Nianjie does resemble Zhang Xiue somewhat. Although she is young and it is not obvious whether she is fat or thin, she eats a lot. While Huahua and the others can fill their stomachs with half a bowl of porridge, Nianjie needs a whole bowl.
Qin Xiaoniang had decided to make something to eat, since they were going to pass through a new place ahead, and they couldn't afford to linger and waste time until they were sure it was safe.
“These past few days, I’ve noticed the bean sprouts have grown quite a bit. How about we stir-fry some bean sprouts and boil a few eggs?” Qin Xiaoniang said from the side.
You can eat as many bean sprouts as you want without feeling full; they're just water. Once you digest them, you'll feel hungry again in two hours.
Using the fire as a starting point, Chun Di set up a pot and began adding water to boil the eggs.
The children each got one, but the adults had nothing to eat and could only share the large pot of boiled bean sprouts.
Because everyone was eating together, Song He'er couldn't easily take something out of her spatial storage to give to Qin Xiaoniang.
"He'er, don't you like bean sprouts? Did your aunt make them too salty?"
Song He'er then realized she had been lost in thought, quickly shook her head, and replied, "The taste is just right. I was just thinking about which direction we should go later..."
"Yes, that is a problem."
While peeling eggs for the children, Chun Di replied, "Just keep going south. Isn't Xinzhou in the southernmost, most desolate place? So going south is definitely the right direction!"
"Then how do you know where south is?"
Chun Di smiled and said, "It's not noon yet. Let's see which way the sun is hanging. That must be east, and the one directly facing us must be south!"
Zhang Xiue suddenly realized and immediately laughed, "I never imagined that our team would not only have such a clever girl as He'er, but also my sister-in-law!"
Chun Di playfully nudged her, "Third Sister-in-law, don't make fun of me!"
As soon as they finished speaking, the group stopped talking and began to concentrate on eating what was in their bowls.
About the time it takes for an incense stick to burn has passed. After everyone finished eating and packed all their luggage, they began their journey south.
The road out of the desert was indeed much easier to travel. If I could buy another car, that would be even better.
“There’s a stone tablet up ahead,” Chun Di pointed to a stone not far away.
Zhang Xiue and Qin Xiaoniang walked over there...
"Tuanjie Village?"
"Have we arrived at a village in Xizhou?"
"Maybe that's it. I don't see any checkpoints blocking our way. Can we go in?"
"Give it a try!"
The group cautiously entered the village. Even Wang San, who was behind them, watched warily for a while before leading his men into the village.
This place is far from the desert, so the land has not been properly improved and remains dry and barren, unable to grow anything.
Song He'er observed for a long time but didn't see a single person. "Isn't there a famine? Everyone is starving to death?"
Wang San stepped forward and blocked their way, saying, "I think this village is a bit strange. Let's not go in yet."
Qin Xiaoniang nodded, "I think so too. It's broad daylight, and there's smoke coming from the houses in front. How could there be no one here? Even if they're just chopping wood and boiling water, a few people would have to come out!"
Zhang Xiue frowned and looked back at the road they had come from. "Then there's no other way for us to go back."
As they were talking, dozens of crows flew overhead, and leaves fell one by one, accompanied by the sound of the birds flying.
Wang San instinctively hugged his child tightly, shouting, "There are people in that woods! Everyone be careful!"
Everyone shielded the child behind them and stopped moving forward.
Sure enough, a few moments later, several burly men rushed out of the woods, each wielding a large club, and walked menacingly toward them.
"If you want to pass through this village, leave some money for the toll!"
Song He'er was somewhat alarmed. Several men had knife scars on their faces, suggesting they lived a life of constant danger and didn't seem to care about life or death.
If we resort to violence now, it will not be effective; we must take a long-term approach.
Wang San must have thought of this as well. He chuckled and walked forward with a fawning expression. "Sir, may I ask where this place is? We are merchants from the Central Plains traveling to the Western Regions. If we have come to the wrong place, please let us know."
The man with a horizontal scar on his face waved his hand rudely and replied impatiently, "Get out of my way! I don't care what you do! If you step on my land, you have to pay up. If you don't pay, don't even bother passing through!"
Zhang Xiu'e was bold and asked directly, "Poor mountains and bad waters breed unruly people. Who knows if you're just this one group? What if we give you all the money, and there's another group waiting for us ahead?"
"Stop your fucking nonsense! I don't care how fancy you are up front, if you want to come here, you'd better pay up first!"
Qin Xiaoniang stopped Zhang Xiu'e, signaling her to stop talking.
Song He'er stood behind them, carefully looking around.
From the bushes not far away, a rustling sound could be heard.
Upon closer inspection, it was discovered that two children under the age of three were squatting inside!
It's amazing that she wasn't abandoned by heaven! Hahahaha!
These little lambs must be the children of that gang of thieves. If we can tie them up, we won't have to worry about getting out of this Tuanjie Village!
Thinking of this, Song He'er whispered in Qin Xiaoniang's ear, "Mother, I have an idea. You stall them for a bit, and I'll go get those two children from the side!"
Qin Xiaoniang looked in the direction Song He'er pointed, and was greatly surprised when she saw the child. "How...how could there be a child in that place!"
"It must be those thieves. If we bring them over and use them to threaten them, we can get through this!"
"Then be careful!"
"I see……."
After saying that, Song He'er quietly walked into the bushes.
Qin Xiaoniang coughed, attracting the attention of the thieves.
"Um... how much money do you need?"
When the men heard that things were taking a turn for the better, they stopped talking so loudly.
"Not much, thirty strings of cash!"
Zhang Xiue exclaimed in surprise, "Thirty strings of cash!"
"Yes, thirty strings of cash, you won't get away with it if it's even a penny less!"
"All of us combined don't even have ten strings of cash, where are we going to get you thirty strings?"
Upon hearing that he had no money, the burly man's attitude instantly soured. He picked up a large stick and was about to swing it at him, yelling, "Are you fucking deaf?!"
Just as the stick was about to land on Zhang Xiue, Wang San snatched it away. Although the man was tall, he was not as strong as Wang San and dropped his stick.
"A real man should ask for money, not resort to hitting a woman."
"What the hell are you talking about? Would you give me money if I asked?"
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