Chapter 6 This Blessing is for You
"Pah, what the hell is that!"
Diao spat in the direction of the Li family, and then looked at Yang Yi with dissatisfaction after cursing.
"Look at you, you're so big, but you're bullied by a damned old woman! The next time someone dares to come to our house, you'll give them a good beating!"
Yang Yi's huge body always stood guard beside the bamboo basket. That was the task assigned to him by Chen Chunxing.
In response to Diao's scolding, he just smiled and nodded.
Since waking up in the Shen family a year ago, although he often has some headaches, he is not stupid. He still knows who can bully whom.
Instead, Shen Mingqiu muttered, "I am the only male in the Shen family, so I should stand up..."
Everyone pretended not to hear this.
The brat has been competing with Yang Yi lately, and I don’t know what’s wrong with him.
Only Chen Yandong walked up to the third brother and patted his arm comfortingly.
Shen Mingqiu was feeling very moved when he suddenly felt something was wrong. He lowered his head and took a closer look. His sleeves, which had already been washed grey, were stained with green fingerprints.
The silly child had been pulling weeds for a long time, but now that he saw Diao coming back, he knew it was time to wash his hands and eat.
Shen Mingqiu…he shouldn’t have had any expectations!
"With your thin arms and legs, where do you think you can go? You'll have to spend money on my medicine!" Diao rolled her eyes and opened the bag of flour in her hand.
It was filled with the rations that had been collected.
During the exile, people were provided with food but not fullness. Each person had two meals a day, each consisting of a steamed bun, only the size of a fist.
If you want more food, you can only spend money to buy it from the officials.
"Fortunately, our family prepared early and saved some food, so we should be able to survive for at least half a month."
As for half a month later... Diao glanced at Yang Yi and sighed heavily.
Thinking about it, she also escaped from the famine in the past. Although her current situation is not the same as before, it is not much different either - this one person alone is probably enough to replace three people from other families!
"Let's eat quickly. If we don't hurry up, we'll have to travel on an empty stomach later." Chen Chunxing tactfully changed the subject.
She stood up and wanted to take the bag of flour to distribute the steamed buns to everyone.
Unexpectedly, Diao dodged it.
Diao glanced around and saw that no one was paying attention to her, so she lifted a corner of the linen covering the bamboo basket and took out a baked cake from it.
The flatbread is as big as a plate and is very substantial. With just a few sips of water, an average person can be full with just one.
"Eat it."
Diao divided the pancake into two, gave half to Chen Chunxing, and then broke the other half into four parts and gave a small piece to each of the remaining people.
Then each person was given a steamed bun.
Everyone was already accustomed to Diao's behavior and didn't think there was anything wrong. After receiving their dry food, they began to chew it with big mouthfuls.
There is no other good thing about children who grow up in the countryside, except that they are highly adaptable.
Only those who have experienced hunger know what is precious.
Over the past two years, Chen Chunxing had already figured out the old lady's temper. He didn't refuse and just said half a pancake was enough, and forced the steamed bun that was allocated to him on Diao.
Whether it is a flatbread or a steamed corn bread, they are just like that. They can fill your stomach but they are not delicious at all.
There is nothing to be humble about.
The Shen family’s good days are yet to come.
soon.
Scolded by the officials, the crowd set off again.
After experiencing the farce just now, everyone looked at the Shen family differently.
No matter what he thought in his heart, he dared not show it on the surface.
Chen Chunxing turned a blind eye to all this. She neither wanted to explain anything to others nor deliberately made trouble. She just followed the large group forward silently, occasionally casting a probing look forward.
Along the way, the nobles' carriages followed closely behind the government's convoy. Except for the woman and the coachman, no one else got off.
Judging from the scale of their trip, they don’t look like a wealthy family.
But since they have a connection with the exile team, it is definitely not ordinary. I just don’t know if these people are just passing by, or... have the same destination?
While Chen Chunxing was thinking, he suddenly saw the woman get off the mule cart.
Unlike when she faced the officials, the woman now had a cold expression on her face. She wandered outside the team, neither greeting anyone nor chatting or asking questions. She just looked at the crowd with a critical eye.
Everyone was confused by what they saw. They were good citizens yesterday, but today they became criminals. In just half a day, they were unable to change their mentality and felt ashamed and annoyed.
Only a few families gave the woman a flattering smile.
After looking for a while, the woman seemed to have finally found her target and walked towards the middle of the team.
