Not two days later, Xu Zhongfang arrived, bringing news of what had happened over the past couple of days.

When Liu Yuan left, he did something despicable along the way: he ran to the county prison, released all the prisoners inside, and told them to find their own way out.

At that time, aside from Xiao Qi, who had been dispatched by the County Magistrate in the middle of the night to make arrests, no one else knew that Liu Yuan had been labeled an 'accomplice of Assistant Governor Wu.' In their eyes, Liu Yuan was still the powerful County Commandant. So when Liu Yuan went to release the prisoners, the jailers didn't even think to stop him. They just watched blankly as Liu Yuan and An Zheng brazenly entered and let everyone go.

Among them was Assistant Governor Wu, who was already imprisoned and awaiting a chosen day for his escort to Xianyang.

Most of the prisoners had received favors from Liu Yuan back when he was a Prison Warden, so after being released, they immediately expressed their willingness to follow him.

As for the pursuers, Xiao Qi had first rushed to the Liu residence to arrest them, but Liu Yuan had already fled. Liu Zhen and the others had followed Xu Zhongfang up the mountain. He had just come up empty-handed when he heard that Liu Yuan had released all the prisoners from the county prison, so he hurried there. But by then it was too late. Liu Yuan had already taken most of the prisoners with him. The few who decided to flee on their own ended up distracting the pursuers. As a result, when Xiao Qi led his men in pursuit, he failed to catch the main target and could only recapture one or two small fry who slipped through the net.

It's needless to say how frustrated the unsuccessful Xiao Qi felt. Although he had managed to oust Assistant Governor Wu and Liu Yuan from their positions and had been promoted from Outpost Head to County Commandant, instantly becoming the third-in-command in the county, he was filled with rage. Not only had he failed to capture his targets, but he had also received a harsh scolding from the County Magistrate.

Xiao Qi had originally wanted to incite the County Magistrate to go after Liu Xin and Liu Chi, but unexpectedly, the County Magistrate thought that capturing Liu Yuan was enough. Liu Chi and Liu Xin were officials themselves, and the Liu family was a major clan in Xiang Town, with marriage ties to many other families. They were all interconnected, so there was no need to implicate too many people.

This newly appointed County Magistrate of Changshe County had a simple way of thinking. The situation outside was volatile, with the flames of war rising everywhere. If this matter were to be exposed, he might not gain anything and could even be punished. It was better to have one less problem than one more. Therefore, even Xu Zhongfang, who was on good terms with Liu Yuan, was let off lightly.

Since his direct superior had made such a decision, Xiao Qi had no choice but to give up.

The only satisfying outcome was that the prison break of Assistant Governor Wu and Liu Yuan confirmed their guilt. The County Magistrate submitted a memorial to the imperial court, designating the two as imperially wanted criminals to be hunted nationwide. If nothing unexpected happened, even if they managed to escape the authorities, these two would never be able to return to Changshe County for the rest of their lives, let alone hold office again.

Xu Zhongfang was an excellent storyteller. His description of Xiao Qi's exasperation was so vivid that it made Liu Nan and Liu Zhen laugh. Hearing that their father had successfully escaped and had not been caught yet, everyone let out a sigh of relief.

Madam Zhang, however, astutely picked up on a detail. "Third Uncle, you said the County Magistrate didn't pursue charges against Liu Chi? He and my husband are blood brothers. Now that my husband has fled and our whole family must escape with him, why is Liu Chi still able to remain in his position as a County Clerk?"

Her grudge against the Liu father and son ran so deep that she refused to even use honorifics, calling them directly by their names.

Xu Zhongfang scratched his head. "I don't know either. You know I don't have much contact with Eldest Brother's father and brother's family. I only heard about this from others."

Madam Zhang sneered. She felt it was obvious that Liu Chi had gone to the County Magistrate and offered some sort of deal, perhaps even expressing his willingness to identify Liu Yuan as an accomplice of Assistant Governor Wu, thus avoiding being held accountable.

