I m the Farmgirl You Can t Mess With - Chapter 1404: Side Story: Fan Zijin (20)
Chapter 1404: Side Story: Fan Zijin (20)
Editor: Atlas Studios
However, it was impossible. Though the two of them didn’t find anything useful in the ashes, they did discover something else.
Qi Haoran walked around the straw hut and finally said with a livid expression, “They were lying. There are no signs of cultivation nearby. Where did the watermelons come from?”
Awkwardly, Fan Zijin looked at him with a helpless expression and said, “It goes without saying they were lying to you. You only realized it now?”
Since the two burly men held broadswords in their hands, they could have robbed them openly if it was a spur-of-the-moment act. After all, they were only two youths.
However, they had spent so much effort to lure them and drug them. Clearly, it was premeditated and they knew a lot about them. Under such circumstances, they naturally wouldn’t expose their nest or stronghold, and it was obvious that they had found these straw huts at the last minute. Unfortunately, they were too careless at that time and didn’t walk around nearby. Otherwise, they would have suspected them no matter how real their acting was.
However, at that time, the sun was so bright that it made one dizzy, making people sweat profusely with the slightest movement. Who would have nothing better to do than walk around the straw hut?
Therefore, their plan was precise and the timing was tight.
Fan Zijin sighed and lay on the ground. As he looked at the starry sky, he said, “They rode away on horses while we can only rely on our two legs. How can we capture them among the vast sea of people? The most important thing now is to find the next town and sell the jade pendant for money to hire a carriage so that we can leave.”
Qi Haoran could only hold in his anger and look for firewood to start a fire. Although it was not cold at night, Fan Zijin was not in good health, so he had to be careful.
Fan Zijin waited for Qi Haoran to serve her like a rich young master. At the same time, he planned their upcoming itinerary and the things they needed to buy.
Since they had already been targeted and those people had been ordered to kill them, some disguises were necessary.
After Fan Zijin formulated the plan in his heart, he told Qi Haoran about it.
Qi Haoran was used to listening to Fan Zijin and rarely used his brain. Seeing that the latter had already planned it out, he carried out the plan without thinking.
Although they had lost money, the two youths were very optimistic. After all, Fan Zijin’s jade pendant was of superior quality and could fetch quite a good price. The money that they would get from pawning it was enough for them to reach Xingzhou Prefecture.
This place was not far from Xingyuan Prefecture, and it was only a two-day horse ride from Xingyuan Prefecture to Xingzhou Prefecture.
The two youths were brimming with confidence, but as soon as they entered the city, they were hunted down.
Having starved for the entire day, Qi Haoran carried Fan Zijin on his back and rushed to the town. Just as he saw the city gate, before he could rejoice, he realized that they had been targeted.
At that time, he wanted to catch the captors and beat them up, but Fan Zijin said, “Since we’re outside the city now, don’t alert the enemy. After we enter the city, we’ll tie them up and bring them to the government office.”
Both of them suspected that the people targeting them were the bad guys from yesterday.
Hence, the two of them pretended not to notice and entered the city. The two streets at the city gate were filled with all kinds of food. Smelling the fragrance that wafted over, their stomachs growled.
Hence, Fan Zijin changed his mind at the last minute. “Let’s pawn the jade pendant first and exchange it for money for a meal before dealing with them.”
Qi Haoran hurriedly nodded. Then, his eyes suddenly turned sharp. He pulled Fan Zijin behind him and looked coldly at the people on both sides of the city gate.
Confused, Fan Zijin asked in a daze, “What’s wrong?”
A team of bailiffs walked over aggressively and stopped them. “Have you just entered the city?”
Qi Haoran nodded.
The constable reached out to them and said, “Take out your road passes and let us take a look.”
The two of them opened their mouths wide. They had run away from home, so why would it occur to them to get a road pass?
Furthermore, the world was in chaos now and there were countless refugees. Other than the trade caravan, ordinary citizens did not need a road pass to enter and exit a city. If they all needed a road pass, how could there be so many refugees in Great Zhou?
They had never been asked to show a road pass along the way.
Instinctively sensing that something was wrong, Fan Zijin pulled Qi Haoran behind him and said to the constable with a bitter expression, “Sir, we were about to report to the officials that we encountered robbers on the way. Not only were we robbed of our money and luggage, but even the road pass was lost.”
The constable sneered. “Do you think we’ll believe you? You’re clearly bandits!”
After saying that, they drew their sabers and surrounded them.
Fan Zijin’s expression turned cold. “Sir, don’t slander us. We’re from a good family. How can we be bandits?”
As soon as Fan Zijin finished speaking, the people who had been following them along the way pulled out their sabers and jumped out. They shouted, “The traitor who stole the chief’s 20,000 taels of silver is here. Brothers, take him down and the chief will reward you handsomely!”
The people on both sides of the road immediately pulled out their hidden weapons and surrounded Qi Haoran and the others. Meanwhile, the constable shouted, “The government is handling a case. Everyone else, quickly retreat.” He also rushed towards the two of them with a fierce gaze.
Fan Zijin was still in a daze. However, Qi Haoran grabbed his waist and kicked out the two people who were approaching him. Then, he fled with Fan Zijin.
Just now, he had estimated that there were at least 70 to 80 bailiffs and restless bandits. The soldiers guarding the city gate were actually looking at them with shining eyes.
Qi Haoran did not know if they were tempted by the “20,000 taels” mentioned by the bandits or if they had already colluded with the bandits. He only knew that the authorities were not reliable now and it was extremely dangerous to stay in the city.
Qi Haoran’s qinggong was pretty good. Those bandits had long known that he was good at martial arts, but they did not expect him to be so good. The people lying in ambush along the way were stepped on their heads almost as soon as they jumped out.
They wanted to chase after him, but how could they keep up?
Moreover, there were many people on the ground. As Qi Haoran walked on the roof and was extremely fast, they soon lost track of the two of them.
Fan Zijin grabbed Qi Haoran and said with an ugly expression, “Let’s go get two sets of clothes to change into. Since there’s an ambush at the South City Gate, there must be an ambush at the other gates too. We have to disguise ourselves before leaving.”
“But we don’t have any money.”
“Make an exchange using the jade pendant.” Since there was an ambush in the city, they could not go to the pawnshop. Thus, they could only do so in this residential area.
The two youths secretly found a house and quietly jumped in to pull out two sets of clothes. They then went to the kitchen to find some steamed buns before leaving the jade pendant behind.
Fan Zijin was still a little reluctant. There was no mark on this jade pendant, but Eldest Uncle Zhu had specially bought it for him the year he became a tongsheng. It was quite valuable.
Because the jade was lustrous and warm to the touch, he liked it very much and had worn it often all these years.
However, no matter how reluctant he was, he was too embarrassed to take someone’s things for free.
When Qi Haoran saw this, he comforted him in a low voice. “I’ll remember this place. When we find Brother, we’ll come back to redeem it with money.”
Fan Zijin nodded slightly and changed into the set of clothes with Qi Haoran. Then, he wrapped their clothes casually and carried them on his back.
Qi Haoran wiped the dust under the stove and smeared his and Fan Zijin’s faces before rushing to the city gate.
