Finally, dawn broke, and everyone got busy. Those who needed to cook did so, while Xiaoman took some leftover porridge from the previous night and went into the woods.
After being frozen all night, Li Laoshi and the other three were hoarse and had runny noses. They looked at Xiaoman as if they had seen a monster.
Xiaoman placed the thin porridge on the ground and untied the ropes binding their hands, saying, "There's not much to eat on the mountain, so make do with what you have. Don't blame me for being rude yesterday; in this world, you're the ones to blame for your own wrongdoing."
He spoke politely, but his expression showed no sign of apology.
The bearded men had long since lost their temper, and even if they harbored resentment, they dared not say anything more at this moment.
Besides, they lacked confidence themselves, and they were indeed harboring the intention to steal.
Upon seeing the food, the bearded man and his companions repeatedly apologized, saying, "We were wrong; we shouldn't have offended your place!"
Xiaoman remembered Aunt Jiang's instructions to be more rude, and his face darkened: "Don't come again, or else... hmph."
The bearded man and the others turned pale, realizing what Xiaoman meant by "humphing".
These fifteen or sixteen-year-old kids were all reckless and fearless. If it weren't for that young man stopping them in time yesterday, the four of them would definitely have died at his hands.
Without saying a word, the four of them picked up the cold porridge, ate it in a few bites with no real taste, and then helped each other leave through the road.
Although Xiaoman didn't understand why the refugees were being released, she did whatever Aunt Jiang told her to do.
His task now is to quickly repair the traps that were destroyed yesterday.
After Li Laoshi and the others left, tension truly rose on the mountain.
Although Jiang Zhi felt that nothing would go wrong, she was about to truly step into this chaotic society, and some situations were uncontrollable.
The threat posed by the migrants is not a major problem.
If Li Laoshi and his group spread the news, then Xiaoman's violence and traps will become known.
Old Yun Cliff would make those with ill intentions think twice, since most people are afraid of death.
In addition to setting traps, Lao Yunya also prepared dozens of "blood-sealing throat" poisons from Jiang Zhi.
Last time we killed a wild boar, we used most of the sticks. The remaining sticks broke, but the medicinal paste on them was still there.
So they re-trimmed the javelin, diluted the medicinal paste, and used it.
Although the diluted drug dose is not enough to kill, it will cause unbearable pain, numbness in the limbs, and loss of fighting ability when it enters the wound.
With this weapon, we can protect ourselves even if a dozen or so refugees come at once.
Moreover, the refugees are not soldiers and are not very united. You only need to knock down a few people and the others will run away.
There are also some other medicines... In the six months I spent in the mountains, I found several kinds of herbs. There are many ways to kill someone without getting blood on your hands.
When danger approached, Jiang Zhi realized that the people here truly are a reflection of their environment; there had never been any cowards among them, and their very bones were filled with courage and rebellion.
Leaving aside Xiaoman and Errui, although they are still a bit timid, they are still brave and daring. Even Chunfeng... tsk tsk tsk, I really underestimated her.
Although we are outnumbered, as long as everyone is united and willing to fight, we can be worth ten men.
When dealing with refugees, you have to be tough; the tougher the fist, the better.
You need to be lenient with the military while also demonstrating your usefulness.
Releasing Li Laoshi and the others immediately was a gesture of goodwill towards the medical shed, and also sent a signal.
Xiaoman punched several holes in the bearded man's head and bandaged it up that night. The medicinal powder used must have piqued the physician's interest.
If the medical shed is truly short of medicine, they will definitely come to inquire about it; if it is not short of medicine... it will not affect the people on the mountain.
Another development was the arrival of the medical tent.
Although she knew the new army wouldn't kill innocent people indiscriminately, Jiang Zhi still couldn't completely trust them.
There's a passage that describes it well: "At dusk, I arrived at Shihao Village. An official was arresting people at night. An old man jumped over the wall and ran away, while an old woman came out to see what was happening..."
It's wartime now, so it's not uncommon for conscripts to be arrested. Xiaoman and Xu Errui are exactly the right age.
