Wu Guihua might have listened to the villagers' discussions and learned that Village Head Li agreed to let Cheng Duo stay, so she jumped out to oppose it while he gathered the clan elders for a discussion.
The reasons were readily available. Cheng Duo's identity was unknown, and his combat power was too high. If he had any ill intentions, the entire village would be in danger.
However, Village Head Li didn't think the same way. He had been the village chief in Yang Village for over twenty years and still had a keen eye. He genuinely admired Cheng Duo's formidable combat power, and in the end, he somehow managed to convince the clan elders. In short, Cheng Duo's stay was approved.
But Wu Guihua's disturbance wasn't in vain. The house that Village Head Li originally intended to allocate to Cheng Duo was next to Wu Guihua's house. It used to be occupied by an elderly widower named Liu Laocai. Liu Laocai passed away last year, and since the house had been vacant for a short time, it was relatively well-preserved and conveniently located in the center of the village.
However, due to Wu Guihua's meddling, the clan elders had some concerns about Cheng Duo. Therefore, they arranged for him to reside in the temporary house built in the mountain hollow used for guarding the fields. The house consisted of two rooms, with one collapsed and the other on the verge of collapsing, with half of the roof exposed.
Village Head Li felt embarrassed when he took Cheng Duo to see the house because he and the clan elders had taken Cheng Duo's chickens and goats but ended up arranging a house that couldn't be inhabited for him.
Cheng Duo didn't mind much, though, because Village Head Li said he wouldn't collect any money from him. The only time he would need to pay was at the end of the year when the village went to the yamen to report the population, and he would have to pay a few hundred wen. This way, not only would he have proof of identity, but he could also obtain the title deed for the house.
In fact, Cheng Duo was fortunate. Wudu County was located on the border of Great Xia, with thin soil and variable climate, making the living conditions already harsh. Coupled with bandits causing trouble and the border troops clashing with foreign tribes, the population had decreased significantly, and the land had lost its value.
The government actually wanted the villagers to split their household registrations so that they could draft more people for the imperial tasks.
Village Head Li expressed his apologies profusely, making Cheng Duo unsure of how to explain to him. But in reality, he was quite satisfied.
This mountain was far away from the village, with a large expanse of land in front of the house. Further away, there was a cultivated slope on the mountain, with the land divided into small patches by gravel and rocks. Tender vegetable sprouts emerged from the middle of the soil… There must be villagers who came to plant them regularly.
And directly behind the house was a vast mountain, which was convenient for someone like Cheng Duo, a hunter. He wouldn't have to pass through the village anymore when he went hunting in the mountains.
This was exactly what Cheng Duo wanted: to be far away from the crowd but not completely isolated. He could only see the rooftops of the village houses from a distance, and the only entrance connecting to the outside world was a bamboo forest. Only when sparse cooking smoke rose could he sense the presence of human activity.
His supernatural hearing was excellent, and his nightmares occasionally emerged. Cheng Duo was worried that one night he might sleepwalk and accidentally climb over the wall to the neighboring house, mistaking the neighbor for a zombie or an enemy and killing them!
Living in seclusion would eliminate such worries. He would be the only household around, and even if he sleepwalked, he wouldn't stray too far.
Cheng Duo also planned to build a tall fence in the yard to enclose his house. This way, he would feel more secure, and it would also prevent other villagers from prying eyes…
While Cheng Duo was planning and arranging his territory, Village Head Li suddenly made a suggestion, "It would be best if you cultivate a vegetable plot in this area. Otherwise, it might be inconvenient to have vegetables to eat."
Village Head Li pointed to the vacant land next to the dilapidated house, overgrown with weeds.
He was genuinely afraid that Cheng Duo would have no vegetables to eat and would directly steal from other people's fields. He had even promised everyone yesterday that if Cheng Duo committed theft as soon as he arrived, would he still be able to continue as the village chief?
Cheng Duo paused upon hearing this. Indeed, he couldn't survive on hunting alone without any vegetables. It wasn't a viable solution to keep relying on the villagers for exchanges.
He turned to look at Village Head Li, his expression somewhat hesitant. "Um… I don't actually know how to cultivate the land. Could Uncle Li find someone to come and help me?"
"Alright, I'll go back and ask for you." Village Head Li couldn't make any guarantees either. The main issue was that Cheng Duo's fierce reputation had already spread, and the villagers were quite afraid of him.
It was currently the busy season for spring farming, and every household was occupied with their own work in the fields. Seeing Cheng Duo's clueless appearance, he would need someone to teach him step by step. But where could he find someone who wasn't afraid of Cheng Duo, knew how to cultivate vegetables, and didn't have to tend to their own fields?
Village Head Li left, and Cheng Duo stood in front of the nearly ruined house, feeling at a loss.
It wasn't that he didn't know how to cultivate, but he lacked the necessary tools.
After spending half a month in ancient times, Cheng Duo felt the urgency to earn money for the first time.
He stood in place for a while, then returned to his mountain cave to retrieve his wooden spear. He decided to get a big catch this time…
Cheng Duo had planned it well, but sometimes, getting a big catch wasn't as easy as he thought. After wandering in the mountains for a whole day, he started to regret it. He should have found a way to dig up the rabbit burrow when he saw it earlier. Although it would have been troublesome to block all the rabbit holes, at least he would have had rabbits to eat…
And those wild chickens that occasionally flew by in front of him, they might be small, but they were still meat!
In the evening, as the sky darkened, Cheng Duo washed his hands in a mountain stream and drank some water to replenish his fluids. He was contemplating whether to go back or find a tree to spend the night when he heard sounds of a fight coming from deep within the forest.
"Hand over the goods!"
"Do you think I'm stupid? If I hand them over, you'll still kill me to silence me! Let me tell you honestly, I've already hidden the goods. If you have the ability, find them in these vast mountains."
"You're asking for death—"
The person being chased sounded young, and although his words sounded calm, from the way he dodged left and right with a bloody arm, it was evident that he was in an extremely perilous situation.
The young man being chased was dressed in black night attire. Although he had the same braided hairstyle as the three assassins behind him, his appearance and accent made it clear that he was from the Great Xia dynasty.
The three assassins were different. They spoke a strange variation of the Great Xia language, wielded curved knives as weapons, and had tattoos on their faces.
As Cheng Duo watched the young man being chased, he couldn't help but think of himself being chased half a month ago… Just as the curved knife was about to strike, slashing the young man's neck, Cheng Duo emerged from behind a tree and kicked the assassin back.
Cheng Duo glanced at the young man and asked, "What did you take from them?"
Grateful for having his life spared, the young man eagerly introduced himself, "Esteemed warrior, I am Meng Ji, a soldier from the Xiling Garrison of the Great Xia dynasty."
He was quick-witted. Although he didn't directly reveal what he had taken from the foreign assassins, by disclosing his identity as a soldier from the Xiling Garrison, he believed that the newcomer, who were also from the Great Xia side, would be willing to help him.
