Chapter 10, Benevolence

Without money and food, leaving here would only lead to a dead end, wouldn't it? Just now, when I looked outside, I realized that no one was silencing him; it was just that he was stubbornly holding back, refusing to cry out in pain... Each lash was very heavy, and it is rare for someone so young to be so tough, what a pity.

On that night, a group of travelers took shelter at the Baishandao Post in the territory of Suzhou. Suzhou City was seventy li to the east, already within the jurisdiction of Zhili. However, Zhang Han learned from Mama Chu that from last year to this year, some areas in Zhili had experienced severe flooding, while others faced drought, resulting in poor harvests. Although the government had issued relief measures, many families were still forced to sell their children to make ends meet, and even more were abandoning their fields to flee from famine. Along the way, they had already encountered three groups of people blocking the road.

After having the maid change all the bedding in the main room, Zhang Han, who had spent the entire day sitting in the carriage and was already feeling sore all over, lay down on the bed despite not having washed up yet. As for the frail Zhang Qi, it was even more pronounced; she was half-conscious while the maids attended to her during her bath, and as soon as she returned to the room, she fell asleep in a daze. After forcing herself to take a bath and change into a new outfit, Zhang Han loosely tied her hair up. However, as she was returning to her room from the bathing area, she suddenly heard a commotion outside.

It is unclear how much time has passed when Fangcao finally tiptoed back into the room. Upon reaching the bedside, she saw Zhang Han lying with his back turned. After a moment of hesitation, she whispered, "I gave that courier from mhetushucom a few coins, and he reluctantly agreed to untie the ropes and release the person. I found a bowl of cold rice for him to eat. While he wasn't paying attention, I slipped some silver to that young man and conveyed the young lady's message. At first, he was unwilling, but eventually, he accepted it and asked me to bow on behalf of the young lady. He said his childhood name is Tianbao, and if he is fortunate enough to survive, he will surely repay the young lady's kindness in the future."

I long for my mother, where is she in the waves of the Yellow River? With a heavy heart, I ascend to the heavens, leaving my dear child to wander far and wide... I think of her by day, I think of her by night, waking from dreams to weep bitterly...

Zhang Han originally liked Fang Cao's straightforward manner of speaking. At this moment, seeing her articulate and logical conversation, she nodded in agreement. However, as she lay down next to the pillow, the fatigue that had weighed heavily on her suddenly vanished, and she found herself unable to sleep. Faintly, she could hear two maids whispering softly to each other.

He is covered in fresh and old wounds, and after being tied up all night, he might not survive until tomorrow morning

What a good-hearted person... she cannot even protect herself, merely doing her best and leaving the rest to fate...

Miss

Caught a little thief

Miss, fortunately you mentioned it, just as Madam Chu also went out to take a look, the stationmaster then stopped. From the tone of those post boys, it seems that recently there have been such thieves appearing every few days; killing ten or eight of them would be well-deserved. Madam Chu even questioned that young man a few times, and the stationmaster thought she had developed a sense of compassion and wanted to take the book thief back to the marquis's residence, so he flattered her a bit. In the end, Madam Chu said that there are also relatives in her family who cannot tolerate such behavior, and instructed them to follow the young lady's words, tying him up for one night before releasing him.

The voice lacked the clarity typical of a child's, instead carrying a hint of hoarseness, which sounded particularly sorrowful and heart-wrenching. As Zhang Han departed for the capital, suddenly parting from her mother and younger brother, and thinking of her father and elder brother whom she had not seen for a long time, she felt an even deeper sense of heartache. Unconsciously, she turned over and fiercely grasped the pillow beside her. Hearing the sobs of Fangcao and Biyin behind her, she could no longer hold back and sat up.

What is there to regret... We are fortunate to have encountered a good person like the young lady; otherwise, how could we have found someone better? Just now, didn't you say that Mama Zhao mentioned the court is still preparing for war, gathering the displaced people from the disasters to the north for farming? Fortunately, my family sold me for a few taels of silver; otherwise... My father said that this is just a bad year; think back to thirty years ago when the world was in chaos, and there were corpses everywhere.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Han was taken aback, her drowsiness somewhat dissipated. As the sounds ahead grew louder, she hurriedly instructed Fang Cao to inquire. After a short while, Fang Cao returned, her face filled with compassion: "Miss, it is a boy of about fourteen or fifteen years old, emaciated from hunger. He had just stolen some beans meant for the horses, likely driven by severe hunger. Now he has been caught and ordered by the stationmaster to be tied to the post where the horses are tied. Several station attendants are taking turns whipping him with a whip dipped in water mixed with ink, and it seems he has barely a breath left."

