Chapter 8 ….
Running into Trouble
With her sharp hearing, Dohwa immediately turned to look at So Yeob-yang.
“What did you say?”
After looking Dohwa up and down, So Yeob-yang replied with obvious displeasure,
“What a waste of your looks!”
‘With a face like that, yet behaving with no manners!’
Dohwa set down the food and shouted,
“What are you talking about?”
‘Is this brat asking to be scolded?!’
Considering that Dohwa was his lifesaver, So Yeob-yang suppressed his temper and answered as patiently as possible.
“You should pay more attention to your manners.”
If he weren’t in his current predicament, someone like Dohwa wouldn’t even have been allowed near him.
Dohwa widened her eyes and looked herself over, but she found nothing wrong.
Old Madam, who was beside them, said with a smile,
“Yeob-yang is right. You do need to be more mindful of your behavior.”
Dohwa spoke in an unhappy tone,
“But I’ve always been like this.”
“That was fine in Anga Village, but once we reach Imui County, that won’t do.”
In Anga Village it didn’t matter if she didn’t know proper etiquette, but once they arrived in Imui County, as the daughter of the county magistrate’s family, Dohwa would have to learn proper manners.
“Huh?”
Dohwa glared at So Yeob-yang with displeasure and snapped,
“You’re calling me a country bumpkin? Then what are you? Some unlucky jinx?”
Two days later.
Dohwa’s group headed toward Zhongzhou Prefecture. She had thought that once they reached Zhongzhou’s territory the journey would become smoother, but instead there were more and more refugees on the road.
“Why are there more refugees the further we go?”
So Yeob-yang snorted.
“Why else? The officials here just collect their salaries without doing any work.”
Dohwa merely looked at him without speaking, but inwardly she agreed. The suffering of the common people was indeed due to officials neglecting their duties.
However, An Mundo, who was beside them, reacted unpleasantly.
“Aren’t you being too harsh lumping all officials together? There are plenty of good ones.”
Old Madam nodded as well.
“That’s right, Yeob-yang. You haven’t personally investigated. You shouldn’t speak so recklessly.”
Realizing that her grandmother and third brother—whose father was a seventh-rank county magistrate—were defending the officials, Dohwa thought for a moment and changed the subject.
“I heard from Brother Jin earlier that once we enter Zhongzhou, the escort bureau people will head back.”
Old Madam frowned.
“It’s still quite a distance from Zhongzhou to Imui County…”
Their group consisted only of elderly people and children. She was worried the road ahead would be dangerous without the escort bureau.
Dohwa was also worried and said,
“Grandmother, how about this? Once we enter Zhongzhou, we don’t travel further right away. Let’s send a letter to Imui County and ask Father to send some men to escort us.”
Along the way they had seen and heard plenty of cases of refugees robbing people of their belongings—even killing. It would be safer to be cautious.
Old Madam nodded.
“Good idea. Let’s do as you say.”
Dohwa looked at So Yeob-yang and Zhao Yigu.
“We’ll reach Zhongzhou soon. What are you two planning to do?”
The two boys fell silent.
In truth, So Yeob-yang already had a plan. If he went to the Zhongzhou government office and revealed his identity, they would certainly send him respectfully back to the capital. But that would expose the fact that he had been kidnapped by traffickers. If people in the capital learned of it, his reputation would be ruined.
As for Zhao Yigu, he truly didn’t know what to do. His parents had already sold him—if he returned home, he would only be sold again as a live-in son-in-law.
Seeing the boys’ expressions, Old Madam softened and sighed.
“Let’s go to Zhongzhou together for now. We’ll think about what to do afterward.”
Since Grandmother had spoken, Dohwa could not press further.
Around noon, Jin Xiaoliu from the escort bureau hurried to their carriage with an anxious expression.
“Brother Xiaoliu, what brings you here? Are we entering Zhongzhou now?”
Dohwa asked with a smile.
When their group left Anga Village, Old Madam had prepared plenty of food. They had shared a lot with the escort bureau members, and over time Jin Xiaoliu and Dohwa’s group had grown quite close.
Jin Xiaoliu shook his head gravely.
“I’m afraid we won’t be able to enter Zhongzhou today.”
Dohwa looked startled.
“Did something happen?”
Jin Xiaoliu relayed the news the escort bureau had learned.
“Last year there was a severe drought across many northern regions. Zhongzhou, being near the Grand Canal, wasn’t hit as badly. Because of that, a large number of refugees have flooded here.
Where there are many refugees, trouble is inevitable. This road is the only route into Zhongzhou, and recently the refugees have completely occupied it. The authorities are trying to find a solution, but no one knows when it’ll be resolved.”
Old Madam slapped her thigh anxiously.
“What kind of situation is this!”
Dohwa held her arm to comfort her while asking,
“Brother Xiaoliu, what does the escort bureau plan to do?”
Everyone looked at him.
Jin Xiaoliu replied apologetically,
“Our escort delivery has a time limit. Brother Wu says we’ll have to take a detour through the mountains to reach Zhongzhou… which means… we probably can’t travel together with you any longer.”