The assassin whom Cheng Duo kicked had quickly gotten up from the ground and exchanged glances with his two companions. One of them said something, and all three dispersed, surrounding Cheng Duo and the young man.
The young man hurriedly translated, "Be careful, they just said they want to kill both of you to silence you."
After translating, he anxiously looked at Cheng Duo, noticing that Cheng Duo only had a rough wooden spear in his hand, without even a piece of iron. On the other hand, the three enemies were well-trained, wielding sharp curved knives.
The young man felt somewhat desperate. He couldn't help but think that this person who jumped out seemed to be of no use other than granting him an extra lease on life…
Cheng Duo glared at him, dodged a knife with a sidestep, and took advantage of the opening when his opponent revealed his body while swinging the blade. He thrust the wooden spear through the man's chest, forcefully pinning him to a tree!
The young man murmured, "…Hero! I was wrong about him!"
Cheng Duo didn't withdraw the wooden spear. Instead, he pulled out the curved knife from the man's hand, turned around, and raised the knife to block—
The birds in the forest fluttered their wings in fright, and a withered leaf fell from an empty branch, swaying and drifting into the pool of blood on the ground.
Meng Ji looked at the bloody scene before him and almost doubted whether he had encountered a hero or a bloodthirsty maniac! The soldiers in their camp only slit throats when killing enemies; who would bother chopping off heads?
Especially this person who had beheaded two people in a row. He was completely untouched by blood, his techniques were skillful, and he even casually squatted down to search a corpse…
Cheng Duo was accustomed to it. Zombies had to be decapitated; otherwise, they could bite back. He first searched the two headless bodies and found several silver pieces on them, then walked toward the last assassin pinned to the tree, holding the knife.
The man was still alive, but he looked on the verge of death, as if he wouldn't survive much longer.
"Mighty warrior, spare his life," Meng Ji was extremely afraid, but he still mustered the courage to speak up, "I can bring him back to the garrison. He might still be useful. Can you spare him?"
Alright…
Cheng Duo didn't hesitate much. He collected the silver from their body and turned to the young man.
Meng Ji took a sharp breath, clutching his wound tightly as he leaned against the large tree behind him. Did he manage to escape from the enemy's hands for a whole day and night, only to end up dying at the hands of a Great Xia person?
Cheng Duo glanced at him with a somewhat speechless expression but still asked kindly, "Do you have any silver on you?"
Meng Ji didn't react for a moment and clung to himself as if he were a little girl about to be violated, saying, "?"
"I saved your life. It wouldn't be excessive to give me some compensation, right?"
"Not excessive, not excessive!" Meng Ji shook his head vigorously, finally understanding, and filled with joy. It felt like he had narrowly escaped a disaster. He quickly rummaged through his belongings and took out the silver, saying, "I have a total of twelve taels on me. They're all yours!"
Cheng Duo held the silver, looking at Meng Ji with a slightly disdainful gaze—how come others, when saved by someone, would casually offer a thousand taels of silver or even jewels and gold, but when it came to him, there were only a mere twelve taels?
It seemed that it was due to the difference in their identities. The people others saved were either wealthy landlords or princes and emperors, while the person he saved was just a poor soldier!
If Meng Ji knew what Cheng Duo was thinking, he would definitely cry. Their general's monthly pay was only twelve taels of silver. How could he not go and rob someone offering a thousand taels of silver!
Cheng Duo did rob, and he did so with a clear conscience. He had no intention of bothering with Meng Ji any further. He threw down the curved knife and turned to leave.
"Wait."
Cheng Duo turned his head at the sound, and Meng Ji quickly pressed himself against the tree again, saying, "This… This is my identification token. If the warrior ever needs help in the future, you can find me at the Xiling Garrison."
Meng Ji tossed over an iron token, which had nothing on it except for a number. Cheng Duo casually tucked it into his pocket, actually having no intention of using it at all.
He just wanted to live a peaceful life as a hunter. He didn't want to get involved in any family or national wars. He wasn't even a Great Xia person, so it didn't matter to him who won or lost!
Cheng Duo actually didn't know how much silver he had. He wasn't an ancient person, unlike them who could estimate the approximate weight just by weighing it casually. Moreover, the silver he had wasn't in whole pieces; apart from the twelve taels of silver given by Meng Ji, the rest were scattered pieces of silver.
It's worth mentioning that the silver he took from those three foreigners was not as much as what Meng Ji gave him, but one of them had a good jade pendant, which Cheng Duo took.
He remembered that the person with the jade pendant was supposed to be the leader among the three, as he ordered the others to kill Cheng Duo together. He was also the first one Cheng Duo beheaded. Cheng Duo had no qualms about taking things from the dead because in the later stages, when he couldn't kill zombies, he often relied on searching corpses to sustain his family.
However, while the jade pendant was of good quality, it might be troublesome to sell, so Cheng Duo didn't want to move it for now. He didn't dare underestimate the wisdom of ancient people, and besides, he didn't even know how to navigate through the market, let alone disguise himself.
Fortunately, the silver should be enough for him to buy tools and daily necessities for the time being. Cheng Duo thought for a moment and realized that he still needed a guide. Not only could they show him the way, but they could also help him understand the local prices.
He remembered that Uncle Li had promised to find someone to teach him how to farm, so he decided to bother him with one more thing—he was the one.
Early the next morning, Cheng Duo carried the wild chicken he had caught last night and a coarse pottery jar from the cave and leisurely made his way to the old house in the mountain hollow.
In the rural mountains, the morning air was exceptionally fresh. The rising sun pierced through the clouds on the horizon, revealing the long-lost sunlight.
Cheng Duo's mood was unusually open, calculating that he would stew a pot of chicken soup as breakfast at the old house and wait for the person to arrive. If the chicken soup was ready and the person hadn't come yet, he would go to Uncle Li's house to ask for the person…
What Cheng Duo didn't expect was that Uncle Li was extremely efficient, and the person had arrived at the old house earlier than he had imagined. Moreover, the person's face, originally filled with embarrassment, quickly turned into dissatisfaction upon seeing Cheng Duo carrying the coarse pottery jar. Then, the person dared not speak out.
Why is it him?
This is really unfortunate…
"Haha… I just borrowed it for a while, and I'll return it when I'm done." Cheng Duo, rarely feeling a bit guilty, because not only the pottery jar, but until now, he was still living in someone else's cave, using their things, and covering himself with the fur blanket personally sewn by someone else…
Yong-ge's lips moved, but in the end, he only muttered, "Just don't break it while using it."
"Don't worry, if it breaks, I'll compensate you." Cheng Duo, feeling financially powerful at the moment, made the promise readily.
In front of Yong-ge, Cheng Duo fetched water from the ditch on the mountainside, picked up stones and wood debris from the ruins, and stacked them to make an earthen stove. When it came to starting the fire, Cheng Duo paused for a moment and discreetly glanced at the little brother sitting far away on a wooden stump. With a thick-skinned face, he pretended not to know and took out the flint from his pocket, lit the fire, and then casually put it back.
