Chapter 451 - Chapter 451: Chapter 458: An Overnight Stay in the Village (1/2)
Chapter 451: Chapter 458: An Overnight Stay in the Village
At this time, seeing Yin Shi here was a perfectly normal affair, but observing his slightly uneasy expression, Han Yu could infer from the previous conversation what had transpired when he entered, overhearing parts of it. He understood the situation well enough not to worry that Yin Shi would truly act on it. Yin Shi, after all, was a smart person. He knew well the consequences of such actions and who would be harmed by them, so when suspecting a traitor within, Han Yu never counted Yin Shi among them.
“Xiu Qi, your arrival is timely. With the great battle impending, Cibo came over to ask if there were any areas where he could be of service. I’m not as skilled as you in troop deployment and formation, so I’ll leave the arrangements to you,” Liu Xiu said as Han Yu entered, clearly stating his stance. He had always trusted Han Yu and had no worries that Han Yu would behave like Yin Shi, acting out of personal interest or disposition. Han Yu was a true gentleman.
If Han Yu knew what Liu Xiu was thinking, he would likely be somewhat embarrassed. He really didn’t qualify as a true gentleman. It was just that he seldom resorted to intrigue, and even when he did, his methods were exceedingly clever and went unnoticed, which led to such a misunderstanding with Liu Xiu. He felt rather apologetic about it.
Both sides were making preparations for the war, each with their own reliance and concerns, and the conflict erupted as expected.
Now, Su Wenyue was leading three children and her mother’s family to a rather desolate area. The sudden rain made it difficult to travel, especially with children, and caused great inconvenience. Therefore, they decided to settle down in a small village not far ahead, intending to wait for the rain to stop before continuing their journey.
“May I ask who you guests are?” Just as Master Su was about to send the housekeeper to scout the village, an old man with white hair, wearing a straw raincoat, came out from the village and approached them with an inquiry.
“Elder, we are a caravan just passing through. The rain has made it difficult to travel, and besides, it’s getting late. We’d like to rest for a bit in the village. I wonder if you could be so kind as to accommodate us?” Master Su respectfully addressed the old man with a bow.
“So you’re a passing caravan. Indeed, this weather isn’t suitable for travel, and it looks like the rain might continue for some time. I have a few empty rooms in my house that you can use,” the old man replied kindly, without any rejection, and started leading the way forward, bringing the group into the village.
The villagers rarely saw so many visitors, even in the rain, and they came out to curiously watch Su Wenyue and her group, murmuring to each other now and then.
When Su Wenyue entered the village, she also looked around. The small village had no more than ten households, mostly elderly and women with children. The men were either conscripted into the Imperial Court’s army or had left to make a living elsewhere. This gave the village a desolate and lonely feeling. Moreover, with the world falling into greater chaos and the rising food prices, the commoners’ days were becoming increasingly difficult, their faces gaunt and malnourished, making Su Wenyue and her group stand out all the more.
It was only from their conversation that they learned the old man leading them was named Liu, the Village Chief. His own son had gone off to the army, leaving just his daughter-in-law and two grandsons at home.
“Mr. and Mrs. Su, please rest in the main house for a while. The room I’m offering has been vacant for a long time and is rather dirty and messy, so I’ll have my daughter-in-law clean it up first,” Old Man Liu said, just as a middle-aged woman headed to a side room, the Old Man’s daughter-in-law.
“We couldn’t trouble you further. The fact that you are willing to lend us rooms is already deeply appreciated. My servants and sister-in-law can handle it,” Master Su promptly replied, not looking down on the old man because of his status, as though it were a given.