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 air was so cold that it was biting. Xiong Jiushan was worried that the convicts would suddenly encounter such a sudden change in weather and their bodies would not be able to withstand it and they would fall ill one after another, which would hinder their journey.
Seeing that the road ahead was unpredictable, Xiong Jiushan was unwilling to take risks, so he specifically ordered the officers to set up a pot to boil some hot water and distribute it one by one.
The officers were shivering with cold after walking all the way, and they were happy to boil some water to warm themselves.
But it was so cold, and everyone was too lazy to move. So he went to the prisoners and called out, "If anyone is willing to go and collect some firewood, we'll give them hot water and an extra ration! Anyone willing to do it?"
A group of people stood up.
The leading officer shouted, "Everyone come this way!"
The convicts who were willing to work and eat, dragging their shackles, followed a few officials and scattered in different directions to collect dry firewood. It was not so bad on normal days, but yesterday it snowed, and many of the dry firewood was wet after the snow melted, making it icy to the touch.
But in order to eat one more bite, there are many people who are willing to do it no matter how uncomfortable it is.
This also includes Pang Jiming, who wants to provide more food for his wife and children, and Tie Niu, who doesn't care about life.
He used to do this kind of work in the village and didn't think it was a big deal. Didn't they give him extra food and hot water?
Tie Niu thought it was great. People signed up enthusiastically and worked very hard.
Pang Jiming's original feeling of discomfort disappeared when he saw Tie Niu's expression.
"Brother Tieniu, can I come with you?"
Tie Niu naturally didn't care. He nodded with a smile and said, "Come with me. I think there should be a lot of dry firewood and branches over there. It's easy to pick up."
Following the experienced ones, Pang Jiming gave up his once hopeless expectations in the face of survival, struggled hard to survive with every meal and every breath, and chose another path with his family.
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 patted the two children's heads and comforted them, "Yes, the officials even boiled hot water today."
Such conversations were not uncommon among the exiles. The sudden drop in temperature and the falling snow and ice were ignited by the blazing fire, giving them a glimmer of hope.
Two guards from the Xie family took the initiative to report to Xie Yuchuan and wanted to go with them to collect firewood.
The Xie family is not short of food now, but Xie Yuchuan also understands what the guards mean. He nodded and let them go. There is nothing wrong with walking around and picking up some dead branches and firewood.
The guards of the Xie family were already strong, and they had eaten well over the past two days. The two of them, one on each side, made a quick return and each of them carried two bundles of firewood under their arms to deliver them to the official. They were quick and capable.
The servant in charge of boiling water was stunned when he received it.
After the two men reported their names, they returned to the team, leaving behind a few officers who were shoveling the firewood they had brought back and looking at each other in bewilderment.
"This... looks like a branch that was broken off hard, right?"
"Cut it fresh?" Someone came over and asked nervously, "Does the Xie family still have machetes?"
The person next to him shook his head, "It wasn't cut by a knife. Look at the head...it took a lot of strength to pry it open."
Beside the iron pot, several officers were silent for a while.
After so many days of walking, how could the Xie family still have the energy to go out? Everyone was puzzled.
"There's not enough trouble."
In the eyes of the escorting officers, the strong and muscular convicts were not considered good people.
"I'll go tell the police."
No one stopped me.
Xiong Jiushan was roasting fire and drinking soup with Cheng Ye in the tent when the old yamen runner came in and said a few words about the Xie family collecting firewood.
After hearing this, Cheng Ye frowned, his face darkened, and he sneered, "The Xie family thinks even a few servants are so capable?"
Obviously, the meaning of his words was not admiration. He turned to Xiong Jiushan and said, "Sir, we still need to keep a closer eye on the Xie family, otherwise we may get into trouble later."
Xiong Jiushan blew on the hot soup, then turned to the old yamen runner and asked, "How many people have come out of the Xie family?"
"Two, one on each side. They walked around outside for a few rounds and then came back. They left later than others and came back earlier than others."
"Where's the firewood?"
"No more, no less." said the old yamen runner.
Xiong Jiushan understood, sneered, and said in a deep voice: "Okay, got it. You guys keep an eye on them, and make sure no one dies or causes any trouble. As long as the Xie family doesn't cause any trouble, don't worry about it. I have my own ideas."
"Yes, sir." The old yamen runner looked around at the two officers and said, "Then I will withdraw."
Xiong Jiushan nodded.
After the old yamen runner left, Cheng Ye frowned and said, "Sir, if we don't deal with the Xie family, they will become a big trouble in the future."
Xiong Jiushan said, "The soup is getting cold." to remind him to eat.
Cheng Ye ate two mouthfuls in silence, unable to figure out what was going on. After a long silence, he seemed to be reminding someone, "Sir, opportunities are rare, don't miss them. In this world of great contention, if you don't fight, others will. Why let them take advantage of you?"
Xiong Jiushan frowned and said in a deep voice, "I act with discretion, what are you worried about?"
Cheng Ye looked up and wanted to say a few more words of advice, but when he met Xiong Jiushan's dark gaze, he stopped talking immediately.
Xiong Jiushan's expression faded, and he said calmly, "The Xie family's destiny is different. If we act too hastily, we won't succeed. In the end, won't it be all in vain?"
"But this opportunity to go north is rare."
"We are only responsible for escorting, and this is the opportunity."
"grown ups!"
Xiong Jiushan raised his hand, looked at Cheng Ye seriously and said, "An opportunity that everyone can see may not be a real opportunity."
Cheng Ye was unable to persuade him and could only eat in silence. Seeing that he was unable to change his mind for the time being, Xiong Jiushan thought for a moment and reminded him: "The Xie family's fortune is indeed different. Don't be ignorant and reach out. Observe, listen and think more."
Cheng Ye said: "I understand."
Hot water was delivered to the prisoners one after another. The Xie family also had bowls of hot water added to their bodies to warm themselves up.
Xie Yuchuan drank two sips of hot water, and immediately his body felt warm from the inside out.
Ever since Xie Wuying heard from his sixth brother that the household god was going to give them food, the dry and rough bread in his hand no longer tasted good.
Food must not be wasted, but he doesn't eat it that quickly.
Seeing this, several familiar guards nearby teased him, "What's wrong with Master Wuying today? No appetite?"
"That shouldn't be the case. I haven't seen you like this in the past few days."
The guards had no idea what "surprise" would happen today, so they ate their biscuits quickly with hot water.
The matter has not been completed yet, so Xie Wuying is not in a position to publicize it.
The sixth brother told him and Huaizhang, and the two of them came over to clear out a few baskets. The others just thought they were there for other things, but they never thought that the family god told Xie Yuchuan that he would give them food today.
He and Xie Wenjie were both feeling uncomfortable because of the inconvenience, and they kept reminding them, "Eat slowly, slowly," and "Eating too fast will make it difficult to digest the food."
The guards looked at them strangely: ...
Finally, someone noticed that they hadn't finished half of the cake in half a day.
Zhou Chuan asked curiously, "Young Masters, aren't you hungry?"
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