Unfortunately, no matter how natural Cheng Duo acted, most of Yong-ge's attention was on him, so naturally, he noticed. He jumped down from the wooden stump and stomped his feet in anger, "You… how can you be like this!"
The pottery jar could be overlooked, but the flint was something that should be used sparingly.
He helped people everywhere, was it easy to find such things? This person used them so readily, both the jar and the flint, who knows if he had already ruined everything in his cave!
Yong-ge was not wrong in his thinking. Cheng Duo didn't have anything, but he used whatever was at hand…
The young man was full of anger, but when asked to come over and snatch it, he didn't dare.
Cheng Duo looked at his stingy and hesitant appearance and couldn't help but want to laugh. He reached into his pocket and magically pinched out a small piece of silver, waving it in front of Yong-ge's eyes. "Is this enough?"
Yong-ge's eyes lit up, and he instinctively reached out his hand to take it. "Enough, it's enough!"
Cheng Duo withdrew his hand and glanced at him sideways. "Did Uncle Li send you to help me with farming?"
He secretly changed the concept, turning helping with farming into "helping me with farming."
Yong-ge fell for it, nodding foolishly.
Cheng Duo frowned. He originally wanted to ask if his family wouldn't mind, but considering that Uncle Li had sent him, it should have been carefully considered. Since the person had already come, it would be inappropriate for him to ask further questions.
For example, if he emphasized it too much, it might lead to trouble…
In just a few encounters, not only did Uncle Li believe in Cheng Duo's character, but Cheng Duo also felt that Uncle Li, the village chief, was reliable. Having a reliable village chief could reduce a lot of trouble for him, so despite the difficulties he encountered in joining Yang Village, Cheng Duo had no intention of going elsewhere.
Actually, Cheng Duo had overestimated Uncle Li. He didn't have much consideration at all. He simply couldn't find anyone and happened to see Yong-ge, who was desperately looking for work. He just grabbed him as a replacement.
Yong-ge believed that Cheng Duo couldn't possibly be interested in him. Any capable man in Yang Village wanted to marry a woman to warm his bed. The few who liked men also preferred those who looked clean and delicate.
Yong-ge was dark and thin, and he was too tall. When he stood among the men in the village, he was even taller than some of the shorter ones. As for his appearance, it was passable, and with a little tidying up, it could be considered decent… but the thought of marrying him meant dealing with his two rascal brothers. Most people didn't have the courage for that.
The aunt from the Li family, Wu Guihua, was already a troublesome one, right? Because of their family relationship, Uncle Li and his whole family had already been harassed enough by those two brothers, Li Da and Li Er. Wu Guihua couldn't stop Li Da and Li Er, her own nephews, from coming to their house and causing trouble.
That's why Yong-ge, at the age of eighteen, still couldn't find a partner.
But let's say… if Cheng Duo really had his eyes on Yong-ge, it might be a good thing. Although Yong-ge definitely couldn't become a legitimate wife, with Cheng Duo's terrifying strength, he probably wouldn't mind keeping an idle person around.
As for Li Da and Li Er, would they dare to cause trouble with Cheng Duo?
Of course, that possibility was very slim. Uncle Li felt more pity for Yong-ge —because Yong-ge's family's land had long been taken over by his two useless brothers.
Yong-ge was honest and didn't spread any bad rumors about the main household when doing odd jobs for various families. He was probably also afraid that his two brothers would cause trouble, so he deliberately made himself look like a child.
It was also fortunate that he wasn't outstanding in appearance. Otherwise, Li Da and Li Er, who were extremely crazy, might even sell him.
Of course, Cheng Duo didn't know about the above situation. In his understanding, Yong-ge was more or less associated with "married gèr." Farming wasn't a big deal since the main activities were in the fields, so he just needed to avoid being too close to one place.
However, taking him to the market might be a bit troublesome. It was similar to going shopping with someone else's wife. To avoid causing trouble, he should choose someone else…
Yong-ge eagerly stretched out his hand, waiting to receive the money. When Cheng Duo asked a question and didn't continue, he couldn't help but feel anxious.
Is this his payment, or will he only receive it after finishing the farming? Why is this person so mean? Did he take out the money just to tease him?
It was the same last time. He clearly asked for something in return, but when he made a request, Cheng Duo refused to agree. He's just playing with him!
Yong-ge had all sorts of thoughts in his mind but didn't dare to complain in front of Cheng Duo. Disappointed, he lowered his head and secretly glanced at the small silver pieces rolling in the big hand, thinking he hadn't been noticed.
Cheng Duo paused while counting the silver pieces, noticing Yong-ge's gaze. Somehow, he was reminded of the stray dog that used to beg him for food in the base. It was dirty, but its eyes were clean and full of hope, occasionally revealing a hint of the hardships of life… It always softened his heart.
Cheng Duo shook his head and casually tossed the silver pieces to Yong-ge, then instructed him with a justified tone, "Go pluck the chicken feathers for me and stew a pot of chicken soup."
It's not good to just take the money without doing any work. Saving someone's life is a different matter, but everything has its own value.
"Okay, I'll go right away!" Yong-ge was overjoyed. He would do whatever he was paid for.
Cheng Duo noticed that this young ger was more meticulous in his work than him. He was least patient with plucking chicken feathers. The first time he made stew, the pot of chicken soup, apart from lacking salt, had a faint burnt chicken feather smell because he didn't pluck them properly.
Later, when they ate the chicken, he simply removed all the skin. Although it was a bit wasteful, it saved time and effort.
Yong-ge, on the other hand, was very patient. Using two pieces of scrap metal, he carefully plucked the chicken feathers until they were clean.
While Yong-ge was stewing the chicken soup, Cheng Duo didn't idle either. He went to clean up the ruins, dismantling the collapsed roof and stacking the rotten wood aside, planning to use it as firewood in the future.
Cheng Duo found it easy to handle, while Yong-ge was amazed by his efficiency. Just take the main beam of the roof, for example. He remembered that a couple of years ago, when someone in the village was building a house, it took five or six men to carry the main beam. Although the main beam of this house was soaked and damaged, Cheng Duo held it as if it had no weight at all.
No wonder his older brother and second brother were beaten by this person. Not only did they not dare to retaliate, but if they encountered him elsewhere, they would run. If he had this kind of strength, he would carry loads for people in the neighboring village for sure, guaranteeing a worry-free livelihood…
"What are you looking at? Focus on stewing your soup!" Cheng Duo glanced at him, and seeing the cleverness of the young ger, he noticed how Yong-ge covered the jar with a cabbage leaf from the field to prevent dust from falling in.
After being warned, Yong-ge pouted and dared not stare anymore.
Cheng Duo estimated that the chicken soup was almost ready. He went to wash his hands in the mountain stream before going over to prepare breakfast. He noticed that Yong-ge had a bamboo tube for drinking water, so he poured him half of the bamboo tube filled with chicken soup and used chopsticks to separate a piece of chicken leg meat for him.
