Chapter 65

65 Departure

Uncle Zhou took Ji Xiang, Ruyi, and Zhao Cai and hid everything that they could not take with them in the cellar. After covering the cellar, he carried the food and water to the cart and tied them up before covering them with an oilcloth.

After Zhou Jia paid his respects to his grandfather and mother in the small ancestral hall, he put his grandfather and mother’s memorial tablets into a wooden box in the carriage. He said to Li Qing, who was waiting there, “Ah Qing, go to the study room. There’s the homework I prepared for you on the desk. Take it with you.”

“Yes, sir,” Li Qing agreed and ran toward the study.

Auntie He came out of the kitchen with a bag of food and placed it in the car. “Young Master, I’ve placed the food in the cart. Remember to take them out to eat!”

Zhou Jia nodded. “Got it. Have you prepared food in your car?”

“It’s ready. I’ll go get the water bag.” Auntie He turned around and walked towards the kitchen.

Li Qing came out of the study with a big bag on his back. Uncle Zhou had also packed his luggage. He came over and helped Zhou Jia tidy up. “Young Master, the luggage is ready. Let’s go!”

Zhou Jia nodded and led Li Qing out of the house. Three big green mule carts and an ox cart slowly walked towards Li Yu’s house.

Li Yu and Liu Changmin carried all the wheat to the car. Li Mei hung the stewed noodles on a bamboo pole in the kitchen. Two braziers were lit under the bamboo poles to bake the noodles.

A mule cart was loaded with food, bedding, food, and water. The ox cart was filled with grain and fodder.

Li Yu took out a dagger and handed it to Liu Changmin. “Uncle, this is for you to protect yourself.”

Liu Changmin looked at the dagger for a moment before taking it. Li Yu pointed at his calf and said, “Find a cloth strap and tie the knife sheath to your leg. It’s more convenient to take it out that way.”

Liu Changmin nodded and went to look for cloth with heavy footsteps.

Zhou Jia and Li Qing brought their people back to the Li family. Li Yu’s courtyard was filled with mule carts. Everyone unloaded the carts and brought the livestock to the backyard to tie them up.

The two families saw Zhou Jia hold Li Yu’s hand before taking her aside. He rolled up his sleeve and pointed at the sleeve arrow on his arm. He asked Li Yu worriedly, “Xiaoyu, where did you buy this? Do many people know about this?”

Li Yu looked at Zhou Jia. “I bought it from the blacksmith in town. I bought a crossbow and three sleeve arrows. A crossbow costs 50 taels of silver, and sleeve arrows cost 30 taels of silver!”

Zhou Jia looked at Li Yu and heaved a sigh of relief. “I thought you were robbed by a thief! 30 taels would not be expensive. You might not be able to buy such a thing even if you have money.”

Li Yu laughed in her heart and pursed her lips. “Sigh! I should have bought two more.”

Zhou Jia looked at Li Yu’s expression and felt that something was wrong. Ji Xiang ran over and said to the two of them, “Young Master, Miss Li, Village Chief Chen is here.”

“Okay.” Li Yu and Zhou Jia returned to the courtyard. Seeing the village chief standing in front of the mule cart and looking at the oilcloth covering the carriage, Li Yu walked forward. “Grandpa Village Chief, why are you looking for me?”

The village chief looked at Li Yu and Zhou Jia and smiled awkwardly. “Mr. Zhou, Xiaoyu, we originally agreed that 15 families would leave together. More families came today. There are nearly 30 families now. I’m just here to tell you.”

Zhou Jia smiled faintly. “Village Chief Chen, it’s fine. We’re all villagers. We can take care of each other when we leave together.”

The village chief heaved a sigh of relief when they heard that. He smiled at the two of them and said, “That’s good. Everyone, be more vigilant when you sleep at night. I’m afraid these bandits will come again.”

Zhou Jia thought for a moment. “Village Chief Chen, I think they might be coming for my family and the Xu family. However, I think you should tell the villagers just in case. It’s best if you gather everyone tonight and leave together tomorrow morning.”

“Okay, I’ll go back and talk to everyone. I’ll let them all stay in the ancestral hall.”

Li Yu and Zhou Jia sent the village chief away. Li Mei and Auntie He prepared the food. Everyone closed the door and ate in the kitchen. Li Yu returned to the house and took out the tent for Ji Xiang and the others. Everyone split up to rest. Ji Xiang, Ruyi, and Zhao Cai were on night duty. The night was calm.

When it was almost dawn, Li Mei and Auntie He got up to cook. Ji Xiang and the others heaved a sigh of relief and lay down to rest for a while.

After everyone got up and ate, Li Mei and Auntie He carried a basket of biscuits into the carriage. Li Yu and Ji Xiang moved the carriage out of the house. Li Qing held Li Yu’s hand and the siblings looked at the small courtyard they had lived in for more than half a year reluctantly. They climbed into the mule cart and drove towards the village entrance.

The village chief sat on the ox cart with food and water. Beside him sat his two little grandchildren. Madam Liu and Baozhen stood beside the cart with dark expressions as they looked at the two children on it.

Chen Yaohui and Chen Yaozu had a wheelbarrow in front of their feet. Madam Li and Madam Ma were carrying some luggage on their backs.

The village entrance was already filled with people. Everyone had their belongings by their feet. When they saw Li Yu and the others coming out, they all stood up and wrapped the rope on the cart around their shoulders. They picked up the burden and prepared to set off.

