Chapter 76: Recruiting a group of younger brothers
The five people couldn't help swallowing when they saw the peanut candy. They hadn't eaten candy for a long time and almost forgot what it tasted like.
"You eat a piece first." The leading child said nervously.
"Okay, I'll eat a piece first." Xia Yanjing understood his caution, then picked up a piece and put it in his mouth and started eating.
"See, it's okay." Xia Yanjing smiled and handed the peanut candy in his hand forward.
"Then let's take one." The little boy in the lead swallowed and said.
"Take them all." Shengxia took the candy from Xia Yanjing's hand, wrapped it up and put it in the hands of the little boy in front.
"Thank you, uncle." Several children shouted in unison.
The little boy in the lead gave each person a piece of candy. The children who got the candy couldn't wait to eat it, except the little boy in the lead who didn't eat any.
"What's your name? Why aren't you eating? Why are you here? It's very dangerous by the river." Xia Yanjing asked in confusion.
"My name is An Dou. I wanted to leave some food for my younger brothers. We fled here because of the war and the disaster. At first, we could still beg for food in the capital, but we have been driven away by soldiers in the past few days. Now we can only settle here temporarily." An Dou explained.
"Didn't the court send the third prince to be in charge of resettling the refugees? How did you end up in such a situation?" Shengxia said with a frown.
"We didn't know that those officers and soldiers suddenly drove us all out and said that our presence here affected the image of Weiguo as a great power." An Dou clenched his fists when he thought of this.
"From what you said, there are more than just a few of you here, there are many more people." Xia Yanjing couldn't help but frowned after hearing this.
"There's no need to tell you this." An Dou said warily.
An Dou was penniless and didn't dare to go back to his hometown. Not to mention whether there was a place to stay in his hometown, the long journey alone, without money and food, left them with only one way to go, which was death. So they didn't leave even when they were driven away, but hid here, just hoping to survive.
Shengxia knew without thinking that it must be the barbarians who had entered the capital. In order to make the barbarians think that Wei Dynasty was a rich and strong place, they were all driven away. This third prince was simply unforgivable.
When Xia Yanjing thought of this, he felt that these were people sent by God for him. They were trying to develop their own power, and weren't they the best hope? He wanted to win them over, especially this An Dou, who had great leadership skills and was a face-saver.
"We didn't lie to you just now. This is indeed the great general Shengxia. I am the great general's husband, Xia Yanjing. Andou, are you willing to come with us?" Xia Yanjing said, half squatting in front of Andou.
"We are just kids and can't help you at all. Why did you take us away?" After hearing this, An Dou carefully protected the four people behind him again.
"I want to train my own people to work for me in the future. When you grow up, I hope you can also help thousands of people in need. If you don't want to, we won't force you." Xia Yanjing said gently.
"We won't sell ourselves." An Dou said stubbornly.
"You don't have to sell yourselves. If you are willing to come with me, I will arrange food, clothing, housing and transportation for you. You just need to learn what I arrange, and when you grow up, you can help me with things."
"If you don't want to, we will give you money and send you back to your hometown. How about that?" Xia Yanjing said calmly.
"Are you really that kind?" An Dou was skeptical. In his opinion, none of these officials were good people.
"Believe it or not, but if you choose to follow me, you must never betray me in the future. If you betray me, there will be only one outcome, and that is death." Xia Yanjing said the last sentence, and his whole face became serious.
The four children in front of him were so scared that they shrank behind An Dou. An Dou couldn't help but tremble when he heard the word death, but he was the oldest among them, so he had to stand up.
An Dou's family is long gone, and he has been surviving on his own until now. He is tired of this nomadic life. He wants to have a home, he wants to become stronger, and he wants to help more weak people.
"I do." An Dou thought for a moment and stepped forward to respond.
"Brother An, don't be impulsive." The four children behind An Dou hurriedly grabbed the corner of An Dou's clothes and shouted worriedly.
"I'm not impulsive. This gentleman is willing to take us in, teach us skills, and doesn't require us to sell our bodies. I've never seen such a person. I want to follow him and take a look." An Dou showed maturity beyond his peers and said soothingly.
"You all know what kind of life we have been leading here. What will happen even if we go back? I think you should think about it carefully." An Dou persuaded. His intuition told him that if they followed the two people in front of him, they would have a very different life.
The four people behind him gritted their teeth and responded, "We'll go too."
"Okay, Andou, I'll give you a mission. Go back and tell everyone about this. If you're willing to go with me, I'll keep my word. If not, I'll give them money to leave. I'll wait for you here tomorrow."
"Can I bring my brothers with me?" An Dou asked cautiously. There were also many brothers in their group.
"Of course you can. What's wrong with me? I can still achieve great things. Just look at my husband and you'll know. He is a great general who protects the country. Who among you can be better than him?" Xia Yanjing said proudly.
"If what you said is true, I, An Dou, will follow your lead for the rest of my life. I would be willing to die even if you ask me to." An Dou said seriously.
"I have trained you with all my heart, why would I want you to die? See you here tomorrow." Xia Yanjing looked at An Dou and the others with a smile.
An Dou and the four boys quickly disappeared into the deep grass.
"Xia Xia, how did I do?" Xia Yanjing came forward as if asking for credit.
"You did a great job." Sheng Xia looked at Xia Yanjing with a smile. Seeing how well Xia Yanjing got along with the five children, she wondered what it would be like if they had children.
"I think it's great too, Xia Xia. Just wait for me to become bigger and stronger and be your strongest backing." Xia Yanjing hugged Shengxia, drew a pancake, and stuffed it into Shengxia's mouth.
"Okay, I've been waiting for this day." Shengxia let Xia Yanjing hug her, leaned her head on Xia Yanjing, and enjoyed the last sunset.
The next morning, Shengxia went to the morning court. Xia Yanjing took Shitou, Ye Zi, and Butler Wu, each driving a carriage. Xia Yanjing felt that three large carriages should be enough. He felt that no more than three carriages would be willing to follow him.
Passing by the West Market, Xia Yanjing asked the three of them to buy all the meat buns on the street. There should be enough to share, Xia Yanjing thought uncertainly.
On the other side, An Dou brought his men to the place where he met Xia Yanjing and Shengxia yesterday, looking forward to it, hoping that he had not trusted the wrong person.
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