Chapter 3 — The Marquis was wronged, I hid with my young master, and later overturned the capital to collect debt.

The shallow well was both cold and wet. I hugged Co Chieu tightly, wanting to use my body heat to warm him. But it was still so cold it was shivering. We can hear the footsteps of the soldiers above. They broke into the pharmacy. The sound of rummaging and tossing things, the cries of the children, along with the calm response of the old doctor.

"Mandarin, the old man's shop is just a pharmacy, there are no criminals running away."

"Stop talking nonsense! Someone saw a woman carrying a child entering this town!"

A rough voice rang out. My heart immediately rose to my throat.

"What's missing from the woman holding the child? Who knows who it is."

“Find me!”

I heard them searching. Step by step, step by step, rushing towards the backyard. My breathing almost stopped. A foot stepped on the well cover. Makes a heavy, dull sound. I tightly covered Co Chieu's mouth. The light on the well cover is obscured. I heard someone talking above my head.

“There is a well here.”

“Open it and see.”

My whole body instantly felt cold. At that moment, the old doctor's voice rang out.

"Master, this well has been abandoned for a long time, inside is full of snakes, centipedes, rats and insects, it's very dirty."

“Stop talking nonsense, open up!”

The sound of the well cover being moved was heard. Light shines down. I see a fierce face. He was looking down into the well. I hide in the deepest darkness. Only one thought remained in my heart. If discovered, I will hug Co Chieu and stab him to death right here. Absolutely do not let it fall into the hands of these people.

“Damn it, I can't see anything, it's so dark!”

The soldier cursed once.

“Or throw a torch down!”

I closed my eyes in despair.

“Mandarin, no way!”

The old doctor quickly stopped him.

"In this well, the toxic gas is very heavy. If there is a fire, it will explode!"

The officer hesitated a bit.

"Looks like you're still reasonable, old man."

“Go, go to the next house!”

The well lid was covered again. The sound of footsteps gradually went away. My whole body seemed to have been drained of all its strength, went limp, and collapsed to the bottom of the well. Tears finally flowed out uncontrollably. Not for ourselves. It's because of Co Chieu in his heart. It was born not long ago, and has had to go through a moment of life and death separated by only one road. Don't know how much time has passed. The well lid was opened again. It's an old man.

“Go away, they're gone.”

I hugged Co Chieu and was pulled up. My legs are weak and I can't even stand.

“Thank you very much.”

I knelt down and bowed my head to him.

“Get up quickly.”

The old man helped me up.

“How is the baby?”

I raised my hand to check Co Chieu's breath. Still breathing. But weaker. The old doctor immediately inserted a needle into it and then gave it medicine. Busy for half an hour. Co Chieu's face gradually became sour. a little better.

“It's stable for now.”

The old doctor wiped his sweat.

“But you can't stay here anymore.”

“Will go tonight.”

"Go south, there are many mountains there, there are few people from the government, it's easy to hide."

The old doctor spoke and gave me a bundle of cloth. Inside is dry food, along with some healing medicine. He gave me a small bag of scrap silver.

“This money, save it and use it.”

I don't know what to say. I can only kowtow to him again. Water duckweed meets together, he saved us twice. I will engrave this gratitude in my heart. That night, I hugged Co Chieu and left Thanh Thach town. I don't dare follow the official path anymore. I specialize in choosing bumpy roads that are difficult to travel on. Along the way, we met many migrants. Their faces were yellow and their skin was dark, their eyes were dumbfounded. Seeing the baby in my arms, in some people's eyes, a green light will flash like a beast. We know what they are thinking. In times of chaos, people's lives are not as good as those of dogs. A newborn baby, can be exchanged for some cakes. Even... can fill the stomach. I clasped the stone in my hand. That's my only weapon. Whoever dares to come close, I will risk my life with that person. A man, silently following me all the way. In a deserted forest, he blocked my way. In his hand he held a rusty wood chopping knife. His eyes stared at Co Chieu in my arms.

“Give me the baby.”

His voice was hoarse like a broken gong. I coldly uttered a word.

"Don't invite alcohol, if you don't drink, you'll have to drink alcohol as punishment!"

He raised his wood chopping knife high and rushed towards me. I don't dodge. Right at the moment he approached, I leaned over, used all my strength, and slammed the stone in my hand into his temple. He groaned and fell to the ground. I don't look at him. Embracing Co Chieu, turned around and ran away. I don't dare stop. I'm afraid that in this forest, there are other wolves lurking. Co Chieu was so uncomfortable from being jostled by me that he burst into tears. We can only run and comfort it at the same time. Running out of that forest, I dared to stop. I leaned against a tree trunk, breathing heavily. In Co Chieu's heart, her crying gradually subsided. I raised my hand to touch its forehead. It's so hot that it's terrifying. His fever has flared up again. I hugged Co Chieu, only feeling that the "little furnace" in my heart was cooling down little by little. Its breath, like a dying lamp in the wind, can go out at any time. Impossible. It cannot die. We cannot let it die. I used all my last strength to get up from the ground. I don't know where to go. I just know I have to go. Must leave this forest filled with the aura of death. My consciousness begins to become hazy. The shadows of the trees before my eyes all turned into evil demons baring their fangs and claws. The road underfoot felt soft, as if stepping on clouds. I seem to hear Lady Hou's voice. She is calling me. Tham Dien, keep living. Take Chieu Nhi with you, keep living. We must continue to live. I bit the tip of my tongue.