allonlinenovel Chapter 256 Gap
Chapter 256 Gap
At this time, Chifeng had just learned that the people at the post station were making things difficult for them. He was frowning and pacing back and forth in the room, thinking about a solution.
Seeing Murong Ling'er coming, he hurried forward to greet her.
"Miss Murong, don't worry. This is just something that can be solved with money. These people are just trying to get more benefits. I will definitely handle this matter properly."
Chifeng patted his chest and said confidently that he naturally knew why these people were making things difficult for them. They just wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to make a fortune.
After saying that, Chifeng didn't let Murong Ling'er follow him and strode towards the kitchen.
Murong Ling'er looked at Chifeng's departing back and prayed silently in her heart, hoping that the matter could be resolved smoothly and that no more trouble would occur.
The sun was setting in the west, and the afterglow filtered through the kitchen window, casting mottled shadows on the ground.
Chifeng was in a stalemate with the innkeeper for a long time. Finally, with a sullen face, he strode out of the kitchen, cursing, "Damn it! These people are so evil! They're asking for fifty taels of silver right out of the blue. They're also saying that because of the trouble we caused, the inn's property was damaged and its business was affected, so we have to compensate them. Otherwise, they'll kick us all out tonight!"
When the officials around heard this, they all gasped. Fifty taels of silver was not a small amount of money.
Everyone looked at each other, their eyes filled with helplessness and anger. Chifeng clenched his fists, veins popping out of his arms. He was furious, but there was really no other way.
If he didn't swallow his anger and pay the money, everyone would have to wander in the wilderness tonight. After weighing the pros and cons, he could only grit his teeth, take out the heavy purse from his arms, count out fifty taels of silver, and throw it to the manager of the post station.
When he came out, his face was so gloomy that it seemed as if water could drip out of it.
Murong Ling'er saw Chifeng's appearance from afar and guessed what was going on. She frowned slightly, sighed lightly, and didn't say much.
After all, the murder of the cook at the post station was indeed caused by them, so it was understandable that she was angry. The fact that she didn't rush out and curse at them was already considered restraint on the part of the people at the post station.
Everyone had their own thoughts while eating this dinner.
The meal was served, and although it was quite sumptuous, no one except Chiffon noticed the high price behind this meal.
The flickering candlelight illuminated everyone's faces, some showing tiredness, some showing satisfaction, each with a different expression.
The next day, the sky was just beginning to turn pale and the cold moonlight had not yet completely faded, but the team had already gathered outside the post station, ready to leave.
With the rumbling of wheels and the clatter of horses' hooves, the group headed towards the last checkpoint.
"Boss," Baozi rode up to Chifeng on horseback, letting out a long sigh, "As long as we pass this city, our escort mission will be successfully completed!"
Recalling the hardships along the way, he still felt a lingering fear.
During this trip of escorting prisoners, he experienced countless life and death tests, and thought he was going to die several times.
"Yes! I've been looking forward to this day for a long time."
Chifeng looked at the road ahead, his eyes full of anticipation, "The sooner the better. I don't want to take on such a dangerous job again in the future." He touched the sword at his waist, as if it was an old friend who had accompanied him all the way and helped him through many crises.
"Although the journey was full of dangers," another officer interjected with a smile, "we brothers have made quite a bit of money! Thanks to Miss Murong's brilliant idea, otherwise, we wouldn't have been able to get here so quickly and make a killing."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Along the way, thanks to Murong Linger's idea of reselling mountain products, the officials gradually became bolder. They not only traded mountain products, but also searched for specialty items in each city and brought them to the next city to trade, making a considerable profit every time.
Little by little, it adds up to a lot, and along the way, we have reaped quite a lot.
"Yes! Miss Murong is so righteous." A young officer smiled. "I've made more money selling things along the way than I do escorting prisoners!"
"Haha, you're right," another officer joked, "Miss Murong has been so considerate throughout this journey. She's even more caring than my own sister!"
"Go away, what are you talking about!" Everyone laughed, and the atmosphere was relaxed and happy. Seeing that the escort mission was about to be completed, the officers felt particularly comfortable. At this moment, all the hardships along the way turned into longing for the future.
Not only did the officials reap a lot of benefits, but the convicts also saved some money. Their situation was much better than when they were first exiled.
Some people used the money they saved to buy some clothes, while others prepared dry food in preparation for the upcoming exile life.
However, among this huge team, the group with the most miserable situation must be the one led by Yuan Zhiqiang.
They were exiled a little later than the others, but this did not bring them any luck.
On the contrary, from the very beginning, there were misfortunes all along the way, and all kinds of unexpected situations followed one after another.
The more difficult problem is that all the prisoners under Yuan Zhiqiang's charge are female.
These women are already fragile, and now that they are imprisoned, they cry all day long.
Moreover, many of them could not bear such suffering and humiliation, and spent their days either thinking about how to commit suicide or racking their brains to escape from this terrible cage.
This really gave Yuan Zhiqiang a lot of trouble, causing him a splitting headache and unbearable pain.
Yuan Zhiqiang originally wanted to find some opportunities to earn some extra money during this difficult journey to improve his own and everyone else's living conditions.
But unfortunately, those female prisoners were too difficult to manage and they consumed all his energy.
He had no extra time to think about other things. Every day he was busy comforting these female prisoners and preventing them from escaping or committing suicide, which made him feel exhausted and tired.
When they learned that they were still about half a month away from their final destination, the last city, the female prisoners' emotions finally collapsed like a flood.
Some burst into tears, their cries heartbreaking; some collapsed to the ground, their eyes dull and lifeless; some even fainted, losing consciousness...
For a moment, the whole scene was extremely chaotic, which made people feel pity.
Sun Ying collapsed to the ground, her eyes empty, as if she had lost all her strength. Ever since her identity was exposed by Chu Lingfeng, the protection she had received before disappeared in an instant. She had struggled all the way to where she is now, and she had reached her limit.
"Everyone, get up and go!"
Yuan Zhiqiang brandished the whip in his hand and shouted, "Stop dawdling! If anyone dares to slack off, I'll show no mercy and whip them!"
Seeing that they were about to reach their destination, he would not allow any mistakes to occur at this critical moment, but these female prisoners under his command seemed to have been tortured to the point of having lost their energy and spirit, and every step they took seemed extremely difficult.
Yuan Zhiqiang watched Chifeng and the others talking and laughing as they walked forward, his heart full of envy. Recalling when he first received the escort mission, he thought his job was easy, but he never expected that reality would be so cruel.
The group of restless female prisoners in his hands were like a series of difficult-to-cross ravines, making him exhausted.
He sighed helplessly, "Alas..." This sigh, filled with endless bitterness and helplessness, slowly dissipated in the morning air.