Chapter 14: Unspeakable Hardships

“Mother, we don’t have those travel permits. We don’t need to stay at an inn; we can just find a spot by a wall,” Tianshu said quickly after hearing the innkeeper’s words, noticing the troubled expression on his mother’s face.

The other children, hearing their eldest speak, also understood the situation. “Mother, you stay at the inn yourself. Tomorrow morning, we’ll wait for you outside.”

Yes, no matter which inn she entered, they would keep watch by the front and back doors, making sure she wouldn’t sneak away.

The children were sensible, but their words did little to lift Hong Xiaoduo’s spirits. She herself didn’t have those travel permits, so how could she stay at an inn?

Even if she had the permits, she wouldn’t be able to sleep knowing seven children were out in the streets.

“Young lady, could it be… you don’t have them either?” the innkeeper asked cautiously, studying Hong Xiaoduo’s expression.

Hong Xiaoduo remained silent, which was as good as confirming his suspicion.

“Master, in this poor, remote little town, the rules aren’t that strict, right? Besides, she’s just a young lady, and with seven children, there’s no way they’re criminals or fugitives,” the woman nearby, a little anxious, suggested softly, “Why don’t I first go ask Lan Pozi? One of the three inns in town is run by her son.”

The woman’s eagerness wasn’t just because she had just completed a transaction with them; she genuinely saw no ill in this large group of eight. Surely they shouldn’t be forced to sleep on the streets.

“The lodging rules are as you say, it’s not strictly enforced here. Lan Pozi’s son has connections at the magistrate’s office. If he agrees to let them stay, the authorities won’t really inspect the inn’s ledger. Even if they did, it would just be a formality. But the key is, young lady, without those travel permits, it will be inconvenient wherever you go. And those seven kids—if they don’t change into clean clothes, the permits won’t matter at all,” the innkeeper said, worry creasing his brow as he looked at Hong Xiaoduo.

At her age, she should know about travel permits when traveling, right? And since she doesn’t have them, where did she come from? If it were nearby, why not just go home? If from afar, how did she get here without permits? Could it be the rumors were true—that wanderers in the martial world didn’t care about such permits because they had skills? That no city walls could stop them if they wanted to enter?

The innkeeper glanced again at the sword hanging at Hong Xiaoduo’s waist, imagining her leaping over the city walls—a thrilling image indeed.

“I… no one has asked me for a travel permit on my way here,” Hong Xiaoduo lied out of necessity.

What else could she say? No one would believe her original identity story; they might think she had gone mad and was babbling nonsense.

As a martial heroine, she couldn’t give a clear answer either. Where was she from? Who was she? If only she knew herself.

“Ah? But may I ask, young lady, from where do you come, and where do you intend to go?” the innkeeper asked casually.

Could it be that her home was nearby, so she passed through no significant towns or prefectures, and thus no need for travel permits?

“Well…” Hong Xiaoduo hesitated, having no fake story ready.

Besides, she didn’t even know what dynasty this was. Even if she did, the unfamiliarity made inventing fake place names impossible.

“Oh my, I shouldn’t be so nosy. If it’s inconvenient to say, just forget I asked. Why don’t you all wait here for now? Let my wife go ask Lan Pozi, who’s from the same hometown and is friendly with you. One of the three inns is run by her son, as you heard. He has connections at the magistrate’s office—he can first inform them you don’t have permits and see what he says.

If he agrees, you can rest easy and stay there. If not, you’ll have to spend the night at the small Fu’an Hall outside town. But that’s quite far, and with so many small children, they probably won’t make it before dark,” the innkeeper said tactfully, offering advice rather than pressing further.

Hearing this, Hong Xiaoduo wanted to thank the woman but then thought of the villain she had struck down—still unsure if he was dead or alive. She didn’t want to drag the innkeeper and his wife into trouble.

“Thank you both. I’ll take them to eat first. After they’re full, we can walk to that hall. If we arrive late, so be it. Walking at night isn’t much of a problem this season,” she said, leading the children outside.

The innkeeper couple sighed, seeing them off at the shop’s door. Though they didn’t know the full story, they simply wanted to help.

“Hey, that young lady just now—did she come to force you to donate clothes?” a nearly fifty-year-old woman hurried over, gossiping while holding a half-stitched shoe sole.

“Aunt Tong, what nonsense are you making up again? She bought the clothes and paid silver for them,” the innkeeper replied casually, ignoring the notorious town gossip who was often a headache. His wife frowned but said nothing.

Aunt Tong didn’t mind the cold shoulder and continued, “What do you think their relationship is? Nowadays, rich folks and kind-hearted people doing charity wouldn’t pay silver for a bunch of little beggars' new clothes.

I bet she’s a kidnapper. Those kids look shabby but are all fair and handsome. If she cleans them up and dresses them nicely, she can sell them for a good price.”

“Aunt Tong, please don’t always think the worst of people. And what are you doing gossiping here? I just saw your third son’s wife go out. Don’t tell me she’s sneaking off to buy makeup with the shop’s silver again?” the innkeeper snapped, unable to tolerate her any longer.

“What? The third’s wife went out while I wasn’t around? Oh, that spendthrift woman! I have to go find her,” Aunt Tong said, abandoning gossip to rush back anxiously.

The woman beside the innkeeper shot him a glance. “You’re such a tease. She’s no spring chicken. Don’t stir her up, or the whole neighborhood won’t have peace.”

“Hmph, no one in their family is any good. They’re always shortchanging customers and spreading baseless rumors, causing trouble for others. It’s amazing such a family exists,” the innkeeper muttered, glancing disdainfully at a shop diagonally across the street.

The woman chuckled, suddenly inspired. “Master, the shop isn’t busy now. Why not let me go see Lan Pozi?”

The innkeeper smiled. “Go ahead. That young lady doesn’t look like a bad person, and she’s carrying the youngest child herself. Since she didn’t agree just now, she must be worried about causing trouble for us.”

Nodding, the woman adjusted her dress and left.

At that moment, the clerk standing outside shuffled forward. “Master, I’ll go inside and arrange the clothes racks.”

“No need. Here’s your pay for yesterday and today—forty copper coins. Count it, and take it with you,” the innkeeper said as he stepped behind the counter, counting out the coins and pushing them toward the clerk.

The clerk looked puzzled. “Master, you’re firing me just because I chased away some beggars? I did it for the shop’s sake. Why would I want to make trouble?”

The innkeeper remained calm. “Business is tough these days, as you know. I didn’t really need to hire anyone, but I agreed out of respect for your stepfather.

Think about how you’ve been working these past two days. Yes, you’re diligent, but you judge customers by their clothes and status. You serve those in silk and brocade with humbleness but ignore those in simple cloth. You get impatient when asked questions, and mock those who leave without buying.

I can’t trust a clerk like you, no matter how smart. It’s best you find work elsewhere.”

Still defiant, the clerk Ar Kuan thought he’d done nothing wrong. Angry, he grabbed the coins and stuffed them into his pocket.

“Hmph, who’d want to work for you anyway,” he muttered as he stormed off.

The innkeeper sighed and shook his head. Even with good connections, he couldn’t tolerate such character. He had no obligation or energy to reform others’ children.

Meanwhile, Ar Kuan, dismissed after two days’ pay, was fuming as he headed home to confront his stepfather. Not far ahead, he spotted the big group of one woman and seven children.

It’s their fault I lost my job.

Twenty copper coins a day wasn’t much, but at least it covered two meals. Saving that pay was how he planned to marry.

Hmph, because of you lot, I can’t work, and you’re off leisurely looking for somewhere to eat…