fake gentry

In less than half an hour, the Dong family had prepared all the supplies.

Inside the fortified village, four oxcarts were brought over. Chen San and the Dong family's accountant began to calculate and hand over the supplies. Members of the Dong family gathered around to see what was happening, and more than a dozen young boys played around the oxcarts.

No noble family had ever entered Dongshi Wubao before, and everyone felt proud.

Especially when they learned that A-Ling and A-Heng would be serving that god-like young man and would receive two thousand coins every month, the other girls in the fortress were absolutely consumed by jealousy.

Four oxcarts were lined up in a row. The first two were loaded with grain: twenty bushels of unpolished rice and two bushels of polished rice were divided into twenty-two burlap sacks, one bushel in each sack. The burlap sacks were made of coarse hemp cloth woven by the Dong family themselves.

Salt was placed on the third cart first, followed by coarse linen and brown clothing. The linen was not the fine linen worn by the gentry, but rather coarse linen woven by the Dong family themselves, which was sturdy and grayish-brown in color.

The brown robe was made of this kind of linen, with fine stitches and reinforced collar and cuffs. It was made by the women in the fortified village beforehand.

There were also straw mats, straw sandals, as well as machetes and earthenware pots, filling three large carts.

The last oxcart was specifically used to carry Xie Hong's belongings. It was fully equipped with curtains, bedding, and even writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones. Dong Xuan also reluctantly loaded the set of celadon tableware that Xie Hong had just used onto the cart.

What remained were the twenty large earthenware jars.

This thing was tied to the mouth of the can with hemp rope and placed on the two grain-carrying carts in front of it.

After everything was settled, Dong Xuan accompanied Xie Hong out, followed by A Ling and A Heng. A Ling carried a large bundle in one hand, containing Xie Hong's clothes that he had changed out of, which she was going to take back to the mountain to wash. In the other hand, she carried a small bundle containing her personal belongings.

Aheng was carrying a small bundle in her left hand, but holding a seven-stringed zither in her right. The two of them stood beside Xie Hong, facing the envious gazes of their clansmen, their shyness barely concealing their joy and pride.

Just then, a servant came to report: "Clan leader, Madam Li, wife of Dong, has arrived."

Dong Xuan hurriedly ordered them to be brought over. Dong Qi was holding the child, and three-year-old Dong Sheng looked completely satisfied, neither crying nor making a fuss.

Li was also carrying a small bundle. She walked over with her head down and bowed to Xie Hong.

She wore a coarse linen dress with several patches, was in her early thirties, had a dignified appearance, and exuded a quiet and diligent air about her.

Xie Hong couldn't help but feel a little fortunate.

Honey can only be harvested once a year, in the spring. Although I was kidnapped after transmigrating, I still managed to catch a good time.

After going down the mountain, I have a cook and a maid. Now it's up to me to support myself in the mountains.

Go up the mountain!

When Xie Hong left Dong's fortified village, almost everyone in the village saw him off. Dong Xuan even personally escorted him for three miles, standing by the roadside until he was out of sight before turning back.

The oxcart moved slowly, retracing the route Xie Hong and his companions had taken.

Chen San led three refugees, including Ah Liu, each leading a cow, while Liu Chong walked at the very front of the group.

The four carts moved slowly in a line, pulled by castrated yellow oxen whose hooves made a slow, clattering sound as they trod the road.

Xie Hong sat on the front of the first oxcart, his eyes fixed on the ox's rump, watching the ox's tail swishing back and forth.

Others were not allowed to ride in the carriages and had to walk, and besides, all four oxcarts were full, so they couldn't ride in them even if they wanted to.

"When will I be able to get a luxury car with a built-in mobile living room?"

In the Eastern Jin Dynasty, oxcarts had carriages, and those belonging to the gentry not only had carriages but also beautiful maids who accompanied and served them.

