Saina held a freshly washed coarse linen shirt. She walked up to Su Li, rose onto her tiptoes, and reached up to pull it over his head.
"Be careful on the road." Saina yawned. "Don't get into conflicts with anyone. It's a mess outside."
Su Li got dressed, then casually...
Saina's face flushed crimson. She took two steps back and smacked Su Li's arm with her hand.
"It's early morning. Dad will be coming out any second."
Su Li paid no heed at all. He leaned in and planted a kiss directly on Saina's cheek.
"Wait for me at home. I'll bring you something tasty tonight. You can eat as much meat as you want."
Su Li turned and walked out of the courtyard. Old Pete's carriage was parked beneath the old oak tree at the village entrance. Two skinny horses pulled a flatbed piled high with farm tools and iron goods, and Su Li nimbly hopped onto the carriage shaft.
The carriage jolted along the dirt road. Old Pete was a chatterbox, puffing on cheap tobacco as he drove.
"Kid Su, the front lines are tight again. I heard the Baris Empire came up with some kind of new magic cannon. One shot, and half a city wall comes crashing down." Old Pete blew out a smoke ring.
"They're rounding up able-bodied young men all over the city to plug the gaps now. With a build like yours, you'd better steer clear of patrols once you're inside. If they catch you and haul you off to a fortress as labor, you're finished. Us commoners are cheap as grass, while those noble lords hide in their castles sipping red wine. The ones dying are all mud-legged folk like us."
Su Li gave absent-minded replies, filled with disdain inside. Rounding up