Seeing that his mother had no intention of explaining, Luo Zhaonan had no choice but to suppress the doubts and panic in his heart, took off his dirty clothes, and soaked in the bucket.
Chu Yunli also took a bath. Before, Qi Qiao's mother and daughter couldn't take a bath at home. First, it was too cold in the winter and there was no suitable basin at home. Mother and daughter were tired for a long time and didn't eat well, so they were thin.
It is easy to catch cold.
Secondly, boiling water for bathing consumes firewood, water and time. Even if she takes the time, Ms. Ding will be scolded when she sees it. Because chopping firewood and carrying water also take time, and the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law have no free time at all.
Therefore, the mother and daughter had not taken a proper bath for several days, and this was the first time they took a bath like this.
After soaking, Chu Yunli helped Luo Zhaonan wash her hair and dried her carefully.
Qi Qiaoniang never had time to help her daughter clean up all this. Chu Yunli carefully helped her comb her knotted hair, but the person in front of her hugged her waist and said dullly: "Mom, am I not dreaming?"
Chu Yunli laughed and felt a little sad. He touched her hair and said softly: "No."
After washing and drying her hair, it was already afternoon. Chu Yunli wrapped her old clothes and carried them downstairs. When she passed by the stove that heated hot water in the inn, she threw the patched clothes into the stove fire.
Luo Zhaonan almost exclaimed.
When she saw her mother going downstairs with old clothes, she thought she was taking them to be washed, but she threw them directly into the stove. You know, the clothes she wore were Luo Guman's old clothes this autumn.
It was a small change, only the material was old, and there wasn't a single patch on it. It was her best dress!
Of course, the best piece of clothing she has now is the one she just bought, but that one is not worth throwing away!
In front of others, Luo Zhaonan was afraid that what she said was inappropriate and would make people laugh, so she suppressed the exclamation she was about to say.
Chu Yunli patted her back: "If the old ones don't go away and the new ones don't come in, my mother will never let you wear other people's leftover clothes again!"
Luo Zhaonan has never worn new clothes since he was born. He always picked up clothes from his cousin and wears them till now. When he heard these words, it was like he was in a dream.
Seeing her clothes burned to ashes, Chu Yunli took her hand and went out to a restaurant filled with the aroma of vegetables.
I ordered two meat dishes and one soup, which tasted good. The mother and daughter ate it happily. During this period, Luo Zhaonan looked at his mother several times, but hesitated to speak.
Chu Yunli held the soup and said with a smile: "Just say what you want to say, why are you hesitating?"
Luo Zhaonan's voice was very low: "Mom, do we have money? If not, let's go find the aunt and help her wash the dishes to pay for the meal."
The eleven-year-old child is always worried that she has no money, which shows that she has been insecure since she was a child. Qi Qiaoniang, the mother, did not take good care of her daughter.
Chu Yunli couldn't laugh or cry: "Aren't you still worried about following me?"
With four taels of silver, you can buy a lot of things in the town. Even in the county town, the mother and daughter save some money and rent a yard to cook for themselves. It will be enough for them for more than half a year.
After eating a full meal, they returned to the inn and lay down on the warm bed. Soon, both mother and daughter fell into a deep sleep.
The next morning, after checking out of the room, Chu Yunli planned to find another carriage to go to Fucheng.
Fushan is located between several prefectures. Those who learn arts in Fushan are not under the jurisdiction of the yamen. If any Fushan disciple commits a crime, he can be punished by Fushan himself.
When we arrived at the gate of the county town, there were many horse-drawn carriages waiting to solicit passengers. Chu Yunli had met many people. Although he knew people and faces but not their hearts, at a glance, he could still tell a rough idea.
She took a fancy to an honest and honest middle-aged coachman in his forties, so she pulled Qi Qiaoniang and squeezed over there. When she was about to arrive, someone stopped the mother and daughter in front of her.
"Sister-in-law, where are you going?" The person who spoke was a man in his thirties, casually dressed in loose clothes, looking at Chu Yunli with malicious eyes: "It's cheaper for you to ride in my carriage.
some."
It is worth mentioning that Qi Qiaoniang is good-looking and usually looks unkempt in the village. In addition, Luo Shengming is not at home, so she usually hides herself in order to avoid being talked about.
But Chu Yunli was different. After arriving yesterday, she changed into a new set of clothes and her messy hair was combed. Although her complexion was sallow, her facial features were exquisite.
It was obvious that the person in front of him was not just trying to win over the mother and daughter. Luo Zhaonan was a little scared and grabbed the hem of her mother's clothes, lowering her head and clenching her teeth.
Chu Yunli glanced at the middle-aged man over there: "I want to sit in that big brother's seat!"
The man smiled mischievously, turned around and said, "Old man Lin, she wants to ride in your carriage."
The old man Lin, the middle-aged and honest man whom Chu Yunli had been eyeing for a long time, looked horrified and waved his hands: "I'm not free, I'm going home for dinner soon."
Chu Yunli glanced out of the corner of his eye and saw that the drivers of more than a dozen carriages were all looking at the sky and the ground, or talking in low voices, or not looking at the mother and daughter.
The man in front of me was accustomed to this scene. He took a step closer with a smile and asked, "Where are you going?"
Luo Zhaonan was very smart. He became more and more frightened when he saw this, and his hands were trembling slightly. Chu Yunli suddenly felt that his hands were itchy and lowered his head: "Fucheng."
"The city is three days away from here," the man stretched out his hand, "Come on, I'll take you there."
