When the exiled prisoners heard that the official was going to the lake to get food, they were immediately eager to follow him.
The refugees at the back of the team heard that there was food, so they followed without a second thought.
However, when they arrived at the lake and saw that the official was getting river mussels, everyone was a little disappointed.
This thing has a strong fishy smell, and you might even eat a mouthful of mud.
But now that everyone was hungry, they didn't care about being picky and dug out mussels in the mud.
Maybe it's because of the rain and rising water, but there are many river mussels on the shore, so it's easy to pick them up. After a while, everyone picked up a lot.
Lu Shiyan also took his younger siblings to the lake and picked up two sacks.
Hearing that he had to rest for an hour, Jiang Tangtang simply used the official's big pot to steam a simple version of pumpkin cake.
While he was busy, Lu Shiyan came back with two large bags of mussels, "How do I get these clam shells?"
"So many?" Jiang Tangtang looked at the two sacks of mussels in surprise.
"My eldest brother moved quickly, so I picked up more. In the same time, those people didn't pick up half as much as my eldest brother!" Lu Shili raised his neck very proudly and said good things about his eldest brother.
The eldest brother is awesome, and he feels proud that he is better than himself.
"Wash it clean and put it in a bucket. I'll get it later!" Jiang Tangtang was just thankful that he had brought out a few stainless steel buckets from the space that day.
Although every time when he brought water, Lu Shiyan would frown and think deeply when he saw the bucket, studying the workmanship and material of the bucket.
But Jiang Tangtang insisted that he bought it from a street vendor in the city, and Lu Shiyan couldn't say anything.
Lu Shiyan and Lu Shili carried buckets back to the lake. When they were cleaning the mussels again, people began to come back from the lake with mussels.
At this time, the pumpkin cake on the steamer was also ready, and the fragrance kept wafting out.
Smelling the fragrance, another refugee knelt in front of Jiang Tangtang and begged: "My lord, please do a good job and give us a bite to eat!" "
I'm just an exiled prisoner, but I'm not qualified to give you food. ." Jiang Tangtang looked away, trying not to look at the poor children.
Seeing Liang Jiamin coming back, she quickly handed the pastries in the pot to Liang Jiamin and turned away.
Liang Jiamin waved the whip in his hand and said with a ferocious look on his face: "Go away! Go to the government to ask for food. We are running errands and don't have any extra to share with you."
Several women were frightened. The children around them started crying in fear, and several people hurriedly took their children away.
The ferocity of the officers and soldiers and Jiang Tangtang's indifference made the refugees following the team hesitate to continue following.
One of the reasons why they followed the exile team was that they had no choice but to know where to go.
Another reason is because Jiang Tangtang has shown kindness to them.
But now, seeing that Jiang Tangtang was frightened by what happened the night before and refused to help them anymore, some people backed down and wanted to take their children to the nearest county.
A black-faced woman said: "Let's go, Qiuniang, they are unwilling to help, and we will die if we follow them."
He Qiuniang shook her head and said: "But what's the use of going to the county town? When was there a disaster, the court helped us? It's good if the tax burden is not increased. Do you still want the court to distribute food?"
As soon as she said this, the scene fell into silence.
They all fled from the same village, and this was not the first time they had been in trouble.
I remember that one year there was a locust plague, and the village had no harvest. Everyone had to go to the mountains to find wild vegetables and tree roots to satisfy their hunger.
But instead of distributing relief grains, the government increased the tax burden and forced many families to sell their children.
This time it was worse than before. No matter how difficult it was before, at least we still had a house and land.
But now, the house and ground are flooded, and everything is gone.
They did not dare to hold out hope for the government.
He Qiuniang said after a while: "I think that girl has a good heart. If those murderers hadn't wanted to rob them last night, she wouldn't have treated us like this today." "
What's the use of having a good heart? She She is just a prisoner! I think she is powerless even if she has the will."
The black-faced woman stood up with the child and said: "If you ask me, there is always a way to survive in the city, whether it is a rich man giving porridge, or in You can always survive by finding a job in the city. But following these exiled prisoners? Do you plan to go into exile with them?
"No matter what you think, I am going to the city to find a way to survive." "After saying that, the black-faced woman took the child and left.
Several other women hesitated and followed the black-faced woman.
The rest, besides He Qiuniang's family, there was another family.
The two families discussed After a while, Jiang Tangtang was found again.
He Qiuniang knelt in front of Jiang Tangtang and said: "Your Excellency, my family and I are willing to sell ourselves as servants and serve you in the future. All we want is to give us a bite to eat." Hu Dangui also said: "
Noble sir, please accept us!" We are all honest farmers who can do anything. As long as we give our children something to eat, we can do anything. "
Jiang Tangtang was shocked by what the two said.
"But, I am an exiled prisoner now, how can I buy you? And if you follow us, you will have to go into exile together. Have you really thought about it clearly?
"As long as you can survive, nothing else matters. " "He Qiuniang brought a child, a thirteen-year-old sister-in-law, and an elderly mother-in-law.
Hu Dangui is the woman who Jiang Tangtang couldn't stand last night and gave her her rations.
In addition to a child over three years old, she , and a younger brother who is more than ten years old.
In fact, both families have little labor force, and they have heavy burdens. Most people who buy slaves will not buy such a family.
Jiang Tangtang is mainly soft-hearted.
But there are some things that need to be made clear first.
"Collect It's not impossible for you to come down, but as you can see, we are just exiled prisoners now, and our rations are all provided by officials. If I want to give you food, I can only save it from our family's rations, and give it only to you. Are you willing for the children to eat grains and for you to eat wild vegetables? "
"Yes! " The two women nodded repeatedly and said, "As long as we give our child a bite, we will be satisfied." We can eat anything, and we can dig wild vegetables ourselves. "
Jiang Tangtang said: "This place is still more than ten days away from the place where we were exiled. You have to take your children on the road every day. Can you bear this hardship?
"We were used to doing menial jobs in the countryside. We just walked. We have no problem. " While walking, we would also help with the work. "
With that said, the two women presented the mussels they picked up today, indicating that the mussels they picked up belong to them as well.
"Then you wait a moment, I will ask my husband. "Jiang Tangtang mainly asked Lu Shiyan what procedures should be done to buy a slave.
Although she once again committed a soft-hearted problem, she must be on guard against others. Since it was agreed that she would be bought as a slave, the procedures that should be done are: Done.