Chapter 497 The Challenges of Life in Qiongzhou (Part 2)
"The third one is also what worries me the most - the threat to coastal defense!" Dewey's voice suddenly took on a murderous aura.
"Qiongzhou is isolated overseas with a long coastline. Although there are water forts for patrol, the troops are scattered and it is difficult to protect it.
Although there have been no large-scale invasions by Japanese pirates in recent years, the remnants of the Japanese pirates who were defeated by government troops on the coast of Fujian, Zhejiang and Guangdong often fled to Qiongzhou and Danzhou like stray dogs.
These deserters were the most brutal and brutal, with no military discipline at all. They came ashore just to plunder and vent their anger.”
A trace of hatred and heaviness flashed in his eyes: "When I was stationed in Leizhou, I received urgent reports from Qiongzhou several times.
These defeated pirates, in groups of three or five, or dozens of men, often chose remote fishing villages or places with weak defenses to land, burning, killing, looting, and committing all kinds of atrocities.
Wherever they passed, they often killed every chicken and dog, and even the elderly, the weak, women and children were not spared.
After abducting people and robbing food and property, they escaped into the vast ocean in small boats, making it extremely difficult to track them down.
The general and his family have just arrived, and if they settle too close to the coast, they must be on high alert.
It's best to find a place that's easy to defend but difficult to attack, or to settle down near a garrison or patrol station, and be especially careful at night."
When Lu Qinniang heard this, her face turned pale and she subconsciously tightened her grip on Sanya's hand.
It turns out there were Japanese pirates.
It’s okay if they’re Japanese pirates, but what if someone wants to deal with Xiao Yan and pretends to be a Japanese pirate?
Recently, she has not only developed a love brain, but also a useful brain.
No, you must live next to the guard post.
Winning people's hearts has gone from being an option to a must.
People have to support each other to survive in this place.
Of course, there is one most important issue, which is to eat - you have to make money!
I don’t know if I can find the way after I go there.
Now no one thinks about getting rich, just wanting to have enough food and clothing, and not live off the savings.
They still have some money on hand, but at any time, they would feel uneasy about using their savings.
The money on hand seems to be a lot, but you have to settle down in a strange place, build a house, manage relationships, and deal with possible accidents... Who knows how long it can last?
During the few days in Leizhou, Lu Qiniang took San Ya to visit everywhere and gained a basic understanding of the local customs and habits.
She tasted many new fruits and seafood that she had never eaten before.
For example, carambola, papaya, various fish, shrimp, shellfish and snails.
Seeing those beautiful conch shells, Lu Qiniang was reluctant to throw them away. She said to Sanya, "Where have we seen these in the capital? Do you think we can get some to sell back?"
"I don't know. Wait until my second sister comes and ask her." San Ya was so engrossed in chewing crabs that she didn't even look up.
Although the shell is hard and prickly, this crab is really fresh and sweet!
"There are also dried fish and shrimp. We can make a living by living in the mountains and by the sea." Lu Qiniang thought, "But let's not go to the capital for these. It's too far. How about going to Shu?"
"Where is Shu?" San Ya was curious.
Lu Qiniang had looked at the map with Xiao Yan and had some idea of the distance between each place.
She dipped her finger in tea and drew a rough outline on the table, explaining it to San Ya.
"That's fine, maybe I can help." San Ya said with a smile, "Mom, do you need a bodyguard to escort the goods? It's free."
Lu Qin's mother glared at her and said, "Don't show off just because you've learned some mediocre skills. Work hard and learn all your father's skills. Then you can become a great general in the future. Don't be so arrogant. Just because others praise you, you think you are so great."
"Of course, I want to be better than my father." San Ya vowed, "Just wait and see."
"Okay, I'll learn from you when I have time." Lu Qiniang encouraged her with a smile, "You teach me."
This is how it is with raising children, it is very difficult to strike the right balance.
The child is bloated, so pour cold water on him.
But we must always remember to encourage.
"How can you have the time?"
As they were talking, A Tai came in holding Shi Niu who was crying non-stop.
"Come, give it to me. Our Shi Niu is hungry." Lu Qinniang took the child with a smile.