Listening to the rustling sounds of the two girls lying down, Zhang Han looked at the hanging cordyceps tent and knew in her heart that tonight's plan to have Fang Cao ask the courier to release the person would not escape the notice of Mama Chu and Mama Zhao, nor could it possibly be hidden from Mama Song. Yet, even so, she could not bring herself to do it.

Listening to the two girls whisper until the end, they quietly shared the circumstances of their families. Zhang Han lay on the bed, her heart involuntarily flew to her loved ones. At that moment, she faintly heard a hoarse humming sound coming from outside the window

Fang Cao quickly got up and hurriedly went to find her clothes to wear outside, soon slipping on her shoes and heading out the door. However, Zhang Han seemed to have not heard her heartfelt praise, as he lay down facing inward once more, letting out a sigh in his heart

No, no! I only conveyed the young lady's words to him to leave quickly, and I did not say anything else

For Bi Yin and Fang Cao, they were sold into the Zhang family through a death contract, and their lives thereafter depended solely on the wishes of their masters, with no further interference from their parents or family. This led them to develop a sense of shared suffering with that Tian Bao. However, for herself, she had no choice but to resolutely part with her loved ones in tears, heading to the capital, a place where fortune and misfortune were unpredictable, where could she hear the cries of "Mother"?

Jian Fangcao and Bi Yin quickly got up, and she said in a low voice: "Go outside and take a look. If possible, let those post boys release him, give him a bowl of rice, and say it is for the sake of accumulating virtue and doing good for the young lady." After saying this, she rummaged by the pillow, took out two silver coins from her purse, and handed them to Fangcao, whispering, "Quietly give him this, let him change his clothes and find a job. If that doesn't work, he can enlist in the army. Isn't the court recruiting the displaced people? It is certainly better than continuing to steal and getting beaten to death; after all, it is a way to survive!"

We are all lost souls in this vast world, so if you can lend a hand, please do so

Fortunately, several guards from noble houses accompanied Madam Chu and others to Guidafu previously, all of whom are skilled in martial arts and have experienced numerous battles. On the return journey, Zhang Changyong sent over all the guards who had previously accompanied Madam Gu as part of her dowry, totaling two to three dozen individuals surrounding four to five horse-drawn carriages. After suffering losses two or three times, the scattered refugees who dared to make a move have completely vanished. Now that they have arrived at the post station, everyone naturally feels more at ease. It should be noted that the current emperor has just acquired the realm, and aside from the strong army still sweeping the northern borders for the Tatars, many of the remaining troops have been integrated into these hundreds of water horse posts. Even the post attendants may very well be seasoned warriors.

The fragrant grass herself had also suffered a disaster at home and could no longer endure it. Her parents, with heavy hearts, sold her off. As she spoke, she could not help but shiver, her eyes already slightly red, feeling a deep empathy. Although Bi Yin had not been outside, she could imagine the scene and momentarily turned her head away. Zhang Han listened to the sound of the whip striking flesh outside, as if it were the suppressed moans of anguish, and inexplicably thought of the scene when Mother Zheng was poisoned to death.

That's good, like a picture book. It's getting late, go to sleep

Upon hearing this, Fangcao immediately nodded her head in delight. Noticing Biyin giving her a knowing glance, she hurriedly bent her knees and quickly exited the courtyard. Before long, the sounds from outside ceased, followed by a few shouts and curses. At this moment, Zhang Han finally breathed a sigh of relief and turned to enter the room. Seeing that Zhang Qi had already fallen into a deep sleep, with Yingcao and Ningxiang laying out a mat in front of the bed, she quietly returned to her own bedside. Just as she was about to lie down, Fangcao entered the room.

We have done all that we can; it now depends on his luck. If he can get through this night, he will be free by tomorrow

"Fragrant grass, go out and tell them that the young lady has already gone to bed and was awakened by this noise, which is quite uncomfortable. Let them be merciful and stop the fighting. If someone were to lose their life, it would not bode well for the young lady residing here"

Did you tell him who I am

Indeed, the young lady has a truly kind heart

Madam Chu and her companions previously traveled to Xuzhou, primarily because the water route from the capital to Xuzhou was convenient. However, given the unpredictable water conditions of the Yellow River, they decided to change their route to Yongcheng, passing through Suzhou, Fengyang, and Chuzhou on their way to the capital. This journey was entirely overland, but fortunately, the weather had gradually become cooler. Traveling by horse-drawn carriage, with bamboo curtains draped in gauze at the front and back, Zhang Han and Zhang Qi managed to endure it. However, aside from lodging in the city, they could only stay at relay stations along the way. Madam Chu and her companions displayed the signs of the Weining Marquis and the Wuning Marquis, and the relay station officials did their utmost to provide the best rooms for their accommodation.