Chapter 11 Let Me Die

Everyone came out of the room one after another and checked themselves. Fortunately, no one was injured.

Chen Shiyi looked at the mice crawling all over the floor. She tore the straw mat she had folded into pieces, and the fire in the middle, which was emitting scattered rays of light, was scattered everywhere.

She couldn't help but feel a little hopeless.

Wen Zhirou, who had been leaning on her shoulder, slowly squatted down, covered her eyes, her shoulders trembling slightly, and suppressed tears leaked from the corners of her mouth.

Suddenly, she knelt down on her knees, crawled to Wen Zhiheng's side, hugged his legs and sobbed.

"Brother, please kill me. I don't want to live anymore. I can't live anymore..."

Mrs. Wen threw herself on Wen Zhirou and cried bitterly.

"What are you talking about, kid? Don't let your imagination run wild. Everything will be fine in the future. We will definitely be fine."

Wen Zhirou shook her head.

"Mother, mother, it's not going to get better. We are criminals. We can never turn over a new leaf in this life. I don't want to struggle for a meal every day. I don't want to have no place to sleep peacefully. I don't want to have my period while in exile and have to let the blood soak my pants and show it to others without any concealment. At that moment, I felt like I was stripped naked by others. It was extremely humiliating. Mother, I don't want to live like this. Please let me die soon!"

Mrs. Wen cried out of breath, hugged Wen Zhirou tightly, and said nothing.

Everyone was silent, even the four-year-old Rui'er didn't say a word.

What is there to say? Everyone knows what will happen in the future.

When Wen Zhirou had cried enough, Wen Zhiheng, who had been standing as firm as a pine or cypress, bent slightly, helped Madam Wen up, and held Wen Zhirou in his arms.

"Rou'er, be good, trust me, give me some time, and I will let you live a life of luxury again, okay?"

Wen Zhirou calmed down and nodded slightly.

"Don't say anything suicidal anymore, we all need to be well..."

This was destined to be a restless night. After the house that they had lived in for half the night was infested with rats, no one had the courage to move in again. So they fell asleep on the flat ground outside the house, one leaning against the other.

Wen Zhirou leaned on Chen Shiyi's shoulder, her breath was calm, her pupils were gray, and she seemed to have lost all vitality.

Chen Shiyi pursed his lips and spoke softly.

"When I was eight years old, I had a particularly severe fever. Blisters appeared in the corners of my mouth. I was like a burning charcoal. There was no medicine. My father said that everyone could get through it by enduring it. But I knew that if I didn't take medicine, I would die. At that time, in order to survive, I stuffed herbs that looked like medicine into my mouth. Later, I don't know which herb worked. I was lucky and survived.

Do you know what was the belief that kept me alive at that time? "

"What?"

"Hey, I'm not afraid of you laughing at me, I just want to have a full meal. I've been wondering what it feels like to be full. Miss, do you have any wishes that you want to realize?"

Wen Zhirou thought for a long time and spoke softly.

"Last year, at the imperial court's spring banquet, I fell in love with a young man. He was wearing a green shirt and holding a scroll in his hand. The osmanthus-colored light shone on his fair face. I was afraid of disturbing him, so I walked past him carefully. He raised his eyes and glanced at me."

She took a long breath and said self-deprecatingly.

"My wish now is the same as yours. I hope to have a full meal and a good sleep."

Chen Shiyi hurried to comfort her.

"Miss, don't worry, Eleven is capable and will definitely raise you to be plump and white."

Wen Zhirou sneered.

"Well, I'll wait."

In the morning, Wen Zhiheng and Wen Zhiyuan went to the Fengming Mine Cave, leaving a few female family members busy in the house.

Chen Shiyi had already cleaned up the mess in the room, but they hadn't eaten anything yet.

Chen Shiyi glanced at the road and turned to talk to Mrs. Wen.

"Ma'am, I'll ask around to see where I can get some food."

Mrs. Wen nodded.

"Be careful."

When Wen Zhirou heard that Chen Shiyi was about to go out, she quickly grabbed her arms, looking worried.

