Tao Wanniang kept her achievements and fame hidden, and quietly left Caofeng County with her family.
With food no longer a problem, the Ling family's spirits were completely different. The Ling brothers seemed to have inexhaustible energy, pushing carts for miles without stopping.
As darkness fell, the group rested in a grove of trees.
"Mother, it doesn't feel so desolate anymore. Are we almost at the provincial capital?"
The pot was already set up; noodles were going to be eaten again tonight. Tao Wan's mother thought it would be nice to add some meat. Plain noodles just weren't quite right!
"Hey guys, come quick, there's a lucrative job here!"
Tao Wanniang and her group had just finished eating their noodles when they were startled by the sudden appearance of several men. Then, following the men's words, they heard hurried footsteps coming from not far away.
Seeing the five or six men wielding gleaming swords, Tao Wanniang chose to remain silent. She noticed the scar across the face of the leader and felt uneasy; had they encountered bandits?
Tao Wan's mother didn't move, so the Ling brothers didn't dare to move either. Both daughters-in-law instinctively protected their children and lowered their heads in fear and unease.
Taking a deep breath, Tao Wanniang lowered her tone and asked tentatively, "Brothers, we've come here to escape famine. There's a drought in our hometown, and we can't survive there anymore!"
"Can't go on like this?"
The scarred man at the head sniffed. "I smell food. You're not the only ones struggling to survive. We became bandits because we couldn't make ends meet. Hand over your food if you know what's good for you, or else..."
The broadsword reflected the moonlight, stinging the eyes.
Tao Wanniang was naturally unwilling, but these people looked different from the people she had encountered before; their eyes were truly malevolent!
“Brother, we’re from Caofeng County, where they’re distributing grain. We only have this much to eat. Look at our family, old and young, could you…”
"Distribute the grain, hurry up and take it out, you old hag, stop talking so much nonsense."
Before Tao Wanniang could finish speaking, the men behind the scarred man had already begun rummaging through her and her companions' belongings.
With a crashing sound, some of the items on the cart were overturned to the ground. Tao Wanniang was furious, but she managed to suppress her anger.
These damned robbers, and this damned old woman's body of mine, I can't fight them!
"Rice, boss, here's a bag of rice."
“Brother, that’s a relief rice distribution from Caofeng County. There’s only one bushel, and there are so many of us here!”
Tao Wanniang lowered her body and pleaded.
"Heh, who are you calling 'brother,' you stinky woman? What food are you hiding? Hurry up and bring it out!"
A group of men circled around Tao Wan's family, and one of them even kicked over the pot on the fire, spilling the remaining noodle soup all over the ground.
"What are you doing?" Ling Dahu suddenly stood up. He was already heartbroken when the rice was taken away, but the spilled noodle soup made him even more distressed. How easy was it for them to get enough to eat?
"What, you're not convinced? Go ahead and talk to the knife in my hand if you dare!"
The scarred man brandished his broadsword and stood in front of Ling Dahu, speaking arrogantly.
Tao Wanniang immediately stood up, looking frightened but also emboldened.
"B-brother, please...swords have no eyes, you might really hurt someone."
"Brothers, which mountain are you from? Why don't we go up the mountain with you? You've taken all the food anyway, and we old and young won't be able to survive!"
Tao Wanniang said with a bitter face, "Do you need a cook? I'm very good at cooking. Also, my two sons are very strong and can help you with the work. As for my daughter-in-law and grandchildren, can we support them by working for them?"
"And there's my old friend, how about she helps you with the laundry, bro? We'll come up the mountain with you!"
"Mother!" Ling Dapeng exclaimed in horror. What was his mother doing?
"You're quite an interesting woman. What, you want to come up the mountain with us and eat and drink for free?"
The scarred man sneered, his eyes full of mockery.
“How is this freeloading? We do the work. I cook, my sister does the laundry, and my sons chop wood. If you want to freeload, my two sons can help out.”
"Brother, you want to eat, right? Look, we also have flatbread. Just boil it in water and it'll become noodles."
"And look, brother, this is a good stuff, cumin. Sprinkle some on when you're grilling meat, and it'll smell amazing. Brother, don't let my frail appearance fool you, I can really cook a delicious meal."
Tao Wanniang was furious inside, but her expression became even more devout.
“Look at us, aren’t we different from other refugees? The others are all emaciated, but we’re different. This is all thanks to me. I’ve killed wolves, caught rabbits, and made snake soup. Brother, please take in my family and the children. In a few years, the children will grow up and be able to add more people to your mountain stronghold.”
"Mother, how can you say that? Gouwa is only three years old. Even if we have to beg for food, we can't let our child become a bandit!"
"Slap!" One of the bandits slapped Ling Dahu across the face. "So what if he's a bandit, boss? I think we should do as this old hag says, bring everyone up the mountain. The old ones can do the laundry and cook, and the young ones..."
As he spoke, the bandit reached out to touch Zhou Xiaoyun, who was standing to the side.
"Don't touch her!" Ling Dapeng immediately shielded Zhou Xiaoyun behind him, glaring angrily at the bandits and giving Tao Wanniang a resentful look.
"Stop!" the scarred man said. "You old hag, it seems your son looks down on us mountain bandits. Fine, I'll do as you say. Take them all up the mountain. These kids will all be mountain bandits when they grow up, hahaha, take them all!"
Tao Wanniang glanced speechlessly at the scarred-faced man, then immediately lowered her eyes. Young man, you can't keep your composure!
The Ling brothers, protecting their wives and children, were driven up the mountain with humiliation and resentment.
Tao Wanniang pulled Liang Da Niang aside, signaling her to calm down.
Upon reaching the mountain, Tao Wanniang discovered that the so-called mountain stronghold was nothing more than a dilapidated Taoist temple, and she didn't know if there had ever been any Taoist priests there before.
"You guys will stay in these rooms. Tomorrow morning, I want to see food ready to eat, otherwise..." The scarred man glanced at Wang Hongyu and Zhou Xiaoyun, the meaning in his eyes was self-evident.
Wang Hongyu and Zhou Xiaoyun were so frightened that they hugged their children and hid behind their husbands.
Once the bandits had all dispersed, Wang Hongyu could no longer hold back and sobbed, crying out:
"Mom, even if you don't like us, you can't let the child's father suffer! If we end up in a bandit's den, how will the child's father and child face anyone in the future? If I... if I'm bullied, I'd rather just kill myself!"
"Mother, I was born a member of Dapeng, and I will die a ghost of Dapeng. If it were me... I..." Zhou Xiaoyun also began to sob softly, "My poor child, Ergou, please don't blame your mother~"
"Shut up, all of you! Do you think I tricked you? Or do you want to get killed right down the mountain?"
Tao Wanniang scolded, "These people are all desperate criminals. If you don't go along with them, you'll only die faster!"
"Everyone, go to sleep first. You'll have the strength to figure out what to do next. I'm going to meet your deceased father. I believe he won't abandon us!"
Tao Wanniang said with a solemn expression, "Let's check the system to see if we can find any medicine, like sleeping potion or something. We'll find something if we look!"
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