amaotonovel Chapter 472 The way out
Chapter 472 The way out
Chapter 472
The sobbing gradually stopped, and everyone listened silently with bated breath.
Old Man Wang stared at Luo Shuiyao in astonishment, his cloudy eyes rippled. Although he knew these people were no ordinary people, he couldn't hide his shock. He saw a woman sitting on the ground, her skirts sweeping the ground, stained with dust. Her face was stunningly beautiful, and even her plain clothes couldn't hide her elegance. However, her expression was slightly angry, and her aura was cold, so you subconsciously overlook her appearance and only see the sharp edge around her.
Of course, what was even more shocking was that she, a mere woman, had managed to unravel such a complex situation with just a few words. None of his younger brothers could understand why the town leader was so heartless and cruel, nor why he had gone to such great lengths to get them away overnight, but she had revealed it all.
Old Man Wang clenched the dead wood in his hand, and his knuckles turned white from the force.
As the village chief of Wangjia Village for nearly twenty years, he had seen countless storms as he grew older. But the insight displayed by the woman before him was even sharper than that of an old man immersed in the world for half his life. "Girl..."
Old Man Wang's throat tightened, and the faint hope in his heart suddenly rose. This kind of person - definitely has the ability to save them from danger.
The old village chief suddenly stood up, his gaunt frame bursting with astonishing strength, showing none of the slowness of a man in his prime. He straightened his clothes vigorously and bowed deeply in front of him.
This sudden gift stunned everyone in Wangjia Village - the children in the women's arms cried in shock, and the young people looked at each other, at a loss as to what to do.
"What's going on, old village chief..." someone in the crowd murmured.
"Listen to the old village chief!" someone suddenly shouted.
Over the years, the old village chief has led Wangjia Village through challenges, achieving ever-increasing prosperity. Even amidst occasional disputes among the surrounding villages of Qingshui Town, Wangjia Village has remained unwavering. Leveraging the ties of common ancestry, it has become the most harmonious and prosperous place in the surrounding area. If it weren't for this sudden natural disaster, Wangjia Village would be filled with curling smoke from cooking fires, children laughing, and a peaceful and harmonious atmosphere.
The old village chief's bow shocked everyone so much that their eyes burned. You know, this old man, who had always been as straight as a pine tree, now bent his back for the livelihood of the entire village.
Yes, they knew it almost without thinking - the old village chief was looking for a way out for them.
After a brief silence, the crowd surged like a tide. A white-haired old woman, supported by her grandson, slowly bowed down, followed by young and middle-aged people. Even children in swaddling clothes and toddlers stood beside their mothers, ignorantly imitating the adults and bowing down.
Luo Shuiyao was startled by the old village chief's action and instinctively started to stand. But when she saw the scene before her, her fingertips trembled slightly. She looked at the villagers, dressed in tattered clothes but full of hope, and her eyes suddenly felt hot. She was about to step forward to help them, but Ye Yunzhou gently held them down.
He held Luo Shuiyao behind him as he slowly stepped forward, his dark robe skimming the ground. He extended his hand to support the old village chief, his voice low but clear: "Old man, such a great gift is truly a disgrace to us."
It wasn't that he was being mean-spirited; he had simply witnessed too many double-faced schemes in the past. Furthermore, this was only their first encounter with this group of people. While their explanations were plausible, the truth of the matter still needed to be verified. If he allowed Luo Shuiyao to rashly approach and engage with them, how could he feel at ease if something unexpected happened?
Luo Shuiyao subconsciously took a half step forward, but paused when she touched his broad, upright back. She pursed her lips gently, swallowing the words that were about to come out of her mouth. She simply stood quietly behind him, silently responding to this comfortable protection.
The old village chief wasn't stubborn; he'd come here to ask for help, not to threaten. Seeing Ye Yunzhou offer a hand, he slowly rose to his feet. Tears welled in his cloudy eyes, and he spoke apologetically, "I'm taking advantage of my age. But we're truly desperate, and I beg you two to find a way out. Everyone in Wangjia Village, young and old, will work tirelessly in our next lives to repay your kindness!"
He had guessed the town guard's plan and fled Qingshui Town with his people overnight. The group, which included many elderly, weak, women, and children, moved slowly, and it took them a full night to finally make it out of Qingshui Town.
He breathed a sigh of relief and finally ordered a halt. After a night of travel, they were already exhausted and hungry, and desperately needed to rest and eat. He had intended to continue on his journey after a short rest, but when he looked at the exhausted villagers, his heart was filled with bitterness.
He had been to the capital once in his youth and knew some of the roads, with a rough idea of the direction of the Imperial City. However, he had no idea where to go. He could only grit his teeth and head in that direction, believing, "The emperor's laws are strict, and perhaps there's a way out." But the road ahead was long and bleak. While the Imperial City was close, could it really accommodate a group of impoverished refugees like them?
