When we arrived at the mountain, Yang Jing and Xia Yong were waiting.

Although Miss Jun decided to bring the person back herself, and the sentry also reported to everyone that an outsider had entered the village, she still had to explain what needed to be explained.

"You two are talking." Xiao Wei said, waving to Liu'er's cook, "Bring the food here."

She took Liu'er's cook Zhao Hanqing into another room.

"Han Qing has already told us what happened at that time." Xia Yong took the initiative to say, "Where is this lady going?"

"They are going to Daming Prefecture." Miss Jun said.

Daming Prefecture in Western Hebei. Now the Jin army is mainly concentrated in the north of Hejian Boye in Western Hebei, confronting Duke Cheng.

The crisis in Kaide Prefecture has been resolved, and because the emperor was alarmed, the Anli Army and the Guangji Army from Jingdong West Road have already reinforced and stationed at the Daming Prefecture line.

Therefore, for the entire Hebei Road, Damingfu is the most stable.

Many people are going there.

It was not surprising that the destination of this woman and her group was Daming Prefecture.

"My guards have trained very well with you, Uncle Xia. I'll take them with me." Miss Jun said.

Xia Yong had a complicated expression, but he naturally understood what she meant. She had agreed to do it herself and would not trouble them.

"I'm very familiar with this section of the road. Don't worry, I will be able to get home by the 15th day of the first lunar month at the latest." She continued with a smile.

Although she had never been there, she had walked there several times in her mind following the map. The map was so detailed that even the villages were marked.

She also went to verify how accurate this chart was.

go home.

Xia Yong couldn't help but glance at Yang Jing.

"I'm going to buy some oxen for plowing the fields next spring." Yang Jing suddenly said, "I heard that everything is more expensive out there now."

Xia Yong understood immediately.

"I wonder if Miss Jun is short of help?" He said, "How much can Miss Jun give us if we go with her?"

Miss Jun smiled, with a hint of sadness in her eyes.

Family, they treat her as family.

How could her family bear to let her take risks alone?

"As for the reward, I received 50,000 taels of silver, so at least I have to give everyone 20,000 taels." She smiled and winked playfully.

"Although it's mainly everyone's contribution, I still have to take the lion's share, after all, I'm the one who's doing it."

She pointed to her head, her expression becoming increasingly serious.

"I promise, if I take you there, I will bring you back."

After she finished speaking, Xia Yong and Yang Jing looked at her and their expressions changed slightly.

Xiao Zhi inside suddenly put his hand on his mouth and stopped talking.

The cook, who was listening to her talk about how to cut the cloth, looked at her in confusion. Zhao Hanqing, who was eating fried meatballs nearby, also looked over.

"Mom, what's wrong?" she asked.

Xiao Wei coughed lightly.

"My throat suddenly hurts," she said, turning around and picking up the kettle beside her to pour a glass of water.

Zhao Hanqing didn't care and followed.

"I'm thirsty, too," she said.

Liu Er pouted.

"It would be strange if I wasn't thirsty after eating so many meatballs," she muttered.

"You eat a lot too." Zhao Hanqing said bluntly.

Xiao Wei smiled, poured water for Zhao Hanqing, and waved to Liu'er.

"Liu'er, come and have a drink too," she said.

Liu'er came over immediately and watched the two girls drink water. Xiao Weicai then picked up the teacup and drank slowly, sip by sip. The slightly bitter taste of the camellia slid through his mouth and tongue.

I could hear the girl talking outside.

"...Uncle Yang and Uncle Xia, you guys decide on the candidates. Don't differentiate between my people and yours. Just choose whoever is suitable and capable of doing the job."

"Oh and, even though we let them move in, we still have to keep our identities secret."

"This is very simple. The Chinese New Year is coming soon, so let's start preparing for the New Year," said Xia Yong.

It’s a busy new year.

Yes, it’s the last month of the lunar year, and another year is about to pass. It goes by so fast.

"Okay, finish all the housework before you leave." Miss Jun said with a smile.

…

The pig's grunting sound suddenly turned into a howl as a knife was stabbed into it.

It turns out that the pig's scream is so scary.

The people surrounding them retreated with a roar, seemingly greatly frightened.

Seeing that there were two or three familiar men among the people who were dodging and retreating with frightened faces, Liang Chengdong, who was standing nearby, twitched his eyebrows and feet.

