Chapter 217: Runaway Slave

Chapter 217: Runaway Slave

A’shui returned with Huaniu after feeding the chickens and saw Xiaozai bouncing around outside the guest house with a very eye-catching bag. Before she could ask, Xiaozai spoke first, showing off, "Aunt A’shui, this is what my mother gave me."

A’shui was somewhat puzzled, and so was Huaniu. They stared at Xiaozai, seeing his genuine excitement. Huaniu asked, "Has your mother returned?"

"No, she hasn’t."

"Then where did this come from?" A’shui walked over to Xiaozai, gently picking up the two-palm-sized bag, examining it thoroughly while he looked tense and defensive.

"My uncle has one as well," Xiaozai said softly.

A’shui glanced at him and said, "I want to see yours."

Xiaozai mumbled something vague, staring at the bag with concern. As soon as A’shui let go, he instinctively stepped back, gently patting the bag with his small hands, afraid it would get dirty.

A’shui glared at him, saying angrily, "Give me my silkworms back."

Xiaozai stuck out his tongue playfully, laughing and ran off.

He walked south with the bag, and the big and small black dogs in the livestock pen saw him. They barked and chased after him.

"Xiaozai, where are you going? Where’s Da Zhuang? And your uncle?" Li Mutou called out, "Don’t wander off. Come and play here."

"I’m waiting for Dad," Xiaozai said, walking to a tree and sitting down, exhausted. He sat at the base of the tree, staring in the direction Zhao Xiping had gone that morning.

The two black dogs ran over with their tongues hanging out. The small black dog stretched and then curled up to sleep. The big black dog urinated at the tree and then ran off. Xiaozai, afraid the dogs might dirty his clean bag, placed it on his head.

Xiaozai stood up, took the bag off his head, and held it in his arms. His legs ached from standing, so he sat down, crossed his legs, and sat next to the small black dog. He rested his chin on his hands, watching the golden sunset vanish beyond the city walls.

"Ah!" he suddenly exclaimed, startled, "The sun is chasing after my mother. The sky is about to brighten. She’ll wake up soon."

The small black dog opened its eyes, wagged its tail, and continued sleeping.

"Xiaozai, are you coming to collect the eggs with us?" A’shui called out, holding a bamboo basket.

Xiaozai looked back. Da Zhuang and Huaniu were already carrying baskets, ready to search for eggs in the grass. His father still hadn’t returned, and he didn’t want to wait anymore.

"Come quickly. Use the bag your mother made for you to collect the eggs and see if it’s sturdy enough," A’shui teased.

Xiaozai shot up, determined to prove that his bag was the best.

Zhao Xiping ended his day’s work at sunset, going directly from the sorghum field to the training ground. He practiced with the soldiers until the last traces of the afterglow faded, and night fell before he headed back.

On the way, he encountered farmers planting in the fields north of the city. The couple each carried a pole and a water bag, and as they passed by, the farmer’s wife discussed with her husband what to eat for dinner. Zhao Xiping couldn’t help but think of Sui Yu. During busy farming seasons in the military settlement, he would return home late, and there would always be someone waiting for him with a hot meal.

Zhao Xiping’s pace slowed, and he stopped, looking west. The sky still had a faint light. He wondered where the person who had left the pass was now and what they were doing.

"Hey—" Zhao Xiping called out.

A person suddenly appeared from the ridges by the roadside. Zhao Xiping’s face flushed, and before the person could get closer, he quickened his steps and hurried away.

"Father?" Xiaozai, seeing the figure, shouted.

Zhao Xiping ran a few steps. He remembered a winter, probably the year when the guest house had just been built. Sui Yu waited for him to return every day.

"It's my dad." The little one jumped up and down happily.

"Why aren't you staying inside? The evening breeze is still a bit cool." Zhao Xiping crouched down and picked up the child, resting his hand on Da Zhuang's head, and said, "Let's go back. Have you eaten yet?"

Da Zhuang nodded.

"Dad, look." The little one lifted the pouch he had been carrying, beaming and said, "My mom made this for me."

"Your mom?" Zhao Xiping instinctively thought Sui Yu had come back, but after a brief thought, disappointment flooded his heart. He touched the pouch and asked, "Was there a caravan from the west today? Did your mom ask them to bring these back?"

The little one nodded heavily.

"Just two pouches?" Zhao Xiping asked.

"Yes."

"What about me?" Zhao Xiping felt disappointed. "Really, just two pouches?"

The little one glanced at him and remained silent.

Zhao Xiping went to look for Sui Liang, and after finding him, he went to inquire about Sui Yu's situation from Qin Wenshan's caravan.

"When we left Loulan, Jade Merchant was about to depart for Yuli Kingdom. Calculating the days, she should be in Yuli Kingdom by now, or perhaps she has already left Yuli, heading towards Luntai or Kuqa." Qin Wenshan said.

Yuli Kingdom had even fewer people than Loulan, with half of them being reduced-sentence laborers led by Han military farming colonies officers, cultivating land and building beacon towers. The local people were mostly self-sufficient, trading with passing merchant caravans, selling fodder and provisions, just enough to survive.

All the dried salted fish Sui Yu brought from Loulan were sold in Yuli, exchanged for rations for both people and camels, making a profit of about 300 coins in the process.

After a short rest in Yuli, Sui Yu led the caravan westward, crossing paths with two groups of Hu traders.

"Chief Merchant, one of the caravans is heading to Dunhuang. They agreed to bring back dried grapes and three pairs of pants for the family. It was agreed that no matter how long they stay at the Long Return Inn in Dunhuang, they won't have to pay for lodging." Zhang Shun came over to report.