Perhaps it was fate that couldn't bear to see them trapped in such a desperate situation, and in their moment of confusion and helplessness, they encountered Ye Yunzhou and Luo Shuiyao. The old village chief's eyes were determined - not for himself, but for the elderly, weak, women and children who followed him, he had no choice but to sacrifice his reputation and fight for his life.
Seeing him hunched over, his humble demeanor revealing helplessness, his cloudy eyes filled with a complex mix of hope and pleading, even though Ye Yunzhou had seen countless cruel and cruel things in the world, he couldn't help but feel pity for him at this moment.
His gaze slowly swept over the villagers who had risen with the old village chief. Their clothes were ragged and patched, their cheeks sunken and their complexions sallow, yet they supported each other and stood upright. From the old village chief to the babbling children, their eyes shone with stubborn determination. This unity, this close ties in the face of despair, filled Ye Yunzhou with an indescribable feeling of deep emotion.
He closed his eyes, temporarily suppressing the thoughts surging in his heart, then slowly took a step back, sideways to reveal Luo Shuiyao who was hiding behind him, and said in a deep voice: "My sister is very insightful and resourceful in this matter. She will definitely be able to help the old man solve the problem."
Suddenly pushed forward, Luo Shuiyao was startled. She looked up at him, seeing a hint of encouragement in his eyes. Although she didn't understand why he'd pushed her out, she knew he wouldn't harm her. She took a half step forward, her tone reassuring, "Don't be afraid, old man. We're all citizens of the Great Zhou. When we see this corrupt official running rampant, we must fight back and uphold justice."
She raised her hand and pointed to the boiling porridge pot not far away. "Why don't you have a bowl of hot porridge to warm yourself up first? Once I have sorted out my thoughts, I will definitely find a safe way out for everyone."
Upon hearing this, Old Man Wang and the people from Wangjia Village behind him all beamed with uncontrollable joy. This noble man had so readily agreed. Could it be that they had truly met their savior? With such a heaven-sent opportunity, how could they not accept it? A chorus of responses erupted, and several young men hurried to serve the porridge. Amidst the steaming steam, children clutched the hems of their elders' clothes and timidly joined in the laughter, though they had no idea why their elders were laughing.
The sorrow on Mr. Wang's face disappeared, and he trembled as he clasped his fists and repeatedly expressed his gratitude. Luo Shuiyao did not stop him, but accepted the gratitude with peace of mind - she knew that only in this way could she make Mr. Wang and others feel at ease.
Steaming hot porridge arrived quickly. The man, previously wary, now had a look of admiration in his eyes, his attitude extremely submissive. The atmosphere among them was much more relaxed than before. Despite the furtive glances from all around, Luo Shuiyao and the others slowly swallowed their bowls of hot porridge, feeling a gradual warmth in their stomachs. They also sensed a heavy sense of responsibility in this unfamiliar trust.
Soon, the hot porridge was distributed, and everyone in Wangjia Village had a rare hot meal. After the meal, everyone cleaned up the mess in an orderly manner, but from time to time they stole glances at Luo Shuiyao, listening intently, hoping to hear some news.
Seeing this, Luo Shuiyao waited for Old Man Wang to finish his meal before asking about the village situation. Upon learning that there were 120 people in total, half of them elderly, half women, and half young and middle-aged, she nodded slightly. "Since you and the villagers trust me, I'll tell you straight—"
Without further ado, she tapped her fingertips, "The safest way right now is to get as far away from Qingshui Town as possible, lest the town chief sends people after us."
Old Man Wang clenched his cane and nodded, his cloudy eyes crinkling with anxiety. "That's exactly what I'm worried about. If we take the official road, we can at least find the direction. But if we take the mountain road, without someone familiar with the route to lead us, we're likely to get lost."
Luo Shuiyao nodded, glanced at the young men in the crowd, and waved her fingertips to call a guard over: "My guard is familiar with topographical maps. I happen to have a detailed map in my hand. You can let him lead the way. Follow the path in the map. It's long but flat."
She glanced at the group. "But the paths aren't as wide as the main roads. To prevent getting separated, we need to split into groups of ten. Young and strong men will be spread out among the groups, and they must stay close to the guards. This way, we can avoid pursuit and avoid getting lost."
When Old Man Wang heard about the map, his face lit up with joy, and he nodded repeatedly. He'd only heard of it, never seen it before, but he knew it was incredibly valuable. Now with it in hand, it would be as easy as finding a beacon at night. He sighed inwardly, realizing that anyone possessing such a rare treasure must be from a prominent family. His gaze toward Luo Shuiyao was filled with awe and gratitude.
Seeing him nod, Luo Shuiyao confirmed the matter. Although Mr. Wang was old, he had a clear mind and would make the arrangements.
