Lord, he is not a man [infrastructure]

"Sister, eat quickly, don't let others see."

When Hongcheng ran into the house, he closed the door tightly, took out the cloth bag hidden in his crotch, and quickly stuffed it into the hands of his wife who was too hungry to stand up.

Amei Hong's fingers trembled, she was so hungry that she didn't even have the strength to open the cloth bag.

Hongcheng nervously peeped through the crack of the door and looked out. Seeing that no one was chasing him, he returned to his wife again and helped her open the cloth bag.

Inside the cloth bag were three small raw red taro.

Hong Amei swallowed hard, but she said weakly: "Father and mother haven't eaten for several days, they only drink water, you send the two over there."

Hong Cheng bit his lip. He also felt sorry for his parents, but his wife fasted longer than his parents to give him the strength to go out to find food. If she doesn't stutter, I'm afraid...

"You eat, I'll go find it again." Just as Hong Cheng finished speaking, there was a gurgling sound in his stomach.

Hong Chengcheng didn't seem to hear, and stretched out his hand to quickly peel the raw taro, revealing the pink taro meat inside. They didn't dare to cook the taro for fear of being noticed by the neighbors, so they could only eat it raw.

The taro meat was exposed, and Hong Cheng's stomach growled even louder.

But Hongcheng brought the peeled taro meat to his wife's mouth and urged her: "Eat quickly."

Amei Hong shed tears and stretched out her hand to reject her husband: "You eat, I'm not hungry."

"Silly sister, how can you not be hungry, eat quickly, or I will get angry." Hongcheng squeezed his wife's mouth, and forced the taro meat into his wife's mouth.

Instinctively, Hong Amei, who was so hungry that she was already digesting her own internal organs, had involuntarily bit the food with her teeth. She wanted to spit out the food, but actually chewed and swallowed the taro meat at a very fast speed.

It's okay if you don't eat anything, but now after eating one taro, Amei Hong couldn't help but look at the second red taro.

Hongcheng silently scraped off the taro skin with his fingernails.

Hong Amei didn't wait for Hongcheng to finish scraping off all the skin, she grabbed it and stuffed it into her mouth.

The last one left, Amei Hong covered her mouth and shook her head desperately.

Seeing this, Hong Cheng stuffed the last taro into his mouth, chewed it carefully, and swallowed it bit by bit, trying to prolong the eating time.

Suddenly there was a knock on the door.

The couple were startled and wiped their mouths subconsciously.

Hongcheng quickly stuffed the scraped red taro skin under the bed.

"Who?" Hong Cheng asked vigilantly.

"It's us." A weak male voice came from outside.

As soon as Hongcheng heard the sound, he immediately went to open the door.

Hong Amei also struggled to sit up, and stood up slowly while leaning on the wall.

"Father, mother, why did you come out?" Hong Cheng worriedly asked the two men and women standing at the door.

Hongcheng's parents are not very old, both in their early thirties, but because life is too difficult, and because they don't have enough food and clothing, they are as old as 50 years old.

Hong Cheng's father smiled wryly, and supported each other with his wife: "Your mother and I are planning to go into the mountains to look for food while we still have some strength. If you find food, you don't have to send it secretly. Without us, you can do more. Live for a few days."

What Hongcheng worried about his parents the most was that they would give up their lives. He immediately said: "No! I can find something to eat, really. When it gets darker, I will go out and look for it. I promise to find enough food for our family. food to eat."

Father Hongcheng shook his head and looked at the only remaining son crying: "Where do you go to find food? To the lord's taro field? Don't you know that the son of Hongying's family secretly went to the lord's taro field to dig The taro is still on the edge. It is said that after digging for a long time, two small taro heads the size of thumbs were found, but they were still caught by the steward, and they were tied up in the field and starved to death. Just two small taro heads the size of thumbs! "

Hong deliberately thought that I just dug three of them, and they were still bigger than a thumb.

Hong Chengniang licked her lips, her eyes were bloodshot due to excessive hunger, "Ah Cheng, you are the only one left in our family, you can't have any accidents. If you stay longer, spring will come, as long as you stay longer for another month and a half."

Hong Amei walked out holding the wall, and suddenly said: "Father, mother, Ah Cheng, let's run away."

"Silly girl, where can we escape?" Father Hong Cheng smiled wryly, "It's hard to live anywhere these days, and we were originally free citizens, and we would be slaves if we fled to other places."

