12dz Chapter 84 They've all entered the city.
Chapter 84 They've all entered the city.
Regardless of the complicated look in her eyes before the leader left, Lin Liuyi felt relieved as soon as she handed in the documents.
At this moment, Li Mingyue was also relieved, as they had finally arrived at Jiqing Prefecture.
Looking at the wide city gate and the heavily guarded soldiers, Li Mingyue and her family were on the verge of tears.
If it weren't for the help of a benefactor, her family might never have made it this far.
Qin's guards also breathed a sigh of relief. They had been on tenterhooks the whole way, with the young master falling ill and the refugees also causing them great anxiety.
“Miss Li, the young master has instructed that your family can enter the city with our group. However, once inside the city, it will be inconvenient for him to take care of you anymore.”
Li Mingyue breathed a sigh of relief after hearing Qin Da's words. She realized that entering the city also required paying money. Not only did her family have little money, but they also owed a benefactor a sum of money. It would be best if they could go to the city together.
"Thank you, young master, thank you, Brother Qin!"
Li Mingyue shared the good news with her family, and her parents repeatedly expressed their gratitude to the benefactor.
“But Mingyue, now that we’re in the city, what kind of work will we do? I don’t know how!” Li Lao Er was worried again. All he knew was how to tend the crops.
"Father, don't worry. Let's go to the city with the nobleman first, rent a small house, and then look for work in the city. Father, you know how to take care of crops, and there must be some gentlemen in the city who need to grow flowers. You can give it a try. Mother can also take on some cleaning and laundry jobs, and I can also look for errand running jobs."
After Li Mingyue said that, the whole family felt relieved; as long as there was work to do, that was good enough.
Despite Li Mingyue's confident tone, she was actually a little guilty. She thought her family should be able to find work, and if all else failed, she would swallow her pride and beg the young master again.
The family easily entered the city with the nobleman. Seeing the soldiers at the gate fawning over the nobleman, Li Mingyue couldn't help but feel envious.
After entering the city, the young master left in a carriage, leaving Qin Da to make arrangements for them.
"Miss Li, this is a small courtyard arranged by the young master for you to stay in for now. Also, please leave the remaining rice, flour and cured meat for you. Don't mind them."
"Not at all, not at all! Thank you, young master!"
Qin Da led them to an alley, opened the door of the first courtyard, and after helping them carry their belongings inside, he left.
Li Mingyue and her family still can't believe they have a place to live in the city.
"Mingyue, did Guard Qin just say that this courtyard is for us to live in?" Her mother asked in disbelief.
You have to understand that before, her family lived in a mud house in the village and a small, detached house with its own courtyard. They never even dared to dream of living in a house in the city.
“Yes, Mom, we’ll be living here from now on,” Li Mingyue said happily.
The family walked into the courtyard and saw three main rooms, two side rooms, and a kitchen.
Although it wasn't big, it was enough for them to live in.
The room contained some simple furniture, which made them feel incredibly warm and cozy.
"This is wonderful! We finally have a safe and stable place to live," Li Lao Er exclaimed.
"Yes, it's all thanks to you, young master. Father and mother, once we've settled down and saved up some money, we'll ask you to buy this little courtyard for us," Li Mingyue said firmly.
Her parents nodded happily after hearing Li Mingyue's words.
"Father will definitely find a good job!" Li Lao Er secretly made up his mind to save money.
"Mother will go look for it too!" Mingyue's mother also felt that there was hope for the future.
“Then my sister and I will do the chores at home!” The two younger sisters retorted, not to be outdone.
Listening to her family's words, Li Mingyue felt extremely happy.
Unlike Li Mingyue's family's joy, the Li family finally arrived at Jiqing Prefecture.
"This is the Jiqing Prefecture the village chief mentioned? It really is a big place!" Old Li commented.
The Li family members all looked at the city gate with anticipation, longing for a better life after entering the city.
"What! Each person has to pay two taels of silver as a city entry fee!" Granny Li immediately erupted in anger.
"What are you yelling about? No noise is allowed at the city gates! You don't want to pay, huh? Then get out!"
Li Laosan quickly pulled his mother away, then bowed and apologized, "Sir, my mother didn't mean it. But could you lower the entrance fee to the city?"
"You think you can haggle over the city entry fee? If you don't want to come in, then get out!"
Seeing that the city gate guards were about to draw their swords, Li Laosan hurriedly said, "We'll hand it over! We'll hand it over!"
Li Laosan tugged at his mother's sleeve, signaling her to hurry up and pay the money.
Grandma Li was unwilling to take the money; she hadn't even had a chance to enjoy the fifty taels before almost half of it was going to be gone. "Eldest son, why don't you give Xiao Liu..."
"Mother, what are you saying? If you won't let Xiaoliu into the city, where are you going to send her?" Li Laoda wasn't like his second brother, a coward who would just throw his daughter away if his mother said so.
Although he values Zhuzi, Xiaoliu is also his child. Didn't you see his wife pinching the flesh around his waist?
Oh my god, it hurts so much! That woman hit her way too hard!
Sister-in-law Li was also secretly angry. She never expected that the old bastard would abandon her daughter for two taels of silver to go to the city. Fortunately, the man knew what was good for him, otherwise, humph!
And so, Sister-in-law Li made a mental note of it.
"Mother, hurry up!" Li Laosan was speechless. Didn't he see that the guards were getting impatient? It's not like the family is short of money.
Not to mention the fifty taels of silver they got from Mingyue, the family still had some silver from before when they fled the famine. They were lucky enough to arrive safely in Jiqing Prefecture without spending much money. At the last moment, her mother even considered abandoning her granddaughter to save money, but luckily they had a boy.
Reluctantly, Granny Li took out the silver and handed it to the city gate guards. The family finally entered Jiqing Prefecture.
The city's prosperity dazzled them, but Granny Li kept worrying about the two taels of silver she had spent and kept complaining.
"Mother, stop talking. Let's see where we can settle down first." Li Laosan was really annoyed with his mother.
"Yes, yes, let's see where we'll stay first. Third brother, you go out often, so what do you say?" Grandma Li finally remembered the important matter.
"Grandpa, Grandma, Third Uncle, there's an inn over there, let's go stay there!" Li Zhuzi spotted an inn with his sharp eyes.
"What do you think, Third Brother?" The whole family looked at Li Laosan.
"Father, Mother, Elder Brother, and Sister-in-law, we've just arrived here and aren't familiar with the city. Why don't we stay at an inn for now? But we should still ask around and find a place to rent later," Li Laosan suggested after weighing the options.
He had made up his mind: now that he was in the city, he wouldn't go back to the village.
Furthermore, he also saw it at the city gate. It seemed that it was the outsiders who needed more money to enter the city, and Jiqing Prefecture did not classify them as disaster victims and disperse them to nearby villages. It seemed that there were not many refugees yet.
So, of course, we should take this opportunity to solidify our status as city dwellers.