Chunfeng and Qiaoyun are both young wives, and they have become fairer and more delicate than the refugees during their time on the mountain.
Jiang Zhi dared not test human nature. No one is perfect, and even the most principled person can be tempted, as long as the temptation is strong enough.
Li Laoshi and his men have already come down the mountain and need to make preparations immediately.
Soon, all the grain belonging to both families was hidden in the woods, leaving only some ordinary melons and vegetables in the kitchen.
As arranged, Xu Errui, Xiaoman, Chunfeng, and Qiaoyun were also to leave home with their two children.
Chunfeng pulled Xu Dazhu and said, "Auntie, let Xiaoman take Nini away. I'll stay here with Dazhu."
She had experienced the life of a refugee and was not just a simple girl like Qiaoyun. If anyone dared to steal her things, she would also dare to kill them.
Xu Dazhu said with a dark face, "Take the child and leave. Xiaoman and Errui will protect you and your daughter."
He wanted to drive Chunfeng away again, and this time he wanted to take the child with him.
If anything were to happen to me, Chunfeng and Xiaoman could raise Nini.
Chunfeng's eyes were filled with tears: "You're all here, how can I run away?"
Jiang Zhi said, "You met Zhang Juntou from the village clinic!"
Last night, she summoned Xu Errui, who had a guilty conscience, and asked him about the "missing man" from before.
Xu Errui didn't want to keep it from his mother, but since it was Xiaoman and Chunfeng's request and it involved other people's affairs, he had no choice but to agree.
When Jiang Zhi asked him, he immediately stammered out the story of how he rescued Chunfeng's sister-in-law outside the village.
When Jiang Zhi heard that the man had been killed by Chunfeng smashing his head with a stone, she also gasped in shock.
No wonder Chunfeng sewed her clothes shut, no wonder Chunfeng dared to kill the snake...
Chunfeng is a person of this era. Even if she is a victim and is bullied, even if she is not defiled, she does not want others to know.
The original owner's personality left too deep an impression on people, and Chunfeng and Xiaoman were not used to it yet.
Since this matter is going to be kept secret, let's continue to keep it a secret. Jiang Zhi will pretend that she knows nothing.
However, Xu Errui had to promise that he would never hide anything from him again, not even about Xiaoman.
Jiang Zhi solemnly mentioned that Xiaoman is impatient and reckless, which could lead to trouble.
Xu Errui was also frightened by Xiaoman's impulsiveness and repeatedly agreed, promising not to hide anything from his mother from now on.
Jiang Zhi was also glad that she and Chunfeng hadn't shown up last night. Now that the villagers were coming, it was best for Chunfeng not to show up either.
Upon hearing that Zhang Juntou might be coming, Chunfeng's expression changed, and she no longer insisted on staying.
It was a decision that Xiaoman and Jiangzhi had made to let these young people take the children with them.
No matter what happens, both families must preserve their bloodlines. After everyone leaves, only the elderly, the weak, the sick, and the disabled will remain.
If it's just refugees, it won't be too late for Xiaoman and the others to show up.
Originally, Xiaoman asked Jiang Zhi to leave as well, but Jiang Zhi said, "I've spoken with Li Laoshi, so he'll definitely tell you. Also, if people from the medical shed come and need to ask about medicine, you won't be able to handle it."
No matter what, Jiang Zhi must stay.
Li Laoshi and the others left at dawn. Judging by the time, the people from the medical tent would arrive at the earliest in the evening or at noon the next day.
So, on this day, the group moved the grain and prepared dry rations. Xiaoman observed the situation below from a place with a clear view on the mountain.
As time went by, his patience wore thin, and he longed to go down the mountain to see if Li Laoshi and the others had returned.
Unexpectedly, they waited until the sun was past noon the next day, when a group of people finally appeared on the mountainside, seven or eight soldiers leading two people who were walking unsteadily.
Without hesitation, Xiaoman turned and ran home. He knew that this was the doctor's family that Aunt Jiang had mentioned.
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