Chapter 06 Chapter 6
The prisoners certainly laughed at Jiang Huai, but because the police were involved, they did not dare to speak too loudly and could only whisper a few words.
Jiang Huai didn't hear what they said, but even if he did, he wouldn't care. After all, he was mentally prepared for various outcomes before taking action.
"Brother Wei, the water is here. If it's not enough, I'll go get more." Jiang Huai said in a low voice with a hint of sincerity, and at the same time he calmly changed the way he addressed Xiao Jingzhao.
The term "official" was too vague. Other prisoners could also address him as "zaozu." If he kept calling him "official," it would be much slower to build relationships. The only problem was that if Xiao Jingzhao didn't like it, all his efforts would be in vain.
But Jiang Huai also knew that if he didn't change it now, it would seem even more awkward if he changed it later.
Even though I was justifying myself in this way, this adventure was indeed much bigger than before.
Jiang Huai's throat tightened and he kept brainwashing himself, telling himself to just treat the person in front of him as a strange senior from university and not to be too nervous. Even if the other party was unhappy, at most he would just be scolded, or even beaten, which was no big deal.
Although Jiang Huai pretended to be calm, as if he had not said anything, Xiao Jingzhao looked into Jiang Huai's eyes and could see Jiang Huai's inner fear from the depths of those clear eyes.
Jiang Huai really didn't know him.
After realizing this, Xiao Jingzhao knew that he should stay away from Jiang Huai. After all, even though he was the soldier responsible for guarding Jiang Huai, he shouldn't be too close to Jiang Huai.
But when he met Jiang Huai's eyes, Xiao Jingzhao couldn't say no.
Nothing, just a pot of water.
It's not impossible to use the kindness of this pot of water as an excuse to take care of Jiang Huai a little.
Xiao Jingzhao took the water and saw the dry biscuits that Jiang Huai had put aside. He blinked. He had seen how this dry food was made. To put it bluntly, even a horse might not like it, let alone a human.
Xiao Jingzhao still remembered that Jiang Huai took a sip of water and a bite of bread before swallowing them with difficulty.
"Let me borrow this kettle for now. I'll return it to you after I buy a new one." Xiao Jingzhao said as he picked up the kettle.
These words made the prisoner who was eavesdropping on their conversation look at Jiang Huai with some sarcasm, thinking that his guess was right, and Jiang Huai had lost more than he gained.
The other prisoners also sighed when they heard this. They had hoped that this new jailer would be a good person, but now it seems that they were thinking too much.
"Here, take it and eat it." Xiao Jingzhao took out a bag of dried fruits. He bought it on the way here yesterday. Seeing the old man selling them on the roadside was really pitiful, he subconsciously bought a bag. But he didn't want to eat it, so he just gave it to Jiang Huai.
Before opening the bag, Jiang Huai thought his adventure had failed and he had lost a water bottle, but when he saw some sweet dried fruits in the bag, he swallowed unconsciously.
Jiang Huai thought Xiao Jingzhao's words just now were just a rhetoric, but looking at the bag of dried fruits, Jiang Huai felt that he might not have failed yet.
If you really want to fool him, why give him such a bag of dried fruits? Just fooling him verbally is enough, and he dare not say anything.
Looking at the dried fruits in the bag, Jiang Huai felt that this thing could be stored for a long time, but when he looked up at the prisoners and policemen around him, Jiang Huai clearly realized that he could not keep it.
If he insisted on staying, he would be snatched away by other prisoners. He was alone and could guard against others during the day, but he couldn't stay up all night to be on guard against other prisoners.
Jiang Huai looked at the dried fruit with some reluctance, then picked up a piece and started eating.
In fact, the dried fruits were not particularly delicious, but when the slight sweetness spread in his mouth, Jiang Huai still smiled unconsciously.
This was the first time he smiled so sincerely since he came here.
Jiang Huai's action also allowed other curious prisoners to see the dried fruits in the bag. Even though a bag of dried fruits was nothing, the prisoners who were laughing just now could no longer laugh. They looked at Xiao Jingzhao with some disappointment, thinking that this jailer was a bit stupid.
It's just a water bottle, just take it directly. Why exchange it with a bag of dried fruits? If you give them the dried fruits, they will be willing to pay for it.
However, these prisoners did not expect that this was not the time when they were most angry.
After the rest, the exile team set off again. Not long after, they arrived at a small town. Xiao Jingzhao bought a water bottle on the way.
After having his own kettle, Xiao Jingzhao returned Jiang Huai's kettle.
Jiang Huai looked at the kettle that had been lost and found, his mind a little confused. He thought Xiao Jingzhao would keep his word, but he didn't expect the other party to buy the kettle so quickly, and...
Jiang Huai shook the kettle, and it was still full. However, Xiao Jingzhao had obviously drunk a lot of water on the way, which meant that he had just replenished some water.
Thinking about how he had just eaten the dried fruits Xiao Jingzhao gave him in one breath, Jiang Huai suddenly felt a little guilty.
If he had known earlier, he would have eaten slower, and maybe he could have returned half the bag now.
Jiang Huai had the same reaction, not to mention the prisoners watching. Several prisoners were defeated and their minds were full of this matter.
Even when Zhangtou announced that he could sell them some water bottles so that they could drink water on the road, some prisoners were still a little listless.
If it weren't for Jiang Huai's incident, these prisoners would be extremely happy to buy water bottles. After all, it was too unbearable to be thirsty all the time. But with Jiang Huai's incident in mind, they got the water bottles for free and gained favors by using the water bottles. In comparison, the little benefit they got from buying the water bottles was not so attractive.