"You're not going to never come back, are you?"

Chen Shiyi shook his head.

"No, miss, wait till I come back."

Chen Shiyi kept walking along the wide road.

There were houses similar to the one they lived in built all around them. After passing so many of them, it seemed that no one lived there. After a lot of effort, they finally saw someone living there. When they saw Chen Shiyi, they quickly closed the door tightly.

I think the people living here should be the families of the workers in the Fengming Mine.

After walking a little further, we came to a winding path.

Chen Shiyi walked along this road. On the downhill side, there were paddy fields that looked like tofu blocks. In the middle, a stream ran across the fields. It was clear and bright. Above the stream, there was an ancient arch bridge. At the end of the stream, there was a small village with smoke rising from chimneys.

She picked up her feet and walked towards the village.

On the road, not far away by the stream, there is a spacious courtyard.

She moved closer to ask about the situation nearby.

When they walked over, they found that this was another abandoned yard. The house was dilapidated, even worse than the one they rented. No one had lived there for at least five or six years, but the place was quite large.

Chen Shiyi was thinking, since no one lives here, could they move in? There are too many people in their group, men and women, and it is not convenient for them to live in one house.

Then she laughed at herself.

Even eating has become a problem, and I actually think about living in a big house.

After crossing the arch bridge, we met an old woman on the road. She had a hunched back and a large bundle of firewood on her back that blocked her frail figure.

Chen Shiyi hurried forward and picked up the dry firewood on her back.

"Granny, let me take you back."

The old woman's skinny face twitched and her voice trembled.

"No, no, I can do it, old lady."

Chen Shiyi walked forward without saying a word, and her elderly mother-in-law followed behind her.

Soon, Chen Shiyi followed her mother-in-law to her home.

As the door opened, a woman in her twenties came up and looked at Chen Shiyi with an unfriendly expression.

"Mom, didn't I tell you? You don't have to do things like chopping wood, making fire, or cooking. Just play at home, so you don't bring back any bad people from outside."

Chen Shiyi paused, put down the dry firewood on his back, and smiled apologetically at the woman.

"I saw that my mother-in-law couldn't carry her anymore, so I helped her. Don't blame her. I left right away."

After saying that, he turned around and walked out. Suddenly, he was stopped by a deep male voice.

"Wait a minute, little girl."

Chen Shiyi turned around and saw a man walking towards her.

Then, he stuffed a package of hot food into her hand.

"I'm a naive woman. Thank you for sending my mother back. Please don't despise this kind gesture."

Chen Shiyi was extremely surprised.

The hot food in her hands must be delicious food. She knew how exquisite the food of farmers was.

She quickly refused.

"I didn't do anything wrong. I can't bear such a heavy gift."

The man smiled.

"Just take it if it's given to you. You're a country boy, so straightforward."

Chen Shiyi's eyes were moist, he nodded and smiled.

She turned around and prepared to leave, and suddenly asked again.

"Brother, can I ask you something?"

"You say."

"I saw an unoccupied house on the other side of the river. If I want to move in, whose permission do I need?"

The eldest brother smiled brightly.

"The other side of the strait is full of exiled prisoners. Many houses there are empty and there are no deeds. Most people leave or die after living there for a few years. They never live there forever."

"Oh, please tell me, where is the drinkable water here?"

The eldest brother laughed and took down a bamboo tube from the wall.

"There is a clear spring on the right side of the mountain opposite. They are all drinking water there."

"What's your name, brother?"

"My last name is Zheng."

Chen Shiyi Zheng Zhong bowed to Brother Zheng, thanked him, and then went back with the hot food in his pocket.

The woman rolled her eyes and pointed at the man and cursed.

"You've lost your mind. She's a criminal. Why are you helping her?"

The man smiled.

"You stupid woman, have you forgotten how your second uncle's family became rich? Those who were exiled to Fangling were all nobles. If they turned over a new leaf, they could easily make a little money from their fingers, which would be enough for us to enjoy for a lifetime. It's not a big loss for us to lose such a small amount. This is a very profitable thing."