PNB Chapter 82 Before Entering the City
Chapter 82 Before Entering the City
Having spent so many days in the cave, the group was well aware of the Cui family's actions. They believed that Cui Guangzong was capable of stealing food, and they were even more convinced that Meng Fuqing would not falsely accuse a child out of thin air.
Some people felt that this family should be kicked out, as they were an eyesore to be left in the line.
But after getting back on the road, they gradually changed their minds.
The family, which used to dote on their youngest son, now has to dress their two daughters in thick clothes and feed them more food under the watchful eyes of those around them.
In the past, in order to save their son from walking too much, the couple would ask villagers who drove carts to let their youngest son ride in the cart. Now, the family has no choice but to walk.
Even so, some villagers complained to Meng Fuqing that Cui Dazhu and his wife wouldn't let Zhao'er and Pan'er ride in the car, which was different from how they treated their son before.
With a single glance from Meng Fuqing, the couple had no choice but to beg and plead to find a car for their two daughters.
Zhao'er and Pan'er felt uneasy about the changes in their family. Although they were young, they had grown up observing people's expressions and knew a lot. They knew that their family was kind to them because of that formidable older sister.
If they were to be separated from their older sister one day, their parents would probably make them pay back tenfold or a hundredfold for all the mistreatment they had suffered these days.
After the two sisters secretly huddled together to discuss it, they decided to go to Meng Fuqing's house to help out, since their parents and grandfather were not willing to ask them to do anything during this period.
Seeing their pitiful state, Shan Qiyu couldn't bear to make them work for her, so in the end, Meng Fuqing asked them to stay.
Meng Fuqing knew what the two were worried about. All she was doing was giving them a chance. If they could seize it, they would live; if not, they deserved to die a stupid death.
So Zhao'er and Pan'er never accepted the food that Shan Qiyu offered them after finishing their work at Meng Fuqing's house; they would only go back to eat at their own home.
The couple, Cui Dazhu and his wife, were so angry they were itching to fight back. They kept cursing the ungrateful women in their hearts, but they couldn't hit or scold them. If they said anything harsh, the villagers would report them. They were extremely frustrated.
The others praised the two girls for being grateful and for being good children.
After traveling for three days, the snow on the ground had almost melted. The group stopped the convoy behind a hillside five miles away from Changping Prefecture before sunset.
Xie Jin first approached Meng Bochang and proposed that he would enter the city late at night to investigate and then send someone back to inform him of the situation.
After seeing Xie Jin leave, Meng Fuqing walked up to Meng Bochang and asked, "Grandpa Village Chief, what did Young Master Xie say?"
Meng Bochang, who lost a lot of hair in three days: ...
Fortunately, within three days he had convinced himself to accept the two of them's decision, so he simply acted as a messenger and relayed Xie Jin's words to Meng Fuqing.
Meng Fuqing pondered for a moment and then said, "I would like to trouble Grandpa Village Chief to pass on a message for me. I will go into the city with him to investigate. I would like to trouble Young Master Xie's men to wait outside the city with people and vehicles. Once the signal is received, we can enter the city."
While Xie Jin was still worried about the situation in the prefectural city, Meng Fuqing had already figured out how to transport the grain.
Based on the information we received earlier in Qingping County, with the spies we've planted and the Hu people's army strong and well-equipped, it would be as easy for them to invade Changping Prefecture as to return to their own home.
Meng Bochang had nothing to say, so he went to Xie Jin to deliver a message.
Xie Jin thought for a moment and then agreed. He didn't ask Meng Fuqing too many questions about what seemed to be inside information, only saying that he would ride there after nightfall.
After Meng Bochang left, he instructed Mu Feng to select some strong villagers before nightfall and have them drive a carriage to wait outside Changping Prefecture.
Mu Feng didn't quite understand Xie Jin's decision to personally investigate the city. "Why not send me instead? Changping Prefecture... I remember General Qiao is currently the garrison commander of Changping Prefecture. Is he the one you're looking for?"
"Yes, his life must be taken by my own hand." His tone was calm, but it concealed a surging killing intent.
