called out, “Deputy General Sun, could we rest for a while?”
Xiao Tongtong had walked the entire way and was on the verge of tears. Without a second thought, she sat down under a nearby tree. “No, Mother, I can’t walk anymore!”
Xiao Fuchuan, with his large belly, trembled and collapsed onto the ground. Liu Manwen, unusually, paid no attention to her daughter, constantly looking into the distance, anxiously waiting for something.
Seeing that even his men in heavy armor could no longer endure, Sun Tong snorted and said with an air of magnanimity, “Rest here!”
The accompanying soldiers took out roasted chicken, liquor, flatbread, and water, sitting in a circle to share the meal.
Nannan had already gone limp in her arms. Li Xuerong held the child, feeling as if the little one’s breath was fading away.
Her eyes reddened with urgency, and she steeled herself to speak: “General Sun, please give us a little food and water. The child… the child can’t hold on any longer…”
Sun Tong took a big bite of chicken leg, watching the Xiao family’s pitiful expressions. He chewed, then suddenly spat—shredded meat mixed with saliva tumbling to the ground—and burst into loud laughter.
“Fine, this is your reward. Kowtow and thank me!”
Li Xuerong paled, still clutching her child.
Xiao Muchen, dragging his injuries, had barely managed to endure until now. He closed his eyes, lips pressed tightly together as if bearing immense pain, and for the moment couldn’t attend to his wife and child.
Xiao Yunqing was taking advantage of the break to apply acupuncture needles to him. The good needles had already been sold by Cheng Lan; these were ones he had practiced with before, barely usable. They helped stop the bleeding from his elder brother’s wounds, but he couldn’t spare any attention elsewhere.
Cheng Lan looked at this battered family and sighed imperceptibly. She stood up, walked over, and pulled Li Xuerong to her feet with one hand.
Feeling the other woman tremble, she tightened her grip and turned a stiff, insincere smile toward Sun Tong. “Deputy General Sun, the rules don’t say we can’t eat our own provisions, do they?”
“You can eat if you have any, but do you?” Sun Tong laughed arrogantly.
The Xiao family couldn’t even scrape together half a copper coin or anything valuable—what food could they possibly have? In the end, they’d have no choice but to lick what he spat out!
Nearby, Xiao Fuchuan, slumped on the ground, took a few ragged breaths. Then, driven by his gnawing hunger, he pulled out prepared food and water from his pack, tore off a chicken leg, and waved it tauntingly at Cheng Lan.
“I say, sister-in-law, look what this is? A chicken leg!”
Xiao Fuchuan took a huge bite of the chicken leg as if to show off. Instantly, the greasy juices from the meat filled his entire mouth.
Carried by the hot wind blowing through the air, the rich, savory aroma drifted past Li Xuerong and Xiao Qin’er, making both swallow hard.
Not content with that, seeing Cheng Lan unmoved, Xiao Fuchuan sneered and spoke up: “Sister-in-law, it’s not that I, as your brother-in-law, am being heartless. It’s just that you, a wasteful woman, don’t know what’s good for you!”
“Now that disaster is upon us, each must fend for themselves. So, my money is mine, and this delicious, fragrant treat—you’d better not covet it. Hurry up and beg Commander Sun to reward you with a bite!”