Chapter 13 The younger sister still feels sorry for him

Chapter 13 The younger sister still feels sorry for him

People lined up to get their porridge, only to find that what was usually two pots of porridge had become one pot today.

"This little bit isn't enough for everyone to drink, and it's mostly water..."

"This looks like rice water, not porridge."

Seeing that more and more people were dissatisfied, the bailiffs immediately pulled out their leather whips and lashed them on the ground.

"You've got too much of a nerve, haven't you? Still acting like young masters and misses? Take it or leave it. There's only so much left. If you come late, it'll be gone. You can decide for yourselves."

People were startled and rushed forward with their bowls to grab the porridge. In no time, the pot was empty.

Half of the people in the queue still haven't gotten one, and there's still a long way to go. Isn't this going to kill them?

"Those constables are truly despicable!"

Jiang Sumin cursed loudly, and the family sat there dejectedly, holding empty bowls.

Jiang Songzhi sighed helplessly: "I don't know when we'll be able to eat again. It's okay for us men to go hungry for a meal or two, but right now I'm most worried about Father and my sister-in-law."

Zhu licked her lips and shook her head: "I'm fine. The ones who need food the most right now are Father and Xiaoxiao."

Just as the family was looking worried, Jiang Yutang mysteriously approached Yun Shi with a bundle in his arms and quickly took something out and stuffed it into her arms.

"This is dry rations. Drink plenty of water while eating; it'll keep you full for a while."

Jiang Jiuzhe took the item; it was a hard piece. He brought it to his nose and smelled it, then tentatively took a bite and slowly chewed and swallowed: "It smells pretty good, but it's a bit hard."

"There's enough for everyone, eat up!"

Jiang Yutang handed out a compressed biscuit to everyone, and then ran to the wooden cart to pick up another bundle.

Fortunately, she had the foresight to bring not only food but also insoles.

"This is an insole; it's very soft when you put it inside your shoes."

After Jiang Songzhi took off his shoes and put the insoles in, he stood up and jumped twice, exclaiming in surprise, "It really is true! Walking like this won't rub my feet anymore!"

The others were all surprised after trying it.

Everyone was excitedly trying it out, except for Jiang Sumin, whose eyes flashed with doubt.

Where did you get all these things?

There are no towns or cities in this desolate wilderness, unless they fell from the sky.

Jiang Yutang had already thought of an excuse, and lied without batting an eye: "Today, when I was making my wheelchair in the forest, I happened to meet a merchant and traded my earrings for some dry food and supplies from him."

"Oh? What a coincidence that we met in the forest before dawn?" Jiang Sumin clearly didn't believe it.

"I'm just lucky."

Jiang Yutang didn't want to argue about the issue anymore, so she changed the subject, took out the milk powder, and mixed it with hot water for Xiaoxiao to drink.

Seeing this, Jiang Sumin had no choice but to give up. After all, it was something that was beneficial to them, so there was no need to take it too seriously.

The yamen runners shouted as they set off. Jiang Shengan sat in a wheelchair, pushed by Yun Shi from behind. The older brothers could finally rest.

They hadn't walked far when they heard the yamen runners cursing and swearing behind them.

Jiang Yutang turned his head and saw that Cheng Daier had a conflict with one of the yamen runners.

“My brother’s leg injury has not yet healed, and now that there is no one to help us pull the cart, my mother and I, two weak women, will naturally be slower.”

Cheng Daier frowned, her forehead covered in sweat that trickled down her chin, her left hand rubbing her right shoulder, while her right hand still gripped the rope; she was clearly exhausted.

"What does that have to do with me? All I know is that the three of you have delayed everyone's journey. Either you pull hard, or he can get down and walk on his own. Otherwise, don't blame me for my whip being merciless!"

"you!"

Faced with the ruthless and unreasonable behavior of the yamen runners, Cheng Dai'er's face turned red with anger.

Seeing this, Madam Lin took off her jade bracelet and handed it to him with trembling hands, humbly trying to please him: "Sir, you see, our family is really in a difficult situation. Could you please help us find someone to help us?"

