Strange Tales from the Northern Qi Dynasty

Chapter 37 Something to do
"Where is there any safe place in this world?"

“From the bottom to the top, everyone is in danger.”

Liu Taozi said.

Liu Zhang was stunned. "Taozi, you don't understand. We really can't stay here. A very powerful Zhou person has set his sights on this place!"

"Don't be reckless and willful!!"

Taozi turned around and looked at Liu Zhangshi, his eyes were unusually gentle.

"Mom, you go first."

"I still have some unfinished business."

"peach."

"I'll come find you when I'm done."

Liu Zhang wanted to say something, but when she saw Taozi's bright eyes, she stopped talking and two tears ran down her face.

Taozi helped her wipe away her tears very seriously.

"Go, go home first."

Liu Zhang choked up and walked back with Taozi.

In the courtyard, Liu Da was no longer to be seen, and even Qi Lou Nan's body had disappeared without a trace.

It seemed as if nothing had ever happened.

The mother and son walked out of the house. Erlang and Xiaowu were squatting on the ground, playing with the bone crutches enthusiastically and attentively, and had long forgotten Liu Zhang's instructions.

Liu Zhang laughed and scolded, "Is this how you stare at the road?"

The two of them then got up and stood pitifully in front of Liu Zhang.

Xiao Wu defended himself in a low voice: "There is no one at all"

"go!"

Zhang Erlang said goodbye to them and insisted on returning.

The paths in the village were unusually quiet. Groups of huge rats visited every household, or raised their heads and stared at the passers-by with sinister eyes. They were not afraid of people at all.

Although the sun has not yet set, the small village looks particularly gloomy. The withered branches and broken eaves and walls blend together, making it look lifeless.

The three of them soon arrived at the peach forest, which was full of vitality. Liu Zhang walked very slowly, as she liked this peach forest very much.

She talked about old things that she would never mention.

"I was once sick when I was young, and a witch said that I was haunted by an evil spirit, and that I should use peach wood to ward off evil and kill the evil spirit."

"My father ordered people to plant peach trees inside and outside the mansion."

“My home was like a peach forest then.”

Xiao Wu suddenly asked, "Doesn't that mean we can eat peaches every day?"

Liu Zhang chuckled.

"Later, when King Gao invaded Ye City, my father surrendered and hosted a banquet for King Gao's subordinates. That's when I came across another peach tree that could ward off evil spirits."

When she smiles, dimples appear on her cheeks.

“I like peaches the best.”

She looked up at the peach trees around her, her eyes full of reluctance.

The three of them walked leisurely through the peach orchard, and when they returned to the house, Liu Da was already sitting in the yard. He was tall and strong, wearing his usual clothes, waiting for them.

"Why did you come so late? I'm starving!"

Liu Zhang prepared a very sumptuous meal, which was usually eaten during major festivals such as New Year's Day and Human Day.

The four of them did not go into the house, but sat in the yard to eat. Xiao Wu wanted to bury his head in the bowl.

Liu Da also restrained his temper, drank some wine, and chatted and laughed with Liu Zhang.

The family was having a great time, and even Taozi's expression was much gentler than usual.

Late at night.

Everyone was about to go back to rest, and Liu Dazheng grabbed Xiao Wu's ear and scolded him about something.

Liu Zhang held Taozi's hand.

"Taozi, if I don't call you on weekdays, you don't know to eat. You should eat more in the future, you are still growing."

"Don't go out at night. The weather is getting cold. You can't get sick."

"Don't make friends with evil people, and don't follow evil people to do bad things"

"Lu Lingshi is a good man. Ask him first if you encounter any problem."

As Liu Zhang spoke, tears started to fall again.

Taozi's lips trembled several times, "Okay."

Everyone went back to their rooms. Taozi had just returned to her room when she heard a strange noise coming from the door.

"From today on, there will be no Hunter Liu Da here."

"You and I have nothing to do with each other anymore."

"Whether you want to be an official, kill people, or rebel, it has nothing to do with me."

"If we meet on the battlefield, I will show no mercy."

A deep voice came from the other side of the door.

Liu Taozi just looked out the door calmly, and he spoke:

"Take care of yourself."

There was sudden silence outside the door.

This night was extremely long.

The next day, Taozi opened her eyes and walked out.