The chicken meat had become tender and could be easily torn apart with chopsticks.
"You mean, is this for me?" Yong-ge widened his eyes. He swallowed a mouthful of saliva, not remembering how long it had been since he last had meat. He was truly craving it.
However, Cheng Duo noticed that Yong-ge only drank the chicken soup and didn't touch the meat. Cheng Duo didn't know that it was left for his father. He only sighed in his heart, thinking that ancient young men were truly virtuous. Even when they obtained a piece of chicken leg outside, they didn't forget to bring it back for their husband…
The chicken soup in the jar needed a bit more time to cool down compared to the bamboo tube. Cheng Duo felt it was about right, so he picked up the jar and took a sip of the soup, then became slightly surprised. "Did you add salt?"
Yong-ge nodded. In fact, he also added a bit of wild ginger he found in the mountains.
Cheng Duo clearly noticed it too and asked curiously, "Why do you carry these things with you?"
Logically speaking, as a hunter, he should be the one carrying salt and seasonings so that he can roast the game he catches in the mountains.
"I… I'm just used to it," Yong-ge felt a bit embarrassed. Whenever he found something outside, he would cook it immediately and secretly bring it back for his father. Otherwise, if he brought the ingredients back, his older brothers would snatch them away, and he and his father wouldn't get a single bite.
In fact, their family didn't even have a pot. Don't ask him how his older brothers ate. They either relied on their friends or went to Zhao Widow's house at the end of the village…
Cheng Duo nodded thoughtfully without saying anything else. After finishing a whole jar of chicken soup, he praised with satisfaction, "You're quite good at stewing soup."
Of course, after praising him, he instructed the young ger to wash the jar.
After eating and drinking their fill, Cheng Duo shared his thoughts with Yong-ge. But Yong-ge shook his head after listening and said, "Do you know how far it is from our village, Yang Village, to the nearest market?"
Of course, Cheng Duo had no idea about the distance, and Yong-ge didn't expect him to answer. Yong-ge replied, "We set off from the first crow of the rooster in the morning and walk until the sun is halfway up the mountain. We have to hurry back after buying things, or else we'll have to travel at night."
Cheng Duo made a rough calculation in modern time: Setting off from the first crow of the rooster would be around 2:30 to 3:00 in the early morning; the sun hanging halfway up the mountain should be around 8 or 9 in the morning… That's quite a long distance.
Although this distance is just an hour's drive in modern times, here they rely on walking for transportation and shouting for communication in ancient times. The mountain roads are rugged, and he can't possibly arrange for a cart or something. If they encounter any issues on the way, he would have to figure out how to bring the cattle back…
Alternatively, if he doesn't rush, he can stay there overnight. But he's going to buy supplies after all, and carrying big and small bags over such a long distance is quite a hassle.
"What do you suggest then?" He can't just give up on buying things.
"It's simple. There are nearby villages where you can find what you need. I'll find someone to take you there," Yong-ge said with a bit of pride. He lowered his head and pointed to the pile of offal he had deliberately collected, saying, "If you don't want to pay, you can use these as compensation."
"Okay." Cheng Duo paused for a moment. To be honest, the offal of wild chickens is much smaller than that of domestic chickens, and he doesn't have flour or salt for cleaning them. He usually just digs a hole and buries them.
It turns out that someone actually wants this stuff. No wonder when Yong-ge plucked the chickens, he specifically collected all the offal using a large leaf.
"Wait here…" After Cheng Duo agreed, Yong-ge picked up a straw stem from the roadside, wrapped the offal in it, and then quickly ran off with the chicken leg he had just obtained.
Yong-ge ran back to his own house and peeked around the shabby courtyard gate. He found that only his father was in the yard, weaving bamboo baskets. It seemed like his two brothers were not at home.
"Father," Yong-ge called out and presented the bamboo tube he had hidden behind his back, as if presenting a treasure. "Look at what this is!"
"Where did you get the chicken leg?" Li Wang was startled and instinctively looked inside the house. Although he knew his two reckless sons were not at home, he still lowered his voice, "How many times have I told you, if you get something, just eat it outside. Why bring it back?"
"Father, I already ate outside. This is for you to eat," Yong-ge said. His father says the same thing every time, and he's gotten used to it.
"I'm getting old. What do I need a chicken leg for?" Li Wang declined.
"Father, just have it…"
The father and son pushed each other back and forth for a while. In the end, considering that Li Da and Li Er could come back at any time and to save time, they decided to eat the chicken leg together.
To be honest, a wild chicken leg isn't that big. It's just enough for the two of them to taste. Looking at Yong-ge's innocent and satisfied face, Li Wang couldn't help but sigh inwardly. If he had raised his sons properly, how could Yong-ge have ended up suffering with him?
Perhaps because of his difficult life, Li Wang looked even older than his older brother Li Mancang. Before reaching fifty, his temples were already turning white. In addition, his right leg, which he couldn't straighten after breaking it, made him appear somewhat listless.
Actually, if it weren't for Yong-ge still needing him, Li Wang would have lost all hope.
"Father…" When Yong-ge saw his father sighing again, he originally wanted to tell him that he had also obtained a silver ingot, hoping to make his father happy. But then he thought, he can explain the chicken leg, but how should he explain the source of the silver ingot?
If he tells the truth, his father would surely worry…
Unable to find an excuse, Yong-ge decided not to say anything. He buried the large bone left from the chicken leg in the ground and went back into the house to get a worn-out sickle.
"Father, can I take this old bamboo basket? Village Head Li asked me to help someone with gardening. The field is full of weeds, so I'm taking it to carry the grass," Yong-ge said, planning to use the old basket since his father had made a new one.
He didn't cut the grass for free either. After filling a basket, he would take it to the households that raised cattle and sheep. Although they didn't want to give money, they were willing to exchange beans or a few vegetables.
"Why use the old one? Take the new one. It's not much effort for me to make a few bamboo baskets. The main household gave you a chicken leg, so give them a good one," Li Wang kindly suggested. These bamboo baskets were made by every household in the village, and they couldn't even sell them if they wanted to.
He knew that the chicken leg must have been given by the family Yong-ge worked for. Since others had given chicken legs, it wasn't worth exchanging them for a bamboo basket. "If it's not enough, come back and tell me," he added.
"Father, there's no need…"
"What do you mean, no need? Take it!" Li Wang insisted.
Seeing that his father was getting angry, Yong-ge reluctantly took a new basket and said, "Okay, Father, I'm going out."
Li Wang nodded, "Alright, finish your work and come back early."
As Yong-ge left the house, he intended to find his buddies in the village. However, he coincidentally ran into a scholar in patched clothing and a cloth-wrapped hairdo on the narrow path.
As soon as the scholar saw Yong-ge, he showed disdain and frustration, saying, "A young ger showing his face every day, it's so inappropriate!"
Rolling his eyes, Yong-ge thought to himself that this guy couldn't even make ends meet in his own home, yet he had the leisure to criticize him! He didn't want to listen to the scholar's nagging, so he decided to turn around and take a different path.