She added, "Follow the directions on the map. After about 300 miles, you'll reach Baihua County. The county magistrate there loves his people like his own children, and he's recently recovered from a flood and needs repairs. If you go there and ask him for shelter, you'll definitely find a place to stay."
Earlier, while drinking porridge, Luo Shuiyao had been mentally weighing her options for relocation. Her first thought was the village outside the city. While it offered some refuge, the journey was far. Among the villagers, many were elderly, infirm, women, and children, and the long journey would inevitably lead to some collapse, resulting in further casualties. After much deliberation, she concluded that Baihua County was the best choice.
County Magistrate Qin Chuan, an upright official who always cared for his people like his own children, would not sit idly by upon hearing of the victims' plight. Moreover, Baihua County had just experienced devastating floods, and if it were to be developed into a tourist destination, it would be in dire need of labor. These villagers simply wanted a hot meal and a place to stay, and if resettled, they would undoubtedly work tirelessly. This would both alleviate the villagers' immediate needs and expedite the reconstruction of Baihua County—a truly win-win situation.
Luo Shuiyao glanced at the villagers sitting around. She coughed lightly and raised her voice, "While the Baihua County we just mentioned is a good place to stay, it's not an easy journey. You should set off early and obey the guards' instructions along the way. You must not leave the group without permission."
She paused, and seeing that Old Man Wang was about to speak but hesitated, she slowed down her tone, "Don't worry, Old Man, I will write a letter. You can take it to see County Magistrate Qin, and he will definitely take care of it."
In reality, Mr. Wang hesitated to speak, but it wasn't out of worry. He was filled with suspicion, watching Luo Shuiyao calmly issuing orders. The words on his lips lingered—who could so easily summon an entire county magistrate to aid? What was this woman's identity? Could she be from a royal family? But before he could finish his words, Luo Shuiyao interrupted him.
He glanced at the guard standing upright behind her, then at Ye Yunzhou, lurking in the shadows, shrouded in mystery. He suddenly understood. This girl was reluctant to reveal her identity; she must have her reasons. If he rashly questioned her, he might accidentally leak the news and bring disaster upon everyone. Thinking of this, Old Man Wang swallowed his doubts, his cloudy eyes filled with caution, and his expression became even more respectful.
He knew it was not advisable to stay here for long, fearing the mayor would send his men after them. Having made up their minds, everyone packed up immediately. Luo Shuiyao's carriage was stocked with writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. She quickly wrote, and in just a few words, she explained the plight of the people of Wangjia Village and their desire to seek refuge.
The pen tip hovered for a moment, and he added a few more words of request. After the ink dried, he carefully folded the letter and solemnly handed it to Old Man Wang: "Give this letter to County Magistrate Qin, he will understand."
After that, he urged: "Old man, hurry up and leave, otherwise something bad will happen!"
Old Man Wang took the letter with trembling hands, bowed, turned around to greet his clansmen, and hurriedly followed the guards on the road to Baihua County.
As the Wangjia Village crowd gradually receded, Ye Yunzhou and Ye Yi sprang into action. They carefully smoothed over their footprints among the dead branches and leaves, burying the embers of the bonfire, erasing every trace of their presence. In an instant, the place had returned to its untouched state.
Afterwards, the two climbed onto the carriage. Since the guards had gone to Baihua County to lead the way and protect the people, Ye Yi was now the one holding the reins and driving the carriage, and the carriage once again drove towards Qingshui Town.
Inside the carriage, Luo Shuiyao stared at Ye Yunzhou with a frown. After a long silence, she finally spoke, raising the question that had been lingering in her mind: "Why did you push me to handle this matter first?"
The rapid clatter of horses' hooves outside the carriage made the shaft tremble slightly, but it couldn't mask the confusion in her words. "With your connections and means, you could have handled things more effectively. But you chose to hide in the shadows and push me into the spotlight. What was your intention?"
It wasn't that she had no reason to doubt Ye Yunzhou; it was simply that his unusual behavior was difficult to understand. Luo Shuiyao knew that Ye Yunzhou would never intentionally harm her, but the reason behind it only added to her doubts.
The carriage lurched forward. Ye Yunzhou had been silent and eyes-down since boarding, a faint sense of alienation lingering around him. It wasn't until he heard Luo Shuiyao's question that he slowly raised his eyes and met her gaze. His usually calm and deep eyes now held a hint of grievance. "Why do you always think of Qin Chuan when something happens? Yaoyao, I'm jealous of you being like this."
As soon as the words fell, the carriage fell into silence, with only the sound of the wheels rolling over gravel, hitting Luo Shuiyao's heart again and again.
She suddenly laughed out of anger, her eyebrows raised, and her tone was full of helplessness: "Ye Yunzhou, I'm talking to you about serious matters, and you have to talk to me about these nonsense."