One rode and one car appeared outside Chenjia Village.

The familiar path, the difference is the appearance of the village, and the deserted popularity.

The movement of the carriages and horses disturbed the villagers. Some yellow-skinned peasants came out with panicked expressions on their faces.

"Childe, it's Childe who is back!"

Suddenly, someone shouted, but they recognized Chen Tang.

The cry was like a stone smashed into a well, causing a ripple. The village, which had been lifeless, suddenly seemed to come to life.

"Childe, it's really your ......"

Dengdeng, a person stumbled out, and it was a long-term follower. Kneeling in front of the horse, weeping silently.

Seeing him, Chen Tang was also surprised, surprised, turned over and dismounted, helped him up, and asked, "Where is Ah Lai?"

"He was sick and bedridden, and he couldn't get up. ”

Chen Tang hurriedly asked about the situation: it turned out that he was in Nanfu County that day, and Chen Tang had a decision in his heart, so he ordered Ah Lai to go to the state and county to meet Ah Bao and leave Ningzhou as soon as possible. After the two saw the above, they chose to return to their hometown. After all, the roots of their families are all on the side of Chenjia Village. Wang Fu said that the village had suffered many casualties, and the two of them were quite concerned about the safety of their parents and relatives, so they decided to come back.

After hardships, he escaped with his life and returned to his hometown, and sure enough, he saw a scene of defeat, and Ah Lai was even more seriously ill and couldn't afford to lie down. Fortunately, some of the villagers who had fled also came back one after another, gathered together, did some farm work, and chatted to make ends meet. It's just that these days are completely incomparable with when Chen Tang Yijin returned to his hometown.

But there is no way, no matter how hard and tired you are, you have to grit your teeth and live. As for fleeing, there are ups and downs outside, and there is chaos, and you may die faster.

Seeing Chen Tang today, Ah Bao suddenly found the backbone of the heart, crying and confiding at the same time, and told him about the situation in the village.

The population has plummeted and is scattered, houses are badly damaged, and nearly half of farmland has been abandoned...... What's worse is that from time to time, soldiers and horses will come to fight the autumn wind and collect some chaotic taxes. If they can't hand it over, these soldiers will go directly into the house to rob it, and take away the rations or things of little value when they see them, and even some domestic animals, chickens and ducks that have not yet been raised, and they are even more ruthless than thieves......

When the order is turbulent and there is no way to follow, the mortal world is a little more hideous than a ghost.

Chen Tang has long known this. Many things have been confirmed for a long time. All along, he seemed to have no plan, drifting, like a rootless duckweed, difficult to settle down.

This is not Chen Tang's original intention, it can only be said that it is forced by the situation. In fact, his inner intention has always been clear, and in the final analysis, it is nothing more than the maxims written by the sages: self-cultivation, family harmony, governing the country, and leveling the world.

Four things in a word.

From the moment he came to this world, Chen Tang has been looking for opportunities to "cultivate himself". To put it bluntly, it is to improve personal strength. Only in this way can we gain a foothold.

The troubled times are a catastrophe, but for him, who is good at cultivating scriptures, it is also an opportunity.

Now he has become a family with Su Ling, and he is no longer a lonely person, he can be regarded as a family.

Of course, the meaning of "family" does not stop there, and the number of members of the family will gradually increase over time. Now that you have a family, you can think about the next stage.

Chen Tang accepted Tu Shanyi's seal documents and returned to Panzhou, which was precisely for this reason. And Chenjiacun will be the first stronghold he will stand on.

When I entered the village and returned to my ancestral house, I saw that the house had collapsed in many places. However, some places have obviously been repaired, and the inside has been cleaned. But it was Ah Bao who carried out the preliminary treatment after they came back. Lack of money and materials, can only do this step.

Chen Tang patted Po on the shoulder and rewarded him for his loyalty. Wang Fu and the others did not wait for instructions, and immediately began to get busy.

There's so much to do.

Chen Tang settled down a little, and then went to visit Ah Lai with Ah Bao.

"Bao, what is Alai's illness?

Ah Bao hurriedly said: "Childe, Ah Lai has a strange disease, which is a little weird. ”

"Huh?"

When Chen Tang heard this, his eyebrows raised: "Let's hear it." ”

"Ah Lai has practiced martial arts, his body has always been strong, you know this son. We fled from Ningzhou, but fortunately Gongzi gave us a lot of money, so that we would not starve to death on the road. After a long journey and a lot of hardships, we both made it through. After returning to the village, I found the surviving relatives and villagers, repaired houses and farmed, and there was always something to eat. After all, these fields are the property of Childe. ”

Hearing this, Chen Tang nodded. He made a name for himself as a jinshi, and had many rights, and he was able to give his people shelter and be exempted from all kinds of forced labor and taxes. Not only Chenjiazhuang, but also several nearby villages chose to attach themselves to it, and recorded the fields and other things in the name of Chen Tang.

Later, although Chen Tang went to Nanfu County as an official, there was no change in the houses and fields. It's just that the war has led to changes. However, the title deed, the house deed, etc., are still in Chen Tang's hands.

Po continued: "There are soldiers looting, and there are thieves, even so, we still have to farm. ”

The people take food as their sky, do not farm, and can only drink the northwest wind. Although it is surrounded by mountains and rivers, it is almost impossible to rely on hunting for a living.

"The problem is in the fields. ”

Ah Bao said, with a panic on his face: "This year's early ploughing, and now, the early rice is gradually ripening. There were other vegetable crops in the field, and Alai was afraid that someone would cut them secretly, so he built a straw hut in the field and stayed there. However, more than ten days ago, when I went to the hut in the morning, I saw him fainting there. When I woke up, I couldn't move my hands and feet, and I was screaming in fear, saying that there was a monster in the field and that we should leave quickly......"

Chen Tang's eyes shrank slightly, and he had a plan in his heart.

"We carried him home, and he was groggy most of the time, drinking only some porridge and water, and when he woke up, he screamed wildly. invited people to come and see, but they were helpless, saying that they had committed a demon and hit an evil spirit. I finally went to find another goddess, but to no avail. Until now, his whole body is out of shape, skinny as firewood, and he is afraid that he will not be able to hold on for many days. God is pitiful, Childe, you are back, you must save Ah Lai. ”

Po said, and couldn't help wiping her tears. He and Alai supported each other and fled all the way home from Ningzhou, and after many hardships, the friendship was very deep. Not a brother, better than a brother.

Chen Tang said in a deep voice: "I will do my best." ”

When I arrived at a mud house where Ah Lai lived, in the small courtyard, an old woman sat there wiping her tears, and it was Ah Lai's mother.

"Auntie, who do you think is coming?"

Before he could enter the door, Po shouted.

The old woman looked up and saw Chen Tang, her cloudy eyes revealing surprise.

Chen Tang said a few words to her, and then stepped into the room where Ah Lai was lying. Soon, he felt that something was wrong.