"Walk!"
Liu Taozi turned around and ran in the other direction.
Several old farmers were stunned, tremblingly shouldered their bags, and followed Taozi quickly.
The road is very clean.
Various buildings on both sides are intertwined together. There is only one road leading to a strange distant place, and there is absolutely no possibility of detours.
There was silence, only their heavy footsteps could be heard.
Fortunately, the sound of horse hooves just now can no longer be heard.
I don't know how long I advanced, but the sky became darker and darker, the buildings on both sides became more and more gloomy, and the sound of horse hooves sounded again from behind.
"Caught up, caught up"
Taozi stopped and looked aside.
On the left hand side, there is a wooden board hanging at the door of a courtyard, with the word "food" on it.
"Bang, bang."
Liu Taozi gently knocked on the door.
No one answered.
Liu Taozi spread her hands into palms.
"Bang! Bang!"
It was still quiet outside the door.
Liu Taozi put her hands together into fists.
"Boom! Boom!!"
"Coming! Coming!"
Finally, a cry came from inside. After a period of rustling sounds, the wooden door was slowly opened, only half of the body was exposed, and a person poked his head out.
This man was young, holding wax in his hand, his smooth face was covered with acne marks, and his big and small eyes were staring at Liu Taozi at the moment.
"What's the matter?"
"Have a meal."
"Have rest!"
The man pulled back his head and was about to close the door. Liu Taozi grabbed the wooden door with both hands and exerted force. The young man was staggered out and hit Liu Taozi's chest. He covered his head and screamed strangely.
Liu Taozi strode into the courtyard, followed by the other three, and Taozi closed the door.
His back was almost pressed against the door, and he could cover the entire door by himself.
The loud sound of horse hooves sounded from outside the door. Several old farmers held their breath and remained motionless. Even the boy did not dare to speak at this moment. The scene was suddenly suspended.
It wasn't until the sound of horse hooves faded away that the boy raised his head, ran to Liu Taozi, stretched out his head, and asked angrily: "What are you going to do?!"
"Meal and accommodation."
"We're closed! We're closed! And we can't stay here! Get out! Get out!"
The boy put his hands on Liu Taozi's chest and pushed it out with all his strength.
Liu Taozi stared down at him, motionless. The boy gritted his teeth and suppressed his blush.
"How dare you be rude to your guests?!"
Someone shouted, and the boy stopped his hand.
A middle-aged man appeared in front of Liu Taozi. He was wearing a long grosgrain dress, with his hair tied up and a crown, and a long beard. His appearance was plain, but quite elegant.
This man saluted Liu Taozi politely, and then looked at the three old farmers standing on his left and right.
The courtyard is empty, with only two desks. There is a fence gate on the left, leading to the backyard, which is locked.
"My lack of discipline has caused this bastard to offend our distinguished guests. Please come into the house."
The store owner said.
Liu Taozi looked behind him, and there was only one door in the inner room facing him.
At this moment, the door was open, but it was dark inside, and no candles were lit.
"I don't dare to call you a distinguished guest, but he is just a country savage who came to Yishi with a wealthy family. He got separated. It was already dark, so he wanted to stay at your place for one night."
"We'll just stay in this courtyard and leave at dawn tomorrow. Do you think that's okay?"
The store owner smiled and stroked his beard, "Is there anything wrong?"
"No."
"I'm afraid it will be inconvenient to stay overnight."
"I'll give them money, ten cents each, and they'll stay in the courtyard until dawn and then leave."
The shopkeeper smiled politely and said, "I don't think you are a rude person. Please listen to me."
"My restaurant is not allowed to have guests, and you have nothing wrong with me. You can't even eat. If you are accused, won't you have to see the official?"
"I am a duty-bound person and I dare not violate the law."
"Besides, there are old and young in my family, and we only make a living from this restaurant, so please don't embarrass us. Please forgive me."
Liu Taozi looked at the door faintly. The dark inner room opened its mouth, choosing people to eat, and black shadows flashed across the window.
He looked down at the store.
"Then please trouble the shopkeeper to carry me out."
The boy jumped angrily, "You scoundrel! Do you really think we are easy to bully?!"
The shopkeeper's face darkened, and he looked at Liu Taozi quietly without saying a word.
Liu Taozi disapproved and turned around and ordered: "Put down your things and rest in this courtyard tonight. We will look for him again tomorrow."
