Chapter Eight: Can't Bear to See Her Do Well
The people in the mud house were instantly awakened!
"What's going on?!" Chen Zhenyan sat up in shock again.
Outside the dilapidated wooden door, dozens of dark figures appeared indistinctly! They were ragged, emaciated, and carried wooden sticks, stones, and even farm tools. Their eyes gleamed with a hungry and greedy green light, like hyenas hunting!
They're refugees! They actually managed to sneak this far!
"Food! Hand over the food!" roared a tall, hoarse voice as he approached step by step.
"Get out of the way! This is our place!" Wang Zhong, along with a few bold servants, blocked the doorway, shouting fiercely but inwardly weakly.
But there were too many refugees, and they were driven to the brink of starvation and were about to swarm in!
Chen Jiao and Zhang Shi were so frightened that they huddled together, trembling. Chen Zhenyan was also pale-faced and his hands were shaking.
In an instant, chaos erupted in the house. Everyone wanted to hide, but where could they possibly hide in this cramped mud house?
Chen Zhenyan led Zhang and her daughter to hide where Chen Qing was, wishing he could disappear behind her. Chen Qing was being pushed around, and Pei Xuan tightly grabbed her sleeve, saying, "Sister Qing!"
Chen Qing went against the current, through the chaotic crowd, and came to Wang Zhong's side.
This loyal steward, even though his master was terrified, still dutifully stood at the front, trying to negotiate with the inhuman refugees.
"There are women inside! Lots of women!"
"Food! I can smell food!"
The refugees had long lost their minds. They were originally just kind and simple farmers, but the prolonged hunger and threat of death had driven them mad.
They wouldn't listen to a word Wang Zhong said!
The opportunity has arrived!
Without hesitation, Chen Qing immediately activated his skill, Intimidation Aura.
An invisible wave emanated from her and spread out instantly.
As Chen Qing stepped out of the shadows and came to the door, Wang Zhong hurriedly stopped her and shouted, "Miss, please go in quickly!"
Those refugees, who had been menacing and pressing forward, suddenly stopped moving!
They couldn't explain why, but a strange chill rose from the bottom of their hearts, as if they were being watched by something extremely dangerous. An instinctive fear made them hesitate, and the madness and greed in their eyes were replaced by suspicion and uncertainty.
The leader of the refugees felt a chill run down his spine. He suspiciously glanced at the woman who had suddenly walked out. Her expensive clothes were covered in bloodstains. Although she was fat, her expression was indifferent and her gaze was dignified, like a high and mighty... noblewoman.
The refugees didn't dare to look her in the eye.
Not only were the refugees affected, but the people inside the house who were screaming in fear were also intimidated by Chen Qing's aura and stopped screaming.
They stared at Chen Qing's back and actually felt a sense of security from his broad back.
Chen Zhenyan stared at his eldest daughter and murmured, "Qing'er..."
Just as the refugees' offensive paused due to the intimidating aura, Chen Qing suddenly mustered all his strength and shouted in a cold and clear voice:
"Do you want to die?!"
Her obese body seemed to exude an oppressive aura at that moment, her eyes sharp as knives as she swept over the refugees outside the door.
"We are from the Chen family who escaped from Qingzhou City! Commander Liu in the city is an old friend of my father! If you dare to touch us, even if you escape to the ends of the earth, you will surely be wiped out by the government troops!"
Her words were half true and half false, a bluff. The Chen family did indeed have some influence in Qingzhou, and Chen Zhenyan did know the garrison commander of Qibao Town, but would they really hunt down these refugees for the sake of the Chen family? Only heaven knew. But at a time like this, no one thought too much about it.
The people's fear of government officials and soldiers is ingrained in their very bones.
Combined with the effects of the intimidation skill, the refugees were stunned. They looked at each other, fear on their faces. They just wanted a meal and didn't want to provoke the soldiers.
The leader of the refugees' eyes darted around as he weighed the pros and cons.
He was the smartest one in the group; Chen Qing could fool the others, but not him.
He looked at Chen Qing with a shifty gaze, "If what you say is true, then why not go into the city and instead stay here?"
Chen Qing calmly said, "It's not that we can't enter the city, it's just that we've traveled all day and don't have time to get in. My father has already sent someone to the city to find Commander Liu, and I reckon the soldiers coming to meet us are already on their way. What, are you going to stay and wait with us?"
The refugees looked at each other, and one of them tugged at the sleeve of the leader: "Da Niu, we'd better hurry up and leave!"
"Sigh, let's go, let's go."
The refugees were already filled with fear and dared not attack Chen Qing and his group again, but Da Niu was somewhat unwilling.
His dark, thin face was filled with pain as he clutched his head in his hands, saying, "But... but if Peach Blossom doesn't eat something soon, she'll starve to death!"
