Chapter 62: Undercover Tuo Tuo Gets Beaten

After going through inspection, the man with the upturned, narrow eyes finally managed to drive his cart into Anping Town.

When he saw constables patrolling the streets in squad after squad, his heart grew more and more uneasy.

He circled the town once, then finally chose a small inn and spent ten copper coins to rent a parking spot. After hanging a red lantern on the cart, he shrank back inside.

After hiding in the mountains for a whole day, the madwoman and Ma Daming were already starving. They had no hunting skills, and they did not dare go deeper into the mountains, so they could only hide in the forest halfway up the slope and watch the ruined temple.

They waited all day, but no one found the ruined temple.

Ma Daming was so hungry he could hardly stand it, so he sent his younger brother Hei Pi down the mountain to buy food and, while he was at it, ask around for news and see whether Liu Wu had entered town.

They watched helplessly as the sun sank behind the western mountains, but Hei Pi still had not returned.

The madwoman began to mutter uneasily. She said to Ma Daming, “Hei Pi wouldn’t have been caught, would he? I think we need to find somewhere else to hide.”

Ma Daming shook his head. “Probably not. No one’s come up from the mountain below, so it should be fine. If anyone comes later, we’ll be able to see clearly from the mountain. It won’t be too late to hide deeper in then.”

At dusk, Hei Pi came running back happily with steamed buns in hand. “Big Brother, Sister-in-law, Liu Wu entered town. I told him we’re here. But the town’s being checked really strictly. Once the hour of Shen passed, carts weren’t allowed to move around town anymore. Tomorrow, Liu Wu will definitely be able to find us.”

Ma Daming impatiently took a steamed bun and bit into it hard. As he ate, he cursed, “Damn it, we’ve never had to go through this much trouble before.”

He turned to look at the madwoman and blamed her. “It’s all because of you, woman. You weren’t careful when you did things. You made me go hungry. The mosquitoes in these mountains could eat people alive.”

The madwoman rolled her eyes. After eating a few bites of steamed bun, she complained in disgust, “Why didn’t you buy some pickled vegetables? Eating plain steamed buns is too dry.”

“You’ve got food and you’re still being picky. Why do you have so many demands?” Ma Daming glared back at her. After finishing one steamed bun, he began imagining the wonderful life they would have in the future, and even felt a bit of tenderness toward his wife. “Once we get those thirty taels of silver, I’ll buy you a gold hairpin to wear.”

The madwoman smiled. “How big a gold hairpin can thirty taels of silver make? Wait until we save up more money, then make me a big one.”

Hei Pi whispered in Ma Daming’s ear, “Big Brother, after we get the money, why don’t we go back home and build me a new house? I want to get a wife.”

“What wife? Getting a wife costs money too. Whatever kind you like, your sister-in-law will get one for you.” The madwoman laughed and teased him. “Young ladies from wealthy families are the easiest to fool. I guarantee you can trick one every time.”

“Then I want a young lady from a wealthy family,” Hei Pi said happily.

That night, they still cautiously slept on the mountain.

They had finally fallen asleep amid the droning of mosquitoes. When they opened their eyes, three people had appeared in front of them. Ma Daming was so frightened he immediately jumped up.

The man in the lead was carrying two rabbits in his hand. Beside him followed two children. The older one looked around thirteen or fourteen, and the younger one looked four or five.

Hei Pi asked in terror, “Who, who are you people?” Had they been discovered?

The madwoman saw at a glance the child wearing a red bellyband, as well as the man who had ruined her good deed in town that day. She instinctively hid behind Ma Daming, afraid that the man would recognize her.

Unexpectedly, Xi Jue only glanced at them indifferently and replied, “We’re hunters from Dongwang Village.”

Ma Daming relaxed. So they were just hunters from a nearby village.

As for the madwoman hiding behind him, when she saw that Xi Jue did not look at her much, she assumed Xi Jue had not recognized her. After all, when she had pretended to be crazy and foolish in town, she had smeared two layers of soot on her face, worn ragged clothes, and let her hair hang loose and messy. She was not like she was now. Though she had been crouching in the mountains for two days, she was still dressed decently.

She walked out from behind Ma Daming and looked at Tuo Tuo. A plan formed in her heart. Since this man had ruined her attempt to catch someone else’s child, she might as well catch his child instead. This fair, chubby little boy in the red bellyband just happened to be a boy. Truly, truly satisfying.

Liu Wu’s cart would be here soon. If they caught this little boy along the way, they would just happen to complete the task and go to Li City to collect thirty taels of silver. Thinking of this, a genuine smile appeared on the madwoman’s face.

She looked at the rabbits in Xi Jue’s hand and asked, “How much are the rabbits?”

Tuo Tuo immediately answered, “One tael of silver each.”

Dou Ming and Xi Jue looked at Tuo Tuo in surprise. Since when had they ever sold a wild rabbit for one tael of silver? Usually, one rabbit sold for a little over a hundred copper coins. They had just sold rabbits at home yesterday morning. There was no way Tuo Tuo did not know.

