When she had the chance to really allow herself some freedom right now. She was thinking of a girl, a friend of his. Someone whom she could talk to in such a situation at the very least. Since they were awfully limited in what they could do so at the very least.
And why she was seeking her, she was someone who knew what she had went through as well. There was this common thing which allowed them to truly think about it right now. She entered inside to find her in the inn. She often came by here, either in the empty garden while she looked from the top. Seeing the night sky just before she wanted to sleep.
Where she came out for supper, as she always ate light since she needed to move around far too often. While in the afternoon and allowing her to really talk to her friends or any travelers, wanting to get away from the noise of the inside. A real and main reason why he was here as well.
She was preparing for the evening, but still wanted to get her affairs in order. Which were now a necessity at the very least. To plan for her leaving, or perhaps to think about it. She certainly did not want to remain here and be married. Even if the boy by all means was a nice person which she could converse with. Not insufferable, not a douche-bag. A fairly decent person.
That told her that she should treasure it. But why treasure something that she never wanted in the first place nor did she ever dream of it. No matter what many people tried to tell her. Why did she have to treasure something that she never actually wanted or had to do at that point. No more or less than what they tried.
She found her sitting inside, in the same place that she would find Qingshuang. Away from all else and allowing them to truly practice while they were here, with no distraction. It was between the inn that was close to their mother’s, often using them as the restaurant and the other where they would go. It meant that the inn was often fully booked up, with no other rooms used.
Even as she suspected that they were in the midst of talking about it right now at the very least. Expanding into further territories, since she had recently bought ones closed to her. Which had been a small clothes shop. And perhaps continuing it, along with making a larger building.
But this was one of the many done over the years, creating a huge garden and a large bench allowing them to do as they wished while they were now here. She sat down on them, as she looked up. “Anything to ask?”
“About how you escaped your wedding?” She asked. “Or left after.”
“I can tell you quite a little about how I did leave. And a lot of advice that I discovered along the way. Since I mostly was chased around by some of the richest families and any help they could find. Although I did get help eventually, but if there is anything a really good map and a ton of money would be important. As much as you can find. And try to bring anything valuable along with you.”
She made a mental note to commit to it. Since paper was too expensive. Since she was gaining it from someone with a very similar background to hers as it was right now, or as it could be possible to. “So, how did you leave?”
“In the middle of the night, without anyone but myself. I had bought over a cheap dress worn and used by servants, to hide me. Then I slowly walked out, while still making them think that I was asleep. There is a place in my house then, where many avoided as they thought that it was haunted. It rarely was, just that my brother rather enjoyed the company of birds there and it often went to such a degree that it scared them.”
“I made my way through the garden without anyone noticing, and then I left. The rest of it was not easy. But I had waited for the city gates to open upon the first bell, and then left Kaifeng. They were looking for me just then, and I barely managed to leave the city. A little later and it would have been impossible. Once I was out of the city, I made my way to the South. Or rather further South. Traveling through small towns and villages.”
“It makes sense, since they tend to be small. And another traveler is just another traveler to them.” Without really knowing much while being obvious since they simply did not fit in by any means while they were now here at the very least. When they were now here at the very least.
She served many of them, and it was obvious. The looks, the whispering, the gossiping about them. But also at the same time, there were plenty of things which they could have done so at least while they were here. She knew full well just how real this was at the end of the day.
“And it was easier, since they were fractured. And once I left, it took them time to ask where I was going. Perhaps I left a clue on where I did intend to leave, although I rarely went beyond just a town. Maybe on the next direction, and I made the effort to look for young farmers or merchants. Since they did not find me as strange as the next and entertained it, also because I was careful. Really really careful in how I chose my questions and the tone. The very tone can change things.”
She did not doubt that, sometimes it was how anyone phrased questions which were the most important of them all. At least while they were here. Not how they avoided it, but how they planned their move. That was the fine line between success and failure.
Even as she could be certain her mother would help her, but little else other than that. She didn’t have to look out for any which may have wished to do her harm. A stark difference between her and perhaps many of them at this point at the very least.
There was not anything which they could have done so right now at the very least. She knew that she had the complicit support, one that was not common for them to even think about them right now. This was a huge major difference, she did not need to go behind their back. Although she was planning it secretly, having to hide it from her family right now at this point.
No more than they needed at this point while they could have. She had the ingots from her father. And she knew it was a great deal, that was perhaps what she could earn in just a few years. Of doing it everyday, she knew as she spent and as she calculated and exchanged cash. She barely even had a fraction of that as her savings, but it was enough for her to last for a short while. But then, she would need to worry.
This meant that she did not. “Can you sew?”
“Not really, never was good at it. Never really learned much other than serving.”
“In a way that’s a positive, you can choose to serve in an inn. They always need help. And you are rather good at your job, you know how to pay attention and it changes. You adapt fast, but can you cook?”
“I can, a little bit. Although I mostly spent my energy on making cakes, desserts, those are things that I’m good at. Not so much for this.”
“That’s a bonus. I never went into one, so I never actually knew what went behind the doors. But you do, and you have some experience there. So you can also consider suggesting that you help out a little while you stay in an inn there. They appreciate it, although you have to be careful.”
She nodded, but she understood that small towns had much more leeway in terms of what they could accept. And provided she made a good enough account. That meant suggesting that she was an orphan, without parent or child. That way, she could convince them while she went around. “Cash is always more than enough, and aim for an older woman. She is always kinder and will take kindly on help, and will be likely to ignore. Staying with some men were some of the worst experiences of my life.”
“Did I just run into something strange?” Qingshuang asked. While they were still asking
“Can’t believe I’m having advice for this,” she commented.
“I didn’t think I’ll be sharing such knowledge with anyone.” She had mostly kept it. Since it was unlikely, and there were still an hour or two before she left to work in the evening.
“I don’t think anyone thinks that they’ll be sharing information about how to run away from their home.” He was right about that, and she hoped that she was unlikely to do so as well. “But either way, so have you made up your mind.”
“I’ll be heading for the cities. Wherever I go. Even as I have no idea, and the wedding is a month or two away. As they are trying to figure out how fast they can run it while they had managed to find a good date. And that’s why marriages often took a lengthy break before they could have them. This was the reality, since a lot of things must be prepared. Just as she understood that this was an effort to restore fortunes, and as such they did their level best to rush it.
As much as it was allowed to. But ample time. “Of course, before marriages you are expected to start preparing for it. And that means preparing your trousseau, as well as readying for life over there. You are young and so is your husband. So children won’t really be spoken of for the first year or so, although embraced if it happens.”
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