In fact, the children and gers from farming families had to go out to work. The reason why this scholar named Liu specifically targeted Yong-ge was that he had seen him secretly going to twenty-li slope to find work last time. But due to his small physique, people immediately recognized him as a young ger and didn't give him any opportunities. As for the jobs that didn't require much physical effort, Yong-ge himself wasn't interested in them.
Taking advantage of his limited education, Scholar Liu liked to lecture people. Even though Yong-ge ignored him, Scholar Liu continued to prattle on about how "society is deteriorating, and people's hearts are no longer virtuous."
However, Scholar Liu received his retribution quickly. A clod of earth, seemingly coming out of nowhere, hit him on the head, causing him to cry out in pain.
Before Scholar Liu could see who threw it, more clods of earth came flying one after another—
Yong-ge covered his mouth and took pleasure in Scholar Liu's misfortune, saying, "Serves you right!"
"Scoundrel! Such behavior is disgraceful…" Scholar Liu angrily left, flicking his sleeve.
Yong-ge stood in place for a while, and soon enough, Shanzi emerged from under the eaves of a nearby house.
Shanzi was eleven years old, just like Yong-ge, and his family was as poor as could be. However, their poverty was due to his older brothers, while Yong-ge's family was struggling because his mother had fallen ill and exhausted their savings, in addition to having many children.
As the eldest in his family, Shanzi had four younger siblings. His mother passed away three years ago, and his father worked as a laborer in the twenty-li slope, only coming home once a month.
So the mountain boy became the pillar of the family. He was clever too, just like Yong-ge, running up and down the mountains, doing whatever work he could find to feed their mouths.
"I was just thinking of finding you. Are you free?" Yong-ge asked. Shanzi was different from him. They had two acres of land at home. His father couldn't come back from his temporary job, so he took care of planting with his next two oldest siblings.
"What's the matter?"
Yong-ge briefly explained the situation, and Shanzi hesitated a bit. "Is the person you're talking about the one who previously punched Aunt Guihua's cow to death?"
If he could knock down a cow with a single punch, what if the other person was dissatisfied and decided to hit him? He wasn't as tough as a cow…
"…" Yong-ge was somewhat speechless. How did the rumor spread so quickly?
"No, who told you that… The cow actually went crazy and charged at him. He just pinned it down; he didn't kill the cow…" Yong-ge briefly recounted the sequence of events and added objectively, "Actually, he's a good person. He looks fierce, but he doesn't randomly hit people."
"Really?" Shanzi was still a bit scared. He had heard that Yong-ge's two bully brothers were beaten. How could he not be afraid?
"Really, would I lie to you?" Yong-ge felt helpless and thought for a moment before saying, "Actually, he gave me a chicken leg today, a big one. If it weren't for me being a brother, I would have gone myself."
"Chicken leg…" When it came to chicken legs, Shanzi's mouth watered.
Yong-ge remembered Shanzi's younger siblings and decided to give him the package. "Forget it, take this package of chicken innards. It's up to you whether you go or not."
After all, Cheng Duo didn't seem to care about the package, and he could find his own way.
Shanzi was young, but he wasn't the type to live off others. He took the package with determination and said, "I'll go."
Although innards were not easy to handle, they were still meat, enough for him and his younger siblings to have a decent meal.
"Wait, let me take the stuff back home first."
Shanzi went home and quickly followed Yong-ge to Cheng Duo's home.
Before Shanzi came, he had thought that the rumors might have been exaggerated. But upon seeing Cheng Duo, he felt that this person was indeed quite frightening. Just by standing there, he felt like he was being stared at by a wolf, even scarier than a wolf…
It must be said that Shanzi's animal instincts were quite accurate. Fortunately, Cheng Duo didn't mind and nodded at him, trying to be gentle as he asked, "What's your name?"
"Shanzi…"
"Alright, I'll call you Shanzi, and you can call me… Brother Cheng." Cheng Duo instinctively glanced at Yong-ge, thinking he could also call him like that, but considering Yong-ge was a "ger," he didn't bring it up. Let it be.
However, it was this glance that made him notice the backpack and sickle behind Yong-ge. He was instantly satisfied with his diligent work attitude and casually reminded him, "We're leaving. Work hard and don't wander around."
He meant well, worried that Yong-ge might encounter wild animals in the mountains and get into danger.
But because his tone was too straightforward, it sounded different to Yong-ge's ears, like a landlord instructing his servant not to slack off…
Yong-ge: "…Got it."
Without Yong-ge's help in speaking, Shanzi seemed very restrained. He walked ahead, leading the way, occasionally glancing back at Cheng Duo secretly.
Cheng Duo was about to talk to him and inquire about the situation when he heard a half-grown child working by the roadside greet Shanzi, "Da Shan, are you going out of the village?"
"Where are you going? Can you take us with you…"
Shanzi would usually explore the mountains and rivers to find something to eat, and occasionally he would take the children from the village along. So whenever they had a chance, they wanted to tag along with him.
Before the words were even finished, these children saw Cheng Duo behind Shanzi, and their eyes widened instantly, as if facing a great enemy. Then, someone screamed, and the five or six children dispersed like birds and animals, with one of them even carrying a large backpack and running so fast that his shoes almost fell off…
Cheng Duo: "…" Quite complicated.
He touched his nose and could imagine his reputation in the village, probably already on par with "child-eater."
Shanzi looked at Cheng Duo's expression and inexplicably felt like laughing. As the saying goes, everything is relative. Seeing those big-headed children so afraid of Cheng Duo, he suddenly didn't feel as scared himself.
"What did the villagers say to them in the end?" Cheng Duo couldn't help but ask.
Shanzi's gaze flickered. "Just… that you punched a cow to death…" There were other things, but he didn't dare say them.
Cheng Duo: "…" Well, he might actually have that ability, and the villagers weren't spreading rumors.
"But Yong-ge explained it to me. He said you didn't kill the cow; you just pinned it down…" Shanzi said while inadvertently seeking confirmation from Cheng Duo, his eyes filled with a faint admiration.
Shanzi had witnessed the scene of slaughtering pigs in other people's homes. Three or four adults would hold the pig down while someone else stabbed it with a knife. Sometimes, when the pig cried out too loudly, those adults would use all their strength to hold it down, their faces turning red…
But Cheng Duo pinned down a cow, a much larger animal than a pig! He did it all by himself. It must have required tremendous strength!
Cheng Duo noticed Shanzi's gaze and hesitated for a moment. "When you grow up, you'll also become stronger."
"Okay." Shanzi nodded, his eyes bright. "When I grow up, I'll go to the twenty-li slope just like my dad and earn a lot of money!"
Cheng Duo's mouth twitched. So your aspiration is to become a laborer? But compared to those people in the post-apocalyptic world who lived like walking corpses, Shanzi's simple wish seemed more substantial…
Cheng Duo smiled in a somewhat complicated manner, not discouraging Shanzi, but quickly changing the subject and talking about the main matter. "Tell me about the place where we need to buy things."