“That expensive?” the madwoman said with an awkward smile. These two days had been hard, and they had not had much to eat while hiding in the mountains. Seeing the wild rabbits, she had thought that if they were cheap, she would buy two to treat herself. She had not expected the price to be even higher than what the best restaurants in Li City charged.

Hei Pi said indignantly, “Are you deliberately trying to fleece us because we’re outsiders? What wild rabbit costs one tael of silver each?”

Ma Daming slapped him on the back of the head, looking at his disappointing younger brother as if he hated iron for not becoming steel. His mouth moved a few times, but he did not curse out loud. Still not satisfied, he hit Hei Pi again.

Hei Pi clutched the back of his head and jumped two steps away, asking in a small, innocent, wronged voice, “Big Brother, why’d you hit me?”

“You shut your mouth! Just looking at you makes me angry!” Ma Daming glared furiously at Hei Pi and gritted his teeth, cursing him in his heart. This idiot, why mention that they were outsiders? The town was investigating missing children right now. Saying they were outsiders was basically asking to die.

“Are you buying or not?” Dou Ming looked impatiently at the madwoman. The game he hunted was either sold in the village or taken straight to the restaurants. He had never met anyone who asked the price and then did not buy. So he felt this woman was long-winded.

“How could we afford something this expensive?” The madwoman shook her head.

“Then let’s go sell them in town,” Dou Ming said, turning to Xi Jue.

As soon as he heard they were going to town, Ma Daming’s heart jolted violently. They could not let these three people go to town! If they casually mentioned this, the constables of Anping County would definitely become suspicious. If they searched their way over here, that would be trouble.

The madwoman also did not want to let Tuo Tuo leave.

The two of them said in unison, “We’ll buy!”

Hei Pi looked at his own big brother, then at his own sister-in-law, in disbelief. These two had always only allowed others to suffer losses, never themselves. Why had they suddenly decided to be fools? Just now, that was not what they had said. His sister-in-law had clearly thought the rabbits were expensive.

“Here you go.” Tuo Tuo took the rabbits from Xi Jue’s hand and handed them to the madwoman with a brilliant smile.

After receiving two taels of silver, Tuo Tuo became even more pleased. He gave the silver to Xi Jue and instructed him, “This is money I earned. Remember to tell Hua Qi.” He was no longer a ginseng spirit who ate without working.

“How is it money you earned?” Dou Ming said, unconvinced. “I was clearly the one who caught the rabbits. It’s money I earned.”

Tuo Tuo said, “But one rabbit originally only sold for a hundred copper coins. Now I sold them for one tael of silver each. I earned more.”

Off to the side, the two fools who had paid too much, Ma Daming and the madwoman, smiled without smiling, their expressions ugly. Could he not say that right in front of them? If they were not afraid of exposing themselves, who would spend that much extra money?

A vicious gleam flashed through Ma Daming’s eyes.

Hei Pi jumped over and accused Tuo Tuo, “The hunters around here are really black-hearted.”

“Black-hearted?” Tuo Tuo glanced at him and thought, You’re clearly the most black-hearted ones, so how do you have the nerve to say that about me? With his hands on his waist, he said proudly, “You didn’t haggle yourselves. Why blame me for being black-hearted?” Even he knew you had to haggle when buying things.

“You...” Hei Pi was left speechless by him. Unwilling to accept it, he turned around. “Big Brother!”

Ma Daming had nowhere to vent the anger in his heart. If Hei Pi had not said they were outsiders, would he have had to spend two taels of silver to buy two rabbits? At that moment, when he heard Hei Pi call him, the anger in his heart practically rushed out of his chest. He shouted at Hei Pi, “Shut up!”

The madwoman’s gaze toward Tuo Tuo grew even more venomous. This child was so good at talking now. In a little while, she would have to teach him a proper lesson and see whether he could still talk so well then.

Carrying the wild rabbits, Ma Daming asked with a smile on his face, “Brother, let me ask you something. Which way can we leave Anping Town? This is our first time here, so we don’t know the road. Otherwise we wouldn’t have ended up on the mountain.”

“You can leave town by passing through Dongwang Village,” Xi Jue replied.

“That’s perfect. Brother, can you lead the way for us?” the madwoman asked.

Tuo Tuo immediately hopped over and said, “One tael of silver.”

Ma Daming exhaled roughly through his nostrils. The madwoman beside him quickly pinched him and tried to bargain. “One tael of silver is too much. How about twenty copper coins?”

“Sure!” Tuo Tuo smiled and held out his hand.

Seeing Tuo Tuo agree so readily, the madwoman instantly felt as if she had lost out. If she had bargained it down to two copper coins, would this child have agreed too?

Tuo Tuo happily shook the copper coins until they clinked, then stretched out his hand for Dou Ming to see. “This is also money I earned.”

Dou Ming turned his head away and refused to look.