Xie Jin left those words and climbed back into the carriage.
The villagers, who were busy gathering firewood to start a fire and cook food, suddenly heard Meng Bochang calling people over one by one, and immediately stopped what they were doing.
"What's wrong?"
"What are you going to do with all these strong young men?"
……
Everyone found it strange that Meng Bochang had already called out thirty or forty people.
To prevent the villagers from panicking, he deliberately led them a little further away.
After stopping, Meng Bochang looked at the crowd in front of him and said, "You should know that we have been delayed for so many days because of the heavy snow. Many families' food will not last until we enter Jing'an Prefecture. I called you out here for this matter."
The crowd erupted in commotion. Niu Er, who had also been called out, raised his voice and asked, "Village Chief, is my eldest brother also going to get grain?"
Meng Bochang said helplessly, "It was your boss who suggested it."
Niu Er nodded, "Then my brothers and I will go. You just tell me what to do."
Tiger also said, "It's all to find a way for us to make a living, we'll do anything!"
After hearing what the two of them said, everyone became even more enthusiastic.
Seeing how excited they were, Meng Bochang waved his hand and said, "You all need to eat some dry food to fill your stomachs first. After nightfall, you will follow Young Master Mu's orders."
"However, as your elder, I must remind you that this time we are going to the prefectural city to obtain grain. There may be Hu people in the prefectural city, so you must think carefully. If anyone does not want to go, just say so before you leave. I will not force you."
These words gradually brought everyone to their senses, but Niu Er trusted his boss completely, saying, "We've fought against the Hu people before, not to mention we have my boss with us, what's there to be afraid of!"
Meng Bochang looked at Niu Er with a bit of a headache. Luckily, they were on the run. If they were in the village, he would have called Meng Fuqing, a girl, "Big Brother" all the time, and Qing's reputation would have been ruined.
At this moment, Meng Fuqing walked over and said, “Think carefully, everyone. If you make a decision but then desert at the last minute, causing a blunder in the internal and external cooperation, you will be dismissed from your posts after this matter is over, and the members of the Meng clan will be dismissed from their clans.”
As for how Young Master Xie will handle things afterward, that's entirely up to him. Neither I nor the village chief will interfere.
A young man's clear voice rang out from the crowd, "Miss Meng, please rest assured, I, Shen Lianxing, will never do anything to betray my promise. I will follow Young Master Mu's instructions."
As soon as he stepped forward, everyone expressed their determination.
Meng Fuqing's gaze fell on Shen Lianxing and then quickly shifted away. She remembered this person because of Meng Linlang.
The experiences in her dream failed to broaden Meng Linlang's horizons; a little observation would reveal that her thoughts were easy to guess. The adoration in her eyes, the disappointment of being ignored when she tried to speak to her, the lingering gaze…
She guessed that Shen Lianxing was the male lead, and it wouldn't be bad to bring him along at this time; he might play a big role at a crucial moment.
Finally, Meng Bochang told everyone not to let anything slip and then they all dispersed.
As soon as Meng Fuqing returned to her resting place, she saw Ling Jiu lead a horse with a saddle to her.
"Miss Meng, can you ride a horse? The young master said that if you can't, you can ride with me."
As soon as Ma got close to Meng Fuqing, he stuck to this person who looked delicious and even tried to bite her sleeve, but was slapped mercilessly.
Meng Fuqing withdrew his hand, glanced at the horizon where only half a salted egg yolk remained, and said, "I still have some time. I'll try to see if I can learn it."
Ling Jiu wanted to say how could it be possible to learn in such a short time, but seeing that Meng Fuqing had already stepped into the stirrups, he didn't say anything.
Miss Meng is no ordinary person; she might actually be able to learn it.
To Ling Jiu's great surprise, the horse she brought was quite obedient to Meng Fuqing. In just a quarter of an hour, Meng Fuqing was already able to skillfully ride the horse at high speed.
Ling Jiu never imagined that carrying Meng Fuqing on his back was like carrying a huge pile of fresh grass, which was the best thing ever, so how could he not obey?