Chapter 202 Aren’t you two hungry?
Gyeongju has many mountains and forests, the terrain is relatively high, and the post roads are winding.
Snowflakes were flying, and the coldness in the air was biting. Xiong Jiushan was worried that the prisoners would suddenly encounter such a sudden change in the weather and fall ill one by one, which would hinder the journey ahead.
Seeing that the safety of the road ahead was uncertain, Xiong Jiushan was unwilling to take risks, so he specifically ordered the officers to set up pots to boil some hot water and distribute it one by one.
The officers were shivering with cold as they walked all the way, so they felt happy to boil hot water to warm their bodies.
But in this cold weather, people are too lazy to move. So he went to the prisoners and shouted: "If you are willing to go and collect some firewood from the surrounding area, we will not only provide you with hot water, but also an extra piece of dry food! Is there anyone who takes the initiative?"
A group of people stood up one after another.
The leading officer shouted: "Come this way!"
The prisoners who were willing to work and have meals, dragged their shackles and followed several officers to disperse. Collect dry firewood everywhere. It's better on weekdays, but it snowed yesterday, and the snow melted on many dry firewood, which made my hands wet and cold.
But in order to have one more bite, some people are willing to do it no matter how uncomfortable it is.
This also includes Pang Jiming, who wants to add more food for his wife and children, and Tieniu, who doesn't care what life is like.
He used to do this kind of work in the village. He didn't think anything of it. Didn't he also give him extra food and hot water?
Tieniu thinks it’s pretty good, he signed up actively and is in good spirits for work.
Pang Jiming’s original feeling of discomfort dissipated when he saw Tieniu.
"Brother Tieniu, how about I come with you?"
Tieniu naturally didn't care, nodded with a smile and said: "Follow me, I'm looking at the firewood over there. There are many dead branches, easy to pick up.”
Following the experienced ones, Pang Jiming gave up those hopeless expectations in the face of survival, and struggled to survive every breath and every meal. Went down and took the family to choose another path.
Pang's wife hugged her two children and sat on the cold ground, waiting for Pang Jiming to come back.
"Mom, can we eat more when dad comes back?"
Pang's wife touched the heads of the two children and reassured: "Yes, the officials are still heating hot water today. ”
Such conversations are not uncommon among the prisoners. The sudden drop in temperature, the falling ice and snow, and the blazing fire ignited a glimmer of hope.
Two guards of the Xie family took the initiative to report to Xie Yuchuan that they wanted to go collect firewood with them.
The Xie family is not short of food now, but Xie Yuchuan understands what the guards mean. He nods and lets them go. They walk around and pick up some dead branches and firewood. There is nothing wrong with them.
The guards of the Xie family were already in good health, and they had eaten well in the past two days. They were separated by one person on each side. It didn’t take long for them to turn around and come back. Not to mention, each person carried a load under his arm. Two bundles of firewood were delivered to the officer, who acted quickly and with great ability.
The officer responsible for boiling water was stunned when he received it.
The two reported their names and then returned to the team, leaving a few guards behind to pick up the firewood they had brought back and look at each other.
"This... seems to be a branch that was cut down hard, right?"
"Chopped now?" Someone came over and said in a nervous tone, "The Xie family still has a machete with them?"
The man next to him shook his head, "It wasn't cut with a knife. Look at this... how much strength it took to break the gap."
Beside the iron pot, several guards were silent for a long time. .
After being gone for so many days, why do the Xie family members still have the energy to go out? Everyone was puzzled.
“It’s too little trouble.”
Strong and powerful prisoners are not a good thing in the eyes of the escorting officers.
“I’m going to talk to the messenger.”
No one stopped me.
Xiong Jiushan was warming himself over the fire and drinking soup with Cheng Ye in the tent, when the old government servant came in and said a few words about the Xie family collecting firewood.
After hearing this, Cheng Ye frowned and sneered with a dark face, "How many of the servants of the Xie family are so capable?"
Obviously, the meaning of the words was not praise. Feeling interested, he turned to Xiong Jiushan: "Sir, the Xie family still needs to keep a closer eye, otherwise there will be no guarantee of trouble on the road ahead." Xiong Jiushan blew on the hot soup, turned to the old Yamen and said: "How many people are there in the Xie family?"< br>
“Two, one on each side, walked around a few times and then came back. They left later than others and came back earlier than others.”
"Where's the firewood?"
"Just a little more." The old Yamen servant said.
Xiong Jiushan understood in his heart, sneered and said in a deep voice: "Okay, I got it, you just need to keep an eye on the people, as long as many of them don't die and don't cause trouble. As long as the Xie family doesn't cause trouble, don't worry about it. I have my own opinion. "
"Yes, sir." The old Yamen officer looked left and right in front of the two superiors. "The villain retreated."
Xiong Jiushan nodded.
After the old yamen officer left, Cheng Ye frowned and said, "Sir, if your family doesn't take care of it, it will definitely become a big problem in the future."
Xiong Jiushan said, "The soup is getting cold." Remind him Have a meal.
Cheng Ye took two mouthfuls and was puzzled. He was silent for a long time and seemed to remind him: "Sir, this opportunity is rare. Don't miss it. In a world of great competition, if you don't fight, others will fight. Why should you take advantage of others?"
Xiong Jiushan frowned and said in a deep voice: "I act with discretion, what are you worried about?"
Cheng Ye raised his head and wanted to give some more advice, but Meeting Xiong Jiushan's dark gaze, he suddenly stopped talking.
Xiong Jiushan lowered his expression and said calmly: "The Xie family's luck is different. If we act too hastily, nothing will happen. In the end, it will be all in vain."
"But this opportunity to go north is rare."
< br>"We are only responsible for escorting, this is an opportunity."
"Sir!"
Xiong Jiushan raised his hand, looked at Cheng Ye and said seriously: "An opportunity that everyone can see. It may not be a real opportunity.”
Cheng Ye couldn’t persuade him and could only eat in silence. Seeing that he couldn't turn the corner for a while, Xiong Jiushan thought for a while and reminded him: "The Xie family's luck is indeed different. Don't reach out in ignorance, see more, listen more and think more."
Cheng Ye said : "I got it."
Hot water was delivered to the prisoners one after another. The Xie family was holding bowls, and they were also filled with hot water one by one to warm themselves up.
Xie Yuchuan took two sips of hot water, and his body immediately felt warm from the inside out.
Ever since Xie Wuying heard the news from her sixth brother that the family god was going to give them food, the dry rough pancake in her hand no longer smelled good.
Food must not be wasted, but he doesn't eat it so quickly.
Seeing this, several familiar guards nearby teased him: "What's wrong with Master Wu Ying today? Have you lost your appetite?"
"That shouldn't be the case. I haven't seen you like this in the past few days. . ”
The guards didn’t know what “extraordinary joy” they would have today, so they ate their cakes with hot water quickly.
The matter has not yet been completed, and it is difficult for Xie Wuying to publicize it.
Sixth brother told him and Huaizhang, and the two came to clear out a few baskets. The others only regarded the two of them as other people. Who would have thought that the family god told Xie Yuchuan that today Want to give food?
Both he and Xie Wenjie felt uncomfortable holding it in, and they were reminded from time to time to "eat slowly, eat slowly", "eat too fast, it's not easy to digest" and so on.
A group of guards looked at the two of them strangely:...
Finally one of them discovered that they had not finished half of the cake in a long time.
Zhou Chuan asked curiously: "You two young masters, aren't you hungry?"
(End of chapter)