In the study, the firewood in the fireplace burned very strongly, the flames were bright and jumping, the baking room was as warm as spring, Xu Huaiyi was boiling water to make tea without hurry, and the others sat around the table.

There was a box of dried fruits on the table, as well as a few plates of pastries, Xu Huaiyi held the cup and enthusiastically let a few people eat and drink, "I'm not here anywhere else, why are you so polite?" Let's eat and chat, feel free, and we're not outsiders, what do you have to say......"

In the past, it was true that no one was polite to him, at most the relationship was estranged, and the place was lukewarm, but after escaping along the way, everyone became familiar with him, got close to him, relied on him, and admired him, however, as he settled in Hutian Village, bought a mansion and Zhuangzi, opened a workshop and became bigger and bigger, and went to the best martial arts academy in the capital, the villagers' attitude towards him unconsciously changed again, admiration and dependence are still there, but they dare not get close at will.

is Village Chief Xu, and when he talks to him, he will subconsciously pay attention to proportion.

This will only become more evident as his status grows.

Xu Maoyuan bears the name of the uncle, which is the most relaxed, after all, no matter how high the status of the nephew is, when he arrives at home, he has to bow to him, he took a sip of tea and took the lead in speaking, "Huaiyi, it's not a big deal for us to come over, just talk to you, listen to you and talk about the news outside......"

Village Chief Xu echoed, "Yes, you've been busy outside lately, and you can't take care of going home, what's going on with the relief of the victims?" It's almost all settled, right? ”

Xu Huaiyi said, "The disaster relief is very smooth, the imperial court has come out of a special place to build houses for the homeless victims, and the victims are not only not worried about eating and drinking, but they can also earn some silver if they are diligent, and they have a lot of houses now, but they are still not enough to live, and it is useless to rush this matter, so they have to come step by step, fortunately, there are still some temporary makeshift shacks, it has snowed in the past two days, but there is also a place to avoid it, and it is not too sinful." ”

When Village Chief Xu heard this, his expression relaxed a lot, "That's good, that's good......"

Xu Maoyuan inquired curiously, "There are so many disaster victims, how many houses do you have to build to resettle them?" ”

Xu Huaiyi explained, "The specific data has not yet been counted, and it is currently estimated that there must be about seven or eight villages to be resettled, and not all the victims are willing to settle down near the capital, and some people are going back to their hometowns when the spring is open, and some are sold to Zhuangzi as tenants. ”

Xu Maoyuan suddenly said "oh".

Gao Zhuang said with a smile, "I finally dragged my family to the capital, what are you doing back to my hometown?" Who can guarantee that there will be no drought next year? Anyway, I came out, so I didn't think about going back, how good is it to stay here, there is a way to make money, buy a house and land sooner or later, and I can also go to the city to gain knowledge, is it better than staying in Xujia Village to farm? ”

Liu Xiuwen echoed, "I also think that there are more opportunities in the capital. ”

Meng Erzhu and Xu Huaixiao didn't speak, but the expressions on their faces were obviously the same as Gao Zhuang.

Tonight, Xu Changsong also came, and when he heard this, he said with a tangled face, "But Xujia Village is our root, and the ancestral graves are buried there, so you really don't want to go back?" ”

Village Chief Xu glanced at a few young people, and scolded with a smile, "When you come out one by one, your heart will be wild, but good men are ambitious in all directions, and it's not wrong, as for us old guys, the fallen leaves have to return to the roots, but right now, it's definitely not the time, and when you all get on the horse, you can close your eyes and rest." ”

Gao Zhuang immediately said, "What did Uncle Village Chief say?" How old are you, you should be old and strong, and it will be no problem to be in front of you for the first twenty or thirty years, we still have to learn from you. ”

"Roll the calves, don't coax Lao Tzu to be a cow and a horse for you."

"Hey......

This joke made the atmosphere a little more relaxed.

The topic returned to disaster relief, Xu Maoyuan said worriedly, "Here in the capital, at the feet of the Son of Heaven, the victims have finally been saved, I don't know if the disaster relief situation in other state capitals has improved, and the imperial court has also allocated money and food to appease it, right?" I don't know if it can be implemented on the heads of the victims, alas, ......"

When the others heard this, they all looked at Xu Huaiyi.

Xu Huaiyi said helplessly, "I don't know about these, the emperor is far away, where can we inquire?" Anyway, the household department has allocated some food and silver to go down, to the disaster area, how to deal with the local government, we will not be able to whip the whip, the capital, I can stare at it, other places, can only look at luck, but I estimate, it should not be a big problem. ”

Xu Maoyuan said with a complicated face, "I was thinking about our Xujia Village, and there are still half of the people who didn't come out with them, and I don't know what happened to them?" Do you still insist on staying in the village, or are you on the way? ”

Hearing this, Village Chief Xu furrowed his brows, "It's been a few months, and the grain they have stored is estimated to be unstable, and eighty percent of them have fled to the capital, but I don't know, whether it will be smooth along the way." ”

Gao Zhuang muttered in a low voice, "How can the road go smoothly at night?" I go to the city every day to deliver goods, I have met a lot of victims who have just come to the capital, not to mention how miserable, when I left from my hometown, I dragged my family with my mouth, a large group of people, to the capital, I can keep half of it, I also heard that ......"

After a pause, he pursed his lips and took a sip of tea before continuing, "I heard that on the road to escape from the famine, there are people fighting and grabbing food every day, stealing, robbing, killing people and setting fires or something, just like common dining, there are countless children and daughters who are sold, mountain bandits are rampant, and there have been riots, and there are corpses everywhere in the fields on both sides of the road, all of which are called wild dogs to gnaw, and those who can live to the capital are considered fateful, in short, the later they start from their hometown, the more difficult and dangerous the road is, and our village is ......."

Xu Maoyuan couldn't stand the interruption, "Okay, don't say it." ”

Gao Zhuang laughed dryly, pinched a piece of pastry and ate it.

Some things are not unexpected, but the truth may be too tragic, and I would rather deceive myself than face it.

Village Chief Xu turned his head to look at Xu Huaiyi, who had always looked calm, and asked with a bit of temptation, "Huaiyi, what do you think about this?" ”

Xu Huaiyi smiled faintly, "Uncle Village Chief, it doesn't matter what I think, the important thing is that no matter whether they left early or late, what hardships they experienced on the road, and how many people survived in the end are not something we can manage, at the beginning, didn't we remind them to leave?" You've been persuaded from house to house, haven't you? But if they refuse to leave, then they will have to suffer the consequences of staying, and we can't send people to find them on the road, right? ”

Now that the road is chaotic like that, who dares to go?

"You're right...... Village Chief Xu sighed, "After all, it's a village, if they go to the capital, can we help or help." ”

Xu Huaiyi said, "Of course, when the time comes, you will always look at the arrangement." ”

After getting this sentence, Village Chief Xu felt relieved, and then listened to Xu Huaiyi, "However, I said ugly things ahead, if those people from the old Xu family come, can you stuff them to me, I am usually not at home, if they move in, my daughter-in-law and children, I must not let them eat?" ”