Chapter Seven: He's Mine
Inside the car, Chen Jiao heard the shouts outside and said disdainfully, "Ever since my sister fell into the group of refugees, she's become more and more shameless. There are so many men outside, she's really not ashamed!"
Since the carriage wasn't soundproof, her words were naturally heard by people outside.
Wang Zhong's face turned pale, and he hurriedly looked at Chen Qing: "Miss, why don't you go back?"
Chen Qing was panting heavily and her face was pale, but she smiled gently when she heard this.
"Uncle Zhong, it's alright. I'm already a bit chubby. Sitting up there would only cause you trouble and be an eyesore. I'd rather get down and walk around. Maybe I can even lose some weight."
Wang Zhong looked at Chen Qing gratefully, not knowing what to say.
They were slaves, and it was only right for them to do whatever they wanted for their masters. Even if Chen Qingzhen was sitting in the carriage, they could only grit their teeth and bear the weight. There was absolutely no reason for them to ask the young lady to get down and push the carriage.
Wang Zhong understood that this was a private matter within the inner quarters. The eldest daughter lost her mother at a young age, and although Aunt Zhang was known for her love and care for the eldest daughter, it was clear to everyone that she had raised her own daughter to be as beautiful as a flower, but had raised the eldest daughter to be as fat as a pig.
Only the young lady, being kind-hearted by nature, regarded Aunt Zhang as a good person.
Wang Zhong suddenly felt sorry for Chen Qing; what a wonderful young lady she was!
"Uncle Zhong, let's keep pushing, no matter what else. I think I can see Qibao Town."
The sky was overcast, and the distant town lay like a lurking beast in the vast snowfield.
Upon hearing this, everyone perked up and continued pushing the cart.
Pei Xuan leaned against Chen Qing and asked softly, "Sister, if you're tired, lean on me and I'll push you."
Chen Qing glanced at his small frame, as thin as a chick, how much strength could he have?
"No need, just mind your own business."
Chen Qing's words were clearly for Pei Xuan's good, but her suspicious gaze made Pei Xuan feel ashamed. He looked at his slender arms and legs and thought, "Am I really too thin?"
After walking for another hour or so, Chen Qing felt as if her legs were filled with lead, her heart was pounding, and her vision was blurring. She leaned against the carriage, panting heavily.
Pei Xuan and Wang Zhong looked at her with concern, ready to help her up at any moment.
However, amidst this extreme exhaustion, a system notification sounded in her mind:
[Host detected engaging in sustained low-to-moderate intensity exercise, resulting in significant calorie consumption. Host has been granted one chance to open a blind box. Please check your inventory.]
There's an extra surprise?
A barely perceptible smile appeared on Chen Qing's pale face.
She never expected that the system would actually give her a gift when she originally wanted to lose weight through exercise and win people's hearts at the same time!
Oh my god, she loves this system so much!
Currently, you can exchange weight loss points for items as long as you lose weight, you can exchange high-calorie foods for weight loss points, and there are blind box rewards for exercising!
Chen Qing thought to himself, "System, what other surprises do you have that I don't know about?"
The system's voice was completely emotionless: [Please explore more functions on your own, host.]
Fantastic! Chen Qing loves systems that offer little surprises every now and then!
Now is not a good time to open blind boxes. Chen Qing suppressed his restless heart for the time being, took a deep breath, and made his steps firm again: "I'm fine, let's keep going!"
Pei Xuan was shocked.
The snow was knee-deep, and the cart shafts were deeply embedded in it, making it difficult for even a group of people to push it. Chen Qing had been injured and hadn't been eating or resting well for the past two days, yet he still possessed such strong willpower to push the cart…
Pei Xuan seemed to have thought of something, his beautiful eyes gleaming slightly as he looked at Chen Qing with a mixture of curiosity and admiration.
He silently followed Chen Qing, mimicking her as he pushed the cart with all his might, trudging forward with uneven steps.
Inside the carriage, Chen Jiao complained that the heater wasn't working and that it was too cold, then said she was hungry and wanted to eat meat, and even belittled cornbread, saying that it was food for pigs.
Although the servants dared not question or contradict their masters, they could not help but make comparisons in their hearts.
Compared to the kind and innocent Chen Qing, Chen Jiao is truly detestable.
Just as everyone was having different thoughts, the guard who was leading the way suddenly turned back.
"Master! Something terrible has happened! Qibao Town has been sealed off, and the outside is full of refugees. I'm afraid we won't be able to get in!"
Everyone's hearts jumped into their throats.
Chen Zhenyan's expression changed drastically, and he abruptly lifted the carriage curtain: "What did you say?!"
"The gates of Qibao Town are tightly shut, and there are thousands of refugees outside the city! We...we're afraid we can't get in!" The guard was panting, his face filled with panic.