Are you afraid of killing pigs? Killing pigs is not as bad as killing people, right? Those who slaughtered people didn't seem to be afraid of you.

The pigs' howling gradually faded away, and the blood basin gradually became full.

The wooden planks were set aside, and the skinning knife was rubbed till it was shiny, all that was left was to drain the pig's blood.

"Watch the pigs being slaughtered. Watch the pigs being slaughtered."

Children holding freshly made sesame candies ran over and laughed.

"Brother Chengdong, are you still watching the pigs being slaughtered?"

Someone said afterwards.

Liang Chengdong turned around and looked at his two brothers walking towards him.

"They're making tofu over there." One of them said with great joy, "The pulp is ready and many people are waiting to drink it."

"I haven't seen tofu-making for many years." Another said with some regret, "Since I left the village, I feel so familiar when I see it now, just like my village."

The village...

These people are not real villagers.

Liang Chengdong's brows were knitted together. The most terrifying thing was that they were just villagers and there was nothing wrong with them.

They can pretend to be villagers for a while, but to pretend like this requires them to truly regard themselves as villagers. However, they can kill people without blinking an eye the next moment.

This is weird and scary.

"Where's the Madam?" he asked, "Where's Xiao Chuan?"

"That lady is making rice cakes in her yard." A man pointed and said, "The lady asked Xiao Chuan to help."

Compared to the places where men gather to kill pigs and make tofu, the places where rice cakes are made are mostly populated by women, and the sound of laughter is endless and noisy.

"Madam, tut."

Miss Jun came over with a piece of freshly cut rice cake out of the pot and said with a smile.

The woman sat at the door basking in the sun, her feet resting on a small stool, feeling warm and relaxed.

"I've seen rice cakes being made when I was little." She smiled and stretched out her hand to twist a small piece.

"Be careful of the burns." Miss Jun said, sitting down next to her.

The woman turned the rice cake over in her hands and put it into her mouth.

"I'm the opposite of you, madam. I didn't see it when I was a child, but I saw it when I grew up." Miss Jun said, looking at the women who were busy talking and laughing.

Of course she followed her master and watched for the purpose of eating. However, at that time she did not think making rice cakes was interesting nor did she think it was delicious.

"Poor boring child," the master sighed at her.

Yes, at that time she was only thinking about how to learn skills quickly to save her father, and had no other thoughts. It was very boring. But now I think that the master must have felt very complicated when he saw the villagers killing pigs and sheep, making tofu and rice cakes.

People miss their families more during the holidays.

"Are your family members in Daming Prefecture?" Miss Jun suddenly turned around and asked.

From the day before yesterday until now, they had only had a brief conversation, and the conversation did not involve their personal background.

This girl is not the type to beat around the bush. She asked this question simply because she was thinking about this issue, or maybe she was thinking about her family.

The woman smiled.

“No,” she said. “My family is not together right now.”

Miss Jun looked at her in surprise.

"Your family isn't together either," she said.

The woman smiled at the word "also", which sounded a little lonely in the bustle of the New Year.

"It doesn't matter if we're together or not." She said, "Neighbors are far away, and being together day and night is not important."

It is quite interesting to use these two different lines of poetry together and at this time.

Miss Jun smiled.

Yes, we are all still alive. Even if we are not together, we can still see each other no matter how far we are. It is better than being separated by death.

"What's your name, madam?" she said after thinking for a moment.

Normally, one should ask someone's name when meeting them for the first time, but this girl never asked. This could mean that she didn't intend to inquire about someone's background, or that she was not interested in other people's names.

We met by chance, coming and going as fate dictates, no questions asked when someone came, no thoughts missed when someone left.

Asking this question suddenly now probably means that she wants to get to know this person.

This is like the innocence of a child and also like the arrogance that is born into the bones.

The woman looked at Miss Jun and smiled.

"Your surname is Yu," she said, "and your given name is Lan."

Even the name was mentioned, Miss Jun smiled.

"Mrs. Yu," she said, "My surname is Jun, my name is..."

Before he could finish his words, he was interrupted by some sharp and rapid shouts.

"Miss Jun!"

Miss Jun raised her head and saw the shopkeeper of Deshengchang walking in quickly.

His face was slightly red and there was sweat on his head, which might be due to the fast pace in winter or it might be due to nervousness.

Whether it is hurrying or being nervous, it is a sign that something is wrong.