"Can we eat all of these?!"
Huina was completely captivated by the food and asked incredulously.
The food that Lida left in her bag included fruit, candy, wrapped meat skewers, and several prepared bento boxes.
Kobayashi opened his eyes wide, pointed at the fruit and said confidently, "I know that, it's fruit that grows on trees, I've seen the exact same ones before!"
"Stop talking so much and eat quickly. It's only natural to eat when you're hungry. How can you not eat?"
A hint of pain flashed across Lida's face, but she still urged him on.
But the abundance of food made the three children hesitate; they wanted to take it, but dared not move.
“If I tell you to eat, then eat. Why aren’t you moving?” Kuro asked.
"No..."
Su Zhan shook her head, somewhat frightened, and said, "It's too much, far too much. We...we dare not take it."
"Take it."
Suddenly, a hoarse voice sounded from behind.
A gaunt old man appeared and said, "If it's them, there's no problem."
"Grandpa Shangtu!" the three children called out.
The old man was wearing patched hemp clothes and carrying a hoe. Although he was very thin, his eyes were bright and he was very energetic.
"Is it the navy? I haven't seen them in a long time."
The old man walked over, glanced at Kuro, then looked at Kuro again, bowed and said, "Thank you very much for the food, Navy sir!"
"Really, Grandpa Shangtu!"
Susanoo exclaimed excitedly. He glanced at the food, then at Lida beside him and Kuro on the other side, took a deep breath, and bowed deeply to them at a ninety-degree angle. "Thank you so much for the food, we really, really need it!"
The other two children also bowed, and the three of them began picking up food.
"Old man, you know us? I thought this village knew nothing."
Kuro, with a cigar in his mouth, looked at the old man.
"I met you when I was a child, sir. You can just call me Shangtu."
As he spoke, Uesugi glanced at the dead deer being led by the navy behind him. He paused, noticing the arrow stuck in the deer's head, before continuing:
"Sir, are you here to see Kikyo?"
“Grandpa Shangtu!” Suzhan exclaimed, “How could you say something like that!”
Ueto shook his head and said, "It's alright. I saw it just now. They saved you. I believe that the Navy wouldn't harm Kikyo."
Kuro glanced at them, then looked at the unusually quiet village and said, "Old man, tell me about the situation here."
"Please follow me." Shangtu turned and walked forward.
"Hey kid, why aren't you eating?"
Lida, seeing the three children holding the food but not eating it, asked in confusion.
“There are many of us, so we can’t just eat it ourselves. Besides, we need to give these things to Kikyo-nee.”
The little girl, Huina, smelled the food in her arms and swallowed hard, hugging it tighter as if afraid it was fake.
A group of people walked into the village. It was almost dusk, and the dim red sun cast a golden glow on the village.
The village buildings were very dark, and there was no movement inside, as if there was no one there.
“Sir, there are very few adults here, and there are none in our village at all.”
Uesugi slowly said, "Because of the war, all the strong men were sent to the front lines, and the rest were sent out by the Insect Kingdom as laborers, so there are only us people left in the village."
"How do you live normally, old man?"
Kuro glanced around. "I don't see any of you are getting enough to eat. Doesn't the Insect Kingdom care?"
"That's the rule in the Land of Insects, Sir."
Uesugi smiled and said, "Everything here belongs to the noble lord. We have no right to do these things. But the fields didn't yield a harvest, so Kikyo risked her life to go hunting. If you really want to blame someone, then arrest me. I was the one who ordered it."
"I don't have the time for that, I just wanted to come and take a look, and return her things to her while I'm at it."
Kuro pointed to the dead deer behind them and said.
"Huh? Really?!"
Susanoo exclaimed in surprise, "You really didn't come here to capture Kikyo-neechan? I knew it! You saved us and gave us food. Navy uncle, you're a good person!"
"Uncle..."
"Hey, what are you calling me, 'uncle'!"
Kuro raised an eyebrow, about to speak, when Lida shouted first. She glared at Suzumiya's head and said, "Can't you speak properly? If I'm the older sister, how can he be an old man!"
"it hurts!"
Su Zhan shrank back, scratching his head, and said somewhat unhappily, "What's the problem? He's an uncle, after all. I have an uncle who's about your age too."
He said with a hint of anticipation, "But my uncle will come back. Usually, it only takes three years to become a laborer. They will come back this year and bring lots of food. Then, Sister Kikyo won't have to work so dangerously and hard every day. I will bring lots of food to thank Sister Kikyo!"
“Me too, me too. When my parents come back, I’ll bring lots of things to thank Sister Kikyo,” Hye-na said firmly from the side.
"I also..."
Kobayashi's voice was much softer than theirs, but his expression showed that he had the same idea.
Shangtu looked at them and said with a smile, "My son went out to work as a laborer. When they all come back, the village will return to what it used to be, and it won't be like this anymore."
His eyes shone with hope.
The light in those eyes silenced Kuro.
"We've arrived, sir."
Uesugi stood in a large house and spoke to Kuro.
The house was also very old, and when Kuro peeked inside, he could see what was inside through a hole.
In a large hall, the woman dressed in white shirt and red pants knelt down, surrounded by a group of children.
"Sorry, I didn't catch any prey today."
The woman said apologetically to the children.
"It's alright, Kikyo-neechan. Going hunting for us is too dangerous."
"Yes, Kikyo-neechan, we're fine. But Kikyo-neechan, you should take care of yourself."
The children surrounded Kikyo and talked.
Kikyo shook her head: "I'll go out again tonight. For now, everyone please bear with it."
"Platycodon grandiflorus".
Suddenly, Shangtu spoke up.
Kikyo seemed not to hear, and gently stroked a child's head with a tender smile.
"Kikyo!" Kamiya continued to call out.
Kikyo still seemed not to hear.
Kamiya took a deep breath and shouted, "Kikyo!!!"
"What? You want to eat until you're stuffed? Hmm... let me think of a way." Kikyo paused, looking at the child.
"I...I didn't say anything."
The child was a little confused. He turned his head, pointed to Shangtu outside the door, and said, "It's Grandpa Shangtu."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