The courtyard was in a mess, the door was open, and there was no one in the courtyard. There was only a table on which was placed a bowl with some food left in it. Taozi shuddered, but still walked to the table, picked up the bowl, and began to eat.

After finishing her meal, Taozi sat alone in the yard, motionless.

"Brother Taozi?"

Suddenly there was a shout from outside the door.

Zhang Erlang looked into the courtyard through the gap in the half-open door in surprise, not knowing whether he should come in.

"come in."

Zhang Erlang then walked into the yard. Looking at the messy courtyard, he widened his eyes and stared at his surroundings blankly.

"Brother Taozi, what happened?"

Liu Taozi replied calmly: "My parents are also missing."

"Oh."

Zhang Erlang sat down next to Taozi carefully.

"Brother Taozi, don't be too sad."

"At first I felt a little sad and wanted to cry, but after a day of starvation I felt better and didn't think about it anymore."

"When my eldest brother was taken away by the officials and disappeared, I cried for two whole days."

"Later, I went fishing with my grandfather. When I came back, my mother was gone. I cried for a long time. My grandfather beat me up a few times, and I didn't dare to cry anymore."

"Then my grandfather disappeared, so I didn't cry."

"Sometimes I think, maybe they are already together now"

Zhang Erlang was talking when he suddenly remembered something. He jumped up and asked hurriedly, "Oh, right! Where's Xiao Wu? Is he missing too?"

Peach nodded.

"My crutch! He borrowed it yesterday and said he wanted to play with it for a day!!!"

Zhang Erlang was suddenly heartbroken.

Taozi ignored him and searched the yard again. In the entire house, only the door of the storehouse was closed. When Taozi walked in, she saw some hanging corpses, which were animals.

There was a lot of wheat piled on the ground.

Taozi looked at Erlang and said, "Erlang, go and call everyone in the village who can walk here."

"Let them come here."

"it is good!"

Zhang Erlang ran over quickly.

Taozi sat here for a long time. Finally, there was a rustling sound outside, and soon, more than twenty people appeared in front of Taozi.

There are fewer and fewer people in the village, and those who are still left are either old people or children.

"Brother Tao! What happened?!"

There was an old man holding a hoe, his face full of tension, and the rest of the people were holding sticks, forks, and axes.

Taozi glanced at Zhang Jilang again.

"Don't panic, everyone. It's not a big deal. My grandfather is taking my mother back to her parents' home."

"I have to go to the county to take up a new post. I'm afraid we won't be able to see each other often in the future."

He pointed to the warehouse, "There's still some meat left there, Mai."

"You can take it home and hide it for use first. I will bring more when I come back from the city next time."

"You may enjoy the fruits in this peach forest, so don't ask me about it."

After listening to Taozi's words, everyone in the village was speechless for a moment.

The white-haired old man dropped his hoe and said, "How can we harvest this? How can we harvest this?"

"Yes, I have received such kindness from your family, but I have never been able to repay you."

"No problem, take it, and give some to those families who can't go out."

Taozi stood aside, watching them carry the food with great effort, thanking them as they took the food away one by one.

Zhang Erlang secretly glanced at Taozi, "Brother Taozi, can I have some too?"

"You don't have to take it. Just follow me later."

"Ah good"

The house was finally empty, whether it was the warehouse or the courtyard. Taozi gave the table and bowls to those people. Anyway, he wouldn't need them in the future.

Before leaving, the old man repeatedly told him that he would definitely guard Taozi's house and keep thieves away.

Taozi thanked him for this.

Taozi found several packages in the house, filled with various clothes and shoes.

These were all prepared for him in advance by Liu Zhang.

Taozi didn't even say goodbye to the villagers. She just called Zhang Erlang and left the peach forest.

On the small road leading to the county town, Liu Taozi strode forward, followed by a pile of packages.

That’s right, it was a pile of packages, with a pair of legs growing under the packages, which were following Taozi with difficulty.

Zhang Erlang was carrying those packages and was panting with exhaustion.

When Brother Taozi said he would take him to the county town, he was extremely excited. He had never been to the county town and was full of curiosity about the place.

But when Brother Taozi threw the packages at him, the excitement in his heart was wiped out.

"Brother Taozi! Slow down! Slow down!"

"I can't keep up~~"

(End of this chapter)