"Oh…"
Through Shanzi's introduction, Cheng Duo discovered that this ancient village was much more self-sufficient than a big city.
First of all, they grew their own crops and raised livestock. Additionally, some villages had family-based industries such as bean mills, oil mills, and blacksmith shops.
The bean cake Cheng Duo had eaten before was sold at the Yang Village oil mill, one copper wen for a bowl, much cheaper than wheat flour.
Fortunately, there were cotton-pickers in the village, so Cheng Duo acquired several pieces of coarse cloth and two quilts. Fortunately, the weather was getting warmer, so he didn't need to buy cotton to make cotton clothes.
In fact, Wudu County was located in a mountainous area, and most of the people there wore fur clothes. Only a few wealthy individuals would specifically make cotton clothes. Even when it came to quilts, one might only buy them once in a lifetime, such as when getting married.
Of course, there were also those who were too poor and used wheat straw and rice straw directly. Shanzi's family even sold their quilts and laid wheat straw directly. It was actually more convenient because when his youngest brother wet the bed, they could simply remove the wet wheat straw.
Upon hearing Shanzi's words, Cheng Duo gave him two wen and asked him to bring a bundle of wheat straw over. This way, when his ordered bed hadn't arrived yet, he could sleep directly on the wheat straw.
Shanzi was delighted to hear that he could earn two wen just by delivering a bundle of wheat straw, and he immediately agreed.
Originally, Cheng Duo felt that he had bought too many things and couldn't carry them all, so he planned to go back first. Unexpectedly, halfway through their journey, they happened to encounter Zhou Huolang, who was carrying a shoulder pole.
Cheng Duo simply purchased everything except the items for women from Zhou Huolang's shoulder pole and asked him to help with the delivery.
Zhou Huolang, of course, agreed without hesitation. He usually traveled to various villages to sell his goods, and sometimes his luck was bad, and he would only sell two hair ropes in one village. But this big customer had purchased most of his items and even placed additional orders!
Zhou Huolang initially thought that this customer must come from a well-off family, but when he arrived and saw the two dilapidated houses in front of him…
Zhou Huolang: Is he being lured here for robbery?
Fortunately, Cheng Duo paid the money readily and even paid a deposit. Zhou Huolang agreed on the next delivery date and quickly walked away with his empty shoulder pole.
Yong-ge was startled by the pile of goods resembling a small mountain. "Why did you buy so much?"
Cheng Duo rubbed his nose. "It's fine, just buy a little more. We can use them slowly."
In reality, he was just lazy to pick and choose, and since it wasn't convenient to buy anything in this rural village, he decided to buy everything at once.
Shanzi was also shocked by Cheng Duo's generosity. This person had spent nearly five to six taels of silver in one afternoon, including the deposit. His father couldn't even earn forty wen in a day, and what Cheng Duo spent in a day was almost equivalent to his father's four months' wages.
It was no wonder Shanzi was astonished. His father was already considered fortunate for finding work in the twenty li slope, and the people in the village who only knew how to farm were worse off than his father.
However, living outside meant higher expenses. Combined with debts and having many children, his family still lived a tough life.
Cheng Duo originally had no concept of money. He had even thought the amount given by Meng Ji was too little, but when he bought a pile of things and took a look, he realized that money was actually quite difficult to spend.
It seemed like he had missed out on that guy, the soldier. Soldiers weren't poor either.
Back at the main camp, Meng Ji could only force a bitter smile. When he went to the enemy camp before, the general had asked him to bring a little extra, just in case there was a need to bribe someone.
In fact, the silver was not only borrowed from the treasury but also from his personal savings over the years. After being scraped by Cheng Duo, it felt like returning to pre-liberation times.
Of course, Meng Ji didn't know what "pre-liberation" meant. He just wanted to use the captured enemy and the roster he risked his life to protect to make the general forget about borrowing silver from the treasury.
With the money, Cheng Duo went to find Village Head Li and bought some wheat flour, soybeans, and cornmeal as grains (he didn't want to eat sorghum, as it was too coarse). To his surprise, it seemed that Great Xia didn't have sweet potatoes and potatoes yet. And there were too few paddy fields in Wudu County, not even at Village Head Li's house, so he couldn't buy rice.
Of course, Cheng Duo didn't buy a large quantity of grains. He didn't even have a roof to shelter from the wind and rain yet, so buying so much grain and letting it go bad didn't make sense.
Speaking of roof tiles, Cheng Duo finally realized what he had forgotten.
That night, as he lay on the wheat straw and cloth, gazing at the starry sky, he belatedly remembered that he had forgotten to inquire about roof tiles.
However, the previous owner had used wheat straw as roofing, and it seemed that not a single household in Yang Village had tiles. During his time here, the only relatively decent house he had seen belonged to the slaughtered Niu family.
He wondered where they had gotten the roof tiles from. It couldn't be from that distant market, could it?
When Cheng Duo woke up in the morning, Yong-ge had already arrived and saw him extravagantly using a whole piece of cloth as a bed sheet. Yong-ge thought he was wasteful.
Cheng Duo yawned and sat up, saying, "You're here? Help me make breakfast, I'll go wash up…"
Without waiting for Yong-ge's response, he went off on his own.
Cheng Duo squatted by the creek to wash up and caught a glimpse of Yong-ge obediently going about his business. A smile crept onto his face. It wasn't that he was avoiding cooking; his culinary skills were just terrible. Finally, after managing to obtain an iron pot and buying oil from the bean shop, he indulgently made pancakes last night, only to accidentally burn them…
Yong-ge looked at the burnt pot and the layer of oil in it, cursing Cheng Duo as a spendthrift in his heart.
He poured the oil from the dough into a bowl, washed the pot, and then steamed a pot of wheat and cornmeal buns for Cheng Duo. Seeing some cabbage nearby, he stir-fried a bowl of it, using up the remaining oil.
But Cheng Duo was dissatisfied, saying, "It's too bland. Put more oil next time when stir-frying vegetables."
He had bought such a big jar of oil, so why be so stingy with it?
How could it be bland with so much oil? And he was talking about next time…
Yong-ge was infuriated and gritted his teeth, "There won't be a next time."
Perhaps he couldn't stand Cheng Duo's wastefulness anymore, so Yong-ge stood up to him for the first time.
"What?" Cheng Duo didn't react for a moment.
Yong-ge glanced at him, his momentum slowly receding, and muttered in a low voice, "I came here to help you with farming, not cooking."
Cheng Duo paused in his actions of eating the buns and vegetables. This young man was quite clever; it seemed he couldn't continue deceiving him…
He pondered for a moment and tentatively said, "I can pay you."
"One meal for one… two wen, what do you think? And you can eat with me, you eat what I eat… until the house is built, after that, I'll cook for myself."
Yong-ge was a little tempted. One meal for twenty wen, and it included food. There was no better-paying job than this.
"Then… you're responsible for preparing the ingredients."
