An Arrangement

"Let's find a large cart inn to rest for the night, and then we won't go back to the military camp first. We'll go to Small Pao Town, where you can settle your sister-in-law, and then you can return to the camp," Mo Dao said in a deep voice, riding his horse alongside the carriage.

After they left the Liu residence, they were warmly invited by County Commandant Li and ended up having lunch at his home. Only then did County Commandant Li let them leave.

"I'll listen to Fourth Brother," Chen Mo said, having no objections, as this matter had been discussed before.

As Zhao Yu was a woman, she obviously couldn't enter the military camp and could only be settled in a town near the camp.

After giving his instructions, Mo Dao rode his horse to the front to lead the way, also leaving some private space for Chen Mo and the other person.

"There's some pastry in the bag. You can eat more if you're still hungry. There's also a set of my clean clothes. If you're cold, you can wrap yourself in them," Chen Mo said softly to the carriage.

Hearing a response from inside the carriage, he didn't pay any more attention and carefully rode his horse forward.

The large cart inn they found was not the same one as before, but as long as it was a large cart inn on the official road, there wasn't much difference between them.

After instructing the inn's attendant to feed the horses and having a simple dinner, they all went inside to rest.

"What are your plans now?" Chen Mo asked Zhao Yu, who was sitting beside him, after taking a sip of tea.

Since they were husband and wife, they naturally had to share a room; there was no need to waste money on another one.

Zhao Yu remained silent. She had only thought about how to escape her slave status before and had never considered her future.

Although she and Chen Mo appeared to be husband and wife, they were not. He had fulfilled their agreement by redeeming her, and she couldn't cling to him any longer.

She would have to find a way to get by on her own from now on.

"I have some relatives in Ningye Prefecture. I want to go and seek refuge with them," she said after a long period of thought.

"Ningye Prefecture is at least a thousand or two thousand li away from here. Besides, it's not certain if you can find anyone when you get there."

Chen Mo shook his head slightly. He didn't know where Ningye Prefecture was, but he knew that there was no Ningye Prefecture in the several prefectures adjacent to Xingyuan Prefecture.

This meant that Ningye Prefecture was very far from this place. Given Zhao Yu's current condition, it was questionable whether she could even survive the journey. Even if she reached her destination, she might not be able to find anyone.

"It wasn't solely my own effort to redeem you; I sought the help of my foster father, General Sun, the garrison commander of Xingyuan Prefecture.

I told him you were my first wife, and that's why he helped. Although you are now free, our relationship cannot be revealed to him directly at this moment.

Given your current condition, you cannot go to Ningye Prefecture. It would be better to settle down first. After you've recovered your health, if you wish to stay, I can help you establish a home and business. If you decide to leave, I can help you search for your relatives and friends from afar."

Chen Mo's ability to redeem Zhao Yu was thanks to his foster father's help. He couldn't possibly send her away immediately after she was redeemed, claiming she wasn't his first wife.

Furthermore, in Zhao Yu's current state, sending her to Ningye Prefecture alone would be no different from sending her to her death.

Chen Mo had gone to great lengths to redeem her not for her to die, but for her to live a better life.

"I'll do whatever you say," Zhao Yu replied obediently, as she had no other choice at the moment.

"I'll take you to Small Pao Town near the military camp to settle down first. We can think about other matters after you're settled."

This was something they had agreed upon before, and Chen Mo was reiterating it now.

Zhao Yu nodded, having no objections.

The night passed without incident. The next day, they set off early and arrived at Small Pao Town around noon.

Small Pao Town had a population of only a few thousand, but due to its proximity to the official road, its prosperity and commercial atmosphere were comparable to even smaller county towns.

Moreover, with the personal guard camp stationed nearby, some industries in the town had flourished.

However, even so, there were few houses available for rent in the town, and to settle down, one had to buy a house first.

Chen Mo first took Zhao Yu to change her registration, converting her slave status to civilian status and registering her under his household as his wife.

This was not an easy task, but since he was General Sun's adopted son, it became quite simple.

Mo Dao helped find an intermediary and purchased a courtyard house with a thatched roof on the east side of the town, along with a small plot of land in front of it.

The entire courtyard was not expensive, costing only three taels of silver.

After all, this was just a small town, and the house was merely a reasonably sturdy thatched cottage, not a wooden or stone house with blue bricks and gray tiles.

"You take your sister-in-law and settle down here. I'll leave the carriage for you. Don't forget to return to the camp after you're done," Mo Dao instructed Chen Mo before riding away.

"You tidy up first. I'll go buy some things for you."

The house had basic furniture, and even a stove had been built. All that was needed were daily necessities like rice, flour, pots, and bowls to move in.

Chen Mo then drove the carriage to the market in town. After a brief tour, he bought everything he needed.

Fifteen catties of white flour and fifteen catties of corn flour, pots, bowls, ladles, and other miscellaneous items, along with a set of bedding and blankets. He also bought five catties of pork and some radishes and cabbage.

Upon returning to the thatched courtyard, he found Zhao Yu busy tidying up.

The house, though small, was complete, with a main hall, bedroom, kitchen, and thatched rooms.

Not far from the thatched house was a well that the nearby residents used for water, making it easy to fetch water.

Chen Mo unloaded the heavy items from the carriage and filled the water vat in the kitchen.

Zhao Yu, meanwhile, was organizing the miscellaneous items and taking the meat and vegetables into the kitchen to start cooking.

It wasn't until the afternoon that the two of them had their first meal.

"Take this money. If you need to buy anything for the house, go ahead and do so. I'll come to see you again in a few days when I have my day off," Chen Mo said after the meal, taking out over five qian of loose silver and copper coins.

"It's too much, I can't use it all," Zhao Yu refused, shaking its head.

Chen Mo had already helped it so much; taking more money made it feel a bit embarrassed.

"Take it. It's better to be prepared," Chen Mo placed the money on the table and immediately got up to leave.

He needed to hurry back, or it would be curfew by the time he returned to the camp.

"Take it easy on your way back," Zhao Yu instructed.

Riding the carriage back to the military camp, the sun was already setting.

After returning the carriage to the stables, Chen Mo, with the remaining twenty-odd taels of silver, headed straight for the study.

"Father," Chen Mo bowed as he entered the study.

Sun Shouren looked at him with slight surprise. "They say absence makes the heart grow fonder, but why are you back so early, kid!"

"Here's the remaining money," Chen Mo didn't offer further explanation and took out the remaining silver from his embrace.

Sun Shouren didn't examine it closely. He knew from the start that the money wouldn't be spent.

If he wanted to redeem someone, a local rich man in a county, even if he had the guts of a bear, wouldn't dare to demand a ransom from him.

However, he hadn't expected this local rich man to be so cooperative. He had rushed over earlier to give him gold, silver, and land deeds, hoping to use this opportunity to curry favor with him.

Sun Shouren naturally wouldn't refuse. He spent a lot of money on training soldiers, and with the continued expansion of the personal guard camp, he needed more funds.

Relying solely on the court's allocation would never be enough; he had to find ways himself.

"There's no reason for me to take back the money I gave you. You can keep this money and spend it," Sun Shouren waved his hand.

Seeing Chen Mo still unmoved, he frowned and urged, "Hurry up and take it. Do you want me to hand it to you personally?"

"Thank you, Father," Chen Mo couldn't refuse any longer and accepted the silver.

He bowed again before leaving the study.

Thanks to Yuanze for the 500-point reward!

Thanks to Meng Yi Si Hua Wei Luo for the 500-point reward!