Stranded in an unfamiliar place, Gu Dashi had no way to drag his sick and feeble body back to the Lan family to search for anyone.
Having pocketed the silver, the driver just wanted to drop him off as soon as possible. Completely ignoring Gu Dashi's wishes, he enlisted the attendant's help to quickly load him onto the ox cart before setting off into the biting wind.
When it rains, it pours. As the ox cart made its way back to the village, either due to the driver's unfamiliarity with the route or the slippery, snow-covered roads, the entire cart flipped right at the village entrance. Gu Dashi was crushed directly beneath it. Now, not only were his limbs weak, but his leg was snapped in the accident.
Terrified of being held responsible, the driver struggled to right his ox cart. He abandoned Gu Dashi right where he lay and hastily drove off.
Left behind in the snow, Gu Dashi was freezing and in immense agony. All he could do was cry out endlessly for help.