Seeing Li Yu and the others’ carriage walk to the front, Chen Baozhen muttered unhappily, “What’s going on? Why are you putting on such airs and making an entire village wait here?”

When He Xiaoyu, who was standing at the side, heard this, she sneered. “Sigh! Nothing good comes out of a dog’s mouth.”

Chen Baozhen pointed at He Xiaoyu angrily. “Who are you calling a dog?”n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

He Xiaoyu looked at her from the corner of her eye. “Whoever responded.”

Chen Baozhen raised her hand to hit He Xiaoyu, but Madam Liu grabbed her and pinched her. She persuaded her softly, “Little ancestor, be obedient these days. Don’t make your father angry again.”

Chen Baozhen pursed her lips and glanced at He Xiaoyu. “I won’t argue with a bootlicker like you.”

He Xiaoyu snorted and curled her lips. “You make it sound like I’m afraid of you.”

The village chief climbed onto the ox cart and shouted at everyone in a hoarse voice, “Fellow villagers of West Mountain Village, we’re leaving now!”

As soon as the village chief finished speaking, there were cries at the village entrance. Everyone looked up at the place where they had lived since they were young.

The village chief looked at them and roared, “Stop crying. The heavens don’t want us to live here. We can’t just wait for death! Let’s go out and make a living for the children.”

Tears streamed down the adults’ faces as they led their children out of the village with their luggage.

Suddenly, a cry sounded from the back of the team. “You heartless bitch. You tricked my son into not even acknowledging his mother. You plan to leave me behind. You’ll be struck by lightning!...”

Someone looked and said, “Isn’t this Li Mei’s mother-in-law? If she wants to leave, let’s leave together! Why are you crying?”

“Look, Brother Liu Changmin and the others are following behind!”

Li Mei sat on the edge of the carriage and looked at Old Madam Liu, who was making a scene behind her. She looked at Liu Changmin coldly. “Go and take care of your mother yourself.”

Old Madam Liu had already caught up to the ox cart. She pulled the ox rope and shouted angrily at Liu Changmin, “Are you going to ignore me and your brother?”

Liu Changmin looked at Old Madam Liu with an angry expression. “Mother, I went to ask you two the day before yesterday if you wanted to leave. You, Second Brother, and Third Brother chased me out. You’re only thinking of asking me now. Why didn’t you do it earlier?”

Old Madam Liu grabbed the ox rope and glared at Li Mei’s family. “We’re leaving now. Give the ox cart to Bao’er and the others.”

Liu Changmin jumped off the ox cart and begged Old Madam Liu, “Mother! Can you be more reasonable? The ox cart belongs to Xiaoyu’s family. There’s food on it. Where would you put them?”

Old Madam Liu twisted her body unreasonably. “Then I don’t care. It’s unfilial of you not to give it. I’m going to the government office to sue you.”

Li Yu watched from the front for a while. Seeing that Liu Changmin had no choice, she gave the reins to Zhou Jia and jumped out of the car. She walked up to Liu Changmin. “Uncle, I think you should stay and be filial! The ox cart belongs to my family. Don’t delay our journey.”

Liu Changmin looked at Li Yu, then at Li Mei and the two children in the car. He squatted on the ground, hugged his head, and said to Li Yu, “Xiaoyu, the car belongs to your family. Take it away!”

...

Li Yu walked up to Old Madam Liu and shouted at her, “Let go of your hand. Otherwise, don’t blame me for being rude.”

Seeing that Li Yu was really going to chase Liu Changmin away, Old Madam Liu pointed at Li Mei and Zhaodi and said rudely, “They’re also from my Liu family. They have to follow me.”

Li Yu grabbed Old Madam Liu’s wrist. Old Madam Liu let go of the ox rope in pain. Li Yu had just climbed onto the ox cart when Old Madam Liu rushed over to grab Zhaodi.

Li Yu pointed at Old Madam Liu with the bull whip. “They’re also from the Li family. See if you dare to move a finger.”

Old Madam Liu glanced at Li Yu and was stunned by the aura she emitted. She was stunned for a moment before turning around and pouncing on Liu Changmin to tear him apart. “Useless thing. Go get me the ox cart.”

Liu Changmin slowly stood up and looked at Old Madam Liu with his hair down. He said in a hoarse voice in disappointment, “Mother, are only Second Brother and Third Brother your sons? Why do I feel that I’m not your biological son? Otherwise, why can’t you see the good in me? You disappoint me too much.”

Li Mei jumped out of the ox cart and pulled Liu Changmin along. She looked at Old Madam Liu coldly. “Let’s go. Let her sue.”

Liu Changmin did not even look at Old Madam Liu as he silently followed Li Mei onto the ox cart.

Old Madam Liu fell to the ground. Seeing that the ox cart was slowly moving forward, she came back to her senses and ran towards the back of the fleeing crowd.

She ran to the Liu brothers in a panic and looked at Second Brother Liu, who was carrying something on his back. Third Brother said with a bitter expression, “Third Brother, Mother wasn’t able to get the ox cart. Should we go back or leave?”

Third Brother looked at her impatiently. “Hurry up and take the things and leave! You won’t be able to make it later.”

...

The party that was fleeing looked at Old Madam Liu and her children with disdain and moved forward.