Hearing Madam Zhang's sneer and thinking it over, Liu Nan immediately understood and said angrily, "Could it be that Uncle went and informed on Father?!"

Madam Zhang said coldly, "Your grandfather and uncle have never treated your father as a son or a brother. It's not surprising that something like this would happen now!"

Liu Nan's face flushed with anger. He had never been close to Liu Xin and Liu Chi since he was a child, but he never imagined that his own blood relatives would do such a thing. He couldn't bring himself to utter any harsh curses and could only clench his fists tightly.

Although Liu Zhen disliked Liu Xin and Liu Chi's family just as much, she had to remind them, "The laws of Qin are harsh. If one family is guilty, the nine neighboring families must report them. If they fail to do so, all ten families are punished together. However, officials have the right to be exempted. If the County Magistrate isn't even investigating our neighbors, he's even less likely to pursue Grandfather and our uncles. There's no clear proof in this matter. Mother and Elder Brother, there's no need to be so angry yet. Even if they did do it, there's nothing we can do right now. It won't be too late to address it when the truth comes to light."

She then said to Xu Zhongfang, "Uncle Xu, you have taken such a great risk for our family, and we are endlessly grateful. Even if we leave Xiang Town now, we have nowhere to go for the time being. If we were discovered, we would only implicate you. It would be better to stay here in the mountains. In the dead of winter, this place is deserted and should be very safe."

What she didn't say out loud was that in less than two years, the Qin Dynasty would be completely overthrown. By then, who would care about some fugitive? Liu Yuan would naturally be able to return home openly.

Xu Zhongfang thought for a moment and sighed. "I'm not afraid of being implicated, but you have a point. The mountains are indeed safer than outside. However, life will be hard for a while, so I'll have to ask you to endure it."

Madam Zhang asked, "A couple of days ago, I troubled you, Uncle, to inquire with my maiden family. I wonder if you went?"

Xu Zhongfang was not good at lying. His expression froze upon hearing this, and Madam Zhang immediately noticed.

"Were they unwilling to take us in?"

Xu Zhongfang frowned. "Sister-in-law, going to the Zhang family now might not be any safer than staying here."

Madam Zhang gave a bitter smile. "You don't need to say it, Uncle, I understand. It must be that my parents are timid and afraid of trouble, unwilling to invite disaster. Then again, when even my husband's own elder brother can step forward to inform on him, what my parents have done is understandable."

She had suffered one blow after another these past two days, each heavier than the last. Now, she was gradually growing stronger, losing her previous lost and bewildered demeanor.

A person's ability to withstand pressure is truly limitless. When life repeatedly pushes the bottom line, one can always lower it again to adapt to the environment.

Liu Zhen said, "Mother, Elder Brother, Father is now safe and sound, and our family has been spared. This is already the best possible outcome. Uncle Xu is willing to risk the crime of harboring a fugitive's family for us, so we must take good care of ourselves to avoid implicating him."

"You are absolutely right!" Madam Zhang wiped away her tears and bowed deeply to Xu Zhongfang. "Uncle, you have shown our family a great kindness. Please accept my bow!"

Xu Zhongfang was flustered and quickly bowed in return. "Sister-in-law, please don't embarrass me. Eldest Brother and I are like blood brothers. This is what I ought to do, what is there to thank me for!"

"His own flesh and blood treat him like a stranger, yet your actions, Uncle, are of a righteousness that touches the heavens. It is truly admirable!" Madam Zhang insisted on completing the formal bow.

The ancients placed great importance on rituals. A grand bow like this was not performed lightly, unless it was before Heaven, Earth, the sovereign, one's parents, or one's teacher. The Liu family had no way to repay him now. By performing this solemn bow on behalf of the entire family, Madam Zhang was naturally expressing their profound gratitude to Xu Zhongfang.

Xu Zhongfang hurriedly had Liu Nan and Liu Zhen help Madam Zhang up, then patted his chest and promised, "Rest assured, Sister-in-law. Even if I have to give my life, I, Xu Zhongfang, will do my utmost to protect you and the children!"

