The streets were bustling with people and bustle, but both of them fell into a brief silence.

Not long after traveling in this bustling city, in front of an inconspicuous alley, Bai Yi suddenly stopped and said to Bai Ling, "This way." ”

Bai Ling followed and turned around with Bai Yi. At first, there were three or two shops like the previous wonton shops, but the further back you go, the deeper the alley becomes, and the more dilapidated the street scene becomes.

In the end, the alley could barely accommodate one person to pass through, and the stone bricks on the ground were in disrepair, and when you stepped on it, you found that it was moving, and if you were not careful, you would splash a few dirty streams of water on the hem of your clothes.

Bai Yi slowed down and guided Bai Ling to follow his pace, his body nimbly walking through the rocks, obviously very familiar with this area.

After walking dozens of steps, the vision in front of me suddenly widened.

It was a large area of muddy ground, littered with stone bricks, and as far as the eye could see, it was all makeshift cloth and straw sheds. Many children wore short brown knots, and even ran around playing naked.

There was a subtle smell of food in the air, and the smell of rancid food was already there.

Bai Ling raised his sleeves to cover his nose.

Who would have thought that there would be such a slum in the place across the alley from Chaotian Street. Compared with the previous sheng song and laughter dance, this is another world.

Bai Yi walked and turned back, "The land here was circled by a member a few years ago, saying that he wanted to build a restaurant, but he didn't know what was going on, so it was deserted here." It is close to Chaotian Street, and it is convenient to beg, so there are many poor families. ”

Bai Ling nodded in response and looked around.

Each shed was crowded with people, mostly women and children. The clothes on their bodies were full of holes and cuts, and they couldn't even make up for them, so when it was still light, most of them stayed in the shed.

Occasionally, some sewing work falls here, and the women work under the shed.

Even the problem of defecation can only be solved after nightfall.

Bai Ling followed closely behind Bai Yi, a little incredulous.

"How can there be so many homeless people?"

"Some of them are from nearby counties, and some have fled from the north."

Bai Ling was even more surprised, "From the nearby county? So why ......"

Bai Yi said softly, "Most of the men went to the front line before, but they didn't come back. The family's house and land were all eaten by relatives, and when they had nowhere to go, they could only go to the city to beg. ”

Bai Ling was dazed, "...... What is 'Eaten'? ”

"That's it......," Bai Yi paused, "If the man in a family dies and the woman does not have a son, then the man's relatives can divide all the property of the family, from houses and fields to pots and pans...... A group of people eat the homes of the desperate people cleanly, and it is called 'eating the desperate households'. ”

Bai Ling was slightly stunned, and then looked at the situation in the shed, and there was more pity in his eyes.

Bai Yi glanced at Bai Ling, "Don't sympathize with them. Nine out of ten of these women don't think there's anything wrong with that. They just complain, and they will only complain about their miserable lives and that they can't give birth to a son. If it were their turn to eat other people's households, they would not be relentless.

"And don't look at so many people who came to our house last night to repay the grace of dripping water, and think that they are all simple and kind farmers. The productivity here is low, there are not so many resources for everyone to live well, and it is a natural thing to eat a household here, which is to be presided over by the village elders in the ancestral hall and notarized by the whole village. If a woman doesn't have a son, she's nothing, nothing. ”

Bai Ling was silent.

"For women here, having a son is one way to live, and not having a son is another way to live." Bai Yi glanced at Bai Ling with a complicated look, "We and them are not all the way. Compassion will only cause trouble for yourself, you must not cause trouble on this, you will not be able to explain it when the time comes. ”

"Understand ......"

After walking forward for about one or two hundred meters, Bai Yi stopped, "Ah Li!" ”

No one agreed.

Bai Yi took a breath and raised his voice a little more.

"Ah Li! I've got something for you! ”

As soon as he finished speaking, seven or eight children with unkempt hair suddenly appeared on the broken wall beside him, the youngest looked to be five or six years old, and the eldest was only eleven or twelve years old. The child in the lead had a face full of mud and dust, but his eyes were bright, like two black jade falling into the mud, eccentric, "Brother Bai Yi!" ”

Bai Yi waved his hand, "Come down, I have good things for you!" ”

The child named Ah Li had a hippie smile on his face, and he quickly rolled down from the wall, "There are few people who come to me on weekdays, but when I heard the sound, I thought I was looking for something...... Eh, who is this sister? ”

"It's Boling."

"Ahh Ah Li showed a look of sudden realization on his face, "I always heard Brother Bai mention that my sister is so good-looking!" ”

Before Bai Ling could say politely, Ah Li put his hands on the ground three or two, unloaded the four baskets on Bai Yi's shoulders into his hands, and turned back and said fiercely, "What are you rubbing!" Come here! ”

The other children behind the wall slowly poked their heads out again, turned over and moved their things.

Except for Ah Li, who was wearing a pair of worn boots and cotton pants, the other children were only wearing a long-sleeved coat that did not fit well, the hem of the shirt hung down to cover the thighs, and the two feet were barely exposed, and they were still a little shy when they saw the living.

Ah Li waved his hand and introduced to Bai Yi, "These are all newcomers, I'll take them first, and Brother Bai will take care of them if you don't know what—" "you." Bai Yi smiled and stretched out his hand to cut Ah Li's head, "Don't get scared here, look at these things, can you take them?" ”

Ah Li squatted down to look, and several children also came around, and as soon as the basket hat was opened, everyone's eyes were bright.

Ah Li hurriedly closed the basket hat and looked around vigilantly, some people were obviously already looking this way.

"Are all four baskets the same?" Ah Li looked up and asked.

Bai Yi nodded, "Yes, it's all about the same." "Take it! Ah Li's voice lowered, and a sincere smile appeared on his face, "Don't say just a few baskets of mountain goods, even if you move a gold mountain for me, I can take it~"

Bai Yi clapped his hands, "I still have a lot of them there, you can call a few powerful ones to come home with me." ”

"Now?"

"Yes, now."

Ah Li pondered for a while, shook his head and said, "It's inconvenient now, Brother Bai will set a later time, I'll personally bring someone to you in a while, can you see it?" ”

"Okay, that's it. Don't be too late, when you come, you can call me according to the old way, don't bluff and lead a group of people to the front of my yard to surround me. ”

"You still need to say this! Don't worry! ”

Several children watched Bai Ling and Bai Yi leave, and when they walked back to the alley that was only one person wide, Bai Ling turned around again. The wall, which had been full of people a moment ago, was now quiet again, and the things that had been piled on the ground were all gone. 
Bai Yi said at this time, "These are all orphans on Chaotian Street, and the one who leads me met when I was in Baiwei Building." Boss Shen is kind-hearted, and the leftovers every day are kept for the people here. ”

Bai Ling lowered his eyes, shook his head lightly, and said, "The way of this world ...... Why does it seem to be getting worse and worse? ”

"The war in the north has been going on for ten years." Bai Yi had some emotion on his face, "How good can this world be?" ”