Zhang San's parents are like taboos to Zhang San.

Zhu Ying knew this. It was a very complicated feeling.

"Your Highness, I...they...I..."

Zhang San talked for a long time, not knowing where to start. He didn't even know how to say it.

After following Zhu Ying for so many years, this was the first time that his eyes were filled with confusion.

"Some things should be let go after they are over. You also know that this damn natural disaster is not just about you, but also about many others, who are just like you."

"In the future, just think about the future. You are doing very well now. You must believe that your children will never experience the same thing as you again."

"Crops such as sweet potatoes have already begun to be promoted in the Ming Dynasty. It won't be long before there are enough grains. By that time, these tragic experiences will no longer occur within the territory of the Ming Dynasty."

Looking at Zhang San's expression, Zhu Ying said comfortingly.

The name Zhang San was given to him by Zhu Ying. From the moment Zhang San was rescued, he was reborn.

"Thank you, Your Highness. I understand."

Zhang San's eyes started to turn red when he heard this, and the previous scenes reappeared in his mind.

"It's okay, go ahead. We just arrived in the capital today, so take a day off and relax."

Zhu Ying said.

Zhang San wanted to refuse, but under the pressure of Zhu Ying's eyes, he had no choice but to agree.

Then he walked towards Zhu Ying and slowly left.

That year, there was a severe famine and people ate each other.

Zhang San was born in a small county town. His family was not rich, but they had more than 20 acres of land and lived a stable life.

When the famine came, Zhang San's family of seven could barely survive the first year by relying on stored food.

However, in the second year, the grain had been eaten up, but there was no new grain to harvest, and all the fields dried up.

Many people became refugees and began to escape famine.

Many people also started selling their children.

In this frontier city of the Ming Dynasty, the government doesn't seem to have many solutions.

But the family’s more than 20 acres of fertile land made everyone reluctant to leave.

In the end, the old cow in the family and the big yellow dog that grew up with Zhang San had no choice but to become food.

This way, we can still get through the day.

News also came from the city that the government had provided relief. Although it was only thin porridge, at least they would not starve to death.

After the early rice is planted, everyone looks forward to the autumn harvest.

The heavy rain made Zhang San's family cheer.

With this abundant rain, when the harvest time comes, we can sustain our life no matter what.

Whether it was Zhang San’s older brother, sister, or parents, although they were still hungry, there were smiles in their eyes.

However, as the saying goes, a severe drought will be followed by a locust plague.

Before the harvest time, the crops were eaten up by the overwhelming swarms of locusts.

This time, Zhang San and his family were completely panicked.

After the locust plague, it meant that the fields were useless for the year, and the family had to plant all the old grains.

The remaining food rations can only last until autumn.

Bad news continued to come, and the government's disaster relief grain was already stretched to the limit. Zhang San held the porridge that looked like clear water, and his eyes began to fill with confusion.

This is the Northwest, an endless plateau where you don’t even know where to go to escape famine.

The family had no strength to escape the famine and would surely starve to death on the way.

I could only squat on the kang, close my eyes and breathe dryly to save energy.

Drink some water when you are thirsty or hungry. My father said that this is how he survived the famine when he was young.

The family only has one meal a day.

Plain porridge with meat.

The meat is made from locusts that the family catches when they pass through the area and then dries them into jerky.

In this way, Zhang San and his family managed to survive for a few more months.

And the people in the tribe had begun to starve to death one by one.

Those who went out to escape famine have disappeared without a trace.

The bustling tribe began to become dead silent.

Then half a month later, Zhang San's family was completely out of food, and at this time, the government's disaster relief grain was also gone.

Only some wealthy families still had food in stock.

My father went there and was told that the gates were closed and they would no longer accept slaves.

After drinking the water for two days, even the bark of the nearby trees had been eaten up.

The whole family was at home, and there was no sound at all.

Zhang San's father looked at the clean bottom of the pot and said: If we don't do some things now, we will end up like those families in the clan, completely wiped out.

While speaking, Zhang San's father's eyes were always fixed on the child in Zhang San's sister-in-law's arms.

When Brother Zhang San heard this, he stood up silently and squatted at the door in silence.

The sister-in-law looked at the child in her arms and couldn't stop crying.

Zhang San actually knew what his father meant. He opened a new vegetable shop in the county town, which specialized in recruiting people. It was said that it was run privately by the government and some wealthy families.

Being hungry, Zhang San did not speak.

When I woke up the next day, my sister-in-law's child was indeed missing.

Not long after, Zhang San's father and elder brother came back with two large pieces of meat, along with Chen Gu.

The aroma of rice and meat came from the big pot again. Zhang San didn't know how long it had been since he last smelled this aroma.

But when the family was eating, they were silent.

However, when Zhang San picked up a piece of meat and put it in his mouth, the delicious taste almost made him vomit.

Even so, within a few days, Zhang San's family was wiped out again.

One night, Zhang San was awakened by a loud noise.

After listening carefully, Zhang San covered his face with the quilt.

The next day, there was new rice and meat.

But my sister-in-law is no longer here.

But this time, Zhang San seemed to have gotten used to it.

After eating the rice and meat, Zhang San, who had regained his strength, went out with his elder brother and father to look for food.

At this time, the entire county had begun to panic.

The home of a wealthy family was attacked, but Zhang San and his companions arrived too late and everything was lost.

My father regretted it very much and said that he should have sent my sister-in-law over earlier.

Groups of people began to flee the famine, and the only way they would die of starvation was to stay in the county town.

Zhang San watched helplessly as someone fainted from hunger on the ground, and was immediately picked up by his companions who lit a fire and started the stove.

Some children, if they did not keep up with their parents, would soon be beaten to death.

My father and eldest brother talked it over and decided to go over while they still had strength and ask them to share some of the food.

Seeing the two people who were full of energy, the group finally compromised.

Under the current circumstances, even the dead have become unsafe. Buried people do not need to wait until the next day, they will be dug out that very night.

Later, no one buried the dead in the family.

As time went on, the entire county began to become sparsely populated.

It was only at this time that Zhang San discovered that the government office in the county was already deserted.

Zhang San's mother starved to death and was not buried.

This was Zhang San's mother's own request. She hoped that this family could survive.

Soon, my sister was also sent to the shop.

Finally, it was Zhang San's turn.

Because my eldest brother is the eldest son in the family.

It was only at this time that the father told Zhang San that he was also the eldest son in the family.

Only at this time did Zhang San understand.

No resistance, no anger.

Zhang San followed his elder brother and father towards the vegetable shop.

Someone led Zhang San into the vegetable shop. His father and elder brother were waiting outside.

But when Zhang San turned the corner, he turned around and found that his father and elder brother were gone, which made Zhang San a little sad.

There were many people in the yard, all tied up naked and hanging in the air.

The sound of knives hitting chopping boards could be heard from the backyard.

From time to time a fat man would come and grab someone and drag them to the backyard.

Some of these people are dead, and some are in coma.

Not long after, someone came and gave Zhang San a large bowl of yellow water to drink.

After drinking the yellow water, Zhang San began to feel drowsy.

It turns out that this is the smell of the knockout drug.

…

On the streets of the capital, scenes from the past kept emerging in Zhang San’s mind.

The bustling crowd in front of him made him feel as if he was in another world.

"Boss, thank you!"