Chapter 704: Find a Man and Marry Here
How peculiar! A scholar, of all people, choosing to join the army. "Good men don't become soldiers, just as good iron isn't used for nails"—what could have driven him to this?
The woman, wary of causing offense, dared not press further. Instead, she shifted the conversation. "Sir, where are you government soldiers from? And where will you take us to settle?"
Zhuge Wangchan chuckled. "We aren't really government soldiers; we're a militia from Gao Family Village. Our territory is vast now, so we can settle you almost anywhere. We'll be taking you through Pingyang Prefecture, Jishan County, Hejin County... all the way back to Gao Family Village. You can choose to stay at any place along this route, or return with us. It's entirely up to you."
The women exchanged wary glances. "Ah? 'Decide for ourselves'?" one of them stammered. "Does that mean... you're just going to abandon us?"
The phrase "decide for yourselves" struck a chord of fear in the women. They would far rather find someone to depend on, someone whose commands they could obey, than to make their own choices. In this era, what woman had the luxury of truly deciding her own fate?
Zhuge Wangchan sensed their apprehension. With a reassuring smile, he pointed to the Heavenly Lord's embroidered emblem on his chest. "Don't be afraid! With Him, the Venerable One, watching over us, you will never be abandoned. You'll come to understand that, in time."
The women slowly grew more comfortable with the soldiers. Soon, the children, emboldened by their mothers' proximity, also dared to draw nearer.
A child, no older than seven or eight, crept up to a logistics soldier, his gaze fixed on the Chassepot rifle in the man's hands. His eyes shone with awe. "Uncle... that rifle of yours looks incredibly powerful. I saw it yesterday during the battle. This thing goes 'bang,' and a bad guy far away just drops!"
The logistics soldier grinned. "That's right! This is Gao Family Village's most formidable new weapon. One shot can bring down an enemy hundreds of meters away; it's terrifyingly effective."
Only after confirming the rifle was unloaded did the logistics soldier carefully hand it over, letting the child's small fingers explore the cold metal.
The child's face lit up with delight. "Wow, I touched it! When I grow up, I want to be a formidable soldier just like you, Uncle!"
The logistics soldier shook his head. "Look at your ambition! Let me tell you, a child your age should be attending the village school, studying for free, and growing up to be an educated and cultured person. Becoming a soldier like your uncle? That's no good, not for you."
The words were spoken without particular thought, but they struck a chord with a listener. Suddenly, a woman, the boy's mother, a young woman of about twenty-five or twenty-six, sprang forward. She seized the logistics soldier's hand, her voice urgent. "Sir, did you just say that the village school offers free education?"
The logistics soldier, flustered by the young woman's grip, felt his face flush. "Oh, uh, sister... yes, all our village schools offer free education."
The young woman's voice was laced with urgency. "My child is seven and a half this year. Can someone his age also study for free? Is he too old? Or perhaps too young?"
The logistics soldier reassured her, "Yes! That age is perfect for starting school. A little older or younger makes no difference!"
Overjoyed, the young woman vigorously shook the logistics soldier's hand. "Are there any other requirements? Like, does one need household registration in the village? Because if that's what it takes, if I marry someone from the village, would my son then be able to attend school?"
The logistics soldier looked utterly bewildered, unsure whether to laugh or cry. "Sister, that's... a rather extreme thought! You don't need to go to such lengths. No, household registration is not required."
The young woman fell silent.
So did everyone else nearby.
Zhuge Wangchan burst into laughter, playfully scolding the soldier. "Hey, watch it! In this situation, making such a request to her smacks of taking advantage of her misfortune. I'm warning you all: don't bring up anything like this on the journey. Once they've settled, adapted to their new lives, and understood what kind of place they'll be living in, then you can certainly pursue her. But doing it now, while she's just escaped with her life, that's exploiting someone's vulnerability—it's the act of a villain. If the Heavenly Lord found out, he'd send you flying with a single slap!"
The logistics soldier jumped, startled, and quickly bowed his head. To the embroidered Heavenly Lord on his uniform, he muttered, "Heavenly Lord, forgive this humble one; I didn't mean it."
The young woman quickly pulled her son away, though, truth be told, she wasn't actually angry.
Truthfully, this group of women desperately needed a pillar of support. Hearing that a man was willing to take her in, she felt a wave of relief rather than revulsion.
In truth, the Heavenly Lord had observed every detail of the interaction. Yet, he remained silent throughout, as if entirely absent from the scene.
Witnessing the women's reactions, he couldn't help but sigh inwardly. *How tragic! Women in this old society, so pathetic. Women who feel utterly unable to survive without a man to lean on—truly, how heartbreaking it is.*
That evening, the logistics team made camp and rested for the night in a deserted village.
The women and children were settled into a derelict house for the night, while the logistics soldiers took turns standing guard outside, a sight that filled her, and indeed all the women, with an unprecedented sense of security.
They resumed their journey early the following morning.
Setting out from Qinzhou, they pressed southwest, traveling from dawn till dusk for many days until they finally reached Pingyang Prefecture.
Prefect Dou Wenda spent his days practically glued to the city wall, gazing longingly northeast. He was simply waiting for Commander Wang Xiaohua to return with his troops and garrison the city, offering him protection.
When he spotted a detachment approaching, Dou Wenda leaped up, cheering exuberantly. But his elation quickly soured as he realized it was only the logistics team returning. Disappointed, he slouched back into a corner, figuratively drawing circles in the dirt.
Without Commander Wang's return, he felt utterly hollow.
The women and children gazed at the immense prefectural city before them, their hearts stirring with a mixture of awe and trepidation.
This city was enormous, far larger than their old Houjia Village by more than just a little. *If we found a man here and married him,* they wondered, *perhaps we could survive?*
Such scattered thoughts drifted through their minds.
Just then, Zhuge Wangchan approached them, lowering his voice. "Although Pingyang Prefecture is a large city, it's not entirely our territory. It would be best if you didn't choose to settle here. Of course, if you insist, we won't stop you. This is merely a small piece of advice."
With such a strong hint, the women naturally decided against staying.
They continued their journey, following Zhuge Wangchan.
It wasn't long before the group arrived at Jishan County.
The fifth year of Chongzhen brought no drought; instead, rainfall was abundant. Jishan County, already a major agricultural center, had also benefited from Gao Family Village establishing a fertilizer plant there. Thus, it was no surprise that this year brought a bountiful harvest.
The entire Jishan County radiated a vibrant, festive atmosphere.
Every household was busy preparing for the upcoming New Year celebrations.
The moment the women stepped into the city, a profound sense of well-being washed over them.
"Ah, the people here seem so prosperous!"
"If we found a man here and married him, surely we could make a life for ourselves?"
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