He screamed desperately and shrilly.
He immediately knelt down in front of Chen Qing with a thud, pleading, "My lord! I beg you, please give me some food! My wife is pregnant with my child, and she hasn't eaten anything for three or four days! Please save her!"
The cries of the ox echoed through the vast天地 (heaven and earth), and many refugees shed tears as well.
They too had lost loved ones, suffered from hunger, cold, or were driven away by soldiers who took their lives.
It's inevitable that you'll empathize with the experts.
Seeing that the refugees had given up looting, Chen Zhenyan became assertive again. He strode over to Chen Qing and angrily shouted, "Why waste words with them? Get them out of here!"
"That's right! A bunch of peasants! Lowly people! They actually tried to steal our things!" Chen Jiao spat angrily at Da Niu and the other refugees.
Da Niu's face was full of grievances, and the tears that flowed down his face washed away the dirt on his face. In the distance, the sound of horses' hooves seemed to be heard. Could it be the soldiers that Chen Qing had mentioned?
The refugees were also afraid of encountering the soldiers, so they pulled on the big ox, saying, "Let's go! Let's go quickly!"
"My lord... I beg you... I beg you, please have mercy..."
Chen Qing closed her eyes helplessly, and when she opened them again, her eyes held a newfound determination.
"Uncle Zhong, share some of the food with them."
"Yes, Miss!"
"Chen Qing! What are you doing!" Chen Jiao screamed. "That's our food! Why are you sharing it with these lowly people?!"
Madam Zhang also became anxious, "Master, look at her, when did she become the one in charge of this family?"
"Shut up!" Chen Qing stepped forward angrily, his icy gaze like a knife, etched onto Zhang and her daughter. He slowly swept over them and said without any pretense, "Why didn't you stand up and show your strength just now? If you're not satisfied with my decision, go out and fight them to the death now. What, you're too scared?"
Wang Zhong had already distributed the food to the refugees, who were overjoyed, but they didn't eat it immediately. Instead, they carefully hid it away, wanting to take it back to their families.
When Chen Qing told Chen Jiao to come and snatch the food, they all glared at Chen Jiao with hostility, as if they would beat her to death if she dared to take it.
Chen Jiao was only good at bullying her own kind; she wouldn't dare to confront these refugees head-on. She slowly hid behind Chen Zhenyan.
Chen Zhenyan's eyes were filled with disappointment.
"Thank you so much, sir! I will never forget your kindness in providing me with this grain! I will repay you even if I have to serve you like a cow or a horse in my next life!"
After receiving the food, Da Niu knelt down in front of Chen Qing again and kowtowed several times.
Then, he led a dozen or so refugees away like a tide, his figure gradually disappearing into the darkness.
Inside the mud house, the survivors, who had narrowly escaped death, remained in a daze for a long time.
Wang Zhong and his servants collapsed to the ground, panting heavily.
Chen Zhenyan was also covered in sweat, and an indescribable curiosity welled up in his heart. He looked at Chen Qing, seemingly not expecting that his eldest daughter, whom he had always looked down upon, could persuade these terrifying refugees to leave with just a few words.
Zhang continued to nitpick, saying that Chen Qing was too ambitious, giving food to the refugees and trying to starve them to death.
Chen Zhenyan was already annoyed by this matter, and upon hearing this, he was furious and slapped Zhang Shi, knocking her to the ground.
"Foolish woman! Look what you've done to your spoiled children! A pair of idiots!"
This was the first time Chen Zhenyan had ever been so angry. He slapped Zhang Shi so hard that she fell silent. Chen Jiao looked at her father in disbelief. Her father had always doted on her, so why was he favoring Chen Qing?
Inside the mud house, Zhang was sobbing, her face red and swollen. Chen Jiao was holding her mother, while the rest of the group dispersed to continue patrolling, lest the refugees return.
The sound of horses' hooves that had startled the refugees seemed to be just an illusion. Chen Zhenyan waited expectantly until late into the night, but the soldiers who were supposed to greet them never came.
I can only go to sleep for now.
Just after midnight, Chen Qing's weight loss points were updated. She lost nearly two kilograms yesterday, which translates to 1876 weight loss points. Combined with her original 1303 points, she now has 3179 points.
As Chen Qing drew closer to the 8000 points needed for the antidote, he could not hide his joy.
It seems that eating beef and exercising are effective; even someone with a body type that is difficult to lose weight like her is losing weight rapidly.
Chen Qing glanced at Pei Xuan, who was curled up beside her. He seemed to be asleep, the distant firelight flickering and casting a small shadow beneath his thick eyelashes. During the chaos just now, he had stood by Chen Qing's side the whole time, ready to step in and protect her at any moment. It was impossible for Chen Qing not to be moved by that subconscious protectiveness.
