Li Yan looked at Ah Shi.
The little girl was crouching back into the corner, licking the last crumbs of rice cake clean, then hugging her knees, curling herself into a small ball.
On the cuffs of her tattered Wu clothing, traces of embroidery were faintly visible.
It was a Five-Three Chestnut pattern embroidered with golden thread, though heavily worn, the outline could still be discerned.
"Put it on!"
Li Yan said in a deep voice, "Old Sha, find her a clean set of clothes to change into. San'er, release the hawk, scout the waterway ahead."
After speaking, he turned to Ping Zhu:
"Double the fare. Also, after reaching Shimane Prefecture, get us a few outfits to look like a wandering merchant team."
"Either die now or take the money and pretend you never saw us."
Ping Zhu gritted his teeth, "Fine, anyway that monkey doesn't let us have it easy!"
......
Three days later at dusk, on the remote cape outside Shimane Prefecture.
