Qing Dynasty. State of Zhou(Province). Chengyang Prefecture(District), Qingfeng County. Within a random mountain forest.
"Mother!"
"What happened, Emma?"
"Look, a mountain man!"
"Oh.."
Two figures, both women, one small and another tall, strolled through a mountainous forest, which was a few hundred metres away from the road. A medium-sized carriage made of both wood and iron was parked there, with horses at its reins.
A few people could be seen sitting on the side of the road, talking randomly.
Their whispers echoed in the mountains.
Although the scene suggested a typical rest during a carriage journey, this particular carriage and its passengers had something unique that most other past travelers didn't have.
These individuals had extremely fair skin tones and unique facial features, which were significantly different from those of the natives of the Qing Dynasty.
As passengers beside the road conversed, the curtains blocking the main entrance of the carriage were lifted, and a young man walked out, alerting everyone on site.
This young man was one of those fair people.
After coming out, he said only a few words while standing calmly upon the carriage, yet those spoken words shocked everyone greatly.
"It seems we have some guests."
…
Further inside the forest, a young woman, seemingly in her late twenties, became vigilant as she saw her seven-year-old daughter run towards a native man.
But, upon noticing his laid-back posture and a harmless appearance, the woman lessened her vigilance and resumed walking.
Her steps did become hurried, likely with the intention to catch up with her daughter as soon as possible.
The native man was lying down with his back resting on the grass beneath him.
A gentle breeze stirred the blades of grass and tousled his hair, creating a serene and beautiful scene. Perfectly capturing the essence of a peaceful mountain life.
On his left lay a small wooden basket filled with herbs and flowers, suggesting that this unassuming yet harmless youth must be a herb picker from a nearby village.
'Westerners?'
With one unclosed eye, the youth stared silently at the fast-approaching little girl. Inwardly, he felt a bit shocked, yet his overall mood was not much affected.
'It seems the world is not so simple.'
Thinking so, the youth sighed.
As he contemplated something, the small girl finally approached him.
As for the older woman, who must be the mother, she was a few steps behind, but still managed to arrive on time.
Although her vigilance has lessened, it has not disappeared completely.
Cough! Cough!
"Hi, Mr. Mountain Man! My name is Emma. May I know your name?"
Hearing her greet, the youth, who was lying on the ground, pretended to open both his eyelids and stared at the two parties that had just arrived.
The mother stared intently, although a smile hung on her face; only she knew what was going through her head.
Both of them had walked a few distances away from the carriage, and this was the mountains. Being cautious won't do any harm.
While focusing on the youth, she noticed the changes in his expression.
After seeing both of them, the young man woke up and sat straight on the ground.
The changes in his expression were rather unique. From shock, confusion, and wariness to calmness.
Then, upon noticing the peaceful smile on the little girl's face, the youth seemed to have lost all his wariness, but he still faced both women with an alert look.
"My name? It's Li Hao. You two do not seem to be from around here."
Seeing his somewhat cold attitude, the little girl named Emma was taken aback.
She thought that the mountain man would speak nicely with her, but the opposite reaction threw her off a bit.
"Yes, we come from further west. The places here are very beautiful and serene, hence we are travelling for sightseeing."
The mother standing behind Emma wasn't so surprised. Hence, she responded to him.
Their appearance was vastly different from that of the natives here, and anyone would be a little wary, especially the villagers, who spent their whole lives in the mountains and had limited experience.
Even if they do not show it on their faces, only they know what they think in their heart.
Seeing both of them wearing elegant attire, the youth must have become cautious and dared not show any disrespect, afraid of angering someone influential. All this, the mother understood.
The mother with her thoughts, and the daughter with her own.
Not willing to be treated in such a rude manner, Emma smiled radiantly, trying to appear as harmless and cute as possible to elicit a warm response from the mountain man sitting on the ground.
Her eyes darted toward a small wooden basket near Li Hao, filled to the brim with beautiful flowers and plants.
