He started by killing his abusive father, and from then on, he embarked on the road to wealth.

Chapter 63 How is the county magistrate doing now?

In the front carriage, Xie Jin lifted the curtain and looked back, his view completely blocked. He whispered a few words to Mu Sheng by the window.

Mu Sheng thought something important had happened, so he listened intently. His serious expression gradually became dazed, but he quickly came to his senses and said, "Yes."

He turned his horse around and walked to a group of elderly, weak, women and children, then gestured to Shan Qiyu in the crowd.

Dan Qiyu was taken aback, looked around, and realized that the other person was calling for him.

She walked nervously to Mu Sheng's horse and slowly moved forward, keeping a distance from it to avoid gossip.

Mu Sheng said in a low voice, "Madam, my young master asked if your young mistress could go to Doctor Zheng's carriage to take care of Doctor Zheng, who has difficulty walking. As a token of our gratitude, your young master can ride with me."

When Shan Qiyu heard the title "Madam," she staggered and almost fell. Then, hearing what followed, she felt as if she had gotten a great deal, but the other party said it was to thank them.

She hesitated before saying, "Ranran is Dr. Zheng's apprentice, so it's only right that she takes care of him..."

Mu Sheng shook his head. "Madam, Doctor Zheng is my savior. It is only right that I thank you, young lady."

Dan Qiyu was caught off guard, and seeing many people looking in their direction, he could only nod.

She placed one of her children on Doctor Zheng's carriage and the other beside Mu Sheng's horse.

Mu Sheng bent down and picked up the unaware Meng Ali and put her on the horse. Meng Ali was so frightened that she almost screamed, and her dark face turned pale.

After realizing what had happened, he covered his mouth tightly, afraid that he would be too noisy and be thrown off his horse by the older man in black behind him.

With all three children settled and no longer needing to walk, Shan Qiyu was still somewhat dazed.

Yao Shanyun, who was standing nearby, found it strange and asked Shan Qiyu about it. Shan Qiyu then explained everything in detail.

Yao Shanyun glanced at the group of men in black with amusement. "They don't look like good people, but they're surprisingly decent at doing things."

Meng Linlang, who was walking ahead of Shan Qiyu, lowered her eyes upon seeing what had just happened.

Xie Jin did indeed keep his promise to protect their family, and they were no different from the rest of Mengjia Village.

Meng Fuqing was different; she could actually get Xie Jin, who was cold, violent, and cruel in her dreams, to go to great lengths to make things convenient for her.

Meng Fuqing was completely unaware of what was happening ahead because his view was blocked.

As dawn broke, she took out some dry rations from her small bundle and ate a few bites. She also drank some stream water from her water pouch. The sweet water soothed her throat and dispelled her early morning weariness.

She filled all the water bags, and the water in the water bags of the mother and her two children walking ahead was also from the stream; they could drink some water when they got tired.

It wasn't that people couldn't sit in the carriage, but Shan Qiyu still led Meng Ranran and Meng Ali ahead, saying that when they got tired, the two little ones could take turns sitting, so as not to tire the mule out.

Her gaze fell on the procession ahead. Meng Linlang's family had acquired a donkey cart sometime during the day, and it was now traveling in front of her.

Several families with different surnames, including the Sun family, did not go with them.

The Meng family of Mengjia Village naturally formed a united front and would not easily talk about their own affairs to outsiders, lest they ruin their own reputation; while those with other surnames would often band together, and these were the people who talked the most about Sun Dacheng's matter.

Now that those people didn't come along, the whole group felt much cleaner.

After walking for more than an hour, everyone was a little tired when a commotion suddenly broke out ahead.

“Village chief, my family’s home isn’t far from here. I reminded them yesterday, and they should have packed everything. Dalang is quick on his feet; he can come over after just a word to them…”

Meng Bochang was somewhat annoyed. They left in a hurry, but he had considered this matter beforehand. He thought that the family ties were unbreakable and he did not want to be the bad guy.

He then told the people who were going to the meeting that if any of their relatives wanted to come along, they should come to Mengjia Village early so that they wouldn't be late.

As a result, only the families of the two wives were willing to believe it and came to the village ahead of time to go with them.

If this precedent is set now, it could lead to endless trouble.

He asked, "Everyone seems tired from walking. Would it be possible to catch up if we rested for a quarter of an hour?"

How can two quarters of an hour be enough?

Cui Miao'er couldn't help but say, "I'm not trying to be mean, village chief, but we haven't even seen a trace of the barbarians, why are you in such a hurry? You didn't even give your family a chance to know before you left..."

Meng Bochang asked, "Did your family not inform you or what? Did your family believe it?"

The identity of Xie's son must not be exposed, and it is understandable that outsiders do not trust the information Meng Bochang obtained.

He knew that he could command the villagers of Mengjia Village because of his status as the clan chief, not anything else.

Cui Miao'er choked, she really didn't believe it, she wouldn't have believed it either if she hadn't already left Mengjia Village.

Yao Shanyun pulled her eldest daughter-in-law behind her, glaring at her and saying, "Are you done yet? Why didn't you go back to your parents' home to persuade them before? Now you're criticizing this and ordering that! Let me tell you, even if the village chief sends Dalang, I won't let him go! Aren't you your family? If you want to go, why don't you go yourself?"

Cui Miao'er instantly lost her previous arrogance in front of her mother-in-law, Yao Shanyun.

She dared not utter another word, but Cui Miao'er's words still stirred up the thoughts that the wives had suppressed.

If possible, they would certainly like to go with their family.

Meng Bochang knew this wouldn't work, so he went to the front and told Mu Feng to stop and rest. He then went to Xie Jin's carriage and knocked on it.

The two talked for a while through the window, and when they returned to the back, he loudly told the group to sit down and rest.

"It's still early, and the county town isn't far from here. If you want to inform your families, take advantage of this rest time to tell this young master Mu which town and village your families live in. Young master Mu will send someone to the county town to deliver a message to your families."

We should be able to reach Wild Boar Gully by evening, and then we'll spend the night there.

If your family members can't get there by the next morning, don't blame me for being ruthless. Anyone who makes a fuss about this again can just go back to their parents' home!

"You'll have to pay for the messenger's service yourself, plus extra money for the messenger."

Meng Fuqing, who was walking up from behind to switch carriages with Shan Qiyu, couldn't help but have an idea when she heard these words.

I wonder how that county magistrate is doing now? Has the barbarian sent over the things he wanted to give him?

I want to go and take a look.

She walked up to the village chief and said, "Grandpa Village Chief, let me go!"

Meng Bochang frowned slightly. "You're going to the county town on business?"

Meng Fuqing nodded and casually made up an excuse: "I suddenly realized I forgot to prepare some medicine. It's cold, what if I catch a cold?"

"Isn't there Doctor Zheng?"

“Dr. Zheng, where do you get so many medicines? I’ll go to the county to buy them, then my family won’t have to take up other villagers’ share.”

Knowing he couldn't win an argument with her, Meng Bochang could only say, "You can't ride a horse, how are you going to get there?"

She pointed back at her mule cart, "Don't you treat mules like livestock? I can drive the cart myself!"

Give the mule some stream water, and it'll be full of energy.

Meng Bochang was persuaded.

"Alright, go ahead, but don't linger in the county town for too long."