But this feeling only lasted for a moment.
Having been betrayed by her closest loved one in her past life, the pain is still etched in her memory, and she will not easily give her heart away again.
As dawn broke and the wind and snow subsided somewhat, the dark clouds remained low and oppressive, making people feel suffocated.
The snow has been falling for too long, and the refugees, without proper resettlement, will only become more and more desperate. Now the Chen family's troops are short of food, and if the garrison commander of Qibao Town does not open the gates, they will also become refugees.
Chen Zhenyan felt a heavy weight on his heart. He woke up early and anxiously asked Wang Zhong, "Has the messenger not returned yet?"
"Reporting to Master, not yet." Wang Zhong's face was also full of anxiety.
In an earthen house, people have different opinions; how long can things remain peaceful?
On the other side, Pei Xuan woke up and immediately looked at Chen Qing, a smile appearing on his face: "Sister Qing."
Chen Qing nodded slightly.
"Sister Qing, are you hungry...?"
Yesterday, Pei Xuan failed to give the braised meat to Chen Qing, and now he was about to bring it up again when suddenly the voice of a guard was heard outside the door.
"Master! Master!"
"They've returned with the news!"
Chen Zhenyan happily got up and rushed outside, asking, "Where's Commander Liu? Where are the soldiers who came to pick us up?"
Seeing that only one guard had returned, Chen Zhenyan's heart sank to the bottom. "Where are the others?"
"Reporting to your master, Commander Liu accepted your token, but refused to send anyone out to greet you. He said..."
"What did Commander Liu say? Tell me quickly!" Zhang was almost frantic with worry.
The guard looked up at Chen Jiao and said with difficulty, "Commander Liu said that with the refugees causing trouble, it is difficult to prove your identity with just tokens. For example, he suggested that you send a female relative into the city so that he can identify her properly."
"Wang Wu and Wang Liu were detained by them; only I was able to return and deliver the message..."
Upon hearing this, Chen Jiao's face turned pale, and she immediately burst into tears: "Father! Please think of something! I don't want to go!"
Zhang grabbed her arm and pulled her from behind, gesturing to Chen Qing with her eyes, and glared at her daughter, saying, "What nonsense are you talking about! With your sister here, how could it be your turn?"
Everyone knew the meaning behind Liu Shoubei's excuse. In these chaotic times, Chen Zhenyan's status as a wealthy merchant made him like a fat sheep without any ability to protect himself; everyone wanted to fleece him.
Chen Zhenyan was in distress outside the city and asked him to send his daughter into the city, which was also a form of blackmail.
Having navigated the business world for many years, Chen Zhenyan naturally understood these things, which is why he looked extremely pale and disgusted, as if he had eaten excrement.
"Master! Say something to comfort Jiao'er!"
Chen Jiao was crying loudly, and Zhang Shi was still shouting, which was very irritating.
"Cry, cry, cry! All you do is cry!" Chen Zhenyan angrily shook his sleeves. "Do you think Commander Liu will be happy to send Qing'er away?"
Chen Qing raised an eyebrow. What did that mean?
Everyone silently stared at Chen Qing's obese body...
Although the young lady is indeed a very kind person, and the servants all like her very much after spending these few days with her, they can't honestly say that Liu Shoubei would be attracted to her looks...
Pei Xuan was the first to object, stepping forward to block Chen Qing and saying, "Don't go too far! Good things never happen to Sister Qing, but bad things are always pushed onto her. Why should she get the blame?!"
Like an angry little beast, he spread his arms and shielded Chen Qing behind him.
Chen Qing was somewhat moved.
Has this kid really changed his ways, or is he just putting on an act for her?
Now is not the time to think about these things. Chen Qing withdrew his attention and calmed down to think things through.
The caravan was short of food, the people were restless, and there were many refugees outside the city. If they did not hurry into the city, they would not have a good ending.
Even she herself had little ability to protect herself in the face of so many refugees.
Therefore, going to see Commander Liu might not be a good thing, but it's better than hiding outside the city and waiting to die.
If Chen Jiao is truly handed over to Liu Shoubei, she will definitely deal a heavy blow to Chen Qing once she gains power. Chen Qing cannot sit idly by and wait for his death.
Thinking of this, Chen Qing stopped being silent and calmly said, "Father, I am willing to go into the city to see Commander Liu and ask him to open the city gates and let you into the city."
Upon hearing this, Pei Xuan immediately became anxious: "Sister Qing!"
But Chen Jiao became unhappy again. She said in a shrill voice, "You're as fat as a pig. Commander Liu won't like you and might even get us all killed!"
She just can't stand to see Chen Qing doing well.
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