This section of the road near Ping Chau was cleared and easy to walk. But away from the boundary of Pingzhou City, the mud on the road has not been cleaned up. It emits a foul smell under the scorching sun.

Wu Yi'an smelled uncomfortable, and the horse stopped riding and got into the carriage. Fortunately, the carriage smoked mugwort leaves, and the stench was much lighter.

After sitting down, Yi An said worriedly: "Qingshu, the smell on this road is so unpleasant. If you don't clean it, you will get sick if you smell it for a long time. ”

Qingshu snorted and said, "That's why it is said that after the flood, it is easy to produce plagues. ”

Wu Yi'an was silent.

Halfway through, I met a group of people, and there were more than a dozen of them. Most of them are old people and children, and only three are in the prime of life.

When these people saw a carriage coming, the two old men knelt in the middle of the road as if they saw hope, blocking the carriage from moving forward.

These people spoke in dialects, and Wu Yi'an couldn't understand "Qingshu, what are they talking about?" ”

"They said they hadn't eaten for days and begged us to give them a bite to eat."

Wu Yi'an wanted to go out, but was stopped by Qingshu: "We still have some food in the car, we can give them food." ”

Qingshu shook his head and said, "If you want to send them food, just like in Siyuan Mountain, they will come to us when they encounter difficulties." If we can't help, they will curse us for not saving us if we die. ”

At that time, she gave away all the medicines stored at home, and later a child was sick and begged to come to the door. Qingshu said that there was no medicine, but the other party didn't believe it and scolded her.

Wu Yi'an struggled: "But we can't watch them starve to death, right?" ”

Qingshu shook his head and said, "Hunger can't die." It's only a little more than half a day away from the capital city, and it's going to be there soon. ”

"What if the government doesn't care?"

Qing Shu glanced at him and said, "The government won't ignore it, otherwise it will cause a riot." You don't have to worry, the granaries of the state and county are full, and there will be no chaos in the short term. ”

Wu Yi'an shook his head and said: "Unless it is a time of life and death, the government will not open a warehouse to release grain." ”

It is not that the officials are ruthless, but the granary of the government also plays a role in stabilizing the people's hearts. Knowing that there is food in the granary, it is not easy for everyone to have hope.

Qing Shu really didn't know about this, and said, "Who told you about this?" ”

Wu Yi'an said with some embarrassment: "These are all what Uncle Yan told me. ”

"Qingshu, the food we brought is enough to eat for two days, we can give them some evenly." Seeing that Qingshu didn't speak, Wu Yi'an said: "It's a big deal, it's a big deal to give them the portion I eat!" ”

Qingshu said: "There are thirteen of them, and your portion is not enough for a few children." But if you don't eat anything when you get to Taifeng County, I'll give them some grain. ”

Wu Yi'an didn't think about it, so he responded: "Okay." ”

After Uncle Yan blasted these people away, the carriage continued to move forward. Yi An was anxious: "Didn't you say to send them some food?" Why don't you send it again. ”

"Send it, but it's too late. Otherwise, they will always follow us. ”

After walking for two quarters of an hour, two guards were allowed to deliver the food.

On the way, I met a lot of victims. Some of these victims came up to plead, but Qingshu didn't let go anymore.

The road is not easy to walk, which greatly slows down the trip. Finding a place with water, they stopped to set up their tents.

This time, I went out with two pots, a big pot to cook rice, and a small pot to boil water and vegetables.

It's not so particular when you go out, and a big pot of rice with a pot of seaweed and shrimp soup is everyone's dinner.

Wu Yi'an wanted to get the bowl, but was stopped by Qingshu: "You have given away your rations today and tomorrow." ”

Seeing that everyone was eating deliciously, Wu Yi'an swallowed his saliva. Hmph, she is a person with backbone, and she will never open her mouth to beg for mercy.

After eating, the dishes and chopsticks were cleaned and put away with boiling water, and everyone went to sleep.

Qingshu and Wu Yi'an slept in the carriage, and everyone else slept in the tent.

When Qingshu fell asleep, Wu Yi'an looked at her and whispered: "It's so ruthless, if you don't give it to you, you won't eat it." ”

When I was growing my body, I was hungry and panicked if I didn't eat a meal. But Wu Yi'an is also a person of Cigna, and he promised not to eat. Even when her stomach growled, she lay down and squinted.

The sound of a fight woke everyone who fell asleep. Wu Yi'an jumped out of the carriage and saw more than a dozen men lying on the ground, and two kneeling in front of Uncle Yan begging for mercy.

Qingshu also got into the carriage, looked at these people and asked, "What's the matter?" Are they here to rob? ”

These people are really thieves, so many of their guards dare to come and rob.

Uncle Yan nodded and said, "Yes, these people came with knives, they should have tried to do something wrong while we were asleep." ”

A short man saw Qingshu and Wu Yi'an, and his face was happy: "Girl, we are also forced to be helpless because we have no food at home, and ask the girl to raise your noble hand to spare us." ”

Qingshu looked at Wu Yi'an and asked, "Do you want to spare them?" ”

Wu Yi'an shook his head and said, "No." Although they did not succeed in robbery, they still broke the law after all, and they will be handed over to the government tomorrow. ”

The prefect has issued an official letter and imposed heavy fines for robbery and theft. As long as the bandit is confirmed, there is no need to go through the court to interrogate, and he will be killed directly.

When the short man heard this, he cried and said, "Girl, I have a wife in her sixties and a child of five and three months. Girl, if I die, my mother, my wife and children will not be able to live. ”

Wu Yi'an's face showed an unbearable look: "Qingshu ......"

Qing Shu glanced at her, shook his head and said, "The Zhuang family will keep at least one season's rations." Now that it's only been more than a month before the summer harvest, why did you come out to rob? ”

The short man was stunned, but he reacted quickly: "The family has no land or land, and the family depends on me to work part-time to make a living." The food stored at home is only enough to eat for more than half a month, and now there is no rice at home, the old mother is hungry, and the children are hungry and crying. I really can't help it, this is the first time. Two girls, please be merciful and let me go this time! Don't worry, I'm not going to do this again. ”

Qingshu smiled and said, "The story is well written, but unfortunately I don't believe a word." How could an honest farmer commit a robbery? People like you were either ruffians or hooligans before. ”

The short man looked horrified.

"Uncle Yan, this kind of person can't stay, staying will definitely harm the people of Pingzhou."

The short man looked at Qingshu and said that he didn't blink his eyelids when he killed people, and regretted it. You must know that it will provoke such a bad star, so you won't go out today.

Qingshu was not interested in watching the murder scene, so she returned to the carriage after saying that.

Wu Yi'an got into the carriage and said unhappily: "Since you didn't plan to let them go, why do you want to ask me again?" ”

Qingshu should not ask rhetorically: "You are so soft-hearted, how can you go into battle to kill the enemy in the future?" ”

"That's different."

"What's the difference? Those men were armed with knives, not ordinary thieves who stole money and food. We have guards around us to protect us, and we are not afraid of them. But those ordinary people didn't, and if they met, they would only be slaughtered. ”

Wu Yi'an hung his head as he was trained.