The Story of a Destitute Noblewoman Farming

Everyone arrived at Tiger Ridge with laughter, and the escort uncle pointed out the place where the bandits had been hiding. But as soon as he finished speaking, two "bandits" dressed as farmers carrying farming tools came out, stumbling over their words and waving their hoes at them.

"What do you want to do? We are from a legitimate escort agency and we carry knives!" The uncle from the escort agency and his companions drew out their knives at the same time.

When Lu Zhan heard this, he quickly drew out his knife and blocked Lu Linlang's way, staring at the front with wide eyes and trembling hands.

"Ah, they have knives, run!" Who knew that when the "bandits" saw this, they shouted and ran away. There were a few more people in the bushes, and they all ran away.

"Are they bandits or are we the bandits?" Lu Zhan, Yun Yi and others were dumbfounded.

"Judging from their attire, I think they're locals. I don't know why they've resorted to robbery. But judging by their appearance, it's clear they've only been doing this for a short time. They don't even have the necessary equipment. When they see someone with a knife, they run away in terror."

Lu Linlang was not afraid just now because those people were too weak and did not look like real bandits at all.

"What the girl said is correct. They are farmers from the vicinity of Tiger Ridge. I think the imperial court has increased taxes again, and they can't afford it, so they resorted to this act, trying to cheat as many people as they can.

But if this continues, they'll get the upper hand and might actually do something harmful. So every time our people pass by, they'll scare them away and prevent them from succeeding."

"Ah, they have fields and land, how dare they come out to rob? Aren't they afraid that the government will arrest them and leave them and their families with no land to farm in the future?"

Yun Yi and others found it a little unbelievable. These people looked very weak and didn't even have any decent tools. Aren't they afraid that these merchants would go to the county government to complain?

"If farming can make a living, who would be willing to take the risk to do such a thing? Well, enough talking, let's keep going."

The uncle didn't continue. He knew the identities of Lu Linlang and his group, and he didn't dare to say more at this moment. Relatively speaking, they still had connections in the capital, at least they were not ordinary people. If they talked too much, they would be wrong. They were just escorting people to make money.

Yun Yi glanced at Lu Linlang and fell silent. Along the way, they all discovered some clues.

When they were in the capital, everyone said that Daqi had a strong army and the people lived and worked in peace and contentment. However, their father (uncle) had died on the battlefield, and the people looked sad and did not seem to be living and working in peace and contentment at all.

Those so-called good words may just be to inflate the bubble of those in power. Once they are revealed, the truth will be a bloody hole.

"Let's continue on our way." Lu Linlang looked at her unusually silent brothers and Xing'er who was also lost in thought, and nodded.

Along the way, everyone remained silent. Only when they passed through Dazhou Prefecture and saw the prosperous scene inside could they temporarily forget their previous troubles.

The carriage drove all the way and finally arrived in Hezhou.

The uncles from the escort agency said goodbye to Lu Linlang and his party here.

"Miss Lu, Master Lu, the Shen family's carriage shop is just ahead. They have drivers who know the way. You can hire a driver and mule cart to take you home. We are not familiar with the rest of the road, so let's say goodbye here."

The uncle from the escort agency pointed them in the direction. It was already noon. After Lu Linlang and her brother paid the remaining money, they went to the coachman's shop to inquire.

"Please come in, guests. Would you like to rent a car or a driver?"

The clerk at the carriage shop saw that they were all young people, with large and small bags of things and carriages behind them, and asked with a smile.

"We all want to rent one. I wonder if the driver of your carriage and horse company knows the way to Chongshui County, Daqiao Town, and Xishan Village. We are planning to go there."

"You have asked the right person, my dear guests. The drivers of our carriage company are the best in the entire Hezhou Prefecture. Please wait a moment. I will go find a driver who is familiar with this route."

The waiter had someone bring tea, and after a while, he came in with a coachman. When the coachman heard where they were going, he lowered his head and said that he was from Xishan Village, knew the way, and could take the guests there.

"Uncle, are you also from Xishan Village? I wonder if you have heard of Lu Dashan. We are going to Xishan Village to look for relatives this time."

The next day, on the way out, Lu Linlang saw that the uncle was very well-behaved and did not talk much with his employer. He just focused on getting on with his journey. Moreover, the direction he was heading was exactly the direction of Chongshui County that she had inquired about last night, so she couldn't help but start a conversation with him.

As for the situation in their hometown, they only knew about it from Old Man Lu's stories and his interactions with a man named Lu Dashan.

According to Old Man Lu, Lu Dashan is the patriarch of the Lu family. They should call him uncle. He is also the village chief of Xishan Village. Almost everyone in Xishan Village has the surname Lu, with only a few outsiders.

"So you are the clan leader's relatives? My surname is also Lu, and we are from the same clan. Where are you guys from? I see you are carrying a lot of bags, are you going to visit relatives?"

Seeing them talking to each other, the driver couldn't help but join in the conversation.

"That's right. The clan leader is one of our uncles. My father used to be from Xishan Village, but something happened at home, so we came back. My father said that when he left home, the house was leaking. He hasn't been back for so many years, and he doesn't know if it's still habitable."

"What? Your father used to be from Xishan Village. What's your father's name? Not many people from our village left the village. I know them all."

The uncle asked excitedly, thinking that these children were descendants of people who had left the village, and looking at the way they spoke and dressed, he suddenly thought of someone. However, he shouldn't let the children suddenly appear here, right?

"My father's name is Lu Ben. Oh, and I heard him say that his nickname used to be Lu Daniu."

"You are the children of Brother Daniu! Isn't Brother Daniu a general? I heard that he was fighting at the border and the emperor even gave him a high-ranking official title. Children, what happened to your father? Why didn't you see your father come with you?"

When the uncle heard the name, he stopped and asked excitedly.

"Uncle, this is a long story. Why don't we wait until we return to the village and I'll tell you in detail."

When Lu Linlang heard his surprised tone, she knew that they probably didn't know that their father had died in battle. In order not to affect his mood, Lu Linlang did not tell the truth.

The uncle had many guesses in his mind, but he didn't ask any more questions. However, this time he drove the carriage even faster, and the mule cart behind him could hardly keep up with his speed. This mule cart was rented by Lu Linlang from the carriage and horse shop, and there were a lot of luggage on it.

Xishan Village is a long way from the county town. There are almost no main roads, only some man-made paths. Fortunately, horse-drawn carriages can barely pass through, otherwise they would have to get off and walk.

We rushed all the way to Xishan Village, but the village was quiet at the moment.

"Where has everyone gone?" The uncle saw that no one was there, so he took them directly to the clan leader's house. Fortunately, the clan leader's daughter-in-law was at home with her baby. When they heard someone knocking on the door, they saw that it was the village uncle standing outside the door with several handsome children.

"Manyin wife, where did your father-in-law and the villagers go?"

"Uncle Dayou, they have all gone to the mountains. Someone has committed a crime and is going to be drowned in the pond."

"Wait here for me. I'll go find the clan leader. Mrs. Manyin, these are honored guests. Please let them come in and have a drink of water."

"Uncle, I'll go with you. Lu Zhan, Xing'er, you stay here and guard."

"Sister, I'll go with you." When Lu Zhan heard that someone was going to be drowned in a pond, how could he sit still? He had only heard of such punishment before, but had never seen it with his own eyes. Now that he was no longer tired from the journey, he just wanted to join in the fun.