The oxcart that poor families used was the kind Xie Hong rode in; it was an open-top cargo cart, and all it had to do was be able to carry people.

"They're all oxen-drawn carts, but the people riding in them are different, so they're not the same cart."

Xie Hong sighed inwardly for a while, then noticed that Liu Chong was frequently turning around to look at him, which immediately made him feel uneasy.

Could this kid be thinking that he's connected with the Dong family and has learned how to harvest honey, and is planning to kill me?

He jumped out of the car, then turned to Li and the two girls behind him and said:

"Put your things in the car. If you get tired after walking for a while, you can take a ride."

Li respectfully responded, and Aheng happily put the bundle in her hand onto the carriage, then placed the zither on top of the bundle.

After helping A-Ling put her things away, she took out a water pouch from her bundle and called out to Xie Hong, "Is my lord thirsty? A-Heng has prepared some honey water, and it's still warm!"

The girl's voice was as clear and crisp as a mountain stream.

Xie Hong turned around, smiled, and waved. Aheng stared at him, completely smitten, and murmured, "My lord is so handsome!"

When Li heard this, a smile flashed in her eyes, while A-Ling tugged at A-Heng's sleeve, signaling her not to be presumptuous.

Ah Heng stuck out her tongue and whispered something to Ah Ling, and the two girls immediately chuckled softly.

Xie Hong quickly caught up with Liu Chong, who immediately turned his face away, chin slightly raised, looking arrogant: "What?"

Xie Hong gazed at the road ahead and slowly asked, "Brother, what's your name?"

Liu Chong's shoulders stiffened slightly: "I don't know what you're talking about."

Xie Hong's tone carried a faint smile: "I have a way to let you take revenge on your enemies."

Liu Chong turned his head abruptly, his face flushed red: "Really?"

Xie Hong looked at him and nodded: "But you have to call me brother first."

Liu Chong's lips moved several times, and his fists were clenched so tightly they turned white. Chen San quickly coughed behind him.

The young man took a deep breath, looked at Xie Hong with his teeth clenched tightly, and squeezed out two words: "Brother!"

"Isn't that good?" Xie Hong smiled and glanced at him. "Actually, you don't need to be afraid. Wang Dun's perverse actions have destroyed his own foundation. All the gentry in the world despise him for being associated with him. My uncle once wrote a letter, vaguely mentioning that Wang Dun was ill. Therefore, I dare to predict that within two years, Wang Dun will surely be defeated, and he will surely die."

Xie Hong clearly remembers that Wang Dun died of illness in the army two years later, and then his grave was dug up, his coffin was opened, his body was mutilated, and his head was cut off and displayed to the public.

This also marks the rise and fall of the Langya Wang clan.

Liu Chong's eyes widened, and his entire face turned bright red, giving Xie Hong the feeling that the sky had fallen: "Really?"

Why would I lie to you?

Liu Chong suddenly burst into tears: "Two years, two years! How could I possibly kill this traitor within two years?"

Chen San seemed to be coming over from behind, but then he seemed to remember something and looked at Liu Chong with a gloomy expression.

Xie Hong sighed and looked at Liu Chong earnestly, asking, "Brother, do you really insist on doing it yourself?"

What do you think?

Liu Chong stared straight at Xie Hong and roared, his pupils burning with fire. As if stimulated by something, he kicked up a cloud of dust and ran forward at such a speed that Chen San could not stop him.

Xie Hong was dumbfounded.

This kid is not only incredibly strong, but he can also run so fast.

He's definitely got the makings of a powerful general.

No, I have to really manipulate him. After Wang Dun dies, he will inherit Dai Yuan's Marquisate of Moling, and then he will be associated with the Dai family of Guangling.

When the time comes, the Dai family will have successors, and the gentry who are on good terms with the Dai family will naturally endorse me. The imposter will eventually become the real thing.

Even if the Xie family of Chenjun came knocking on their door, they would have to admit it with a forced smile.