A few days later.
On this island, at the site of a stone house.
The herdsmen carried stones on their backs, struggling to move uphill from the foot of the mountain. If they slowed down even slightly, the savages' whips would lash down hard.
Their faces were pale, their eyes devoid of any life, like living dead.
However, the female leader was not cruel. She allowed the children, who were only a few years old, to play in the field, and Tao, who was pregnant, only did some light work.
Now, she sits by the earthen stove, simmering a thick, greenish soup, looking utterly unwilling.
Because she knew exactly what was in the earthenware jar.
When it was ready, she poured it into a bowl, carried it to Mu Xingsheng, and her sallow and emaciated face looked even more miserable.
Behind the stone house was a cave, and Mu Xingsheng was thrown onto a pile of grass at the cave entrance. He was much thinner than the other herdsmen, with sunken eyes and bluish cheeks, as if all his energy had been drained, and the bones in his body looked like they were about to break at any moment.
He was on the verge of death when he saw the bowl of murky green liquid. He instinctively shrank to one side and cried out in terror.
"No, no, help!"
"Husband, you should drink it, or the monster won't let you live," Tao said, tears streaming down her face.
"I'd rather be dead. What kind of life is this? It's worse than that of pigs and dogs."
The savage next to him grew impatient, pressed Mu Xingsheng down, and swiftly poured a bowl of soup into his mouth.
Then, he was picked up and thrown into the cave—
Qiao Lian'er took some time to check on the Mu family's situation.
The situation didn't go as she expected. Who would have thought that the female leader would take a liking to Mu Xingsheng? But this was also Mu Xingsheng's good fortune. As one of the female leader's men, at least he didn't have to do heavy work like the others.
These savages did not kill the shepherds, but used them as laborers. However, this was much more agonizing than death.
Qiao Lian'er did not leave immediately. She noticed that some of the savages wore conch shells and seashells around their necks. The shapes were very beautiful, especially the female leader's, which was the finest and most sparkly.
There were plenty of conches and shells on the beach. Qiao Lian'er worked for more than an hour, picking out the best ones and filling a large basket to take back to the capital.
It's evening in the capital now, and everyone—from the men training soldiers to the women managing shops—has returned.
Old Man Qiao and Old Woman Qiao went to see a play, and the two are arguing.
“The Locked Pouch is clearly prettier,” said Grandma Qiao.
"The execution of Su San was much more exciting," Old Man Qiao retorted.
The two turned their backs to each other, ignoring each other.
The Feng sisters-in-law chatted in the warm room about what was happening in the shop and their business strategies, with laughter and cheerful voices frequently drifting out.
Some of the men were practicing boxing, some were wielding weapons, and some were practicing calligraphy and reading.
Qiao Lian'er placed the basket in the garden, and everyone who saw these beautiful things immediately gathered around, marveling at them.
"I brought these from the beach, feel free to choose whatever you like."
Knowing that Lian'er would be going to a far place, no one asked any questions and happily started making their selections.
It can be used to make wind chimes, ornaments, and jewelry; it has many uses.
Qiao Zhizhi didn't come out of her room. Her good friend Wu Qingjin was holding her hand and persuading her: "Zhizhi, I really think you're good enough to hold an art exhibition now. You should become famous as soon as possible and make a name for yourself. There's no mistake about that."
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