The husband I snatched halfway through his life is strange.

Chapter 92 Swallowing money will sting your throat.
Early in the morning, long queues formed outside the government office, all of them people applying for travel permits.

Yu Tingwan smeared soot on her face again, and now she blended in with the crowd, playing with the hidden weapon she had just acquired.

Shunzi gave it to her after she went to the blacksmith shop.

Yu Tingwan was hesitant to press any buttons randomly, for fear of accidentally triggering a mechanism.

Surprisingly, it seems to have a surprisingly high-quality feel. It doesn't look cheap at all.

But she didn't understand these things either, so she took it back and asked Wei Shen.

Behind him were complaints.

"These travel permits are getting more and more expensive. Last year they were only four coins, but now they've risen to six. Are they trying to make a living? If this continues, my family will be completely broke."

How many?

Yu Tingwan is not doing well.

Four people would need twenty-four coins.

She could buy eight hidden blades!

"Shh, keep your voice down, don't let those constables in front hear you."

The thin old woman carrying the basket covered the mouth of the person who had spoken earlier in fright: "Are you tired of living? The person who complained about the price yesterday not only didn't get a travel permit, but was also beaten up. His head was smashed open, and he was carried away unconscious."

Was the extra money given to the imperial court?
Those officials divided it up and used it to keep mistresses and concubines!

These words indeed startled the man.

She dared not utter a word of complaint, but still muttered under her breath, "The dignitaries from the capital will probably arrive in Ze County tomorrow or the day after. Aren't they afraid we'll report them?"

The old woman shook her head and laughed at her for being too naive.

"Those people came to collect General Wei's body. Even the post station where they stayed was heavily guarded. Did you have a chance to see them?"

"You should first consider how much you're made of and whether you can withstand the severe torture inflicted by the constables if things are exposed."

Yu Tingwan listened quietly without uttering a single word.

The process of obtaining the travel permit was slow, and one could hear the constables ahead cursing from time to time.

"You're still here even though you don't have enough money? Not a single penny less, understand? Get out!"

The old man, dressed in tattered silver clothes, knelt down, grabbed the other person's clothes, and pleaded, "Sir, please be lenient with me."

She broke down in tears: "This old woman only has five coins, which I borrowed from the neighbor before leaving home."

"There's been another accident at the mine to the west, a cave-in. My son was buried alive underneath, he's gone. They sent word that I need to go and collect his body."

"I have to go pick him up, I have to go pick him up."

"roll!"

The constable kicked him hard in the chest.

"Pah! What a load of crap! What does your misfortune have to do with me?"

"If there's really no other way, then just kill yourself. You're just a worthless life anyway, and at least you can reunite with your son."

Upon seeing this, the constables nearby all burst into laughter.

This is not something a human being should do.
But they wore military uniforms and carried large swords at their waists, and were always arrogant and domineering.

The surrounding people were trembling with fear, their eyes filled with compassion, but no one dared to step forward.

Yu Tingwan curled her fingertips slightly, lowered her eyes, and remained silent. Wei Shen and the others were still waiting for her to return at the inn.

She wouldn't risk getting herself into trouble before she had the ability to do so.

The process of obtaining a travel permit is actually quite simple: just verify the documents, collect the money, ask where you are going and what your purpose is, and finally, have the official seal affixed to the government document.

But those constables were dragging their feet.

Even after receiving the money, they still want to make fun of the person.

Yu Tingwan was with an engaged couple who were preparing to go to the county to buy items for their wedding.

The constable saw that the girl was pretty and began to have designs on her.

“He’s just a country bumpkin, you’d be better off with me than with him.”

He then reached out to take the girl's hand.

The girl was so frightened that she burst into tears and hid behind her fiancé.

The man turned pale with fright: "My lord..."

He shielded the girl behind him: "Twelve coins, no more, no less. The adults should give us travel permits according to the rules."

The constable sneered, "You dog, how dare you speak to me like that?"

"What are rules? Here, I am the rule."

It infuriated the man, but he also knew the saying that a powerful official could crush a person.

Even if the other party is just a lowly constable. In impoverished areas, there are countless people who exploit the people and have wicked hearts.

What can he do?

All they could do was grit their teeth and say, "Then we won't open it."

The constable sneered, accepted the money, and showed no intention of returning it: "If you're not going to open, then get lost. Don't delay my work."

The man's hands tightened under his sleeves, swallowing his resentment as he protected his fiancée as they left.

The constable spat on the ground.

"Coward!"

"She's just a woman, what's wrong with me having some fun with her?"

His attitude was not good: "Next."

Upon closer inspection, wow, it was a young woman.

But it's very dark.

He glanced at her casually and felt nauseous, without taking a closer look at Yu Tingwan's features.

Yu Tingwan sent the certificate and the money over together.

The constable didn't even count, just raised an eyebrow.

"Thank you for your help, sir."

Yu Tingwan: "My family and I are from Xilin Village. We went to the county to see a doctor for my husband because he was seriously ill and we were afraid of delaying treatment."

"Use the extra money to buy drinks for the adults."

The constable swallowed back the insults he was about to utter, and immediately smiled, making no trouble for the sensible Yu Tingwan.

He picked up the official seal and deftly pressed it onto the four travel permits.

"I'm not a constable who makes things difficult for people. Go on, getting medical attention is the priority."

Yu Tingwan took the travel permit and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

"Thank you, sir."

After she turned around, the smile on her face disappeared.

The girl walked forward, turned the corner, and stopped.

Not long after, an elderly woman with silver hair walked over. She walked with faltering steps, her hands trembled, and her lips opened and closed numbly.

"Go home and raise the money."

"Let's pool our money to pick up Si'er."

Even in death, they, the country folk, want to return to their roots.

Yu Tingwan felt a pang of sadness upon hearing this.

"Mother-in-law."

She called the person to a stop.

The old man, leaning on his cane, just looked over.

Yu Tingwan pushed the copper coin into her hand, said nothing, and left to return to the inn.

The old man's cloudy eyes were devoid of any light, but his lips trembled violently twice, as if he were suppressing a sob.

"girl."

She called out to Yu Tingwan, who was ahead of her.

"Judging from your clothes, you must be from a poor family, I..."

Yu Tingwan interrupted gently, "Who doesn't have difficulties when they're away from home? I can still afford to give you a penny. Mother-in-law, you're not stealing or robbing, so you can accept it without any guilt."

As she spoke, something occurred to her.

"I just gave the constable six extra coins."

The girl's voice was very soft, without the slightest emotional fluctuation: "Did you see, Grandma? Those people are worse than livestock. They were so happy."

The old man's chapped lips moved slightly: "You've given me too much."

Yu Tingwan: "I don't feel sorry for you."

"I've memorized those faces too."

Before long, a new magistrate will take office, and everything in Ze County will change. What's a small town compared to that?
"They'll find out sooner or later."

She slightly lifted her eyelids, her tone laced with coldness and mockery: "Swallowing money will sting your throat; sooner or later you'll have to spit it out many times over."

(End of this chapter)