"No accommodation fees, but they still need to pay for food and drinks." Sui Yu said.

"Yes, that's what I said." Zhang Shun picked up his water sack and drank some water, saying, "The Hu traders said that after traveling west for five days, you should be able to see Kuqa City."

"I've heard that Kuqa City is full of gold and silver treasures." Xiao Chunhong said excitedly.

"Who did you hear that from?" Song Xian asked.

"Isn't that the case?" Xiao Chunhong looked puzzled. "I heard it from passing merchants when I was in Loulan."

Sui Yu laughed loudly, covering her mouth. "If Kuqa City were overflowing with gold and silver treasures, it would have been conquered by the Xiongnu long ago. Even if its walls were cast with molten iron, they would have been smashed and looted."

In the distant farmland, an old woman heard the laughter and looked over. The rising morning sun rays radiated in all directions, and a caravan of hundreds of camels loaded with goods walked westward against the light.

"Grandma, what are you looking at?" A thin half-grown teenager asked.

Aunt Chun shook her head and bent down to continue planting rice seedlings.

As the caravan left this well-watered oasis, the further west they traveled, the more severe the soil desertification became. The wind and sand blowing from the southern desert accumulated at the roots of the grass, turning the clumps of desert grass from green to a withered yellow.

The camels lowered their heads to graze, and the sand gritted between their teeth, creating a sound that sent shivers down one's spine.

"Miss, the wind has picked up. If this wind doesn't stop, there might be a sandstorm in the next two days, which could cause the caravan to get lost or separated. Shouldn't we find a sheltered spot to avoid it?" The old servant of the Song family, experienced from following the head of the family out of the pass in his younger days, suggested.

Song Xian pondered for a moment and went to consult Sui Yu's opinion.

Sui Yu had already heard. The sky turned yellow with sand, and visibility was poor. There was no sheltered slope in sight.

Suddenly, the wind intensified, sending sand and grass clippings flying. A large clump of grass was uprooted by the wind and swept into the air.

A clump of weeds blew onto a camel's head, causing it to neigh in alarm. Xiao Chunhong quickly used an arrow to flick it away, but the camel remained uneasy, stomping its hooves and unsettling the other camels.

"Everyone, dismount the camels," Sui Yu decided. She took out the wool ropes she had bought in Loulan and first arranged for the camels' reins to be strung together. Then, she grouped people into tens, tying each group of ten together, with each group responsible for guarding twenty camels. They were to remain still and wait for the sandstorm to pass.

She forced the camels to bow their heads and made them kneel. The fodder obtained in Yuli came in handy. Each camel was given a bundle to calm their restlessness.

The people hid behind the camels to shield themselves from the biting wind and sand.

Sui Yu and Song Xian, along with two sturdy Song family servants, patrolled against the wind and sand. Some timid camels initially tried to run but were restrained after several lashes on their reins before they became obedient.

"Everyone, take out the cushions carried by the camels and cover yourselves. This wind and sand might last a while, and it could get cold at night. Also, keep water and food nearby. If you're hungry, eat. If you're thirsty, drink. If you need to take care of personal needs, do it on the spot and don't leave the caravan," Sui Yu instructed as she walked.

After ensuring everyone and the camels were settled, Sui Yu and Song Xian struggled back against the wind and sand.

The camels lying on the ground had already buried their hooves and legs under the yellow sand. A thin layer of sand had also settled on the other side. Sui Yu and Song Xian prepared their food and water, huddling together under the cushions.

Yellow sand quickly piled up on the cushions, and a layer of sand also accumulated on their exposed heads. Slight movements sent the coarse sand sliding down their necklines, like snakes crawling on their bodies, sending shivers down their spines.

It was unclear how much time had passed when the sky suddenly turned pitch black. At this point, nothing could be seen, and all that could be heard was the sound of wind and sand, along with the camels' breathing. Sui Yu felt drowsy and yawned, accidentally swallowing a mouthful of sand.

"Ptooey." Sui Yu turned her head and spat, but more sand slid into her collar, completely dispelling her drowsiness.

The long night seemed never-ending, and it seemed no other life existed in this desert.

Song Xian had fallen asleep, and Sui Yu could no longer hold on. She rested her head on her knees, closed her eyes, and dozed off.

As the wind and sand subsided, Sui Yu woke up due to the numbness in her knees and legs. When she opened her eyes, she saw a sky teeming with stars. The night was cloudless, and the sky stretched out over the desert, vivid and unobstructed.

"Where are you going? Leave the camel behind," a voice from the end of the line made Sui Yu stop her attempt to get up. She looked over and saw a figure with their back to her. The person speaking was hidden in the shadows, and the low voice made it hard to identify who it was.

"The master has treated us well. If you want to escape, I understand. I'll turn a blind eye, but you can't take her camel and steal her goods."

"You don't want to go?"

"I cannot leave," Qingshan stood up, holding his bow and arrow. "If you dare to take the camel, I will not hesitate to ensure you won't survive until morning."

Zhang Shun suddenly exclaimed, "Ah!" as if he had just woken up. "The wind and sand have stopped! I was nearly buried in sand. Qingshan, help me up. This accursed place is unbearable. It's better in Dunhuang, with food and drink, no worries, no suffering."

This woke everyone up, and Sui Yu struggled to stand, half-buried in the sand. This nap had been exhausting.

"Let's pack up. We'll continue our journey. We mustn't linger here," Sui Yu ordered.

The sound of camel bells resumed, and the group, with no one missing, continued westward.