The three old farmers put down their sacks and stood timidly behind Liu Taozi, with their heads lowered. They thought they were in the wrong and did not dare to look at the two men.
Liu Taozi found a flat ground, picked up a few pebbles, used the package as a pillow, and fell asleep.
The three old farmers huddled next to Liu Taozi, only daring to lower their heads and sit down.
The shopkeeper watched Liu Taozi lie down without anyone, stood for a long time, turned around and walked into the inner room, and the boy also walked in.
They didn't close the door to the inner room.
It was already dark, and the inner room peeked from the door was even darker. The old tenant felt horrified, as if something was staring at him in the darkness.
The sound of horse hooves could be heard outside, accompanied by screams and roars.
Sometimes, the sound of horse hoofbeats could be heard almost right next to them. Several people were so frightened that they trembled, gritted their teeth, and tried not to make any sound.
Liu Taozi lay flat on the ground, sleeping soundly and snoring loudly.
"Brother Tao?"
"Brother Tao~~"
The old farmer lowered his trembling voice.
"Uh~huh?"
"Keep your voice down, there are cavalry."
"Hmm"
It was already dawn when Liu Taozi was shaken awake.
The three old farmers, with haggard faces and red eyes, sat huddled next to Liu Taozi, leaning against the courtyard wall.
Amid this fear, the three of them stayed up all night.
Liu Taozi sat up and moved her body.
The door of the house was closed at some point, but the courtyard door was open.
Hongke's meaning is already obvious.
Liu Taozi packed the package, took out the money from his sleeve, calculated it, and put the forty dollars on the table aside.
He was about to go out with a few people, but suddenly stopped and walked to the door of the house. Before he could knock on the door, the store owner opened the door.
The elegance on the shopkeeper's face no longer exists, it is just as haggard, with red and swollen eyes, and an angry look on his face.
“Don’t bully others too much!!”
"What else do you want to do?!"
"Raya, ask for directions."
The group returned to the road.
"Should we go back to the fork and take another look?"
asked the old farmer.
Liu Taozi did not answer, but just walked forward.
Going forward from here, the empty city is finally no longer empty.
There was smoke coming from the buildings on both sides.
Someone was walking hurriedly on the road and disappeared in the blink of an eye.
Pedestrians seemed to be in a hurry, keeping their heads down and never looking around. When they saw a stranger, they would immediately stay away as if they had encountered a wild beast.
Liu Taozi wanted to find someone to ask for directions, but she couldn't find anyone.
In the distance, several people gathered together and were whispering something.
Liu Taozi stepped forward and realized that someone was approaching, so those people quickly dispersed.
This is a wooden pillar with a notice posted on it.
Liu Taozi read the notice carefully.
The three tenants couldn't read, so the old farmer asked: "Brother Tao, what does this notice say?"
"It says we don't need to find Zhang Cheng."
"Ah? Brother Tao, don't try to fool us. Can he be mentioned in the county notice?"
"The notice said that yesterday the county parade led troops to attack, killed a group of bandits, beheaded six levels, and solved the bandit problem on the road."
When the old farmer heard this, he was very happy at first. He was about to say something, but suddenly he reacted.
His face was pale and all color suddenly disappeared.
"It can't be"
"Then us"
Last night they were just scared, but at this moment, their souls were directly taken away, and they stayed in place without saying a word.
"Without a place to pass, I can't enter the city, can't leave the city, and have nowhere to stay."
All they can think about is this desperate situation, and they don't even dare to think of a solution.
Liu Taozi looked into the distance, where she could see the eaves of an unusually decorated mansion.
"I'm going to set up a new detention center. I'll send you out first, and then continue to do my business."
After Taozi said that, she headed in that direction.
The three of them just followed him without saying a word, like soulless puppets.
The places Liu Taozi and the shopkeeper were asking about were the county government office and the county school, and this is the county government office.
The county government office is a separate mansion, with no other buildings on either side. It occupies a huge area. There are several courtyard doors alone. These doors are all open, like a beast with its mouth open, waiting for its prey to walk in.
.
"Just wait for me here and don't move around."
"I'll be back soon."
Liu Taozi strode towards the door.
ps: It was the month when the emperor was shooting horses in the east of the city, and all the women in the capital were ordered to go and watch. Anyone who didn’t go would be punished by military law and would stop after seven days. - "Book of the Northern Qi Dynasty: Wenxuan Benji"
Chapter completed!