Chapter 239: Mountain Bandits Entered the Town
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
With the impending turmoil looming ahead, it would be much safer for the womenfolk to wear men’s clothes.
Qin Xiaoyao was taken aback.
After she understood the meaning behind Song Que’s words, she nodded her head solemnly.
The couple talked for a while longer before they fell asleep.
The next day, Qin Xiaoyao dutifully went to the textile shop and brought back a lot of cloth.
When Madam Liu received the cloth and learned that Qin Xiaoyao wanted to make men’s clothes, she was a little surprised.
“Gosh! It’s too chaotic outside now. Wearing men’s clothes will make things more convenient,” Qin Xiaoyao explained.
“Next, not only will I have to wear men’s clothes, but Yun’er and Xiaomei will also have to wear men’s clothes when they go out in the future.”
Now, Wang Xiaomei would still go to the market on North Street to set up a stall to sell bean sprouts every morning. However, Yun’er would accompany her there.
It was only in the morning when the security in the town improved slightly that the two girls could remain unharmed.
However, after the incident where the beggar tried to stop her last night, Qin Xiaoyao was already a little worried.
Perhaps, she might have to cancel the bean sprout business in the markets on South Street and North Street. Or else she would have to arrange for other people to take their places.
When Madam Liu heard this, she thought for a while and felt that it made sense.
Only then did she agree to make the men’s clothes.
“Then Mother, don’t do anything else these few days. Let’s get these clothes out first,” Qin Xiaoyao continued.
“Oh, alright.” Madam Liu replied.
Qin Xiaoyao then went to look for Wang Xiaomei.
She told Wang Xiaomei about her decision to temporarily suspend selling bean sprouts in the markets on South Street and North Street four days from now.
When Wang Xiaomei heard this, she immediately became anxious.
“Mrs. Song, I can do it! The market on North Street isn’t far from our house, and I’m familiar with those streets. I’ll be fine!” she hurriedly said.
It wasn’t easy to sell straw sandals now, so she could only depend on selling bean sprouts to earn money.
If Mrs. Song did not allow her to sell bean sprouts, how would she be able to earn money?
Qin Xiaoyao patted Wang Xiaomei’s shoulder to reassure her.
“It’s just a temporary measure that I’m not allowing you to go there. After things have settled down in the town, I’ll still let you handle the business of setting up a stall in the market on North Street,” she said.
Wang Xiaomei wanted to say something but was interrupted by Qin Xiaoyao.
“This matter is settled. After four days, when the last batch of bean sprouts has been sold, you will stay at home to help. We’ll talk about this again after the town gates have reopened.”
When she saw Qin Xiaoyao’s look of determination, Wang Xiaomei didn’t say anything more.
“Mm-hmm,” she answered.
She knew that Mrs. Song was doing this for her own good, so she had to listen to Mrs. Song.
Qin Xiaoyao was relieved to see this.
Then, she patted Wang Xiaomei’s shoulder to calm her down again.
After that, she left.
When Big Girl Li and Liu Xiaomei came to visit the next day, Qin Xiaoyao told them the same thing.
Although the two girls felt that it was a pity, they both agreed to Qin Xiaoyao’s arrangement.
After all, Big Girl Li was due to give birth soon, and it was indeed not very safe at the moment to let Liu Xiaomei go to the market on South Street all alone to sell bean sprouts.
And so, Qin Xiaoyao began to reduce the number of bean sprouts she planted every day.
Finally, another four days passed.
The bean sprout business in the markets on South and North Streets came to a stop.
Meanwhile, Madam Liu had also finished making all the clothes that Qin Xiaoyao had asked for.
Qin Xiaoyao made a point of calling Song Yun and Wang Xiaomei over and giving them two sets of clothes each.
“In the future, both of you will be wearing men’s clothes and having your hair tied up in a man’s bun like me,” Qin Xiaoyao said.
“And for the next few days, you will stay at home just like Mother. Don’t go out until the town gates have reopened.”
Qin Xiaoyao had basically gotten ready all the food and necessities at home.