The news was like ice water poured into a hot pan, and the convoy instantly erupted into chaos.
"What?! The city's under lockdown?!"
"Then what do we do? Are we going to have to sleep in the wilderness?"
"There are so many refugees outside, it's too dangerous!"
Chen Jiao screamed in terror, "Father! I don't want to stay outside the city! Those lowly people will eat me! Please think of something!"
Zhang panicked and grabbed Chen Zhenyan's arm tightly: "Master, what should we do?"
Chen Zhenyan's face was ashen as he lifted the carriage curtain and peered into the distance. As dusk settled, the outline of the majestic city wall was faintly visible in the distance, along with the dark mass of figures writhing like ants beneath it. Even from this distance, the desperate cries and clamor could be faintly heard on the wind.
His heart sank to the bottom. Chen Zhenyan had originally planned to go to Qibao Town to replenish his food supplies and rest there for a few days. Now, the road was blocked, there was no village or shop in sight, his food was running out, and there were so many refugees... He was truly trapped with nowhere to turn!
Chen Qing also heard the news. She felt a chill, but wasn't too surprised. In chaotic times, it was common for cities to close off themselves for self-preservation.
However, since the Chen family couldn't enter the city, she faced significant risks and had to find a way to protect herself.
While everyone's attention was focused on the front, she quietly prayed for good fortune, hoping to find something useful in the blind box. Chen Qing silently chanted in her mind, "System, open the blind box."
[Blind Box Opened: Congratulations, Host, you have obtained a fragment of the skill 'Deterrence Aura' (3/3). After use, it will exert a slight mental deterrent on surrounding creatures for ten minutes, causing them to subconsciously feel fear and retreat. Effect range: 10 meters in radius centered on the host.]
Chen Qing's eyes lit up; he had really found something good!
Although it's neither a weapon nor food, in the current situation, it might be surprisingly effective for small-scale self-defense.
It's a pity that the intimidation skill obtained from the blind boxes is only a fragment, and it loses its effect after three uses. However, does this mean that the skill will be obtainable through other means in the future?
The skill is triggered passively, and Chen Qing can use it whenever he needs to.
Chen Qing felt a little relieved.
At this moment, Chen Zhenyan had made his decision, his voice trembling slightly: "Turn around! Turn around quickly! Leave this place and find a secluded spot to hide for the night!"
Their convoy clearly had food, so charging into the refugee camp would be suicide; they had no choice but to retreat.
Amidst panic and chaos, the convoy struggled to turn around and, following the path they had come from, found a sheltered ravine. Inside the ravine were a few abandoned mud-brick houses; though dilapidated, they at least offered some shelter from the wind and rain.
The crowd, like frightened birds, huddled in the largest mud house, listening to the distant clamor of the refugees, their faces ashen.
"Dad, I'm hungry..." Chen Jiao leaned weakly against Zhang Shi's chest, barely having the strength to complain.
Chen Zhenyan frowned as he looked at the nearly empty food bag. Wang Zhong counted the remaining items and reported, "Sir, there are only a dozen or so cornbreads left. If we're careful... we can last another day."
One day? And what about after one day?
An atmosphere of despair permeated the small space.
Chen Qing sat quietly in the corner, feeling the slight fullness in his stomach from the exercise and high-protein beef, as well as the soreness in his legs, looking forward to the system refresh at midnight to see how much weight he had lost that day.
Chen Jiao had never suffered like this before. It was bad enough that there was no meat to eat, and it was bad enough that she could only eat cornbread. Now, even cornbread was almost gone!
She suddenly ran up to Chen Qing like a madwoman, pointed at his nose and screamed, "It's all your fault! What a terrible idea! You had to throw the meat to the wild dogs! Now we're all starving!"
"Dad! Get rid of her! She's a jinx!"
Chen Jiao's voice was choked with sobs as she vented all her stress and resentment on Chen Qing.
The expressions of everyone inside the mud house varied, especially those of the servants. Chen Zhenyan glanced at the servants, a chill running down his spine, a sense of fear rising within him.
Hungry people are terrifying; just look at the cannibalistic refugees to know.
He can still control these servants now, but once the food is gone and he hasn't returned to the mansion, will they still listen to him?
Pei Xuan silently stood up and stood in front of Chen Qing. His dark eyes looked at Chen Jiao and he said softly, "If it weren't for Sister Qing, you would have died yesterday."
"You actually spoke up for her?!" Chen Jiao, her face contorted with betrayal and rage, pointed at Pei Xuan's nose and said, "Who do you think you are? A dog servant who eats my food, what right do you have to speak for me?"
"Father! We're running out of food! Why should we give some to this unknown beggar? Throw him out! Save your rations!"
