Chapter 124 A Hope as Humble as Dust
There are crowds of people outside Tubei Village.
The sun at the end of August was still very hot, and it would make people sweat profusely in a short while, but no one was willing to leave, not even to walk further away to find a shady place.
Years ago, some people came to Tubei Mountain, but they did not follow that group and chose to continue to wait and see how things would develop. This is enough for them to regret now.
If I miss the opportunity this time, I'm afraid there won't be a next time.
"There are so many people here, I can't see the end of it... No matter how big Tubei Mountain is, it's still limited. I don't know if we can find a place to set up camp when it's our turn. Sigh!" A group of people sitting on the edge of the field stretched their necks to look around, and saw a sea of heads everywhere.
His companion was also worried and said angrily, "We are still late. We should have come two days earlier. Anyway, whether there is a place to stay or not, I will not leave. The worst that can happen is to sleep on the road!"
The people nearby listened and agreed, "I can't leave. I can't move just looking at this field. I really hope I can stay here so that I can have two or three acres of land by the Qing River in the future. Even if it's less, I'll be content."
In the large field by the river, the rice has been harvested, leaving only rows of neatly arranged yellow rice stubble. This alone can easily make people imagine the grand scene of the harvest.
Looking at the bare rice fields, countless people feel regret and envy.
If they had come earlier, they would be eating delicious rice now.
"Have you guys at the front of the line met Xiao Su's family? Do you think they'd agree to let us stay? They'd agree, right? I heard Xiao Su's family is really nice!"
"We who come from far away have never seen the Su family, but we have heard a lot about them. I heard that their family was exiled here because they were dragged down. In the past, they were ordinary farmers, and farmers are simple."
"It's not necessarily true that farmers are simple. Some of them are cunning. But the Su family is indeed kind. Otherwise, how could those who came to seek refuge here before stay? Only those who have experienced hardship can sympathize with those in need."
"...You can say whatever you want, but don't try to play tricks on them by relying on their kindness. Besides the Su family, there's also Du Lao, Broken Knife, Mr. Huo, and the others living on Tubei Mountain! They're all protecting the Su family. If you dare to play tricks on them, you'll be buried alive! I got here earlier than you and have seen several waves of people being driven away. Those who left were those who had a bad reputation elsewhere in the past, understand?"
The person who spoke thought for a moment, then lowered his voice and whispered a few words of warning, "The Su family is a kind family, but Du Lao and Broken Knife are not easy to deceive, especially Mr. Huo! They are all protecting the Su family! There are many people coming now, but not everyone can stay. Mr. Huo is checking in and only the honest and decent people can stay! Tubeishan is not where everyone can stay anymore!"
Everyone immediately shut up, but their eyes became even brighter.
Hey, good job on the controls! Who doesn't want a peaceful and harmonious place to live? Isn't that what everyone comes for?
They asked themselves that they came here wholeheartedly. As long as they could find a stable life and have someone to rely on, they would be grateful. Who would be so heartless as to play tricks on the Su family?
Knowing their duty brings them peace and security. Anyone who dares to incite them to do otherwise is their mortal enemy! An enemy who cannot bear to see them prosper!
Fewer people were talking at this location, and they began to look forward, hoping that more people would be driven out.
At least when it's their turn, they'll have a place to stay...
Under the scorching sun, a short stretch of loess road was crowded with people. From time to time, cheers could be heard from far ahead, and from time to time, a group of people could be seen walking out dejectedly and cursing.
The crowd moved forward very slowly.
"Mom, do you think we can stay?" The little kid squeezed in the crowd looked up and asked his mother.
The skinny woman in ragged clothes forced a smile at the child and said, "Yes, I can."
"They said that the Su family only allows those who can do the work. We don't have a father... only mother and the baby. Can we stay?"
My father was beaten to death by bad guys, and only my mother is left in their family. They are still young, and I have heard many people say behind their backs that their family will not survive for long.
"Mother, if you can't stay here, please sell me. You can use the money to support my younger brothers and sisters."
The woman's nose suddenly felt sore. She hid her hesitation in her eyes, squatted down, and hugged the young and ignorant children into her arms, firmly comforting them, "We can stay!"
How could she know whether it was actually possible?
But this is the last way out for her and her children, so she has to give it a try no matter what.
If we don't let them stay here, they will be killed by those bullies when they return. It would be better...
The woman hugged her children tighter, looking at the clear river flowing beside her with tearful eyes, feeling gloomy and desperate.
In the moving crowd, in addition to women and children, there are also white-haired old women, skinny old men with bent backs, with no young people around them, and their backs are lonely.
There are also single men who are taciturn, with their lowered eyes showing their resentment and hatred towards the world.
Only when these people looked at Tubei Village at the end of the road did a glimmer of light appear in their eyes.
That is the only hope they have left, hidden under the darkness, hopelessness and resentment, the hope of being saved, which has been humbled to the dust.
In Tubei Village.
Xiao Su's house was empty.
Wang Chuan informed him early on that some people had come to stake out the place outside the village entrance overnight. A large crowd of people had gathered there before daybreak. Old Man Su and his family did not even dare to stay home for breakfast and went straight to hide in the Huo family's courtyard.
I’m afraid that these people will come to my doorstep and kneel down again.
Moreover, the number of people who came this time really frightened the old couple of the Su family.
It’s even more exaggerated than last time, there are so many people!
This morning the birds on the mountain were so scared that they dared not sing!
Huo Ziheng was pushed out to serve as a shield, and the morning teaching was ruined.
He did not refuse and asked Su Da and Su Er Changdong to help set up a sunshade at the gate of the courtyard, with a table, a stool, a fan, and a pot of tea.
He glanced at the crowd standing in front of him, waved his fan casually at a few places in the middle, and said, "You, you, you, get out, the rest of you stay."
The people who were named met the man's penetrating eyes and left in disappointment without saying a word.
Some people were angry and questioned, "Mr. Huo, why can't I stay? I'm a strong laborer after all, I can do anything in the mountains and in the fields!"
Huo Ziheng raised the corners of his lips slightly, his eyes indifferent, "The scar on your wrist is from when you caused trouble at Xiao Su's house last year. Did Pier Twelve ask you to be a spy?"
"..." The strong man ran away very fast. Damn it, he had only shown his face once in Tubei Mountain! That was last year. How did Huo Ziheng recognize him after such a long time?
He remembered that Huo Ziheng was not present at all!
Behind the Huo family's door, Su Erzhi poked his head out and poked Huo Ziheng on the back, "Mr. Huo, how did you recognize him? I don't even remember him!"
Huo Ziheng waved the fan in his hand lightly, smiled sideways and said, "I remember his voice."
Su Er retreated.
The courtyard door was closed again, but there were several heads behind the door watching the fun, all of them were members of Xiao Su's family.
The following scene made them more and more shocked. Looking at the gentleman's thin back was like looking at a towering mountain.
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