Gu Honglian and Fan Tong were brought before Tong Huaqiong like two wild people.
Tong Huaqiong and the others gasped.
"Honglian, how did you two end up like this?" Mrs. Hong couldn't help but ask.
Both were filthy, their clothes unrecognizable in color.
"We were robbed on the road," Gu Honglian said as she started to cry.
Fan Tong and Gu Honglian had to stay in a village outside Shengjing City because the city gates closed the previous night.
The two lodged at a farmhouse.
Traveling in the wind and snow, they were both hungry and cold, so Fan Tong asked the farmer to kill a chicken and prepare some wine for a hearty meal.
Originally, they agreed on a price, but after Fan Tong was full of food and drink, he changed his mind, claiming it was late and they'd settle the bill the next day after another night's stay.
The farmer believed Fan Tong.
Before dawn the following day, Fan Tong tried to flee with Gu Honglian without paying, hoping the family wouldn't notice.