The constable's expression changed, and he waved his hand, sending the jade bracelet flying. The bracelet fell to the ground and instantly shattered into three pieces.

"How dare an exiled person hoard goods!"

Upon seeing this, Cheng Daier rushed forward to argue with the constable: "That jade bracelet isn't worth much money. It was left to my mother by my grandmother. How could you just smash it like that? It's inhumane!"

The two women confronted the unreasonable yamen runners, but quickly found themselves at a disadvantage.

The others just stood at a distance and watched; no one dared to go up and try to break up the fight.

Cheng Lanzhou, who was sitting on the cart, finally reacted. He forced himself to sit up and tried to stand up by supporting himself on the edge of the cart with his hands.

“Mother, elder sister, don’t argue with them, I can walk by myself.”

Lin stepped forward to help him up: "But your injury..."

"It's nothing, this little injury is nothing." Cheng Lanzhou, her face pale, limped forward.

Seeing this, the constable snorted coldly: "Hurry up."

Jiang Yutang stood in the crowd watching all of this, and when she saw Cheng Lanzhou frowning and forcing herself to walk, her heart began to clench uncontrollably.

She clutched her chest and turned her head to the side, cursing inwardly: The original owner was such a love-struck fool!

Jiang Songzhi happened to see this scene, his brows furrowed, and he turned around and whispered something to Jiang Huaiyu beside him.

"Me?" Jiang Huaiyu glanced at Jiang Yutang subconsciously and asked, "Are you really going to do this?"

Jiang Songzhi nodded slightly: "Didn't you see that my little sister is feeling sorry for Cheng Lanzhou?"

This isn't heartache, it's probably secret glee. After all, they're both getting a divorce, so where does the heartache come from?

"Hehe... Okay." Jiang Huaiyu pouted, put Jiang Sumin down from his back, and reluctantly walked towards the Cheng family.

The three men thought he was there to kick them while they were down, but to their surprise, he raised his chin and pointed at the cart: "Lie down on it, and I'll pull you up."

Cheng Daier looked at Jiang Huaiyu in surprise, not understanding whether the other party had good intentions or was maliciously retaliating.

Seeing that Cheng Lanzhou remained unmoved, Jiang Huaiyu said impatiently, "Can you hurry up? If you keep going like this, you'll become a cripple before we even get to Danzhou."

Upon hearing that he would become lame, the mother and daughter quickly helped Cheng Lanzhou lie down on the cart.

"Thank you for your trouble."

Cheng Dai'er pursed her lips and quickly glanced at him: "We will pay you the money."

Jiang Huaiyu sneered, picked up the rope and slung it over his shoulder: "Keep it for yourself."

Watching the other person's strong back as they pulled the cart forward quickly, Cheng Dai'er clenched her fists under her sleeves and muttered under her breath, "Ungrateful."

The journey took three hours. When they stopped to rest, most of them lay down on the ground to catch their breath, but soon they were scalded and jumped up again.

The sun was blazing, and even a gust of wind felt scorching on the face.

Jiang Yutang observed the surroundings. Apart from a few trees that offered some shade, all that remained were yellow earth and stones.

The yamen runners had a half-hour break in between, and everyone would eat and then take a short nap.

"Mother, Xiaoxiao says she's thirsty, is there any water left?" Mu asked.

Yun shook the bamboo tube and handed it over: "That's enough for Xiaoxiao to drink."

"Ugh, I'm exhausted." Jiang Yuhuai walked over, panting heavily, and plopped down under a tree, fanning himself. "Is there any more water?"

Mu gave an awkward chuckle: "I just gave the last bit to Xiaoxiao."

Jiang Huaiyu closed her eyes in despair and wailed, "It's all my brother's fault for meddling. He made me go pull a cart for Cheng Lanzhou's family. His sister even said she would give me money. What kind of person do they take me for!"

"Huh?" Jiang Yutang belatedly realized, "You went to pull the cart for Cheng Lanzhou?"