They meant well, but they ended up scaring the mother and daughter out of their wits, who clung to each other in a trembling heap and broke into pitiful sobs. At that moment, a Military Police officer patrolling down the main road from afar spotted them "up to no good." He immediately became alert, instinctively pulled out his white-painted short baton, and shouted, "What are you lot doing?"
Guotai Lang shot to his feet on reflex, every muscle aching as if on command, while, sweating bullets, he hurriedly reported, "Sir, they fell down! We were helping them pick up their beans!"
The Military Police officer approached cautiously, looked over the "scene of the crime" carefully, and saw that it really didn't seem to be anything against army discipline—nowhere near robbery or rape. His expression eased a little; then, with another glance, he asked, "Where are the men of this house? Why are they carrying the grain themselves?"