A Tai was very embarrassed and felt so awkward that he didn't know where to put his hands.
Lu Qiniang smiled and said, "Look at you. You two have helped me with so much work along the way, and I haven't been polite to you. Why are you being polite to me?"
Ah Tai's eyes were red. "You have given Shi Niu a new life and have taken great care of us. My husband and I don't know how to thank you."
She secretly swore in her heart that she would repay Lu Qiniang when she had the chance in the future.
"Don't take the helping hand too seriously." Lu Qiniang said, "By the way, have you and Shitou eaten yet?"
Ah Tai said hurriedly, "Madam, we've eaten. My husband couldn't sit still, so he took a look around. You know, he doesn't have any other special skills, he just likes farming and tending to flowers and plants. After coming here, he saw so many plants he had never seen before, and he was so happy."
After arriving in Leizhou, the yamen runners relaxed their control over these people a lot.
After all, we have come this far, where can we escape to?
"Speaking of this, I remembered," Lu Qiniang said with a smile, "Before we came here, my daughter said she had prepared a lot of seeds, but I didn't open the boxes to take a look. When we get to Qiongzhou, I'll give them to Shitou and let him try planting them. Maybe in the future we can eat the food we grow ourselves."
Atai was overjoyed and immediately said that he would let Shitou take care of it with all his heart.
The boat could make a round trip once a day. Lu Qiniang remembered the instructions of Princess Yan and went to the local shrine of sages in Leizhou to burn incense.
The temple houses statues of two generals who pacified southern Xinjiang a hundred years ago, and is filled with the smoke of incense.
It is said that if you pray sincerely before crossing the sea, you will have calm seas.
Lu Qinniang was burning incense while nagging: "Speaking of which, my Xiao Yan and the two generals are half colleagues, both leading troops to fight. My family must bless my family to be safe and sound, and have a smooth crossing of the sea."
San Ya looked at the vague achievements recorded on the stone tablet with curiosity, trying hard to recognize the handwriting eroded by time. Her little face was full of seriousness, but she didn't find it boring.
Lu Qiniang continued to mutter, "The Princess of Yan showed us the way and asked us to come and pay our respects. So you two should also bless the Prince of Yan and his family with safety and prosperity."
Thousands of miles away in the capital, Prince Yan's Mansion.
The joy of the first month of the year has not yet faded, and the palace is still decorated with lights and colorful lanterns, with the afterglow of the New Year everywhere.
However, in this peaceful environment, King Yan felt like he was suffocating.
It has been more than a month since he arrived in the capital. The ecstasy of reuniting with his son Liu Jian after a long separation, like a brilliant but short-lived firework, has long since dissipated in the "torture" day after day.
At this moment, he was holding the edge of the desk, his chest heaving violently, breathing heavily, trying to suppress the evil fire that was rushing straight to the top of his head.
"My own child! He's my own biological child!"
He repeated it in his mind over and over again, as if it was the only spell that could prevent him from immediately hanging up and whipping the little bastard in front of him.
For more than a month, he has been on the verge of going berserk every day.
Today, Liu Jian rushed into the study, his little face filled with serious anticipation. He looked up at his tall and majestic father and asked crisply, "Father, when will you be exiled to Qiongzhou?"
Prince Yan didn't react for a moment, and subconsciously asked, "...What?"
Liu Jian thought his father hadn't heard him clearly, so he immediately stood on tiptoe, moved closer, and repeated in a clearer and more hopeful tone: "Father! When can you be exiled to Qiongzhou? Then I can see my sister again."
Father, please try harder!
The Prince of Yan suddenly slammed the table and stood up, shaking the pen holder and inkstone on the table. His handsome face flushed red with anger, the veins on his forehead throbbed, and his finger pointing at Liu Jian was shaking: "You rebellious son! Are you hoping your father will be exiled?! You...you..."
Seeing that he looked like he wanted to eat someone, Liu Jian dared not stay any longer. He turned around and ran away, disappearing in a flash. Only the furious King Yan was left roaring in place.
"Stop right there, you little bastard! I'll break your legs!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
