Can a System Have Bad Intentions? - Chapter 11

All the way to Zhao Village, Qin Mo felt that the short person beside him kept glancing at him.

“What are you staring at?” Qin Mo asked in a cold voice after Lu Tang had turned her head for the umpteenth time.

Lu Tang quickly shrank her neck. “Nothing, just admiring your demeanor.”

Qin Mo snorted. “Admiring my demeanor? Illiterate!”

Lu Tang thought to herself: Rest in peace!

[If you have the guts, say it to his face. What’s the point of cursing in your mind!]

Lu Tang responded, “Shut up! Do you think you can casually insult a bandit leader?”

I am a girl!

Fourteen years old!

Thank you very much!

[You think I can’t hear your thoughts? Illiterate!]

Lu Tang: !

By the time Lu Tang and Qin Mo reached the village entrance, the villagers were already busy with breakfast, and those who had gone to work early in the fields had returned.

Following Qin Mo’s previous instructions, Lu Tang spoke to an old man in the local dialect, “Sir, can we have a drink of water at your house? We came back from the county town and tried to take a shortcut but got lost in the forest overnight. We’re starving.”

Lu Tang spoke pitifully.

The old man smiled warmly and nodded. “Of course, we’re just making breakfast. Come join us for a bite.”

He glanced quickly at Qin Mo before saying to Lu Tang, “Young man, your friend isn’t from Qingshui County, is he?”

Lu Tang thought, I have no idea where he’s from.

Unsure how to respond, Lu Tang turned to look at Qin Mo.

Qin Mo acted as if he didn’t understand, “What is the old man saying? That I look handsome?”

Lu Tang: !

How could a bandit leader be so shameless!

Qin Mo spoke the official language, which the old man understood. He chuckled and said nothing more, leading them to his house.

A dog in the yard barked and ran towards them.

“Da Huang!” A young girl in the yard, who was braiding her hair, quickly shouted.

At her command, Da Huang whimpered and turned back.

“Er Ya, give these guests some hot water. Is breakfast ready?” The old man leaned his hoe against the wall.

The young girl named Er Ya, smiling, tied her hair with a ribbon. “It’s ready. We were just waiting for you to come back.”

She walked towards Qin Mo. “Please, sit here. I’ll get you some water.”

Farmers weren’t particular about things. The yard had a square table with oil stains, surrounded by small stools. Lu Tang and Qin Mo sat down.

Qin Mo, with his long legs, found the low stool uncomfortable and shifted his position, stretching his legs behind Lu Tang.

As Qin Mo adjusted his robes, Lu Tang noticed a small section of his trousers.

Good heavens!

Embroidered with gold thread!

I can understand a handsome bandit leader, but why dress so luxuriously?

Are these the new type of bandits?

Er Ya poured water into cups without checking for dust and handed them over.

Her hands were rough and large, clearly used to farm work.

Lu Tang quickly said, “No need. We have companions waiting outside the village. They’re too exhausted to move. Could you fill our water bags instead so we can take the water to them?”

Lu Tang handed Qin Mo’s water bag to Er Ya.

Er Ya cheerfully took it, “No need to be polite. I’ll fill your water bags and you can drink here as much as you like. We might not have much, but we can provide water.”

She efficiently opened the water bag and filled it from a nearby jar. “How many companions do you have? Is it enough?”

Lu Tang gratefully took the water bag and said, “Seven or eight more. This is enough. We’re heading to Da Wang Village. It’s not far. Could we buy some food for the road?”

Er Ya laughed, “This gentleman doesn’t look like he lacks for food.”

She looked at Qin Mo, glancing at his clothes. “Where is this gentleman from? Why come to our remote place? Maybe he’s a lost young master from a wealthy family!”

Lu Tang suddenly recalled the gold trim on Qin Mo’s trousers.

Was it intentional?

“He’s from the capital, here to pay respects to his ancestors.”

Er Ya’s eyes brightened briefly. “Going to Da Wang Village? I heard a capable person from Da Wang Village became a high-ranking official in the capital, commanding ten thousand soldiers. Could this gentleman be from his family?”

Looking at Lu Tang, Er Ya continued, “You’re from Qingshui County, right? Your family must have connections with high-ranking officials in the capital. Are you from the Lu family?”

Lu Tang: !

Er Ya didn’t talk like an ordinary farm girl.

“Ha! He hired me as a guide because he didn’t know the way! Why must it be the Lu family? Can’t I be from the Gu family?” Lu Tang, hiding her surprise, joked to change the subject. “Miss, you said breakfast is ready. Could you pack some for us? I’ll pay you.”

Er Ya smiled and stood up. “Wait a moment, I’ll pack some for you.”

She walked towards the kitchen, and Lu Tang immediately looked at Qin Mo.

She had mentioned the Gu family on purpose, but Er Ya showed no reaction. Lu Tang was about to speak quietly when Qin Mo slightly shook his head, and Lu Tang fell silent.

She looked around the small farmyard.

It was clean, but there were many scattered stones near the walls.

Lu Tang was wondering about the purpose of these stones when the old man and Er Ya returned from the kitchen.

The old man smiled warmly, “You have more people outside? Call them in to eat. After eating and resting, you can continue your journey. It’s not safe to eat in the wild.”

Lu Tang smiled, “No need, sir. We have a cart and other things, so it’s inconvenient. Just sell us some steamed buns.”

Er Ya handed them a small bamboo basket. “We don’t have much, but my mother made vegetable buns this morning. Take them, no need to pay.”

“We can’t do that!”

Lu Tang took the basket, and Qin Mo placed a silver coin on the table.

The coin was heavy, but what caught everyone’s attention wasn’t the coin itself but the ring on Qin Mo’s finger.

Though Lu Tang knew Qin Mo was flaunting his wealth on purpose, she couldn’t help rolling her eyes.

Carrying the basket, they left Zhao Village.

Once outside the village, Lu Tang looked back, then said to Qin Mo, “Are there really bandits here?”

Qin Mo, expressionless, replied, “Can’t you tell?”

Lu Tang decided not to argue with the bandit leader. “I’m not sure about bandits, but this family seems unusual. That old man is definitely not that girl’s father!”

Qin Mo didn’t expect this insight from the little playboy. “What makes you say that?”

Lu Tang explained, “My family has a farm, and I’ve visited farmers there. Generally, families with daughters this old don’t let them meet strangers, especially if the daughters are pretty.”

Farm families, poor and powerless, couldn’t protect themselves if someone powerful took a liking to their daughters’ beauty.

So, families with daughters usually avoided letting them meet outsiders, especially not proactively.

Unless they had other intentions.