It would not be a problem for the family to stay at home for a few months.
Wang Xiaomei and Song Yun looked at each other and obeyed Qin Xiaoyao.
It was night.
Just when everyone thought that the night would pass like any other, something happened in Mountain Spring Town.
A large number of mountain bandits suddenly appeared at the town’s West and North Gates.
Moreover, they used some simple siege weapons to take down the town gate towers at lightning speed.
Following that, the mountain bandits who had infiltrated the town opened the town gates and allowed the mountain bandits outside the town to enter.
In addition, a large number of refugees took the opportunity to flood into Mountain Spring Town, and the town began to fall into chaos.
After the mountain bandits entered the town, they attacked the government office that very night.
They killed the people in the government office and gained a foothold.
At the same time, many people’s homes were robbed.
Those who tried to stop the bandits were killed.
In one night, Mountain Spring Town descended into hell.
When the incident happened that night, the Song family also heard the commotion.
All of them got out of bed and came out of their rooms.
However, Qin Xiaoyao told everyone to go back to their rooms, close their doors, turn off the lights, and go to sleep.
She and Song Que stayed up until dawn.
After daybreak, the situation on the street was indeed much better.
At least, there were no more screams like last night.
The family ate breakfast with heavy hearts. Qin Xiaoyao then suggested going out to take a look.
The whole family instantly voiced their objection to her suggestion.
“Don’t worry. I’m just going to walk around Yong An Lane. After I have checked out the situation, I will come back immediately,” Qin Xiaoyao said.
Someone had to go out and check out the situation outside anyway. This would enable the family to make the appropriate arrangements.
And in the whole family, who else was more suitable than her?
“But…” Madam Liu’s expression was anxious.
She knew that her daughter-in-law was right, but there was indeed a lot of shouting and commotion outside last night. Madam Liu could not sleep for most of the latter half of the night.
If her daughter-in-law went out and bump into anyone or anything…
“Don’t worry, Mother. I know how to take care of myself.” Qin Xiaoyao patted the back of Madam Liu’s hand and reassured her.
When she saw that Song Que was also frowning at her, Qin Xiaoyao also gave her husband a reassuring look.
Only then did Madam Liu nod her head anxiously.
“Then you must be careful. See how the situation is and come back quickly.”
“Mm-hmm!” Qin Xiaoyao answered quickly.
With that, she left the house.
Yong An Lane was exceptionally quiet today.
Almost every household had its doors closed.
After Qin Xiaoyao left the house, she only met two bold neighbors who came out to check out the situation.
However, when they saw a corpse in the alley, the two of them were so frightened that they rushed back.
Qin Xiaoyao was the only one who still pressed forward like a sneaky cat to check further upfront.
Qin Xiaoyao only heard some movement on the street when she was about to reach the end of the alley.
It was an army of bandits removing the corpses from the street.
As she continued forward, Qin Xiaoyao finally saw two small teams of mountain bandits.
A small team of mountain bandits was pushing two handcarts. They were throwing the corpses on the ground onto the handcarts at that moment.
Another small team of mountain bandits was knocking on the doors of the shops along the street.
When they met someone who opened the door, they would enter the shop straightaway to plunder the stuff inside.
When there were people who didn’t open the door, the bandits would simply break down the door and barge in.
When they encountered uncooperative people or those who refused to open the door, these mountain bandits would kill them outright.
Qin Xiaoyao only tailed one of the teams. After walking for a short distance, she witnessed three people getting killed by the mountain bandits.
This group of people was vicious and merciless, and they really killed people without blinking.
Qin Xiaoyao sneaked into another street as she did not want to bring trouble upon herself. After taking a look there, she returned to Yong An Lane.
Thereafter, she went home.
Song Que heard the knocking and quickly opened the door for Qin Xiaoyao.
When he saw his wife return, he closed the door and dragged Qin Xiaoyao inside.
Madam Liu and the others quickly came up to Qin Xiaoyao and asked her about the situation outside.
Back in the hall, Qin Xiaoyao took a sip of water and told everyone about the situation outside.
“They are mountain bandits..”