"Do you still care if you are a slave at this time? We are all going to starve to death."

Hongcheng's parents looked at each other, "But we don't know the way. The beasts in the mountains are the most ferocious in winter, and there are so many dangers in the mountains. We may be eaten by wild beasts as soon as we enter the mountains."

A-mei Hong looked around and whispered, "Let's go to Bailuling. My sister told me two days ago that the eldest son of her neighbor seems to have found a relative married to Bailuling and brought back some food. , but when everyone looked for it, their family had already eaten the food they brought back. However, in order to appease the people in the same village, their family told them that life in Bailuling was much easier. It has been more than three months since winter, and so far they have not been hungry. If one person dies, and there is still work to do every day, the White Deer leader can get thirty copper coins every ten days, and the good ones get even more!"

Hong Chengniang covered her mouth, "So many? Isn't it bragging?"

Hong Cheng's father was more mature and prudent, and immediately stopped talking about going to the mountains when he heard the words, but let his son and daughter-in-law enter the house to talk.

When the family entered the door, Hong Cheng's father asked his daughter-in-law to explain in more detail.

A-mei Hong told her everything that Sister Hong who married into a neighboring village told her in detail, including her sister's guess that the eldest son of the neighbor's family had not only brought the little food, but must have hidden it.

Originally, the family should have been robbed and thieves, but the family was also smart and said that they could take the villagers to work in Bailuling, but they could not let other people know.

In order to be able to go to Bailuling to find someone to eat, the people in that village took the initiative to protect the family, and even helped watch over a few ruffians in the village.

"Then have they left?" Hong Cheng's father asked anxiously.

"I don't know." Hong Amei said to her husband apologetically: "You were not at home that day, and my sister came to me secretly, just wanting me to go back with her to see if we can go to Bailuling together, but she said no. If I bring someone else with me, I can't tell them, I don't want to leave you, but I can't make it difficult for my sister, so I didn't tell you."

Hongcheng carelessly touched his wife's withered and yellow hair, "Silly girl, you should listen to your sister and go with her."

Father Hongcheng leaned on the wall and thought for three seconds, then stomped his feet: "Let's go to the neighboring village, let's go now!"

"father?"

"If we don't leave, none of us will be able to walk. Since entering the mountain is a dead end, why not go to the neighboring village and try. If we can go to Bailuling with them, maybe our family can survive this winter. If we can't , we also gave up."

"Don't give up. If you can't go to Bailuling, let's dig the lord's taro field. If you die, you will be a full ghost!" Hong Cheng said through gritted teeth.

The family decided so, no further delay.

Both Hongcheng and Hongcheng's father were straightforward people, except for a few pieces of clothing, a wooden bowl for each, and a stone knife for each, they didn't bring anything else.

And so they set off.

People from the same village asked them what they were doing, and they said they went to the mountains to find food.

Some villagers were so hungry that they didn't dare to go into the mountain by themselves. Now that they saw Hongcheng's family dispatched, they wanted to take advantage of it.

The Hongcheng family didn't care about the followers, and kept going forward while they still had the strength.

As I walked, the people behind felt that something was wrong. Isn't this the way to the next village?

Someone caught up with Hongcheng's family and asked them why they didn't go to the mountain but to the next village.

The Hongcheng family said they wanted to go with Orion from the next village.

When everyone heard that Orion was with them, they suddenly felt that they had taken advantage of it, and followed them more firmly.

Aji's father, Aji's grandfather, and Dagou's father rushed to the relative's house at this time.

Coincidentally, Aji's grandmother's family originally planned to leave yesterday morning, but there are many people in the same village who are leaving, and some people are hesitant and vacillating. In addition to the family members of these villagers, it has been procrastinating until now. Also failed to leave.

Aji's grandmother's family has decided to wait. No matter how many people in the village are with them, they must leave before noon.

Unexpectedly, the men of Aji's family came to pick them up.

Aji's grandmother's family was overjoyed. In fact, the eldest grandson came back and told them how good the White Deer Collar was. They didn't really believe it. This time, it wasn't that the whole family left, but some of the strong laborers, and all the old and young, women and children stayed.

Aji's father and grandfather talked about the situation of Bailuling, and they were very proud to let the whole family follow up, saying that they would do some work for them, and they would also be provided with food and housing.