In truth, Jin Wu had another concern. Dohwa’s group consisted of the elderly and children; they moved too slowly. Mountain roads would be even harder. If they traveled together, the escort might miss its deadline. And if they were attacked, some of their men would have to protect Dohwa’s group, greatly increasing the risk.
Old Madam, Father Sun, and Madam Sun all darkened at once.
Dohwa and So Yeob-yang lowered their heads.
An Mundo and Zhao Yigu exchanged glances.
Everyone felt heavy-hearted. Without the escort bureau’s protection, it was only a matter of time before everything they had would be taken. Losing property would be the best-case scenario—if they encountered vicious refugees, they might even lose their lives.
Seeing their reaction, Jin Xiaoliu felt even more guilty.
“Old Madam, I’m truly sorry.”
Old Madam forced a smile.
“There’s nothing to apologize for. We’re already grateful you accompanied us this far. The escort bureau makes its living on deliveries—you can’t delay any longer. What you’re doing is only natural.”
At her glance, Madam Sun immediately understood and took out a packet of dried meat from the carriage.
Old Madam handed it to Jin Xiaoliu.
“This is just a small token of thanks for your care along the way.”
Jin Xiaoliu waved his hands repeatedly.
“No, no, you’ve already given us plenty to eat before.”
Old Madam pretended to be displeased.
“What, you don’t want something from this old woman?”
Before he could refuse again, she stuffed the dried meat into his hands.
Holding it, Jin Xiaoliu kept looking back as he left.
After he departed, Old Madam beat her thigh in regret.
“This is all my fault! Why did I insist on taking this route and separating from Third Son’s family? Now our path is blocked!”
“Grandmother, please don’t do this!”
Dohwa and An Mundo rushed forward and each grabbed one of her hands.
Old Madam looked at her grandchildren with self-reproach.
“If I hadn’t insisted on traveling separately, we wouldn’t be in this situation.”
Dohwa pulled at her gently.
“If you must blame someone, blame me. You only wanted to broaden our horizons. You shouldn’t be suffering like this in your old age.”
An Mundo, not knowing what else to say, nodded repeatedly.
“That’s right, that’s right.”
Old Madam sighed.
“What are we going to do now?”
Dohwa frowned and looked around.
The escort bureau members were still packing and hadn’t left yet, so nearby refugees didn’t dare approach. But once they departed, no one knew what might happen to Dohwa’s group.
After thinking for a moment, Dohwa suddenly jumped down from the carriage.
“Grandmother, wait a moment.”
Leaving those words behind, she ran toward Jin Xiaoliu.
“Brother Xiaoliu!”
Seeing her approach, Jin Xiaoliu immediately set down what he was holding.
“Dohwa, what is it?”
She pulled him aside and whispered,
“Brother Xiaoliu, could you possibly get us some refugee clothes?”
Jin Xiaoliu glanced at Jin Wu, who happened to be looking their way.
Knowing Jin Wu was the leader, Dohwa immediately took out a hemostatic medicine.
“I’ll give you this as payment.”
Jin Wu looked at her and said,
“Take it back. It’s only a few sets of clothes. Xiaoliu will bring them to you shortly.”
Dohwa brightened.
“Thank you, Uncle Jin Wu!”
After pressing the medicine into Jin Xiaoliu’s hand, she ran back to the carriage.
Jin Xiaoliu looked at the medicine, then at Jin Wu.
“Brother Wu, what should I do?”
Jin Wu glared at him.
“Why are you still standing there? Go get the clothes. And make sure they’re as filthy and ragged as possible—so disgusting that no one would even want to rob them.”
“Ah!”
As Jin Xiaoliu ran off, Jin Wu touched his own face and muttered with a frown,
“She calls Xiaoliu ‘brother,’ but calls me ‘uncle’?”
His generation rank had just gone up!
“These clothes smell awful!”
So Yeob-yang covered his nose, staring at the refugee clothing Jin Xiaoliu brought with clear disgust.
Being worn and dirty was one thing, but they were covered in unknown grime and emitted a nauseating stench.
Even Father Sun and Madam Sun—who had experienced hardship before—couldn’t bring themselves to touch the clothes.
Dohwa had mentally prepared herself, but seeing them in person still made her stomach churn. She reached out several times, only to pull her hand back again.
Finally, Old Madam stood.
“Everyone put one set on. We must finish before the escort bureau leaves!”
As she took the lead and put on the refugee clothes, Dohwa shut her eyes, clenched her teeth, and forced herself to do the same.
Fortunately, it was already late autumn and turning chilly, so they could simply layer the refugee clothes over what they were already wearing.
Seeing Old Madam and Dohwa do it, the others gritted their teeth and followed.
Dohwa spoke again,
“After putting them on, we need to dirty our faces too!”
As soon as she finished, she crouched down, rubbed the ground with both hands, and smeared the dirt on her face. Then she did the same for Old Madam.
The others followed her example.
In no time, seven refugees were born.