"Of course," Cheng Duo nodded. With this guy's stinginess, he was afraid to let him prepare the ingredients. If he relied on him, he would end up eating vegetarian every day and turn into a rabbit.
"Alright, until the house is built," Yong-ge said somewhat sheepishly, but he was actually thrilled. Even if Cheng Duo only ate two meals a day, he could still earn four wen and save his own food.
Food is the most important thing for people, so Cheng Duo's first priority was to set up a kitchen. Since he didn't know where to buy roof tiles, he extravagantly nailed a row of wooden planks on the kitchen roof and then covered them with thick wheat straw.
Although it couldn't guarantee that it wouldn't leak when it rained, at least it was much better than the luxurious roofs in the village.
In fact, it was also thanks to Cheng Duo's enormous strength that chopping trees was no big deal for him. There was a whole stretch of forest behind his house, and although Cheng Duo didn't know much about tree species, he deliberately chose those that were thick and robust to use for making wooden planks.
After marking the lines and opening both ends, one swing of the axe would create a smooth wooden plank.
Yong-ge had finished cutting the weeds in the field, and while he was digging the ground with a hoe and clearing out the roots, he took a break and watched Cheng Duo effortlessly cutting the wooden planks, feeling envious of his daily skills.
Cheng Duo was almost done with his busy work. He put down what he was doing and picked up a hatchet, saying, "I'm going up the mountain, don't wander around."
Yong-ge responded with an "Oh." After two days, he had already gotten used to it.
This man was a carnivore, and every time he went up the mountain, he would definitely bring back something. Yong-ge couldn't help but lick his lips at the thought of the braised rabbit meat they had eaten yesterday.
The food here was too good, making him wish that Cheng Duo's house would take a bit longer to be repaired…
Cheng Duo went up the mountain and accidentally discovered a trail of wild deer yesterday. However, it was already late, and he had already caught a rabbit, so he didn't pursue them.
First, Cheng Duo went to the place where he found the wild deer drinking water yesterday. There were some scattered footprints near the water source, varying in size. Based on his experience, it should be a small group of deer.
These wild deer groups usually stay in the same place for two or three days until they finish eating the grass and leaves they like, and then they move to the next location.
Cheng Duo followed the footprints and indeed found the trace of the deer group in a remote area of the mountain. He carefully concealed himself behind trees and bushes, watching as one of the wild deer separated from the group and grazed on grass, gradually approaching his vicinity.
Cheng Duo felt a bit regretful. If only he had a bow and arrow, it would have been perfect. Throwing a hatchet was too big a target and would easily startle the prey.
Wild deer have extremely sensitive hearing, and they run swiftly. The slightest disturbance would make them disappear without a trace.
Cheng Duo was about to move toward the separated wild deer when he suddenly heard a suppressed growl of a wild beast in his ear, followed by a strong odor…
Cheng Duo quickly rolled to the side and swung the hatchet backhand, inflicting a painful howl on the beast, which swiftly jumped out of Cheng Duo's hunting range.
By now, Cheng Duo could see clearly that it was a robust and well-furred wolf. Half of its face had been slashed by Cheng Duo's hatchet, and it was now baring its teeth, staring fiercely at Cheng Duo with a pair of sinister blood-red eyes.
This wolf was quite clever. Seeing that it was no match for Cheng Duo, it let out a howl toward the sky and quickly disappeared into the forest. Cheng Duo noticed that several other wolf figures emerged from the shadows of the trees and swiftly followed the head wolf's steps, disappearing in an instant.
Obviously, that was the alpha wolf, and Cheng Duo suspected that the gray wolf he had killed earlier belonged to this wolf pack.
The alpha wolf had come to seek revenge.
These wolves were really sharp. Cheng Duo had been a bit diligent these past two days, and they had followed him.
Cheng Duo raised his arm and looked at it. He had accidentally scratched his skin with the fangs of the alpha wolf, leaving a bloody mark.
If it were in peacetime, he would definitely go to the hospital for a rabies shot or something, but now he didn't care. He wasn't afraid of the zombie virus and even ate expired canned meat without hesitation, so why would he be afraid of these things?
Unfortunately, as a result, the group of wild deer was also startled and ran away. Cheng Duo couldn't help it and caught a bamboo rat instead.
Perhaps due to his previous experience of supporting his family, Cheng Duo always felt a bit embarrassed when Yong-ge discovered that he was injured and hadn't caught anything… It was a bit embarrassing.
"You're back?" Seeing Cheng Duo coming out of the woods with the prey in his hand, Yong-ge, who was picking wild vegetables by the water, unconsciously stood up and curiously stared at the prey in Cheng Duo's hand.
Cheng Duo showed Yong-ge the bamboo rat he was carrying with his intact sleeve. "A bamboo rat, I'll prepare it for you later."
"Okay."
Seeing that Yong-ge was still standing there without leaving, Cheng Duo attempted to change the subject. "Where did you get the wild vegetables?"
"I saw some on the side of the field just now, so I picked them on the way." Yong-ge believed him without suspicion. After answering Cheng Duo's question, he obediently went back to continue picking vegetables.
However, when Cheng Duo was skinning the bamboo rat, Yong-ge, who was watching, noticed something. "Why is your sleeve torn?"
Pretending not to know, Cheng Duo raised his hand to take a look. "Maybe I accidentally tore it on the mountain."
"Then take it off later, and I'll help you mend it." Yong-ge said naturally, but after speaking, he realized that something was not right. Cheng Duo wasn't his older or younger brother, let alone his father. Why would he mend it for him?
"Um… You can fix it yourself. I injured my finger today, so it's a bit inconvenient,"
Cheng Duo glanced at Yong-ge and indeed saw bloodstains on his right thumb. He thought it was quite a coincidence that both of them had accidentally drawn blood today.
"Zhou Huolang will come in a couple of days. I ordered some wound medicine from him. I'll give you some when it arrives," Cheng Duo said.
"No need." Yong-ge's hand trembled, and he unconsciously hid it behind his back. In fact, a scratch on the hand from working in the fields was nothing out of the ordinary, and he didn't really care about such a minor injury. His refusal was just an excuse.
Yong-ge wanted to hide his hand because Cheng Duo was staring at it, and he felt a bit embarrassed. His hand was ugly, with old scars, calluses, and frostbite.
In fact, Cheng Duo's hands were more delicate than his. Even though he was his older brother, he still felt a sense of shame.
Cheng Duo nodded at Yong-ge's words, not paying much attention. By the time Zhou Huolang delivered the medicine, Yong-ge's minor injury would likely have healed.
Yong-ge felt a bit disappointed for some reason. Perhaps it was because it was rare for someone other than his father to show concern for him, and he had refused it. Or maybe he thought Cheng Duo changed his mind about giving him the wound medicine after seeing his rough hands because it wouldn't be of any use…
But fortunately, Yong-ge was a strong young ger who quickly brushed off this feeling of disappointment. He had bigger concerns like having enough food to eat and warm clothes to wear, so he didn't have the luxury to dwell on such thoughts.