Aji's grandmother's family didn't hesitate any longer, and quickly cleaned up the old and weak who were going to stay, and planned to leave after a full meal.

The food was brought by Aji’s father and grandfather. The wheat flour is packed in a long cloth bag that can be slung across the shoulders, which is very convenient for travel. This cloth bag is also one of the products of the Bailuling store.

Wheat flour is divided into fried cooked wheat flour and raw wheat flour. Cooked wheat flour is the dry food for Aji, his father, son and grandfather on the road. Grab a handful and swallow it with water to fill your stomach.

Raw wheat flour is specially brought to the in-laws.

Aji's father taught his mother-in-law how to make gnocchi soup on the spot. This thing is easy to make, fast, and filling. It is now the best choice for a farewell meal.

The rest of the village gathered outside the house of Aji’s grandmother’s house—when Aji’s father and grandfather came to find them, the villagers all ran to watch the excitement. Originally, most people crowded inside the house and asked Aji’s father and grandfather various questions. , but when Aji's grandmother's family started to make food, all the thin-skinned people came out with excuses, and only the thick-skinned one stayed in the house trying to stutter.

Aji's grandmother is also a kind person, but she only gives some gnocchi soup to the children under the age of five, and the others don't share anyway.

Aji's father brought a lot of raw wheat flour, but in the end there were only two slender cloth bags. With so many people in their family, it was almost enough for one meal.

Some people say some bad things, but not many people are willing to listen. Everyone still expects Aji's family to take them to work in Bailuling, with food and accommodation and copper coins. Where is such a good thing? try to find?

It was at this time that Hongcheng's family arrived, and they went to find Hong's sister first.

Sister Hong saw that her younger sister had brought her husband's family, and there were many people behind her. It was difficult for her to say anything in front of so many people.

Sister Hong's husband came back happily and told everyone good news: "I heard from Hongliu's in-laws that Bailuling needs a lot of workers. As long as they are not lazy and slippery, anyone can stay."

"Really?" Hong Amei called out in surprise first.

Sister Hong's husband nodded vigorously: "It's true. I asked it several times, and everyone else asked it too. It shouldn't be a lie."

"The old man, child and woman, or?" Sister Hong also asked anxiously.

Sister Hong's husband nodded again: "Whatever you want, there are light and heavy jobs, even the elderly and children have work to do."

"Is there such a good thing?" Sister Hong's father-in-law asked suspiciously: "You can't trick us into becoming slaves, can you?"

"So what if we are slaves? If we stay like this, we'll all starve to death. Why don't we go all out?" Hong Cheng interjected.

The elders of Sister Hong's family were still hesitant, and the family started quarreling as they talked.

The Hongcheng family had already left Sister Hong's house, and ran to wait outside Aji's grandmother's house.

Most of the villagers who followed Hongcheng's family were dumbfounded at this moment.

Someone murmured: "It turns out that we didn't go hunting in the mountains, so what should we do?"

No one answered, but no one left either, everyone was waiting.

The head of the village came forward, and he took his eldest son into Aji's grandmother's house.

No one outside knew what the village chief had talked with Aji's family.

But after the village chief came out, he stood on the high stone and shouted to everyone: "Bailuling has work for us, but the number of people we need is not particularly large, so we can't spread the word about it, otherwise we will lose our share. As far as our village... and the village next door know, it’s good to know that before the people there are full, those who want to go to work should hurry up and prepare. The Hongliu family promised to stay for another night, but tomorrow morning, at dawn, they They will leave with their in-laws, and those who want to work there will be ready today, and no one will wait for you after the time has passed."

Everyone asked the village chief whether they would go to their house or not.

The village chief said without hesitation: "Go, all children over ten years old in my family, regardless of gender, will go, just me and the two old guards."

Hearing that so many people were going to the village head's house, the villagers dispersed without any hesitation, and all ran home to pack their luggage.

Some people went to Aji's grandmother's house one after another, just to hear what Aji's grandfather and father said about how good the white deer collar was. It seemed that these descriptions would give them the courage to stay away from home.

The villagers who came with Hongcheng's family felt that they had taken advantage of it at this time. Some people turned around and ran home, intending to take all the family members they could bring with them, and some people planned to go back to find relatives to go with them.

There are also people who are afraid of missing opportunities, or are alone in the family, so they stay in Aji's grandmother's village and sleep outside Aji's grandmother's house.