"Ahm! Mr. Li Hao, if possible, may I have a look at your flower basket?"
"Not possible, I collected them, so they are mine."
The rebuttal shattered the beautiful imagination in her heart. She felt like crying, yet controlled herself.
'Don't Cry! Don't Cry!'
Shaking her head, Emma once again determinedly stared at the small wooden basket near Li Hao.
"I will give you money!"
The moment this word 'money' came out of her mouth, Li Hao's eyes almost seemed to gleam with light.
"Nice idea."
Emma turned around to face her mom with a pleading expression.
Seeing her like this, the mom sighed and stared helplessly at the young boy before them. She certainly disliked him a bit.
Not even willing to spare one flower for a little kid? 'How ungentlemanly'
Although the flowers seemed very normal, with no special characteristics, the pleading on her daughter's face could not be ignored, so she relented in the end.
"Alright, Mr. Li Hao, how much would all those flowers of yours cost?"
Li Hao stared at the mother's face for a moment, his eyes blinking rapidly.
After a few seconds, he blurted out an amount.
"Seven taels of silver."
"What?"
Did she mishear anything?
Was it seven coins, or is he really quoting a price of seven thousand silver coins (seven taels)?
"Have you perhaps quoted the wrong price?" Although not from here, she had some knowledge concerning the currency of the locality. Seven taels of silver in this dynasty seemed quite a bit of money, not proportional to the value of a bag of flowers, but much higher.
How can this young man quote such a high price? Is he out of his mind?
"No, miss, what you heard is indeed accurate. Seven taels of silver for all the flowers in this basket."
Silence…
The young man seemed to realise his mistake as his expression flickered.
The young mother sighed a relief upon seeing that, otherwise, she was about to lose her composure.
"Upon purchase, along with the flowers, these leftover herbs and plants would be given freely. The basket included.
"Nevermind"
'He is a greedy young man.'
"I apologize, Mr. Li Hao, but we do not have that much money. How about one tael?"
"Deal"
'Huh'
The swift agreement threw her off.
'Indeed, a greedy yet sly man.'
The value of these flowers must be worth way less than one tael of silver.
Sigh…
"I do not have the money with me. Come with us to our carriage."
Hearing that he would have to go with them, the young man seemed hesitant.
Seeing his hesitation, the young mother was about to say something, but suddenly became alert.
The reason?
A few hundred metres behind them, frantic shouts reached their ears, followed by rapid footsteps running and jumping in a disorderly pattern.
She sharply turned her body and looked in the direction they had come from.
"Did something happen on the road? Our Carriage?"
Not good
She became serious.
"Emma, let's head back to the carriage."
"Mother…"
Noticing the trembling in her daughter's voice, the young mother turned around.
There, through her eyes, she saw a small knife placed on Emma's neck.
Behind her, the same young man stood. His hands, holding onto a small knife, yet the shine reflected on it through the raging sun, indicated its sharpness.
"Don't move."
Gone was that lazy, harmless appearance; his face seemed quite threatening at the moment.
The expression on the young mother became rather strange.
"Are you a bandit?"
"Shut up, turn around, and start walking towards your carriage."
Li Hao was tightly holding onto the small knife, yet was careful not to harm the little girl named Emma.
His gaze remained fixed on the young mother.
"Do not try anything; otherwise, Emma's chapter might end right here."
"I hate bad endings. So, do as I say."
His words stirred something within the young mother. Cold sweat appeared on her forehead.
"Do not harm my daughter. I will do as you say."
Right after saying this, she turned around and started walking in the direction of the main road.
"You want money, right? Follow me, but my daughter must not be harmed."
There seems to be a faint threat in her voice, but Li Hao ignored it.
Looking down at the little girl, he ordered. "Start walking."
Emma's body was shaking.
Hearing Li Hao's order, she tried to move but realized she was unable to control her body and fell to her knees.
"I..I am Sorry…"