“Let’s go,” Xi Jue said, turning to lead the way.

He walked quickly, and before long, he had left the people behind him far behind.

Ma Daming praised him to Dou Ming. “Your father really is worthy of being a hunter. His skills are just different. He walks faster than other people run.”

Dou Ming thought to himself, If not for having to act according to the plan, I could walk even faster than Xi Jue.

After climbing to the top of the mountain, Xi Jue stood in place and waited for the group to catch up. He pretended to be impatient and said, “The family is harvesting rice today. Dou Ming, hurry up and come back with me to work. Tuo Tuo, you lead them slowly.”

After saying that, he did not wait for Tuo Tuo to answer. Xi Jue and Dou Ming walked ahead without looking back. This time, Dou Ming walked very fast, and soon they vanished from everyone’s sight.

Watching the two of them leave, the madwoman was practically overjoyed. Look, look, what was this called if not someone handing you a pillow just when you were getting sleepy? Was this not the perfect chance to catch the child? He dared to earn her money, so she would earn it back from this child.

“Let’s go.” Tuo Tuo led the way in front.

“Wait.” The madwoman’s expression changed, revealing a malicious smile. She walked over, raised her hand, and slapped down.

Tuo Tuo immediately jumped aside and frowned. “What are you doing?”

“What are we doing? You dared to ask me for one tael of silver per rabbit. I think you don’t want to live anymore. You little brat, you’re only worth two taels of silver yourself.” Ma Daming charged toward Tuo Tuo.

Tuo Tuo dodged aside and defended himself. “I already said it was because you didn’t haggle. How can you blame me?”

“What a sharp tongue. Watch me tear that mouth of yours apart!” The madwoman pounced after him and viciously pinched Tuo Tuo’s arm.

Tuo Tuo cried out in pain, grabbed the madwoman’s wrist, and forcefully twisted it aside. “You bad woman, why are you pinching me? The places you pinched me two days ago are still bruised.”

“You’re not big, but your strength isn’t small.” The madwoman glanced left and right. “Daming, Hei Pi, hurry and catch him. Once we catch him, we’ll have enough people. We’ll leave town today.”

These people came up and started hitting a demon right away. Tuo Tuo knew that if he were caught, nothing good would happen to him, so he nimbly dodged left and right through the forest, refusing to let the group catch him.

Hei Pi stomped anxiously. “Why is this child different from other children? We can’t catch him.”

Different from other children? That sentence instantly rang alarm bells in Tuo Tuo’s mind. Hua Qi’s ice-cold words appeared in his head at once. “Expose your identity, and you’ll be sliced up, piece by piece, and sold for money.”

No! He absolutely could not expose his identity! He had to be the same as other children.

Tuo Tuo suddenly stopped, pretended to trip over a rock, and sprawled onto the ground. “Ow!”

Ma Daming seized the chance to run over and quickly pinned Tuo Tuo beneath him. His palm struck Tuo Tuo’s head without the slightest courtesy. “You little wretch, you sure can run. Keep running.”

Tuo Tuo shook his head and dodged around. After being hit several times, anger also rose in his heart.

He was just about to use magical power to throw off the person on top of him when he suddenly remembered Hua Qi’s words again. “Expose your identity. Piece! By! Piece!” He could only give up the idea of using magic and struggle hard beneath Ma Daming, waving his arms and kicking his legs wildly.

The madwoman walked over and viciously twisted Tuo Tuo’s arm several times. It hurt so much that Tuo Tuo shouted, “Why does it hurt this much?” Several red marks immediately appeared on his fair, tender arm.

Tuo Tuo kept getting beaten. The more he thought about it, the angrier he became, until he was so angry that he burst into tears with a loud wail. How had things turned out like this? How could things have turned out like this? Wasn’t he just supposed to be tied up simply and wait for Xi Jue and the others to come save him? Why did he still have to get beaten? How could this happen?

Tuo Tuo was so angry he practically wanted to roll on the ground. He had known that black-hearted snake would never agree so readily for nothing. As it turned out, this matter was not easy at all.

Only after the madwoman twisted Tuo Tuo several more times did the anger in her heart ease. “You little bastard, let’s see you act so arrogant. These next two days, you’ll have plenty to suffer. In a few days, we’ll send you on your way.”

“A hunter’s child really is different. All this fair flesh is raised no worse than a young master’s in the city. Do you usually eat a lot at home? Your parents should thank me. I’m saving food for your family.”

Tuo Tuo was immersed in his own grief and did not want to bother with this woman. How could this happen! Ahhh!

Not far away, Xi Jue and Dou Ming, hidden invisibly in a tree, witnessed the whole process. Tuo Tuo’s crying rang on and on without end.

Only after Tuo Tuo was dragged away did Xi Jue say something out of the blue. “No wonder Hua Qi agreed so readily back then.”

Dou Ming sympathetically watched Tuo Tuo be dragged away, scratched his head, and decided that from now on, he should keep away from Hua Qi.

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