Chapter 287: Sealing The Town Again
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Over the next few days, the atmosphere in Mountain Spring Town became even more tense.
As the government’s troops enlistment exercise did not achieve the desired result, the government office issued a conscription notice and began to force the people to serve in the military.
As Song Que had no achievements, he was also conscripted.
Fortunately, the mandatory military service could be offset with money.
After paying 15 taels of silver, Song Que was let off the hook.
However, the Qin, Wang, and Liu families all had to fulfill the quota for military service.
In particular, the Qin family and the Liu family were each required to fill two spots.
Fortunately, these few families had been diligent. They had earned some money from selling the bean sprouts they took wholesale from Qin Xiaoyao.
In addition to the money they had saved up recently, they finally gathered enough money to exempt their family members from military service.
However, once the money was paid, the families became poor again.
This was particularly true for the Wang family.
Wang Dashan and Wang Laoshuan rented a room in the Liu family’s house. As they had earned some money during this period, their original plan was to work harder to save up more money to buy a small courtyard house.
However, now, they had taken out 15 taels of silver in one go, instantly shattering Wang Dashan’s hope.
Fortunately, he was now a shop manager in Qin Xiaoyao’s newly opened porridge shop in the west of the town, and his salary was not low.
In addition, the porridge shop’s business was doing well, so he could get some bonus.
Wang Dashan was still full of hope for the future.
Another five days passed.
In the increasingly tense situation, the Liao army finally entered Hua An Prefecture.
All of a sudden, the people in Mountain Spring Town were in a state of panic.
The people on the streets walked faster than usual, and each household no longer liked to venture out as much as before.
The business of Song’s Porridge Shop slowly fizzled out.
Over at the Cirrus Loft Academy, the students were more irascible than before.
After the officials from the government office came to make arrests twice, they still did not manage to contain the upsurge of anger. Instead, a violent altercation broke out between the two sides.
On this day, something happened.
When it was dismissal time, Qin Xiaoyao went to pick up Song Que and Song Ye from the academy, but Song Que was nowhere to be seen.
It was only later that she learned that Song Que had been forcibly taken out of the town by a group of people.
Qin Xiaoyao had a bad feeling in her heart. She forced herself to calm down and drove the horse carriage to send Song Ye home first.
After that, she unharnessed the horse from the carriage and rode off on the horse, preparing to leave the town to look for Song Que.
In the end, just as she reached the town gate, she found that the town gate had been closed.
Facing a large group of commoners who were clamoring to leave the town, an official shouted, “The county magistrate has ordered the town gates to be closed for three days. For the next three days, no one is allowed to leave Mountain Spring Town.”
At the same time, another official next to him went to one side and put up a notice.
Qin Xiaoyao frowned and followed some people to read the contents of the notice.
Only then did she find out that many people were fleeing for their lives because of the news of the Liao army attacking Hua An Prefecture.
In order to retain the population and protect the people in Mountain Spring Town, the county magistrate had ordered the town gates to be closed.
The notice said that the town gates would be closed for three days.
However, the limit of three days was obviously just an assumption.
Three days later, if the Liao army did not retreat, the gates would be closed for another three days.
If the Liao army really attacked, Mountain Spring Town would fall in less than three days.
No matter what the outcome was, her husband was alone outside and it would be difficult for him to survive.
When she thought of this, Qin Xiaoyao quickly pushed away the people blocking her and went to look for the official who had just spoken.
The official naturally knew Qin Xiaoyao. As Song Que used to work in the government office, he was on friendly terms with Song Que.
“Things don’t look good. If he was really captured together with those scholars, they would probably have been escorted to the front lines by now.” After hearing Qin Xiaoyao’s description, the official’s expression turned grave.
“This wasn’t the first time the students of Cirrus Loft Academy had caused trouble.
“The Lord County Magistrate was also annoyed. This time, he decided to simply send all the troublemakers out of the town and let them fulfill the quota for military service.
“The Imperial Court has recruited many soldiers this time and these people have been sent to quite a number of places.
“Now, even if you go out of town to look for him, I’m afraid you won’t be able to find him, Madam Qin.” At this point, a hint of sympathy flashed across the official’s eyes.
“Moreover, even if you do locate him, Master Song has probably already been conscripted into the military, and you won’t be able to bring him back.”
Qin Xiaoyao’s heart sank as she listened.
Her husband was a scholar without the strength to even truss a chicken, yet he had been captured to serve as an able-bodied man.
How could he survive in the military?
Also, on the battlefield, how could he be a match for those ferocious Liao soldiers?
Qin Xiaoyao panicked and quickly took out some silver from her pocket.
“Brother Zhang, please do me a favor and let me out to look for my husband. When I find my husband, I’ll definitely thank you handsomely!” When she found her money pouch, Qin Xiaoyao stuffed it into the official’s hand without even looking at its contents.
However, the official refused her offer.
“I really can’t!
“Madam Qin, the Lord County Magistrate has already given the order to close the town gates and not let a single person out.
“If I let you out of the town, my official robes will be stripped off.”
When he saw Qin Xiaoyao’s pleading face, the officer was very sympathetic.
“Furthermore, if you leave the town now, not only will you not be able to save Master Song, but you will also be in danger.
“You’d better hurry home. If the Liao army comes and Master Song is not there, your whole family can only count on you.”
Qin Xiaoyao’s heart sank.
As she looked at the town gate, she finally gritted her teeth and turned to leave.
She definitely had to save her husband, but she couldn’t just leave so rashly.
Before she left, she had to settle her family down first.
After leaving the town gate, Qin Xiaoyao didn’t go straight back to the Song family’s house.
Instead, she went to the Qin family’s house first.
Due to the changes in the town, the Qin family’s father and two sons were all present.
When they saw Qin Xiaoyao returning with a slightly pale face, the father and sons trio quickly surrounded her.
Qin Xiaoyao quickly explained what had happened to Song Que and even told them that she had decided to go look for him.
When the Qin family’s father and sons heard this, their faces turned grave.
Qin Dazhuang wanted to say something but stopped. He wanted to dissuade his daughter, but he found that he was unable to express himself.
As a father, he had personally witnessed the feelings of his daughter toward his son-in-law.
Over the past year, his daughter had finally warmed up her son-in-law’s heart, and the young couple led a happy life.
Now that his son-in-law had met with such a mishap, how could his daughter simply stay at home and wait for news?
Qin Dahu and Qin Erhu had similar thoughts. Their expressions were also contorted with conflicting emotions.
“Younger Sis…” In the end, Qin Dahu still spoke up.
However, he was stopped by Qin Xiaoyao’s gaze after saying just two words.
“Big Brother, you don’t have to say anything to dissuade me.
“My husband’s safety is the most important thing to me. I have to go look for him.”
When she saw that the three of them were silent, Qin Xiaoyao continued, “This time, I’m here to ask for your help.”
“We’ll help you take care of the Song family,” Qin Dazhuang said eventually.
Since he could not stop his daughter, he could only ensure that she could leave without any worries.
“Mm-hmm! Younger Sis, you can count on us!” Qin Erhu added.
Qin Dahu was clearly struggling inwardly, but he still nodded eventually.
When his younger sister was gone, they would definitely help to take care of the Song family.
Qin Xiaoyao’s eyes were filled with gratitude.
“Thank you, Father, Big Brother, and Second Brother!” she hurriedly said.
As she spoke, she prepared to kneel down.
Qin Dahu hurriedly pulled his daughter to her feet.
“What’s this for?”