Chen Jiao was furious. If she couldn't get rid of Chen Qing, could she not get rid of Pei Xuan?
Pei Xuan's body stiffened slightly, his deep eyes fixed on Chen Jiao. There was no pleading or anger, just a calm gaze, which sent a chill down Chen Jiao's spine.
Madam Zhang immediately chimed in, "Jiao'er is right, sir. We family members are almost starving, how can we possibly care about outsiders?"
Chen Zhenyan hesitated. It wasn't that he was reluctant to send Pei Xuan away, but he thought, why not send away the useless servants as well?
Chen Qing sneered inwardly. So this is how infighting starts?
“Father, Pei Xuan is my man, it’s not my sister’s place to decide whether to kick him out.”
Chen Qing spoke calmly, making her stance clear: since Chen Jiao wanted to cause trouble, she wasn't afraid to escalate the situation further.
Chen Zhenyan shook his sleeves and shouted angrily, "What time is it? You're still making a scene!"
"We'll stay here tonight. I know the city's guards. With their help, we can sneak into the city under cover of night and get in!"
Chen Zhenyan ultimately gave up on driving away the servants, because the wind and snow were so heavy that if the servants didn't push the cart, they might freeze to death on the way.
Chen Zhenyan took out the token and ordered two guards to go into the city.
Chen Jiao was so angry that she wanted to say something more, but Chen Zhenyan interrupted her: "Alright! Let's not talk about this anymore! Wang Zhong, distribute the steamed buns, half for each person! No one is allowed to fight over them!"
The hard, cold cornbread was distributed to everyone. Chen Jiao looked at the small half-eaten cornbread in her hand, tears welling up in her eyes. In the end, she couldn't resist her hunger and started to nibble at it in small bites.
Chen Qing used the same method again, using his sleeve as cover to return the steamed bun to the system, and his points became 1303.
Night had fallen, and the mud house was packed with people, the air thick with filth. Outside, the cold wind howled, and the commotion from the direction of the refugees in the distance seemed to have subsided somewhat, but the occasional piercing cries were still chilling.
The servant on night duty, holding a stick, nervously stared at the pitch-black night outside the door.
Chen Qing leaned against the cold earthen wall, wide awake. Just then, a small, thin figure suddenly approached her.
It is Pei Xuan.
While everyone else was drowsy, he was like a black cat stalking the night, silent and with dark, gleaming eyes.
As he got closer, he called out softly, "Sister Qing."
Chen Qing nodded almost imperceptibly and raised an eyebrow, as if to ask him if there was anything he needed.
Pei Xuan's lips curled up slightly, his handsome face showing a hint of embarrassment. Thinking of how Chen Jiao had tried to drive him away earlier, and how Chen Qing had defended him and spoken up for him, Pei Xuan felt a warmth in his heart.
"Sister Qing, am I one of your people?" He wanted to ask this question, but in the end he didn't. Instead, he secretly took out something tightly wrapped in oil paper from his sleeve.
He looked around suspiciously, like a thief, trying to avoid being discovered.
Fortunately, Chen Qing had specifically sought out a secluded spot during his rest, and this place was just the two of them.
Pei Xuan was very close to Chen Qing. He carefully peeled back the oil paper to reveal a piece of braised meat wrapped inside.
“They threw this out to feed the dogs that day, and I picked it up when it fell to the ground,” Pei Xuan said with a hint of pride. He shook his head gently, like a puppy wanting praise from Chen Qing. “Sister Qing, you must be hungry, right? Here, have some.”
He also remembered that after Chen Qing killed those people, he refused to eat the coarse bread.
Pei Xuan thought that Chen Qing was also a young lady from a wealthy family. Although she was not as spoiled as Chen Jiao, she probably wouldn't be used to eating cornbread either. But she wouldn't complain; she would just silently endure it.
For some reason, after spending a few days with Chen Qing and seeing her situation at home, Pei Xuan felt a pang of sympathy for her plight.
So he sent this small piece of braised meat, which he was reluctant to eat, to Chen Qing.
Chen Qing stared at the piece of meat, looking at Pei Xuan with a probing gaze.
What is this person thinking?
She didn't take the braised meat, saying, "I don't want it, you eat it yourself."
Pei Xuan knelt before her, his entire being radiating the disappointment of being rejected.
"Why? Sister Qing, do you think I'm dirty?"
Chen Qing was speechless. When did she ever think he was dirty? She herself wasn't exactly clean either; she was covered in blood and mud and hadn't taken a bath in ages.
Suddenly, a commotion broke out outside!
"Who goes there!"
"Stop! Don't come any closer!"
The night watchman's stern shouts and terrified screams shattered the silence of the night!
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