However, thanks to Yong-ge's reminder, Cheng Duo remembered that he had bought some fabric and hadn't found someone to help with sewing yet.
Actually, there was no need to look for someone because there was a readily available candidate…
Cheng Duo was also worried that Yong-ge would leave after finishing planting the vegetables. Since the vegetable patch didn't require too much attention, he could check on it every ten days or so without any issues. But if that happened, their agreement of helping with cooking until the house was repaired would end early.
Cheng Duo didn't want to lose such a convenient and obedient "cook."
Although Yong-ge refused to mend even the small tear on his clothes to avoid suspicion, Cheng Duo knew that this young ger was genuinely kind. He had helped him mend his clothes back in the cave, after all.
Moreover, the timing of making the request was also crucial…
During mealtime, Yong-ge, as usual, put a bowl of rice and dishes to the side to eat separately. Cheng Duo noticed that he only took three pieces of bamboo rat meat and put them all in a bamboo tube. He even put two steamed buns in one tube, leaving only the leftover buns and wild vegetables to eat.
Cheng Duo chewed a piece of bamboo rat meat and pretended to say, "Ah, the bamboo rat meat today is a bit tough…"
Yong-ge became nervous, thinking that Cheng Duo didn't like his cooking. This was related to his income of two wen per meal: "Did I stir-fry it too much? I'll be more careful next time!"
"No, it's just that the meat itself is a bit tough," Cheng Duo said, pretending to find it difficult to swallow.
Yong-ge looked at him eagerly. After all, it was still meat, and he could eat it even if it was a bit tough. If he had a bowl of meat like that, he wouldn't mind even if it was burnt!
Cheng Duo rubbed his gums and said, "I don't know why, but my gums are swollen today, and eating this meat hurts my teeth."
"Oh…" Yong-ge understood what gums were, and he understood toothache.
"What should we do? If we reheat this meat tomorrow, it will be even tougher. How about you take it back with you, and tomorrow I'll catch a chicken instead? Chicken meat is softer," Cheng Duo suggested.
"Really? Really?" Yong-ge's face lit up with joy, and he couldn't even form words. He felt guilty every time he ate well at Cheng Duo's place, thinking about his father not having enough to eat at home.
Although Cheng Duo didn't mention it, he was well aware of it himself. Occasionally, he would pack a small portion in a bamboo tube to take home.
"Really, when have I ever lied to you?" Cheng Duo saw Yong-ge preparing to use the bamboo tube and straightforwardly pointed to one of the two bowls of bamboo rat meat, saying, "You can take this bowl back, and just bring the bowl back to me tomorrow."
Yong-ge thought about it and happily accepted the bowl of bamboo rat meat.
Cheng Duo seemed to be unusually talkative today. While eating, he sighed and said, "I accidentally tore my sleeve today. This is my only set of clothes, and I bought some fabric but don't know how to sew. I have no idea when I'll be able to change clothes again. I'm almost getting moldy…"
Just when Yong-ge was feeling grateful after benefiting from Cheng Duo, he immediately and without hesitation said, "I'll do it for you!"
"Oh? Then thank you very much!" Cheng Duo didn't give Yong-ge a chance to back out. He took advantage of the situation and continued talking about how he needed several sets of clothes and several quilts… If it wasn't too much to ask, he even wanted Yong-ge to make shoes for him.
In the end, he pretended to hesitate and showed concern: "I hope I'm not causing you trouble. If it's inconvenient…"
Yong-ge, influenced by his smooth-talking, got carried away and readily agreed, saying, "No, I'll do it in the mountain periphery. Others won't find out."
"That's good." With his objective achieved, Cheng Duo picked up his chopsticks again and quickly finished everything on the table, including the bamboo rat meat that he had just complained about being too tough to swallow.
Yong-ge watched him with a puzzled look, but being a simple rural ger, he had no understanding of the intricate ways of modern people. He had no clue that he had been tricked with a bowl of bamboo rat meat.
Cheng Duo looked at the figure of the young ger obediently cleaning up the dishes and couldn't help but feel a sense of guilt. Well, when Zhou Huolang arrived, he would buy a jar of sheep fat ointment for Yong-ge to use on his hands as a token of gratitude.
In fact, Cheng Duo had seen many unfortunate people in the post-apocalyptic world, and Yong-ge didn't even rank in the top ten. But because he was genuinely simple, Cheng Duo sometimes felt that Yong-ge's innocence and kindness were like a mirror, reflecting his own ugliness clearly.
In the post-apocalyptic world, Cheng Duo wouldn't necessarily associate with someone like Yong-ge. But in the slow-paced and somewhat boring life of Yang Village, he thought it was nice to have someone like him around. At least he didn't have to worry about being stabbed in the back…
Yong-ge took the bowl of meat back home and shared it with his father. However, after finishing the meal, he washed the bowl clean and hid it deep in the cupboard. Somehow, his older brother found it when he was rummaging around.
"Where did this bowl come from?"
"I, I…" Yong-ge felt nervous, but at that moment, he suddenly remembered the incident where Shanzi exchanged a hair rope with Da Tou. He quickly came up with an alternative version, saying, "Last time when the peddler came to the village to sell things, he left in a hurry and accidentally dropped a bowl. It was picked up by the village kids, and I traded two buns with them for it."
He was gambling on the fact that Cheng Duo lived in a remote area, and the villagers still had no idea that he was working for Cheng Duo. His older brother and second brother certainly didn't know either.
Yong-ge knew that his older brother and second brother still remembered the incident when they were beaten up last time. If they found out that he was working for Cheng Duo, he would undoubtedly receive another beating.
Li Da believed him and held the bowl, examining it. "No wonder this bowl looks so new."
At that moment, Yong-ge couldn't help but feel relieved. He was afraid of leaving any traces, so he had washed the bowl several times with wood ash.
Seeing Li Da and Li Er going to the cupboard to get other bowls, Yong-ge couldn't help but say, "Brother, we only have these few bowls…"
Li Da impatiently pushed him away. "Do you think I don't know? Do you need to blabber about it? Get lost, I get annoyed just seeing you!"
Li Er also sneered, "Just these few shabby bowls, why do you treat them like treasures?"
"You two scoundrels—" Li Wang heard the commotion and came out, just in time to catch Yong-ge, who had been pushed down. Furious, he was about to scold the two troublemakers.
"Old man, don't think I won't hit you just because you're my father. If you annoy me with your nonsense, I won't hesitate to hit you again!"
"Get out of the way!"
After saying that, he brushed past the two and left.
"Scoundrels, unfilial sons! Why didn't they die outside!" Li Wang covered his chest, his anger causing his heart to ache.
Yong-ge quickly supported him. "Father, let it go. It's just a few bowls. If they want to take them, let them take them…"
As for Cheng Duo's bowl, he could only use his wages for cooking to compensate him. That bowl was different from the ones they had at home—it was glazed and decorated with patterns, worth at least ten wen…