Chen Chunxing's family happened to be located diagonally behind this place.
Although I didn't hear what was said before, I could clearly see that Master Jiang was so angry that his face was shaking and he was very furious.
The woman was disappointed and left with a sour face, but she did not forget to yell loudly:
"Don't be so shameless! What happened to the daughter of the Jiang family? She's just a prisoner now! My master is going to take up the position of county magistrate. It's your daughter's blessing to be able to serve him!"
Master Jiang Er pouted and said, "This blessing is for you, do you want it? There is no way a daughter of the Jiang family can be someone else's maid!"
There was an uproar all around.
I didn’t expect that the distinguished person in the car would be an official!
Although the rank of seventh-rank county magistrate was not high enough compared to the previous earl's mansion, the Jiang family was now under investigation, and the fate of the direct line was unknown, and the collateral line was also exiled to the border.
Not to mention the county magistrate, even a small constable in the county government office is someone they cannot afford to offend now.
"There will be times when you will beg me!"
However, to everyone's surprise, the woman did not cause trouble for the Jiang family. She just said some harsh words and returned to the carriage.
The farce ended in vain.
The officers who heard the noise acted as if nothing had happened and had no intention of intervening.
Recalling the look the woman had given him just now, Chen Chunxing's gaze froze.
He picked up Chen Yandong who was staggering beside him.
After all, he is just a three-year-old child. Even if he has some brute strength, he cannot withstand the physical fatigue.
Diao suddenly became anxious: "Why are you holding him? He can walk by himself!"
The eldest girl had never suffered any hardship since she was born. Even during the most difficult two years, she was reluctant to let her go to the fields to work. Now she has to walk dozens of miles, how can she hold another child?
Chen Chunxing wanted to say that it was okay, but her hands were not strong enough. Her current physical condition was only slightly better than the third brother's.
After reluctantly handing Little Fourth over to Yang Yi, Chen Chunxing looked at this one and then that one, sweat oozing from his forehead, his legs trembling, and he couldn't help but sigh.
It seems I have to find a way to spend the money.
The group hurried and finally arrived at the post station just as it was getting dark.
The convoys of officials and nobles entered the post station one after another, but the prisoners did not receive such treatment. They were driven to the back door of the post station and camped there.
Tonight, everyone will stay in this wilderness.
The farmers were okay, as most of them had survived hard times, but the lords and ladies from the side branches were complaining bitterly.
The weather is relatively warm during the day, but the autumn wind blows suddenly at night. If you catch a cold by accident, you will be heading for death in such a situation.
So.
When the Shen family found clean fallen leaves and laid out their couches, they would always see some people from the team knocking on the back door of the post station, and then entering after talking to the postman.
Silver is hard currency everywhere.
Chen Chunxing had a lot of odds and ends in his arms. He had specifically picked out some less valuable items from the treasure chest so that he could spend them more easily.
But it’s only the first day, so it’s not the right time to spend it yet.
She stared at the back door meaningfully for a long time, until she saw Mr. Jiang and his family hiding behind the door, then she withdrew her gaze.
Even the Earl's side branch can hide private silver, which makes the court seem too generous...
Chen Chunxing lowered his eyes and looked at Chen Mingqiu, a half-grown child who was following Yang Yi to pick up firewood. His face was obviously pale, but he was still trying hard to move.
This child has a short life and is destined to have a rough life. Fortunately, he is blessed by his ancestors and has a chance to survive.
It's just... a little difficult to educate.
Shen Mingqiu picked up the things and found them next to Shen Chunxing. Seeing that everyone was gathered around the fire, he hurriedly asked the question that had been weighing on his mind for a long time: "Sister, why did you take action in broad daylight?"
Chen Chunxing did not answer. He took out a handkerchief and wiped his forehead, then took the dry branch from his arms and walked back slowly.
"Sister!" Shen Mingqiu followed behind relentlessly, "You always said that harmony is the most important thing, and you should... keep a low profile. Why are you being so high-profile today?"
Two consecutive "whys" revealed the confusion in Shen Mingqiu's heart.
Shen Chunxing stopped facing the direction of her family and patted Shen Mingqiu on the shoulder. "Mingqiu, from now on, I will no longer restrain you."
An unusual look suddenly flashed in Shen Mingqiu’s eyes.
It was like a long-awaited sharp blade finally cutting through the darkness.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
