Chapter 379: Weird things happen every year, but this year there are more
Tiezhu really wanted to jump up and give the bastard a slap on the face.
His face flushed, and he said angrily: "How many times do I have to tell you, I am standing, I am standing!"
"Oh," the child rubbed his head, not quite understanding, and asked, "Uncle Tiezhu, what is a meat ticket?"
Tiezhu frowned and scolded: "You are just a kid, don't ask so many questions!"
The child's eyes lit up, as if he understood, "I know, these two beautiful sisters are the wives of the village that you guys brought back, right? I heard that the people in the neighboring village would bring back beautiful sisters when they see them!"
When they heard that the person brought back was the "Lady of the Yazhai", the group of women who had gathered to watch the excitement could no longer sit still, and they all rushed over in an instant, rolled up their sleeves and went straight to their men.
"Well, Wang Erwa, you are quite courageous. The village is almost destitute, and you still have the mind to look for a woman?"
"What? Your ear hurts? Tighten it gently? Will you learn your lesson if I pinch it gently? Zhang Muzi, I tell you, if I don't teach you a lesson today, I will take your last name!"
"Husband, what are you doing hiding behind the iron pillar? He can't even block your head. Come here obediently, let's go back to the house and talk."
“No, no, ah——!”
In an instant, all kinds of screams echoed throughout the village.
Song Yuqiu rubbed her ears, her heart pounding with fear, "Sister Zhuo Ning, how about we explain it?"
Xie Zhuoning thought for a moment and said, "We should not interfere in their affairs."
This outsider's interference in the couple's affairs might even backfire.
Song Yuqiu sighed, thinking that strange things happen every year, but this year there are especially many.
Have you ever seen a group of bandits quarrel among themselves and abandon the kidnapped hostages?
After a while, the noise died down a bit, and the dwarf Tiezhu came out from somewhere, straightened his clothes and hair, and came over to invite them to sit in the living room.
The group walked a little further with him and saw several hastily built wooden houses, with the roofs covered with dry thatch instead of tiles.
This shaky house is likely to collapse if it rains too hard.
Song Yuqiu looked around, the corners of his mouth twitching, "Don't tell me, this is your cottage living room?!"
The dwarf smiled awkwardly and nodded, "This place is simple, please don't mind it."
Xiao Jinxuan and Xie Zhuoning walked in first. Although the place was shabby and shabby, it was still quite clean.
Then he asked, "Could you please prepare some food for us?"
"Of course, of course. I've asked them to take care of it." Tiezhu nodded quickly and pointed outside the window.
When people looked over, they saw the bandits taking out their own tools for robbing, some were chopping wood, some were digging the ground, and they were busy in full swing.
This scene made Xie Zhuoning and the others feel deeply suspicious.
Is this place really a den of thieves?
Not long after, the food was delivered.
A bowl of dark porridge of unknown substance, a plate of cooked sweet potatoes, and the only luxury was a bowl of smoked rabbit meat.
Everyone looked at these things, and their gazes froze once again.
The dwarf was afraid that they would be dissatisfied, so he smiled bitterly, "Please don't despise me, my lords. Although this bitter potato porridge may look ugly, it is very filling. One bowl can last a whole day."
Song Yuqiu sighed, "This bitter potato is a flatulent food. Isn't it true that you'll feel full after eating just one bowl?"
But that kind of fullness is just false fullness, the stomach is still empty, and I have no energy or strength.
Tiezhu said hurriedly, "Let's eat sweet potatoes. These sweet potatoes are all grown by us at the back of the mountain. It's just that the land here is in the shade, so the harvest is not very good, and the potatoes are relatively small, but they still taste good. And the rabbit meat is all caught and smoked by us at home, it's delicious!"
Hearing him say this, Xiao Jinxuan and Xie Zhuoning took the lead and picked up a piece of rabbit meat to taste it.
It was dry, woody, and without any salt. It definitely didn't taste good.
Seeing that they had all finished eating, Song Yuqiu immediately picked up the chopsticks and started eating. However, as soon as he put the food in his mouth, he couldn't help but spit it out.
"Wow, this is disgusting! Is this something for humans to eat?"
She picked up the earthen bowl and made a gesture to stand up and pour it out.
A few children rushed in, grabbed something from the plate, and started eating it in big mouthfuls.
The dwarf was horrified when he saw this, and rushed over to chase them away, "Go away, stop eating, this is for the distinguished guests!"
One of the children begged, "Uncle Tiezhu, please let us have a bite. I haven't eaten meat for a long time and I have forgotten what meat tastes like."
"Yes, please..."
Faced with the children's pleas, Tiezhu felt a little bit reluctant.
But this is the last bit of meat they can get from the village. If they eat it, what will the big Buddhas behind them eat?
At this moment, Xie Zhuoning spoke up, "Let them eat."
Upon hearing this, the children immediately cheered for joy, and in the blink of an eye, they wolfed down the bowl of rabbit meat.
Seeing this scene, Song Yuqiu felt really uncomfortable.
She felt that her life was hard enough, but whether in the new century or here, she had never worried about food and clothing, nor had she ever experienced such a life of lack of food and clothing.
Compared with these kids, she didn't know how much happier she was.
"Sister Zhuo Ning, there are some candied fruits in the carriage. I want to share them with everyone."
When she left, she didn't take much with her except for several bags filled with snacks.
Xie Zhuoning nodded, "Well, go ahead."
Tiezhu waved his hands hastily, "How can we do this? The children are ignorant and ate up all the meat. We are already sorry enough for you. How can we take your food?"
"It's not for you to eat, it's for the children." Song Yuqiu ignored him, walked out the door, called a group of children and went to the carriage.
Xiao Jinxuan also asked Ling Xiao to take out a few banknotes and said to Tie Zhu, "Tell a few people to go down the mountain with him to buy some rice, noodles and meat so that everyone can have a full meal first."
When Tiezhu saw the banknote, his eyes widened.
Weren't they robbed by the bandits in front? How come they still had banknotes?
Since these people have money, why should we follow them back to the village to eat and drink for free?
Moreover, they are poor and vicious bandits, yet these people still use their money to buy rice, noodles and meat for them to have enough food?
Xiao Jinxuan glanced at him calmly, "What are you standing there for? Why don't you go?"
Tiezhu came back to his senses and nodded hurriedly, "Yes, yes, I'll ask a few strong men to go down the mountain to buy it. But... can you let your female hero with strong martial arts skills go with us?"
Ling Xiao looked at him warily, "What do you want to do? Do you want to send the people away and attack our master?"
"No, no, no! You misunderstood!" Tiezhu waved his hands quickly, "The main thing is that in our area, there is a small village every three steps and a big village every five steps. We are carrying so much money, I am afraid it will be robbed before we even get to the street..."
"Pfft——" Ling Xiao couldn't help but said, "In your place, you guys are still happy to cheat on your fellow thieves!"
Tiezhu smiled bitterly, "Then who said we can't beat others?"
"Don't worry," Ling Xiao patted his chest, "I'll go with you. My martial arts skills are no weaker than that female hero!"
After hearing this, Tiezhu felt relieved. He paused and said, "Sir, I have another request..."
Xiao Jinxuan looked at him and said, "Speak."
"Can you use only half of this money to buy food, and convert the other half directly into silver for us?"
Xiao Jinxuan frowned, but didn't have time to speak.
Ling Xiao was the first to lose patience, and he put his hands on his waist and cursed, "You stinky dwarf, you are so small, but you are full of tricks. How dare you ask for such a request? How dare you deduct this money? Do you have no conscience?"