Zhao Zhitong was imnsely pleased. She handed a pot of flowers to Zhao Yu and Zhao Ya, instructing them, "Later, Xiao Ge and Sister Yaya will protect this plant, while I protect this one. Don’t let it get hurt. This will be our wealth in the future. When we make money, I’ll share it with you all!"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Ya and Zhao Yu nodded vigorously, holding the flower pot tightly with both hands, promising, "Little sister, don’t worry, we will definitely protect it!"
Zhao Zhitong grinned. "Great, I believe in you."
Zhao Dong, standing nearby, couldn’t help but chuckle at Zhao Zhitong’s bossy, commanding manner.
Soon, Sun i ca out of the cloth store, complaining about the expensive prices. "Really, why hasn’t cotton beco popular yet? Cotton cloth is so nice—soft and comfy. This hemp cloth is too rough to wear, and silk is too expensive."
Zhao Dong often gathered information, so he was aware of such things. Hearing his wife’s complaint, he said, "I rember, cotton was first cultivated in Xinjiang, which is in the Western Region, on a small scale. Currently, the Western Region hasn’t been reclaid by the Great Zhou Dynasty, so we’ll have to wait."
Sun i sighed. Fortunately, she had wisely bought more than twenty cotton quilts and stored them in the space. In winter, when they took them out, they wouldn’t have to worry about getting cold in bed. The only thing missing was cotton-padded clothes.
The quilts and padded clothes they used here in winter were all made of kapok, which was nowhere near as warm as cotton. However, there were several down jackets in the space, but they dared not wear them. If they did, people might think they were insane.However, they could consider disassembling the jackets and making them into clothes appropriate for this era.Thinking about all this, Sun i’s heart felt a little more at ease.
Then, she placed the cloth and furs in the carrying basket on the handcart and said to Zhao Ya, "I bought you so silk thread. Grandma Jin Hua said you really like embroidery and have a talent for it. Don’t give it up; you can practice at ho."
Hearing her aunt’s words, Zhao Ya’s eyes instantly turned red with excitent and happiness. "Thank you, Aunt!" Aunt is so good, even better than her own mother!
Sun i chuckled. "No need for thanks, we’re all family."
After buying the cloth and furs, they prepared to head ho. The group left the city gate in high spirits, talking and laughing.
Although Zhao Village was not far from the county town, there was a stretch of mountain road in between. At this ti, there were few pedestrians on the road.
The little ones sat in the handcart, eating dried rations and humming little tunes, as content as could be.
However, misfortune rarely cos alone. As the saying goes, if you’re used to smooth sailing, expect so headwinds.
Indeed, just as they had entered the mountain path, five burly n suddenly rushed out from behind them, blocking their way.
The n were all dressed in coarse hemp undershirts, wielding clubs. They were powerfully built, with snarling faces, looking extrely fierce.
One of them, with a flat nose and small eyes, stamred, "This... this tree... tree is mine..."
Before he could finish, he was kicked aside by another man with round eyes, presumably the leader. "If you can’t say it, I will! This tree was planted by , this road was opened by ! If you want to pass, leave your toll money!"
Saying this, he greedily eyed their handcart. They had followed this family all the way from the entrance of the flower shop in the county town. They might look poorly dressed, but they definitely had money!
Seeing this, Zhao Dong and Sun i would have been fools not to understand what was happening. Their hearts sank. To think they’d encounter robbers in broad daylight!Neither of them knew martial arts, and with several children present, escape was impossible. What were they to do? However, both instinctively moved to shield the four children behind them.
Zhao Zhitong wasn’t afraid. Staring at them with her big, round eyes, she asked in a childish voice, "Are you robbers?"
The question even stumped the leader of the robbers for a mont. He then deliberately growled fiercely, "What, don’t we look the part?"
The others also threatened nacingly, "If you want to live, hand over the toll money quickly!"
Just then, a man’s clear, bright voice rang out.
"Pah! This tree grew wild here, and this road was trodden out by passing villagers. What business is it of yours to demand toll money?"
The sudden voice startled the five robbers.
The leader shouted, "Who is it? Who’s talking? Show yourself!"
A bright, unbridled laughter followed. "HAHAHA! Your young master is right here!"
As the voice faded, a man in green clothes leapt down from a tree. He landed handsoly in front of Zhao Zhitong and her family, flicking his hair casually. "Little ruffians, your granddaddy is here, and you still dare to be so arrogant!"
Seeing the agile movents of the man in green clothes and the sword in his hand, the robbers were clearly a bit unnerved. They exchanged glances and then rushed forward in a group.
Then, they saw the man in green clothes move with incredible agility. Without even unsheathing his sword, he had them all crying out in pain.
Seeing they couldn’t win, the leader shouted, and the group clutched their stomachs, supported each other, and tried to flee for their lives.
"Trying to run? Have you asked this young master’s permission?" Seeing them attempting to escape, the man in green clothes snorted coldly. He leapt lightly, chased after them, and with a few quick kicks, sent the bunch of small fry tumbling to the ground.
"Spare us!" Realizing they couldn’t escape, the n all dropped to their knees and began begging for rcy. "We were just overco by greed for a mont! We’re not real robbers!"
"Yeah, sir, please spare us this ti! We’ll never dare to do it again!"
The man in green clothes snorted coldly. "Spare you? That’s not my decision; that’s for the authorities. My job is simply to deliver you to them."
So saying, he took out a rope and tied the n’s hands together.
At this point, Zhao Dong and the others hurried forward to express their gratitude. Zhao Dong cupped his fists. "Many thanks to this hero for saving us. May we ask for your esteed na, so we may repay this kindness?"
The man in green clothes looked at Zhao Dong and laughed heartily. "Ah, no need for thanks. I am ng Fusheng. We people of the martial world are bound to lend a hand when we see injustice. Don’t ntion it."
Zhao Dong insisted, "No, no, we must properly thank you for your life-saving help, hero."
"No need, truly no need." While Zhao Dong was still speaking, the man in green clothes had already waved his hand and was dragging the five robbers, now tied together in a line, towards the county town.
Zhao Dong and the others stared at his retreating figure for a long ti before hurrying ho.
Because of the encounter with the robbers, the group quickened their pace considerably, fearing more trouble might arise along the way.
Sun i was still quite shaken. "We were really careless today. We must have flashed our wealth in the county town, and that’s why those villains targeted us."
Zhao Dong nodded. "Yes, we were careless today. We’ll have to be much more careful in the future. We don’t have any great abilities, and this isn’t the modern era with its sound legal system. If we show our wealth, the consequences could be dire."
Sun i nodded in agreent. "Exactly, exactly. We were so lucky to et that man in green clothes today. I just wonder if we’ll ever see him again. We absolutely must thank him properly."
"Yes," Zhao Dong nodded and muttered, "ng Fusheng... I can’t shake the feeling that na sounds familiar."
Reviews
All reviews (0)