Chapter 29: Collusion
Editor: Henyee Translations
Actually, there were also ox carts in the refugee camp. However, after such a long journey, be it the simple carriage or the cows pulling the carriage, they were completely incomparable to the carriage that Lu Ze had brought into the refugee camp.
It wasn't an exaggeration to say that they had returned in glory.
Sensing the various gazes around her, Lin Suisui was calm. As usual, she returned the blanket that Mrs. Luo had lent them. Not only that, she also put on a thin cotton cloth that she had bought in the city today. It was just enough to cut a few innerwear for Mrs. Luo's children.
Mrs. Luo naturally refused to accept such a gift.
However, she could not resist Lin Suisui's coaxing. In addition, her children did need it. It was fine for the adults to suffer, but she still wanted to make the children feel more comfortable.
After staying beside North Sea City for three days, the refugees set off again early in the morning on the fourth day. Under the escort of a group of soldiers, they continued heading north.
However, as soon as they set off, Lin Suisui felt that something was different.
The number of refugees seemed to have increased.
"I heard that people from other places gathered in North Sea City and left together." During the break, when she heard her doubts, Mrs. Luo explained to her in a low voice, "I heard that more people are going to join us in the next two days!
"Anyway, let's just take care of ourselves. As long as they don't cause trouble for us, we'll just treat them as strangers. It's fine."
Lin Suisui's worries were quickly verified when they set up camp that night. Pei Qian had been suppressing the refugees who had set off from the capital along the way. The rebellious ones had long been eliminated by him, and the rest were obedient. However, these people who had joined them from elsewhere were clearly not easy to deal with.
As usual, Lin Suisui and Mrs. Luo wanted to find some wild vegetables to cook porridge for dinner in the forest beside the camp. However, they were stopped the moment they came out.
Although most of these refugees who were going to the north came from the disaster area this time, the reasons they gathered here were different. For example, Lin Suisui and the others had no choice but to go to the capital and were recruited by the capital. These people naturally received more preferential treatment from the officials and were relatively more obedient.
As for the few burly women who were blocking Lin Suisui's path, most of them had not ventured off too far from their original spot after the disaster. They had some impressive survival abilities.
In the end, the officials would usually force the entire village to migrate.
They were naturally more resentful. Those who could survive in such a difficult environment were one in a hundred.
Along the way, they were already used to fighting over food, clothes, and anything that could save their lives! Originally, the officials escorting them interfered, but it was useless. As time passed, those officials could not be bothered anymore. As long as they didn't escape midway, they could do whatever they wanted!
Along the way, these women targeted Lin Suisui, who was sitting on the ox cart.
Although her clothes were also made of coarse cotton, they were clean and warm! Also, the hairpin on her head was made of plain silver, so it could be exchanged for some silver!
Most importantly, they heard that she and her husband were the only ones in their family!
What right did two people have to drive such a big ox cart?!
Moreover, this girl looked extremely thin and weak. She looked like she could be blown away by a gust of wind. What right did she have to have those good things?!
The women discussed on the way and decided to start with Lin Suisui. They would snatch her things first!
"Even if I take off my clothes and give them to you, will you be able to wear them?!" Lin Suisui looked at the fierce women in front of her who wanted to snatch her things. Her tone was filled with helplessness.
Why did people always think that she was easy to bully?!
"Besides, have you forgotten that the official in charge now is not someone who can tolerate rebelliousness?! Do you know where the last batch of people who robbed people went?!"
Lin Suisui stopped Mrs. Luo and the others who were about to step forward and looked at the aggressive people opposite her without any fear.
These women could not help but be stunned for a moment by Lin Suisui's accusation. They had always been very successful when it came to dealing with little girls like her. This was the first time they had encountered someone who not only refused to compromise, but also taught them a lesson!
After coming back to their senses, the women were naturally furious, especially Hu Sanniang, who was the leader. She cursed and reached out to pull Lin Sui's hair.
Of course, it wasn't that they didn't see Mrs. Luo and the others standing beside Lin Suisui, but they, who were used to being domineering in the countryside, didn't take these gentle and obedient-looking women seriously at all.
"Ow…"
Everyone thought that the thin and delicate little girl in front of them would suffer a huge loss next. No one expected that the one who would scream as she fell to the ground in the end would be Hu Sanniang.
Hu Sanniang screamed and fell to the ground. She reached out to cover the arm that had just reached out to Lin Suisui. "My arm is broken. Ah…"
The commotion quickly attracted the attention of the soldiers from the refugee camp.
In almost no time, a few unfamiliar soldiers rushed over angrily. "What's going on?! Who is so bold as to cause trouble and injure people in the refugee camp?!"
"Sir, help! This damn girl broke my sister's arm!" As soon as they saw these soldiers coming, the women with Hu Sanniang immediately acted as if they had seen their savior. They surrounded her aggrievedly and blamed it on Lin Sui.
"Is that so? How bold. Take her away!"
The official didn't even look at Lin Suisui. He only reached out and touched the waists of the women around him a few times before casually instructing his companion, "Bring her back and ask her what's going on!"
"Sir, it's not good for you to accuse innocent people without clarifying the matter!" Lin Suisui took a step back to avoid the officials who were surrounding her. At this point, how could she not tell that this soldier was in cahoots with these women? That was why these women were fearless and wanted to snatch other people's things!
-- Gift
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