Shenxi wanted to use Li Si to purify the team, letting Li Si stir up trouble first, so that people would know how much ulterior motive was involved.
Some people won't reveal their true nature until the very last moment. People like Li Si, who are openly bad, are easy to deal with, but those who are secretive are not easy to detect and guard against.
Their future situation will not be easy. They are too weak and easily become "prey" for some people. When things get to a certain point, their evil claws will be extended to them.
Li Si was completely unaware that Shen Xi was going to deal with him. To him, Shen Xi's children were just food, something he could eat whenever he wanted, and they posed no threat to him whatsoever.
He even occasionally stared lecherously at Shenxi's newly bulging chest, which disgusted him to death.
This is also why Shenxi wanted to seek the protection of the old village chief. She was beautiful. Although she was only thirteen years old, she was very well-developed because of her good family background. Even though she was dressed in old clothes, her beautiful appearance could not be hidden.
When her mother was alive, Li Si kept an eye on her; now that her mother is dead, she keeps an eye on her.
If something were to happen someday, people like Li Si would be an even greater scourge.
The reason they are still safe is twofold: firstly, the old village chief has been somewhat lenient towards them; secondly, Shenjiazhuang is predominantly inhabited by people with the surname Shen, and most of them are related. However, Shenxi's father's branch is rather small, and their relatives are mostly beyond the fifth degree of kinship, so they are not considered very close.
Even so, if Li Si went too far, they would at least try to stop him if it didn't affect their interests. So, although Li Si was eyeing his mother and her, he never dared to actually make a move.
Going forward, this uncertainty cannot be allowed to persist.
She gently stroked her little sister, who was frightened by the various changes, and sighed. At the age of three, she had experienced so much. When she told her not to cry, she didn't cry. She was very obedient.
Because of her caresses, Shen Yue gradually fell asleep in her arms. She seemed to be much better now. Shen Xi was afraid that such a young child would fall ill from the fright, and the implications of falling ill in this situation were self-evident.
Shenxi gently put Shenyue down and came to the old village chief's side. "Old village chief, I'll have to trouble you to go and ask those hunters over there. I heard their accents are from the south. Maybe they came from there. If they really did, it would be good to ask them about it."
The old village chief gave a thumbs-up and praised with a smile, "Little Creek is really clever." How could he not have thought of that? Alas, one gets old!
In no time, the old village chief found out what was going on. The south was really in chaos, with fighting everywhere. Before long, southerners would come here, but what good would it do them?
These hunters had fled here; their families had been lost to them during the war.
Shenxi made up her mind instantly: she couldn't go south, even if there was food there. War was more terrifying than natural disasters.
She had to persuade the old village chief to keep these hunters; with them there, there might still be a chance of survival.
“Old village chief, since they are a lone hunter, see if we can persuade them to join us. They don’t seem like bad people.”
There were six hunters in total. Two were impulsive but had very focused eyes, two were somewhat dull and a bit older, and the other two were a bit younger, around fourteen or fifteen years old.
Judging from their appearance and behavior, these people do not appear to be cunning or treacherous.
The old village chief pondered for a moment and asked, "Does Xiaoxi intend to keep them here instead of going south?"
Chenxi nodded. "Old village chief, the fighting has already broken out in the south. Going there would be suicide. If we don't go, look at these deep mountains here. These hunters are experienced; they might be able to lead us to hunt some game and find some food. Besides, this place is close to the south, so the temperature is still manageable, and the winter won't be too cold. We should be able to get through it. If the fighting spreads here, we can also run into the deep mountains to escape the war with the hunters' guidance. Many of us can't walk anymore."
The old village chief hesitated for a moment, then said, "Let me discuss it with a few of the elders."
Shenxi nodded. If they were to stay here, besides these hunters, they could also consider joining forces with the people over there who were dressed well. Although there were few able-bodied men, they should be from nearby and very familiar with this place. Since there were few able-bodied men, they wouldn't cause any trouble.
The rest depends on the situation.
She licked her dry lips and discussed with the old village chief: "We can leak the information the hunters gave us to those groups and see what they choose to do."
The old village chief nodded. In chaotic times, the more people stick together, the more likely they are to survive.
After the old village chief relayed the message, those parties were clearly in a panic. They had originally planned to go south, but now they couldn't go south, and they were finding it impossible to survive in the north. What should they do?
The leaders of the last few groups gathered together and surprisingly reached a consensus: they could wait and see where they were. The hunters, who had already intended to establish themselves there, naturally had no objections.
When the old village chief returned, he discussed the matter with the villagers. Li Si caused trouble again, saying, "Why? It's one thing for those few hunters, but what's the use of keeping so many women and children around?"
He failed to snatch the woman's package and even got into a fight with his uncle, so he was already in a bad mood. When he heard that they could stay, he was naturally unhappy.
The old village chief was actually reluctant to let the dozen or so women, children, and elderly stay, but seeing their pleading eyes, he couldn't help but agree. After all, Shenjiazhuang had the largest population and the most able-bodied men; if he really didn't let them stay, they certainly wouldn't be able to.
Chen Xi snorted, "Uncle Li, if you're so capable, go and drive them away!"
Shenxi planned to add fuel to the fire for Li Si, making the water a bit murky, stirring up those she saw as having dark intentions, and then dealing with them all at once.
Li Si was surprised that Shen Xi, who was usually quiet, dared to challenge him. His eyes lit up with interest, and he grinned, showing his big teeth. "It's rare for our little Xi to speak up, so your fourth uncle will definitely do it. You'll have to reward me then!"
This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
