Chapter 21
Treat like Father
Bai Wutong had made up her mind. She waved her hand. “Thank you. You’d better settle down as soon as possible.”
When Village Chief Zhao heard this, he could not help but plead, “Madam, Sirs, it’s difficult on the journey to escape. Why don’t you stay in our farm? We’ll definitely give you the best farmland and the best houses. I guarantee that you’ll be able to eat your fill every day and have milk to drink.” The drought that day was too serious. Not only did the farm have to guard against bandits, but it also had to guard against countless refugees. Without someone as capable as Chu Tianbao, how could they… last until next spring?
Bai Wutong could be considered to have fled all the way here. She knew how rampant the refugees and bandits of the Yan Kingdom were. If these villagers did not have enough strength to defend themselves, they would definitely not be able to protect their homes.
They could help them once, but not forever.
Moreover, compared to famine, war was more terrifying.
Bai Wutong had already reminded them that there would be a catastrophe. How could she stay for a group of unrelated people?
Bai Wutong shook her head and warned, “Where there’s life, there’s hope. Village Chief Zhao, take care.”
When Zhao Pengfei learned that Village Chief Zhao wanted to let Bai Wutong stay, he was almost overjoyed.
If they could stay, he could ask Chu Tianbao to teach him.
When he became as powerful as Chu Tianbao, he would no longer be afraid of bandits and refugees raiding their farm.
Bai Wutong refused to stay. Zhao Pengfei looked at Village Chief Zhao anxiously. Village Chief Zhao looked disappointed and helpless. He finally couldn’t help but kneel down in front of Chu Tianbao.
“Sir, please take me as your disciple. I’ll treat you like my father!”
“…”
Bai Wutong glanced at the wrinkled Village Chief Zhao and then at the confused Chu Tianbao. This father was indeed a little young.
It was impossible for Chu Tianbao to take him as his disciple. Bai Wutong said, “Young Master Zhao, don’t kneel. My husband can’t teach you.” If Chu Tianbao wanted to stay and teach him, she wouldn’t allow him to.
“We should go.”
Zhao Pengfei refused to give up and kept kowtowing to Chu Tianbao. “Master, Master, please accept me!”
The young people in the village also wanted to acknowledge Chu Tianbao as their master. Since Zhao Pengfei was willing to kneel down and beg, they were naturally willing to also do the same.
With a thud, the young people in the farm all knelt down.
“Master, Master, please accept us! We will definitely treat you like our biological father!”
When Bai Wutong heard this, she finally began to wonder if she had dressed Chu Tianbao up too old.
Otherwise, why would all of them rush to acknowledge him as their father?
Chu Tianbao looked at Bai Wutong quietly. He looked calm, but he was actually panicking.
If Bai Wutong did not speak, he would not know what to do.
Seeing that these children were trying their best to become Chu Tianbao’s disciples, Village Chief Zhao also begged, “Sir, you can stay. They’re all good children! As long as you’re willing to stay, other than the repayment for the discipleship, we’ll pay for the grain tax and do all the labor. We definitely won’t let you suffer any grievances here.”
“Master!” the young men shouted in unison as they knelt.
Chu Tianbao grabbed the sleeve of Bai Wutong and looked at her for help. “Wife.”
Bai Wutong looked at him comfortingly. From the initial forbearance to her rising anger, she looked straight into Village Chief Zhao’s eyes and said word by word, even a little aggressively, “Everyone has their own fate. You can’t force it. Village Chief Zhao, don’t you understand?”
“We saved you, but you insisted on making things difficult for us. Is this the respect a father should have?” Bai Wutong sneered.
“You can’t bear to leave your hometown, but you want others to stay in a foreign land. Is this your respect for your teacher? I really don’t see any good in these children.”
After Bai Wutong finished speaking, the young men of Zhao farmyard all lowered their heads in shame.
Bai Wutong took Chu Tianbao’s hand and couldn’t be bothered to say anything else to them. “Let’s go.”
After being reprimanded by Bai Wutong, Village Chief Zhao’s face turned pale. As he watched them leave, he thought of the risk that Zhao farmyard was about to face and Bai Wutong’s words about where there was life, there was hope. A resolute thought finally occupied his entire mind.
They could not stay any longer in the Zhao farmyard!
They had to leave immediately.
It would be best if he could leave with Bai Wutong and the others.
Bai Wutong had been willing to let Chu Tianbao help them previously, so her character must have been guaranteed. At the very least, they wouldn’t kick him when he was down while they were escaping from the wilderness. If they could build a good relationship with Bai Wutong, she might even help them again.
The problem was that the people who had died in the village had yet to be buried and their belongings had yet to be packed up. How could he follow Bai Wutong and the others?
Village Chief Zhao thought for a moment and called up the dejected Zhao Pengfei. “San’er, run back to the kitchen to get some food and two sets of clothes. Follow them.”
Zhao Pengfei suddenly looked up. “Dad, what about you guys?”
Village Chief Zhao said firmly, “We’re also leaving. Our entire village is leaving. Follow them and mark the way. We’ll come to find you.” With that, he took out a silver ingot and placed it in Zhao Pengfei’s hand. If they were separated, Zhao Pengfei could exchange the silver for some food.
Zhao Pengfei was dumbfounded. Why were they all leaving the farm?
Before Village Chief Zhao could explain, he urged, “Hurry up, or you won’t be able to find them.” Zhao Pengfei was still in a daze. Village Chief Zhao pushed him angrily. “Don’t you want to become his disciple? Hurry up!”
The word ‘disciple’ made Zhao Pengfei’s eyes light up. He ran a few steps as though he was on fire wheels. Suddenly, it rained heavily in the night sky.
Village Chief Zhao’s eyes widened. He chased after Zhao Pengfei and hurriedly shouted, “San’er, quick, don’t pack your things. Go and call Madam Bai and the others back to take shelter from the rain. She’s carrying the child. She’ll definitely come back in such a heavy rain. If they still refuse, tell them that we’ll prepare a mule cart for them. They can leave at dawn. We won’t stop them this time.”
Zhao Pengfei was stunned again. “Dad, are we not leaving?”
Village Chief Zhao gritted his teeth and kicked this silly donkey. “Cut the c.r.a.p and go quickly! Make it sound nicer.”
Zhao Pengfei couldn’t care less about rubbing his aching legs and stomach and immediately ran.
Panting, he stood in front of Bai Wutong and the others and quickly repeated Village Chief Zhao’s words.
Bai Wutong pondered for a moment before agreeing.
The rain was too heavy for them to continue their journey.
Moreover, Village Chief Zhao wanted to prepare a mule cart for them, which made Bai Wutong tempted.
Although the mule cart was slow, its endurance was strong. They could even take turns to rest on it while traveling. This was much better than walking. Even Stinky would feel more comfortable.
Zhao Pengfei brought Bai Wutong and the others back. Village Chief Zhao immediately welcomed them happily and even instructed Madam Yang to take good care of them.
The next day, at dawn, Bai Wutong rubbed her glabella.
The entire village was noisy for the entire night. It was as if they had not slept for a while.
Just as she put on her clothes, Madam Yang knocked on the door.
“Madam Bai, is the child going to drink milk? I’ve squeezed the milk. Do you want me to bring it in for you now?”