Chapter 21  Making an Example of Someone

After the previous incident, the few women dared not act up anymore.

They quietly huddled in their seats, not even talking to each other the whole way, making the journey incredibly agonizing.

As soon as they arrived in Datong Township, the women couldn’t wait to grab their things and quickly get off the cart, as if there were some kind of ferocious beast chasing them.

The cart was instantly left with only Lao Yang, who was driving, and the Qin siblings, along with Zhou Dazhu and the others.

Qin Ruo had successfully established her “not to be messed with” persona by making an example of someone.

“Ah, Qiuxi, you’ve always been too soft. You did well today, you can’t let them get away with it.”

Lao Yang sighed, the girl’s aura was a bit like Qin Huaizheng’s.

When Qin Huaizheng was still alive, he often took the original owner on Yang’s donkey cart.

Whenever his family had something going on, Qin Huaizheng would always lend a helping hand, and the two families had a good relationship.

Later, Qin Huaizheng met his demise in the back mountain, and Qin Laotai’s behavior made Lao Yang speechless.

He wanted to protect the girl from the Qin family, but the girl was soft and meek.

She never dared to speak up when she was bullied. Could he protect her every time?

Lao Yang was frustrated and could only give up, simply choosing to ignore it.

Today’s Qin Ruo made him see her in a new light.

“Uncle Yang, thank you for always protecting me. I was stupid and didn’t know how to fight back before, but I won’t be like that anymore.”

Qin Ruo’s tone was sincere, and she picked out a wild chicken from her basket and handed it to Lao Yang.

“Uncle Yang, take this wild chicken back and eat it, consider it payment for the cart fare today.”

“No, no, no. This can be sold for a good few dozen coins, the cart fare is not worth much, don’t give it to me.”

Lao Yang waved his hand generously, urging Qin Ruo to leave quickly.

“Take it, you might need to trouble you again in the future.” Qin Ruo handed the chicken over again.

Lao Yang declined a few more times, but seeing Qin Ruo’s resolute attitude, he didn’t insist and accepted the chicken.

He watched Qin Ruo and her group walk away, feeling a sense of wonder.

He thought to himself, Qiuxi has really changed, if Huaizheng were still here, he would be so happy.

After getting off the cart, Qin Ruo took Qin Zimu and Zhou Dazhu to the market in Datong Township.

Datong Township was more like a modern township market, and today was market day, although the weather was cold, there were still quite a few people.

Qin Ruo didn’t plan to stay in Datong Township for too long today, as she had to go to the county office in Taihe County to collect her reward.

The things in her hands could be sold for a higher price in Taihe County.

The journey from Datong Township to Taihe County was not as long as the journey from Changhe Village to Datong Township, but the cost of the cart was not cheap.

It only cost three coins to go from Changhe Village to Datong Township, but it cost five coins per person to go from Datong Township to Taihe County.

In the past, the original owner often went to Taihe County with Qin Huaizheng.

After Qin Huaizheng disappeared, the original owner went to Taihe County alone.

She usually sold the game she hunted to a fixed restaurant in Taihe County.

Sometimes, she would take the opportunity to send money and food to Qin Ziyan, who was studying at the Luming Academy in Taihe County.

Later, for some reason, the original owner never went to Luming Academy again.

Therefore, the original owner’s memory was clear about where to take the cart to Taihe County and how much it cost.

This saved Qin Ruo a lot of trouble.

Qin Zimu was very excited to learn that they were going to Taihe County, he rarely had the chance to come to Datong Township, let alone go to Taihe County.

Zhou Dazhu had never been to Taihe County either, and he wanted to see it for himself.

But when he thought about the ten coins it would cost to go back and forth, he gave up, he couldn’t afford it.

Of course, the Qin siblings were penniless now, except for the game in their two baskets.

If they wanted to go to Taihe County, they had to find some money for the fare first.

Qin Ruo was not in a hurry, she told Zhou Dazhu and Qin Zimu to wait for her there.

She picked up two wild chickens and found an empty spot to set up a stall.

Wild game was harder to catch in winter than usual, and there weren’t many people selling game in the whole market.

So, not long after she set up her stall, someone bought them.

The two wild chickens, each weighing about three pounds, sold for a total of 180 coins.

This dynasty, especially in the dead of winter, wild chickens were quite popular among those who could afford them.

When Qin Ruo returned to the spot with the copper coins from selling the wild chickens, she saw Zhou Dazhu and Qin Zimu guarding the baskets, looking alert and watching the passersby.

Qin Ruo found it somewhat amusing, but also a little heartwarming.

She had just casually told them to watch over the things, and the children were on high alert, as if they were afraid someone would come and steal them.

Fortunately, the security in Datong Township was pretty good. If there were really any valuables, wouldn’t that be like telling everyone, “I have treasures here, come and grab them!”

“Dazhu, Erlang. Go have some breakfast first, then we’ll go to Taihe County after that.”

Qin Ruo smiled and greeted Qin Zimu and Zhou Dazhu.

Qin Zimu had already been captivated by the various snacks nearby.

Especially when the aroma wafted over, he felt even hungrier.

Zhou Dazhu had also left early and hadn’t eaten breakfast. He had planned to buy two buns to fill his stomach.

The two of them stood up, put on their baskets, and followed Qin Ruo forward.

As they passed by the bun stall, Zhou Dazhu wanted to ask a question but hesitated.

After walking a short distance, Qin Ruo stopped at a restaurant that looked clean.

“Shopkeeper, three bowls of pork and cabbage dumplings.”

“Alright, you two guests, please wait a moment.”

The shopkeeper responded and turned around, smiling as he went to make the dumplings.

“Sister Qiuxi, I, I don’t eat dumplings, I’ll just buy two buns over there.”

The dumplings in this shop cost ten coins a bowl, he had been to Datong Township a few times and passed by this restaurant, he had asked the price but couldn’t afford to eat them.

Zhou Dazhu’s scalp tingled, he waved his hands frantically.

“Sister, I, I don’t eat either. I’ll just eat buns.”

Qin Zimu was equally surprised and quickly refused.

He was already satisfied to be able to eat buns in Datong Township.

These pork and cabbage dumplings were too expensive, he couldn’t afford them either.

He struggled to move his gaze away from the dumplings, neatly arranged in rows on the stall.

“Eat if I tell you to eat, what are you talking so much for? Do you think I’ll let you go hungry?” Qin Ruo put on a stern face, pretending to be angry.

In modern times, Qin Zimu and Zhou Dazhu would just be elementary or middle school students, their emotions couldn’t be hidden at all.

They said they didn’t want to eat, but their longing and restrained eyes betrayed their inner desires.

Zhou Dazhu and Qin Zimu dared not refuse anymore, they obediently sat down.

“Our dumplings have thin wrappers and big fillings, we use fresh pork, no cheating. Ten coins may not be cheap, but it’s definitely worth it.”

“I can see you’re all new faces, I’ll give you two extra dumplings per bowl, just to thank you for supporting our small shop.”

A quarter of an hour later, the shopkeeper of the noodle shop brought over three bowls of steaming hot dumplings and said enthusiastically.

Although Qin Ruo and her group were poorly dressed, the shopkeeper didn’t look down on them.

Businessmen, after all, valued harmony.

The shopkeeper had also been poor before, he knew too well the taste of poverty.

“Thank you, shopkeeper.” Qin Ruo smiled and thanked him.

This shopkeeper was a shrewd man, he spoke very cleverly, and his eyes didn’t show any disdain.

The key was that the portions were generous, he was an honest man.