Chu Jinjin believed that Chu Jiyu had not truly realized his mistake. If he did, the most correct course of action would be to return to the Chu family.
He should face his mistakes honestly and accept the punishment he deserves, especially since his father is still unconscious because of him. Doesn't he want to go and see him?
Anyway, anything is more convincing than making money to prove yourself.
Of course, he did regret it. His so-called proof was nothing more than a coward's self-righteous struggle.
"Third Miss, Second Young Master has been kidnapped for many days. I heard that those bandits are so hungry that they've even resorted to cannibalism. You must go now." The old butler followed behind Chu Jinjin, urging her on like a chant, "He is your own brother. You can't just stand by and watch him die."
Chu Jinjin wiped the sweat from her brow and said weakly, "Please don't get agitated. Let me rest for a while, okay? Get me something to eat and drink."
The water she brought from Black Eagle Mountain Village had long been drunk up. At first, there was still a water source that was barely drinkable, but later, not a drop of water could be found. The river had dried up, and the well had dried up. She spent one or two taels of silver to finally buy half a jar of muddy water from a village.
Zhuangzi was alright; he had a very deep well, and the spring water that gushed out every day was just enough for people to drink.
After eating and drinking her fill, Chu Jinjin had a good sleep and then changed into clothes commonly worn by local disaster victims before leaving.
More than half a month has passed since Chu Jiyu was kidnapped.
The process was simple: Chu Jiyu was selling grain when he encountered bandits. His grain was gone, and he was kidnapped. At first, they thought he was just an ordinary merchant.
According to the old steward, selling grain was extremely profitable, but also fraught with danger. The disaster victims hated the government's inaction and the grain dealers who were profiting from the national crisis. Once they saw them, not only would they be robbed, but they would also not be able to leave alive.
In order to save his life, Chu Jiyu had no choice but to reveal his identity as the second young master of the Chu family.
However, the kidnappers made an outrageous demand, asking for a ransom of 50,000 taels.
As for reporting to the authorities, it's completely useless. There are refugees everywhere, and if government soldiers come, they'll be eaten alive.
The further north Chu Jinjin went, the more alarmed she became.
Rumors and reality are completely different.
The early summer, which should have been lush and green, was now desolate, with the earth riddled with jagged cuts. The grass that had managed to sprout by the pond, clinging to the last bit of moisture, had been stripped bare.
The bark is long gone, and only a few scattered green buds can be seen occasionally, like surviving surprises.
It's even more terrifying than the apocalypse.
In the apocalypse, at least there will be grass and trees, so people won't starve.
The official road post station was deserted, and the few people occasionally seen in the village were all emaciated and showed no reaction to Chu Jinjin; they were even less energetic than zombies.
Chu Jinjin first went to the county where Chu Jiyu had been kidnapped.
There is no shortage of wealthy people in any era. Most of the shops in the county town are still open, but the streets and alleys are empty and the former prosperity is gone.
The soup kitchen is located at the easternmost part of the county town.
It had been so long since they had served porridge that an old woman saw Chu Jinjin riding a donkey. She shakily raised her broken bowl and pleaded pitifully, "Girl, kind girl, please give me some food. My grandson is starving."
Along the way, Chu Jinjin had heard similar words countless times. She silently took out some dry food, handed it over, and then silently turned and left.
Such an ordinary piece of coarse grain was worth half an ounce of silver.
What about the grain transported by the imperial court?
That's how they've been selling them.
The bandits who kidnapped Chu Jiyu were only about twenty miles from the county town. On an ordinary mountain, after defeating more than ten groups of bandits, or rather, disaster victims, who were trying to steal his donkey, Chu Jiyu finally arrived.
Chu Jinjin felt no pleasure after hitting someone for the first time in her life.
If she's starving, she'll steal too; people have to survive.
Bandits of all sizes fought for territory, carving out their own areas. Chu Jinjin, leading her donkey, encountered them without doing anything.
Actually, she had heard it a long time ago.
Dozens of people emerged from the bare rocks, carrying farm tools such as hoes, and there was even a strong auntie with a rolling pin.
The old lady was quite kind; she yelled, "Alright, they're obviously visiting relatives. Take the donkey away, don't cause them any more trouble."
The man who appeared to be in charge was in his thirties. He hesitated for a moment and said, "No, if the boss finds out, he'll kick us out."
The woman was still unwilling: "If you don't tell, and I don't tell, and nobody tells him, how will we know?"
Chu Jinjin was genuinely worried about letting her go, so she quickly chimed in, asking timidly, "Excuse me, ma'am, is your boss the former Butcher Zhang?"
The woman was taken aback: "Oh, how did you know?"
Chu Jinjin confirmed that she had found the right person and pretended to be happy: "I am his distant relative, and I came here to seek refuge with him."
If it were an ordinary bandit, they would probably interrogate him thoroughly before feeling at ease. However, this group was not even a mob. Besides, in chaotic times, people were filled with anxiety and worried about food every day, so they didn't have the mind to think about such things.
The woman was delighted and clapped her hands, saying, "So you're one of us! Let's go then."
The remaining people were unhappy.
Being one of their own means that the donkey is unlikely to get any.
There were no guards along the way, until we climbed to the top of the mountain, where it looked a bit like a bandit's den—a few men holding steel knives.
Seeing Chu Jinjin, whom they had never seen before, walking over untied and carrying a steel knife, they weren't so easily fooled. One of them frowned and looked her up and down: "Are you a relative of the boss? What's your name? Where do you live? What's the boss's nickname?"
Chu Jinjin could make up answers to the first few questions, but as for her nickname, who knows what it is?
The list provided by the emperor contained only basic information.
But we've arrived, so there's no need to pretend.
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