He then said to Liu Nan, "Last time, Ah Zhen asked me to teach you archery, so I brought a bow and arrows with me. You must practice diligently. In the future, once you've achieved some skill, you can protect your family or, at the very least, use it for self-defense."

Liu Nan was overjoyed and bowed quickly. "Thank you, Uncle, for making this possible!"

He usually practiced some basic martial arts with Liu Yuan to strengthen his body, so he had a small foundation. Coupled with a young person's strong ability to learn, he mastered the basic techniques of archery in just a few days. All he lacked was practice over time.

It was the middle of a harsh winter, and there was little game in the mountains to practice on. So, Liu Nan kept his bow with him day after day, practicing on a certain tree. His range gradually increased, and slowly, he could occasionally hit one or two small animals that couldn't bear the severe cold and came out to forage.

Day after day, the once-simple mountain hut was tidied up and became suitable for living. Although it couldn't be called comfortable, it wasn't so harsh as to be unbearable.

To avoid revealing their whereabouts, Xu Zhongfang couldn't come every day. But each time he came, he would bring the Liu family something to eat, either millet or cured meat. When Xiao Qi had come looking for them, the Liu family home had been plundered. Forget money and grain, not even the cured meat in the jars was left. So, after Madam Zhang and the others finished the small bag of millet they had brought with them, they were truly so poor they couldn't even open the pot.

Liu Zhen knew that Xu Zhongfang's family was not well-off and couldn't afford so much millet. So after accepting it once, she refused to take any more. Xu Zhongfang had no choice but to divide the millet into two portions, one for his own family and one for Liu Zhen's. He also brought over plenty of beans and wheat so they could make bean rice and wheat rice.

In fact, once they got used to it, life in the mountains wasn't so difficult.

Liu Nan could now occasionally hunt some wild game. The cured meat Xu Zhongfang brought wasn't much, but if eaten sparingly, it could last for some time. There were few edible wild vegetables in winter, but Chinese cabbage and white radish could be stored in a cellar. These things weren't valuable, and Xu Zhongfang brought them a good amount. With Liu Zhen's skillful cooking, the Liu family resumed eating two meals a day. Bean or wheat rice paired with pickled radish could certainly fill their stomachs.

When spring arrived and the flowers bloomed, the animals that had been cooped up in the forest all winter couldn't hold back their restlessness and came out. The river thawed, new green shoots and buds appeared on the branches, and there were plenty of mountain delicacies to be gathered. The Liu family's meals suddenly became much more abundant.

One day, Xu Zhongfang came up the mountain to visit them. From a distance, he saw a pot set up at the entrance of the wooden hut with a strong fire burning beneath it. Liu Zhen was directing Liu Nan, who was stirring the pot with a ladle. Steam rose, and a fragrant aroma filled the air. Xu Zhongfang hadn't been hungry, but upon smelling it, he suddenly felt his stomach rumble.

"Uncle Xu!" Liu Zhen spotted him as soon as she looked up.

Xu Zhongfang laughed heartily, walked over, and patted her head. "Look what good thing I brought for you?"

He reached into his bulging lapels and, after some rummaging, pulled out a small roll of bamboo slips.

"Is this a book?" Liu Zhen asked, surprised.

"Young Master Ji asked me to bring it to you," Xu Zhongfang said with a smile.

Before Liu Zhen could ask more, Madam Zhang had heard the voices and came out from inside.

"Greetings, Sister-in-law," Xu Zhongfang said, putting down a large bag he was carrying.

Madam Zhang frowned. "Uncle, have you spent money on us again? We have enough to get by these days. Please, don't bring any more things. If you do, I will have to insist that you take them back."

"You've misunderstood, Sister-in-law!" Xu Zhongfang laughed and untied the mouth of the sack, allowing Madam Zhang and the others to see what was inside.

It was filled with bright yellow millet!

"I didn't buy this. It was sent by your family, Sister-in-law!" Xu Zhongfang said with a smile.

"My father and mother?" Madam Zhang was taken aback.