Chapter 6: Trapped Here for a Long Time

Everyone looked over to see what the father and daughter were talking about that made them so excited.

"Father, what's wrong with you?" the two sons asked with concern. Su Bucheng waved his hands to indicate that he was fine.

"No! It's too dangerous!" Su Bucheng disagreed.

The eldest daughter is smart and has always had her own opinions, but I didn’t expect her to be so bold as to dare to go into the mountains!

There was such a fierce commotion last night, which shows how many ferocious beasts there are. This is just outside the mountain, the danger inside the mountain is even greater. Don’t let yourself be eaten by the wild beasts before you starve to death!

"If we don't go into the mountains, it will be difficult for us to survive this winter! Before going into the mountains, let's ask the village chief first." Su Ying did not change her mind.

It is autumn now, the time when fruits are ripe, so we will have some harvest.

"If you want to go, your second uncle and third uncle and I will go! You are a girl, so don't go." Su Bucheng couldn't persuade his eldest daughter, so he had to give in.

"No! You are the pillars of the family, just one of you will go! I must go!" Su Ying disagreed.

"You kid..."

"Sir, you guys are pretty quick. Have you got it done?" Village chief Yang came over with a few young men and carpentry tools.

"Village chief! It's so early, is there something wrong?" Su Bucheng hurried forward.

"There was a lot of noise on the mountain last night. Were you scared?" asked Village Chief Yang.

"Not bad!" Su Bucheng smiled.

"These are the carpenters in the village who are here to help you repair your house."

"Thank you, village chief! Thank you, gentlemen!" Su Bucheng hurriedly thanked him. "I'm new here and I'm short of money. The wages..."

"I know, I know. Whose family didn't go through this? Let's not talk about wages first. Let's settle the family down first. You can pay me later or help me repay you."

Village Chief Yang interrupted Su Bucheng.

"Thank you, village chief, and all the gentlemen!" Su Bucheng bowed solemnly. The village chief really came to his aid.

"Thank you, village chief and all the gentlemen!" The other members of the Su family also bowed and expressed their gratitude.

"Oh, what are you doing?" Village Chief Yang dodged to the side and waved his hand, saying, "It's just a small favor. You don't deserve this. You don't deserve this."

With the addition of these professionals, things progressed much faster.

The Su family only needed to help, and the main work was done by the carpenters.

After a busy day, the doors and windows were installed, the roof was re-thatched, a circle of wooden stakes were driven in around the house to secure it, and some iron fence branches were planted around the outer yard.

"Okay, now it looks like a home!" The village chief nodded as he looked at the newly renovated courtyard.

Everyone felt more at ease. With doors, windows and fences, they felt safe.

"Village chief, gentlemen, have some water!" Su Bucheng greeted everyone. He had nothing else to offer but plain boiled water.

The young men didn't hesitate and drank the warm water in one gulp.

"Which year did the village chief come?" Su Bucheng chatted with the village chief.

"Me?! It's too early. I came here five years ago." The village chief laughed at himself.

The exiled people could not return to their homeland even if dynasties changed.

"The fifth year of the previous dynasty's Daye?" Su Bucheng was surprised. "I happened to have entered the officialdom that year."

"Really? It seems we are really destined to be together!" The village chief laughed.

"Everyone here is exiled from the previous dynasty. You are the first exile from the new dynasty, hahahaha..."

Initially, six families came here, many of them with their families. Later, they split up and intermarried, and now there are 31 families, all of whom are relatives by marriage.

In this wild land, only in-laws can bind each other tightly together and jointly resist the invasion of wild beasts and the looting, burning and killing of the indigenous people.

"There are still natives here?" Su Bucheng was surprised. It was rare to see people in such a deserted place.

"Of course not! These natives are uncivilized and barbaric!" The village chief slapped his thigh and sighed, "We suffered a lot back then too. They stole our money and crops."

"Have you ever thought about cooperating with them to jointly develop this place?" Su Ying on the side suddenly spoke.

"Cooperation?" The village chief was stunned when he heard this.

"They are a bunch of ignorant barbarians. Although we are exiles, our ancestors are illustrious and our status is noble. How can we be with these barbarians?"

"Precisely because they are barbaric, they are in urgent need of our civilization and education, but we have no roots here and need to rely on their power.

Rather than both sides suffering losses, it would be better for both sides to complement each other and cooperate for a win-win situation.”

"Hiss!" The village chief was stunned. He had been here for more than ten years and this was the first time someone had raised such an idea. He was so shocked.

He praised: "The girl is so young, yet she has such insight!"

"I dare not. I am just showing off my skills in front of an expert. Since the village chief is a high-ranking official of the previous dynasty, I believe he has heard of the deeds of Lady Qiaoguo of Lingnan?" Su Ying smiled.

"I've heard of the wife of Feng Bao, the former governor of Gaoliang, the leader of the Li people, a remarkable woman!" The village chief suddenly realized and looked at Su Ying carefully.

She had a pretty face, and although she was thin, her eyes were bright, unlike the other wives of convicted officials who looked miserable and resentful.

Those who are unyielding in such desperate situations have a strong desire to survive. Most of them are able to survive in desperate situations, which shows that they are extremely lucky.

"I am short-sighted and narrow-minded! If my tribe had a person like this girl, we wouldn't be trapped here for so long!" The village chief sighed.

"Congratulations, sir. Congratulations, sir. With this girl, the family has hope of revival!"

"Village chief, you are too kind, but I am just talking nonsense, don't take it seriously!" Su Bucheng said modestly.

"Village chief, have you ever been into these mountains?" Su Ying remembered something important.

"You want to go into the mountains?" The village chief almost choked on the water. This girl was indeed no ordinary person.

"There is not enough food. I want to go into the mountains and see if I can find something." Su Ying said.

"Alas! You heard it last night, there are many wild beasts in the mountains. Back then, we had no choice but to force a few young men to try to enter the mountains..."

The first few companies did not stick together, looked down on each other, and had no dealings with each other.

In order to survive, they all went into the mountains to find a way out.

There are towering trees in the mountains, blocking out the sun. Although there are groups of ferocious wolves howling at night, there are also pythons, poisonous snakes, tigers, leopards, bears, and of course wild boars, deer, pheasants, and hares.

Every time, all the young and strong members of the family would go out. If they were lucky, they would hunt deer and hares and return home with a great harvest.

If you are unlucky and encounter a tiger, leopard, bear, wild boar, etc., you may even lose your life.

Over the years, seven or eight young and strong men have died, and many others have been injured by wild beasts and left disabled.

"If you want to go into the mountains, don't worry. I will make an appointment with the villagers first to see who wants to go, so that we can all take care of each other." The village chief said enthusiastically.

"Thank you for your trouble, Village Chief!" Su Ying thanked him.

"What are you thanking me for? We live in this remote and poor area, and we should help each other!" said the village chief with a wry smile.

I remember that I was arrogant and disdainful of associating with other convicts.

The bloody lesson knocked down his arrogance, forcing him to bow to reality, form an alliance with them, and fight against this dangerous living environment together.

I have been an official for many years and pride myself on my ability and insight, but I am not as insightful as a thirteen-year-old girl!

Alas! Talented people emerge in every generation, and each generation is better than the last!