His hand with dirt-covered nails almost touched Chu Yunli. She moved slightly and avoided it as if unintentionally, "I'll go by myself. You haven't said much money yet."
The man didn't take it seriously, and smiled again when he heard this: "I see that you mother and daughter live in poverty, so I will never charge you more. I only have one penny, and I guarantee that you will be sent to the capital safely!"
After saying that, he went to pull a large carriage next to him, opened the curtain, and said with a smile: "You can sleep for a while if there is a mattress."
Luo Zhaonan squeezed her mother's hand and shook it.
She meant to tell Chu Yunli not to go.
Chu Yunli must leave today, but looking at the people around her, they don't dare to accept her business if there are men in front of her.
Chu Yunli sent him here to seek death, of course Chu Yunli wanted to help him! He then said: "This carriage is wide, we can stretch our legs, and sit up without getting tired. The price is also right, you go up first. You don't have to leave today, I will do it tomorrow
It’s here too.”
In other words, if the mother and daughter want to ride in the carriage, they cannot avoid him.
Luo Zhaonan looked frightened. When he met his mother's calm eyes, he suddenly lost his fear. He climbed onto the carriage and sat down obediently. Chu Yunli also sat on it. When he lowered the curtain, he happened to see the driver on the opposite carriage with a look of pity on his face.
But he didn't dare to stop her, or even try to persuade her.
"Okay!" The man jumped onto the carriage with great satisfaction and said with a smile: "My surname is Li, and people call me Li Zhonghou, which means loyal and honest. Just call me Brother Li. We have to get along together, so don't be polite.
"The curtain fell, the carriage moved, and then the horse started to trot.
Luo Zhaonan approached Chu Yunli and lowered his voice: "Mom, I don't think he is a good person. Let's be more careful."
Chu Yunli touched her hair and said softly: "Go to sleep."
Qi Qiaoniang and Luo Zhaonan never got enough sleep before, but now they fall asleep easily.
The carriage left the city and headed towards the official road. After walking for half an hour, the carriage turned onto the small road.
The official road was flat, but as soon as the horses changed paths, there were some bumps in the carriage. Although the difference was not big, Chu Yunli, who had closed his eyes and fell asleep, immediately opened his eyes, opened the curtain on the small window of the carriage, and saw everything around him.
It's a forest, and because it's winter, it's eerie and a bit creepy.
Just at this moment, the carriage stopped. The next moment, the curtain opened, and the man poked his head in and whispered viciously: "Take out the money you have on you."
Chu Yunli: "..." Robbery?
She was silent for a moment: "I don't have any money. If I did, I would buy a carriage and go by myself."
Hearing this answer, Li Zhonghou was not surprised. He said with a smile: "I know you don't have it. There is another way to pay the fare. It depends on whether you are willing."
His tone was meaningful, and his eyes glanced at Chu Yunli's chest and waist disgustingly.
Chu Yunli threw over a penny: "I have the fare."
Li Zhonghou bent down to pick it up and couldn't help laughing: "You are so naive! But now the price has increased. I don't want the money, I want you."
The last word "you" has a long ending sound.
Chu Yunli sighed: "My daughter is asleep, can we go down?"
Hearing this, Li Zhonghou was startled, and then he was overjoyed: "Okay! Your daughter is also my daughter, let her sleep well!"
The journey was bumpy, and Chu Yunli had just pressed Luo Zhaonan's sleeping point to let her sleep well. At this moment, the carriage stopped, and the two of them talked without waking her up.
Li Zhonghou jumped off the carriage, and Chu Yunli also jumped off. He looked around and said, "Let's stay away."
Seeing that she was so understanding and had no intention of calling anyone or running away, Li Zhonghou relaxed and pulled Chu Yunli away.
Chu Yunli avoided his hand: "I'll go by myself."
The two of them went into the dense forest, and when they arrived under a big tree, they could only vaguely see the corner of the carriage over there. Chu Yunli stopped and said, "Don't go too far, I won't be too lazy to go back later. Just stay here."
Li Zhonghou chuckled, a little wretchedly, reached out and pulled off his shirt, leaving only a pair of pants, and rushed towards Chu Yunli: "Take it off quickly, what are you pretending to be..."
Chu Yunli raised her leg and kicked the person directly away.
Li Zhonghou flew backwards and hit a tree. He felt pain in his back and head. It took him a long time to come back to his senses and look at the slender and thin woman in front of him. She looked gentle and graceful, as if she would hit someone.
After being kicked by such a woman, he immediately became furious, put on a posture, and sneered: "Do you know why those people dare not rob my business? I have practiced it. If you don't drink a toast, you will be punished with a drink!"
He thought he was kicked but was unprepared, so he rushed forward with fists clenched.
It could be seen that he must have practiced boxing. Chu Yunli avoided it sideways, picked up the dry wooden stick on the side, and slapped him in the face. First, he slapped him in the face with the stick, which made him miserable.
Call out.
In the small woods outside the official road, a man's screams suddenly came out. The sound sounded like someone was being skinned and cramped, and countless birds were frightened.
Chu Yunli stepped on his shoulder and back. The man on the ground couldn't move like a dead dog and struggled for a long time. He had to give up and beg for mercy: "Auntie, please let me go."
Chu Yunli sneered: "Don't you want me to pay the fare? Is it enough? If not, I will make up a few more..."
As she spoke, she raised the wooden stick in her hand and raised it high.
"Enough, enough!" Li Zhonghou shouted, "It's really enough!"
Chu Yunli looked regretful: "I haven't beaten enough yet."