Zhangtou had already noticed the prisoner's reaction and sneered.
The other guards also looked unhappy. They could share the money earned from buying the kettles. If the prisoners were reluctant to pay, they would get less money.
"Okay, since you don't want this kettle, I won't force you to buy it." Zhangtou's tone was extremely calm.
The coldness on Zhang Tou's face made him feel cold when he looked at the other prisoners, especially when he found that the other guards were a little dissatisfied. He immediately realized that their behavior had offended the guards and became panicked.
"Sir, sir, we'll buy it, we'll buy it." A prisoner said anxiously.
"Sir, I, I'll offer one hundred coins." A prisoner gritted his teeth and made an offer. Although the kettle was not worth that much, he had no choice but to offer a high price in order to calm down Zhang Tou and the other guards.
When the other prisoners heard the price he offered, their expressions turned ugly. They didn't have much silver on them, and even if they did, they would still have to spend money when they arrived at the place of exile. If they spent so much just to buy a kettle, what would they do after that?
Because someone hesitated, the atmosphere suddenly became cold after the prisoner who made the bid finished speaking.
The guards' expressions, which had relaxed slightly due to the high price offered by the prisoners, suddenly became tense again.
Zhangtou was just unhappy before, but now he is angry. They are all a bunch of bastards. They won't cry until they see the coffin. They don't even think about their current situation and still dare to take advantage of Qiao.
It seems that he has been too lenient these days, which has caused them to lose their sense of proportion.
Zhangtou snorted coldly and stopped selling kettles. He even shouted at the prisoners to shut up when they shouted in panic. Some prisoners did not react and shouted a few words, so he whipped them directly. The prisoners did not even dare to cry out in pain.
Xiao Jingzhao watched this scene with a calm heart. Perhaps in the past he would have thought that Zhang Tou's behavior was too harsh and cruel.
But now, after being taught by the emperor, Xiao Jingzhao's heart has become as cold as iron.
What's more, these prisoners will be exiled because the crimes they committed are not minor. He has seen the list of prisoners at Zhangtou's place. Some of them do not need to be exiled but will be executed directly if they are not needed for labor at the border.
Thinking of this, Xiao Jingzhao suddenly looked at Jiang Huai. If he had to say who was the most innocent prisoner, it would be Jiang Huai.
As the crown prince himself, Xiao Jingzhao knew too well that the emperor's alleged rebellion was just an excuse to eliminate the crown prince's faction, and Jiang Huai was also implicated.
This was not the first time that Jiang Huai saw Zhang Tou get angry, but this time the other party was particularly angry, especially those whips, which made Jiang Huai's body tense.
Jiang Huai noticed that Zhang Tou seemed still unsatisfied after whipping him a few times, so he clenched the whip tightly. Thinking of the whip he owed him yesterday, his heart was pounding. He was afraid that Zhang Tou would notice it, and then remember this incident and whip him too.
Jiang Huai looked around carefully and found that Xiao Jingzhao was looking at him with a calm expression, but a hint of gentleness between his eyebrows.
Although he didn't know where this gentleness came from, Jiang Huai was quicker than his brain and moved over and hid beside Xiao Jingzhao.
Xiao Jingzhao didn't expect Jiang Huai to come closer to him, but when he looked up and met his gaze, he reacted instantly.
He also remembered that Zhang Tou was angry yesterday, so Jiang Huai was seeking his protection.
If it were anyone else, Xiao Jingzhao wouldn't offend Zhang Tou for that person, but Jiang Huai...
Before Xiao Jingzhao could figure out what he was thinking at the moment, he took a step forward, blocking most of Jiang Huai.
Zhangtou glanced around and his eyes softened slightly when he met Xiao Jingzhao, but when he looked at the other prisoners, his eyes became cold again and he continued to lead the exile team forward.
Jiang Huai felt dizzy after running all the way, but fortunately he had some water to drink, which could at least make up for the water lost in his body.
When they arrived at the post station, Zhangtou threw the prisoners into the shed. Before leaving, he specifically instructed the guards not to let the postmen sell water or food.
The prisoners immediately realized that Zhangtou's lesson was not over yet, and their faces turned pale.
After all, no one knew how long Zhang would continue to vent his anger. If it was just for one night, it would be fine, but if he couldn't even drink water tomorrow, the prisoners present couldn't help but shudder.
Jiang Huai had no money and couldn't buy water, but when he heard Zhangtou's words, he couldn't help but sigh in his heart.
He still underestimated the control that the guards had over the prisoners. As long as the guards were in a bad mood, they could deliberately torment the prisoners.
It’s not that Jiang Huai feels sorry for these prisoners, but although he is not implicated in this incident, Jiang Huai doesn’t think he will be unaffected forever. One day he will be tormented like this.
The thought of escaping quietly emerged in his mind. Jiang Huai had never considered this method before, but now seeing how Zhang Tou tortured the prisoners, he couldn't help but consider it.
After thinking about it for a while, Jiang Huai sighed and suppressed the thought.
Not to mention how weak his physical condition was now, he couldn't run more than a few steps. Even if he managed to escape, if he escaped in the wild and escaped the control of the police, there was a certain probability that he would become a meal for wild beasts.
As for escaping in the town, he had no identification and was a wanted prisoner. It was difficult for him to avoid being arrested by the government or to settle down in another place.
What's more, without wild beasts, humans are the biggest danger. If you encounter bandits or criminals, the consequences may be worse than being a prisoner.
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