Traveling Through Farmhouses: Taking the Baby on a Famine Escape

Looking at the several truckloads of stuff, Zhang Xixi felt an overwhelming sense of accomplishment. This is the joy of spending money!

After everything was loaded into the car, Zhang Xixi handed two steamed buns to Zhang Dacheng and Zhou Yuping each. Zhang Dacheng took the buns and said, "After we finish these buns, let's hurry on our way!"

After Zhang Xixi finished eating two steamed buns, seeing that Zhang Dacheng and Zhang Dacheng still seemed hungry, she handed them the remaining buns.

Then they realized they had three carts and six cows, which the three of them definitely couldn't carry back; if they escaped on the way, the losses would be enormous.

Zhang Xixi walked into the car dealership, found Manager Wang, and asked, "Manager, I don't have enough manpower. Do you have anyone who can help us drive the cattle back?"

Shopkeeper Wang laughed and said, "What a coincidence! I actually know someone who is very familiar with the habits of cattle. We can send him."

“We live in a remote village in Yun’an Town, which is quite far away. If he makes the trip, I will pay him one or two taels of silver.”

Manager Wang thought to himself that with one tael of silver, according to the commission rules, he could take 20%, which was two hundred coins. This was a business with no cost, and it was really a good deal. He quickly told the waiter to call Niu Da.

"Please wait a moment, he will be here shortly."

"Thank you so much, shopkeeper!" Zhang Xixi said.

A short while later, a short, kind-looking young man who introduced himself as Niu Da came over. After introducing himself to Zhang Xixi and the others, he went to get acquainted with the remaining six cows.

After setting off, Zhang Xixi and the other two drove the horse-drawn carriage and the oxcart ahead, while Niu Da sat on one of the oxen behind and drove the other oxen.

Because the horse-drawn carriage was faster than the oxcart, the heavier items were loaded onto the horse-drawn carriage. This way, Zhang Xixi drove the carriage slowly ahead, and Zhang Dacheng and the others could catch up from behind.

Around 3 PM, Zhang Xixi and her friends arrived at the village. Seeing so many cows, the villagers all ran to watch the excitement. Da Bao and the other children even climbed onto the cows' backs with the help of adults.

Zhang Xixi gave the money to Niu Da, and even gave him an extra two hundred coins. "Master Niu, why don't you stay here for the night before going back? The city gates should be closed by now."

"No need, my home is not far from Yun'an Town."

Niu Da looked down at the money in his hand, realized there was too much, and said, "Isn't this too much money?"

Zhang Xixi smiled and said, "Not much. I'm very satisfied with Master Niu's cattle-driving skills!"

Niu Da scratched his head and smiled, "Thank you, Madam! Do you need any more oxen? If so, I can send them over to you at a fair price."

Zhang Xixi thought that her family would definitely need a few more cows, and going to the county town would indeed take a bit of time. It would be best if someone could deliver them, so she replied, "If you have any good cows, you can send them over, ten at most, but the cows must be of good quality."

"Of course, Madam, please rest assured!"

After seeing Niu Da off, Zhang Xixi returned to her home and found that everything on the truck had been unloaded, and Chen was calculating the value of these items.

Upon seeing Zhang Xixi, he loudly scolded, "Zhang Xixi, are you planning to abandon your family in the future? You spendthrift daughter!"

“Mother, I know what I’m doing. I only buy things that are useful. I didn’t waste money. Look at the plow, the harrow, the grain—aren’t they all things we urgently need right now?”

Mrs. Chen looked at everyone and said reproachfully, "What you said makes sense, and I can't argue with you. Anyway, it's your own money!"

Zhang Xixi quickly stepped forward and handed the two roast geese to Chen Shi, "Mom, look, I bought you your favorite roast goose!"

Mrs. Chen's face lit up with joy when she saw the roast goose. It had been a long time since she had eaten roast goose. Her daughter was so filial!

She took the roast goose and headed to the kitchen. "You guys tidy up the things, I'll go cook."

At this moment in the town, Liu Sandan was reporting the situation of the deserted village to several strong men, recounting all the information that Liu Ergou had gathered.

Boss Qian asked, "You said that group of people had two tigers!"

Liu Sandan lowered his head and continued, "Yes, but those two tigers sometimes go into the mountains, and they usually don't come back for several days. We can take this opportunity to go again."

"Then find out the exact information and let us know." After saying that, Boss Qian told Liu Sandan to go back.

As soon as Liu Sandan returned, he came to Liu Ergou to ask for news: "Are those two tigers here today?"

“They’ve already gone up the mountain. Third brother, you’re right. These people are no ordinary folks. Today they bought eight cows from the county town. That’s worth so much silver!”

Liu Sandan was happy to hear that the two tigers were no longer there, and instructed, "Second Brother, you and Gou Dan should find a place to sleep far away from them tonight."

Liu Ergou asked, puzzled, "What's going to happen tonight? What are you and my brother planning to do?"

"Don't worry about it, just remember what I said!" Liu Sandan said seriously.

"I'm leaving now!" Liu Sandan turned and walked back towards the town. He needed to deliver the message as soon as possible; he had to get his hands on all these good things tonight.

At midnight, Liu Sandan led Qian Laoda and his group to the entrance of the deserted village. Qian Laoda had already sent several men ahead to scout.

Zhang Xixi was awakened by a nightmare at night. When she opened her eyes, she saw several figures moving on the tent. Could they be ghosts?

Zhang Xixi was so frightened that she hid back under the covers. After a while, she poked her head out again. Something's not right!

Where did this ghost come from? Has someone come to steal something again? She quickly woke up Chen and the others next to her and went outside.

As soon as they stepped out of the tent, they saw the village entrance, where many people were rushing towards them with broadswords and torches. Zhang Xixi immediately ran to the other tents and shouted, "Bandits are coming! Get up!"

The Zhang family members also immediately got up and went to notify other families in the village.

"Bandits are coming! Grab your weapons!"

Hearing the commotion, Zhou Dashan immediately woke up, quickly put on his shoes, grabbed his gong, and ran out, banging it loudly. "The bandits are here!"

By the time Boss Qian arrived with his men, everyone in the village had woken up. "Boss, why don't we go back first and come back another time!"

"We've already alerted them. There won't be a next time. We have to act now. As long as we subdue them, those things will be ours!"

Boss Qian ordered, "Brothers, charge!"

Boss Qian and his men charged over with knives, hacking at anyone they saw. Zhou Dashan shouted, "Quick, protect our families! Fight them!"

Zhang Xixi and the others rushed out and fought with the bandits.

Liu Sandan, who was hiding behind, panicked when he saw this scene. He had only asked for the items, so why was he hurting people?

What can we do? He doesn't want to go to jail!

After a while, seeing that the situation was not good, Liu Sandan was so scared that he immediately ran to the town.

The shouts of killing lasted for a while before stopping. The villagers finally captured the bandits, but the village also suffered heavy losses, with many people injured.