PFC Chapter 12 Iron Gates, Iron Windows, Iron Chains
Chapter 12 Iron Gates, Iron Windows, Iron Chains
Wenwen watched as everyone stared longingly at the iron gate.
A song came to mind: Iron gate, iron window, iron chains, I lean against the iron window and look outside, how wonderful life is outside, when will I return to my home...
Oh no, she even sang along for a couple of lines, and couldn't help but smile.
Her sharp-eyed little brother quickly covered her mouth with his small hand.
"Shh, sister, don't laugh," her brother warned her, glaring at her.
Looking at her adorable yet fierce-looking younger brother, she couldn't control herself any longer. She quickly hugged him close to her mother's arms, hunching her shoulders and shaking.
Ren could only pat her lightly as a warning.
The official at the stairwell urged impatiently, "Master Zhou, please hurry up a bit, we'll be able to rest soon."
"Oh... Phew... Thank you, officer... I'll hurry."
"Officer, my husband is unwell and cannot walk fast. Please do not rush him..."
"If it weren't for Grand Tutor Zhou, you wouldn't have done this..."
"Yes, yes, thank goodness for my grandfather..."
As Wenwen listened to these formal words, she was about to look up when her mother muttered beside her, "Could it be her aunt's family?"
Wenwen: Oh dear, a huge gathering in prison, it really happened!!!
She hurriedly pulled her younger brother to his feet and moved closer to the cell door, squatted down, pressed their heads against the doorpost, and looked at the stairs.
When the officials led the family of three down the stairs and into view, it was indeed the aunt's family.
My uncle-in-law, Zhou Kangyan, is the fourth son of Grand Tutor Zhou of Kyoto. He is known as Fourth Brother Zhou. He was frail and sickly from childhood, and was seen as a sickly person by outsiders. However, he was very knowledgeable and served as an instructor at the Imperial Academy.
The aunt looked distressed, supporting her husband with both hands. A little girl followed by her clothes, her eyes darting around. The uncle slowly approached the prison door, panting heavily.
Just as she reached the men's cell door, the girl loosened her clothes, took off running to the inner cell door, squatted down, and reached her little brother's hand into the cell. "Brother Yu, you're here too! That's great!"
"Rui Rui, you're here." The younger brother's voice even sounded a little happy.
The two children, oblivious to their surroundings, started chatting away.
The officer opened the door expressionlessly. Without being called, the little girl walked in on her own, and her underling took her hand and led her to a corner.
Wenwen's forehead throbbed as she watched the two children interact the whole time. Should she call them carefree or reckless? This is a prison, not a family outing or a big party. They're being too nice.
She felt truly powerless.
She turned to look at her uncle.
In front of the outer cell door, the aunt supported her uncle, their steps a little heavy, as if all the weight was on her shoulders.
My uncle-in-law walked slowly, his hands and feet trembling, leaning against the prison gate pillar, coughing incessantly, and struggling to breathe.
The third uncle and the eldest aunt's husband, who were in prison, stood with their arms crossed, leaning against the wall, glancing sideways at the coughing youngest aunt's husband.
The aunt rushed inside for help, "Third brother, lend a hand and help him inside."
The third uncle and his sister-in-law were exchanging pleasantries in front of the door.
One person looked puzzled: Do they really need help for these two steps?
One person glared at him and warned: If you're going to do it, do it properly.
……
Just as the officials were about to start cursing, the eldest uncle nudged the third uncle's arm.
The two exchanged a glance, and without saying a word, they completed the task in one go.
Two people on each side grabbed the uncle and dragged him into the room, pressing him down to sit against the wall.
The young woman turned and bowed to the official, then dragged her heavy steps into the women's quarters.
Several officers skillfully locked and chained the items, glanced at the uncle-in-law, shook their heads and sighed, then turned and left.
With a clang, the iron gate slammed shut, and the cell fell silent once more.
After about half a cup of tea's time, my uncle-in-law was completely relaxed.
"Alright, let's go far away."
"Tsk tsk, Zhou Laosi, your show is quite entertaining."