The village head repeatedly urged that this matter should not be spread far and wide, saying that if the stewards knew about it, they would not let them leave for fear that there would be no shortage of people for the next spring's planting.

When it comes to their own interests, most villagers are very careful.

In addition, these two villages are relatively remote, and they are the red taro leaders closest to Bailuling, so the news has not spread outside for the time being.

In the early morning of the next day, Aji's grandfather and father were a little at a loss when they saw the black heads outside the house.

They didn't expect so many people to walk with them. There were at least 200 people, and almost all the people who could walk from the two villages came.

Dagou's father was also dumbfounded. He didn't really want to come, but he also married his wife from here—because the dowry was cheaper than other nearby villages, he still came for his wife.

He didn't bring much food, but he brought a bag of cooked flour. As a result, the dry food he wanted to save on the return trip was eaten up by his father-in-law's family.

Big Dog’s father found Aji’s father, and said distressedly and angrily: “I have no food on me, what should I do when I go back? You have brought some with you, but there are so many people, what should they do if they come up to snatch it? Look at those people, there are almost no One looks like he's carrying dry food. What do so many people eat on the road?"

It was also the first time for Aji's father to encounter such a big matter, so he could only look at his father, hoping that his father would have some good ideas.

As expected, Grandpa Aji lived a long life and experienced a lot. He was silent for a while, and said to his son: "Baihe, you are fast, you go first, go back quickly, and go to the housekeeper. There are so many people, you must let the lord know about this. Look at the lord." What arrangements do you have with the housekeeper?"

"Okay!" Grandfather Aji secretly stuffed half a bag of cooked flour into his son, letting him wrap it inside his clothes so that no one could see it.

Only then did Grandpa Aji come out to talk to his in-laws and the heads of the two villages, and told them his plan.

The heads of the two villages said that it was too dangerous for Aji to travel alone, and they were willing to let their eldest son go with them.

Grandfather Aji agreed without hesitation. He was afraid that someone would secretly follow up with his son for a bite of food, and harm his son. It would be much safer if the eldest sons of the two village chiefs accompanied him.

Aji's father, Baihe, and the eldest son of the village chiefs of the two villages set off first, and their speed would be much faster than that of the large army.

The heads of the two villages told the villagers that Bai He set off first to inform the Bailu leader to send people to meet them. If the Lord Bailu leader is willing to accept so many people to work, he will send people to meet them on the way, and maybe they will bring food.

The people of the two villages cheered when they heard the words, and a few ruffians who wanted to follow Baihe secretly were discouraged because of this—it's not worth the risk for that little food, it's better to go with everyone to be safe.

The people of the two villages didn't drag their feet on the road until the sun had risen to the top of their heads.

Grandfather Aji and Father Big Dog lead the way.

It took only two days for the three of Baihe to cross the border of Bailuling from the shortcut familiar to the locals.

When Tang Bo got the news, he was not surprised that more than 200 laborers were coming. Instead, he had someone call Baihe alone and ask him about the shortcut.

When Bai He saw Tang Bo, he was very respectful, but his voice was a little trembling: "The shortest way is... the way we got married from the red taro. There are not many wild animals on that road, and it's not too difficult to walk. As long as you pass through the mountain stream, you don't have to worry about it." There is no need to take a detour when climbing over the mountain, which can save a lot of distance.”

"Mountain stream? Where is that mountain stream? Can you draw it?" Tang Bo took out a map of the junction of Bailu collar, Hongshan collar and red taro collar.

Bai He couldn't read the map, so Tang Bo asked him to approach him, and explained to him what the marks on the map meant.

Bai He listened for a while before he understood the general meaning, and stretched out his hand uncertainly to draw a line at the tadpole tail where the red taro collar and the white deer collar intersect: "It should be here, coming out of the mountain stream is a piece of gravel. , we can see our Huishi Village after crossing the gravel field."

"Very good. Your family has done a great job. Before the people from the red taro leader arrive, think about what you want first." Tang Bo called the housekeeper and asked him to take Baihe down to eat and take a bath.

Bai He was excited, he didn't know how he had made a meritorious service, but this did not prevent him from being grateful to Tang Bo, and he couldn't stop thanking the housekeeper.

Tang Bo decided to lead the team to walk that mountain stream in person. He doesn't need to show up, but he needs to know the details of that mountain stream.