The end of natural disasters: the daily life of child brides in ancient times

Lu Qingqing took the reins from the white pine carriage and asked somewhat anxiously:

"So, is Steward Zhou willing to go out and pick them up?"

Bai Song shook his head, took out the money pouch from his pocket, and returned it to Lu Qingqing.

"Manager Zhou said that his young master had to give his approval before we could leave the city."

In recent days, there seems to be some internal conflict within the Zhou family.

Fearing the old man's wrath, Young Master Zhou informed him to suspend business for the time being.

I'm afraid I won't be able to go out for the next few days!

This time, he didn't even take any money!

Lu Qingqing looked at the money bag and couldn't help but sigh.

The villagers who had gathered behind him also felt dejected upon hearing this.

After leaving the village, they were led by Sun Laohai.

But given the current situation, it seems they can't wait for Sun Laohai's family.

Once the group leaves the city and continues eastward, it will be difficult to meet again.

Seeing everyone looking embarrassed and dejected, Bai Song comforted them:

"Don't worry too much, everyone. I've already spoken with Manager Zhou."

If he goes out of town again and encounters Sun Laohai's family, he must ask them to bring the person back in.

With no other options, everyone could only pin their hopes on this.

Seeing that Sun Laohai's family was not coming, Bai Song made a suggestion.

The city gates opened early the next morning, and the procession continued to leave the city.

No one else had any objections to this.

Once everything was settled, everyone got busy again.

Several households that hadn't yet gotten water lined up beside the well and started drawing water.

This time, every household in the group switched to using large water buckets.

Even women like Elm Tree Wife or Wheat Ear Mother, who weren't very strong, placed a large wooden bucket on the side of their wheelbarrow.

Because their families were small and not very strong, the wooden buckets they bought were much smaller than those of other families.

But because there were few people, the water they collected was enough for their whole family.

Besides those fetching water, many other people also took out their spring and autumn clothes from the clothes drying in the yard.

I took advantage of the well water in the yard to wash my clothes.

However, many soldiers simply soaked their clothes in water and then beat them a few times with a stick when washing them.

After washing, the clothes are not much different from before washing; any dirt is still on the clothes.

It's unclear who started it, but many soldiers followed suit and began hiring women from the East Courtyard to wash their clothes.

Because there were too many soldiers and time was tight.

Even with all the women in the East Wing working together, they still couldn't keep up.

At this point, soldiers began to target other women among the villagers.

Even the wheat-eared mother and daughter, the elm-tree wife and her sister, and other women in the village were all entrusted with washing clothes.

They were all very happy about this.

Although washing clothes doesn't earn much, every little bit helps, even if it's just to supplement the family income.

That day, the entire courtyard was bustling with activity until dark.

Worried that the washed clothes wouldn't dry, the soldiers took the clothes they had washed.

After wringing it out thoroughly, I went to the kitchen and dried it over the fire used for cooking.

The kitchen wasn't very big; it simply couldn't fit so many people.

Some soldiers, quick-witted as ever, found a corner in the yard and set up a fire to dry their clothes.

Seeing this, Bai Song called for someone to come over.

Fires were lit in the open space of the yard, and people gathered around to warm themselves.

However, this meant that the firewood in the kitchen was almost used up.

Bai Song thought for a moment, then took out a five-tael silver ingot from his pocket and placed it on the woodpile in the kitchen.

Because they had to get up early the next day to continue their journey, the group didn't work until very late.

After washing the clothes and packing my luggage, I went to bed.

Around midnight, the soldiers on duty suddenly heard a knock on the front door.

The two guards exchanged a glance and went behind the door.

There was a commotion of footsteps outside, indicating a significant number of people.

In this situation, they certainly can't just open the door.

Those outside, seeing that the inn door remained closed for a long time, pounded on it even harder.

The knocking woke up everyone living on the first floor.

When Bai Song ran out, he was still getting dressed.

When the two guards saw him come out, they rushed over and whispered the situation to him.

At this moment, the knocking on the door grew louder and louder.

Bai Song's mind, which had been foggy from sleep, gradually cleared up.

He told Yan Xu to wake everyone up and to take their weapons and bedding to hide in the backyard.

They will rush to the rescue as soon as there is any disturbance.

Looking at the gate that was shattered and about to collapse, Bai Song gave a wink to an older soldier in the ranks.

The soldier immediately understood and ran behind the door.

While looking back at the crowd retreating, he shouted loudly:

"Coming, coming, open the door now, stop knocking."

The door bolt wasn't removed until everyone on the first floor had evacuated to the backyard.

Almost the instant the bolt was removed, the door was kicked open.

A large group of people rushed in, looked at the empty hall, and their gazes fell on the older soldier.

"What's wrong with you? Why are you taking so long to open the door!"

The soldier deliberately hunched his back, feigning fear, and shrank back.

"Good sir, I'm getting old and my hearing isn't very good."

I slept in the backyard that night and didn't hear any knocking at the door, but it wasn't because I deliberately didn't open it.

Sure enough, I came to open the door as soon as I heard the sound.

Upon hearing this, the man glanced at the soldier's hunched back and accepted his explanation.

"Are you the innkeeper? Does the inn accommodate guests from outside the city?"

Is there a burly man among them who is nine feet tall?

There was also a short man who was skilled at archery.

Upon hearing this, the soldier's mind flashed with images of Qin Lang and Lu Qingqing.

He coughed twice and shook his head.

“Good sir, I don’t have those two people you’re talking about here.”

Since the lockdown, who has come to stay at the hotel?

I'm telling you..."

The man, hearing that he was about to ramble on, waved his hand impatiently.

"Stop nagging!"

Then, turning to the group of men behind him, he said:

"Go, search it up!"

The group of men accepted the order and rushed towards the rooms on the first floor.

Before long, he ran back.

"Brother Niu, no one lives on the first floor!"

The man, known as Brother Niu, pointed to the staircase leading to the second floor.

"Go, go upstairs and take a look!"

Upon seeing this, the soldier hiding behind the counter quickly stepped forward.

"Hero, please stop."

When the man saw him blocking him, his eyes were filled with suspicion, and his hand was already gripping the wood-chopping knife tucked behind his waist.

Upon seeing this, the soldier immediately feigned fear and distress.

"Good sir, it's not that I want to stop you."

Just a few days ago, someone upstairs died of tuberculosis.

I even paid someone to dispose of that body!

Since that incident, I haven't been upstairs for a long time.

However, if you don't mind, you can go up and take a look!