"You two went a bit too far; my ribs are definitely bruised."
"You still have the nerve to talk back? It's just a few steps, and you're panting heavily with every step. Aren't you overdoing it? Aren't you afraid of tiring my sister out?"
"Third Brother, please calm down. I'm just used to pretending! Hehe..."
As soon as he finished speaking, his uncle suddenly stood up and bowed to his grandmother in greeting.
Finally, he added, "Thank you for your care, my wife."
The aunt simply raised her hand and waved at him, displaying an extremely dashing and unrestrained demeanor.
Wenwen was incredibly impressed: What a grand performance!
In my aunt's family, one person is enough to put on a show.
Who would have thought that the two women from the aunt's family would act together so flawlessly?
This acting deserves an Oscar.
At this moment, she was even more anxious.
The three people in my aunt's family seem even more unreliable; they're carefree and reckless.
As this large group of them walked along the road to exile, they were openly telling people that they were mostly children and women, with very few reliable men, making them a group destined to be bullied.
Wenwen glanced at the group of men, who were chatting animatedly, showing no signs of frustration or anxiety.
On the women's side, the scene became even more lively after the younger sister-in-law joined in.
Over there, a few children, oblivious to the world around them, chattered incessantly as if it were a picnic.
Wenwen felt even more pressure, but then again, pressure can be a source of motivation.
She got up, pondered, and lay down next to her grandmother.
"Wen'er, are you tired?"
"Grandma, I want to sleep for a while. Remember to wake me up when dinner is served."
"Okay, go to sleep peacefully."
Her grandmother patted her warmly, and soon her breathing gradually became steady.
Wenwen appeared to be asleep, but she had actually entered the space.
She headed straight for the small courtyard at the foot of the mountain, hoping to try her luck.
I've started recognizing characters, and I've become somewhat familiar with chicken-related information. I'm testing the waters to see if I can get admitted to the hospital, and also to assess my level of proficiency.
Wenwen mustered her courage and tried to push the door open.
With a creak, the door opened a crack.
She tried harder, but it was still just a slit. She could only see through it with one eye.
Peering through the crack in the door, the room was divided into two sections, an inner and an outer one. The outer room was small, with a futon on the floor and a few books on a small table against the wall. Apart from that, the outer room was empty and easily identifiable.
Wenwen sighed inwardly: "Sigh, it's only a small step to become a familiar face. It seems the revolution is not yet complete, and I still have a long way to go."
The task is arduous and the road ahead is long! We haven't found anything here, let's go check out the flower field.
Wenwen changed course and headed towards the flower field.
From a distance, the purple petals appear to have grown larger, and a tiny fruit, about the size of a peanut, with a purple outer skin, is emerging from the center of the flower.
Upon closer inspection, the peanut-like fruit resembled jelly, its translucent purple color revealing a hint of yellow beneath the sunlight, which was quite surprising.
She quickened her pace and approached the recently planted, withered branch. She hadn't expected anything to change, but upon closer inspection, the branch seemed to be changing; it was showing a few hints of green, as if it were about to sprout.
The germination speed is really fast! I wonder what kind of flowers it will bloom and what kind of fruit it will bear. I'm so looking forward to it!
Wenwen hummed a song, feeling happy, and casually watered the plant a little more.
After watering the flowers, I looked at the flower field and let my imagination run wild.
With head held high and full of pride, he strode up the mountain.
Just as he took a step, a red figure suddenly appeared beside him.
"Master, I'd like to go for a walk too."
"Xianbao, have you finished eating the spirit stones?"
"Mmm, I'm done eating."
"There are good things on the mountain, why don't you go and check it out yourself first?"
"Hehe, yes, lots and lots..."
"Then...then...could you..."
With a fierce yet endearing voice, she said, "It's best to figure it out yourself. If you really want to know, then..."
“I know you owe me tasks,” Wenwen interrupted Xianbao.
She curled her lip in disapproval, ignored Xianbao's chatter, and turned to walk up the mountain.
Wenwen was really patrolling the mountain this time.