Saw this man.
The young mother's face was full of surprise.
She looked at this man blankly.
She couldn't figure out why this person came to her.
Although she is a country woman, she also knows all the diseases of wealth in rich families.
Those merchants who spend a lot of money may not necessarily have better character than the village rogues.
After all, in her opinion, these guys are all cannibals.
However, in her opinion, this man who could let her son touch a knife and show such respect for the sergeant should not be a bad person.
But if he has other ideas and thinks that he is a woman who can be flirted with and teased by others.
Then she dared to slap him so hard that he couldn't find him anywhere.
She was thinking to herself, but she didn't notice her rudeness.
From the time she came in until now, she has been staring at Li Chengqian, making Li Chengqian blush a little.
The woman in front of her was, no matter what, absolutely stunning.
Compared to Wuyou beside him, Rao was no less generous.
At this moment, being looked at by such a woman, especially with a scrutinizing gaze.
Li Chengqian was really uncomfortable.
He hurriedly said: "I was traveling from Shangjing, and I heard Madam's story when I passed here."
"I am also curious about the living conditions of war orphans, so I want to continue to explore the details."
"If it is inconvenient for you, madam, please collect these things. I will take people out of this village right away."
Only then did the young mother notice that there were grains, fresh vegetables and snacks placed behind Li Chengqian.
The young mother pursed her lips and said, "What do you want to know?"
"Just look at your life."
"Look at your life after losing your husband."
Li Chengqian said: "This is also the purpose of my trip."
The young mother looked at Li Chengqian with some distrust.
She didn't believe that someone would come all the way just to inquire about such a thing.
After all, who would be interested in war orphans?
But Li Chengqian told the truth.
Seeing the sincerity on his face, the young mother had better say: "I can take you home, or I can show you my life and tell you stories about my husband."
At this point, she suddenly stopped, then looked at the gifts behind Li Chengqian and said, "But I can't have these things."
"Can."
"But I bought everything, you can't ask me to take it back and return it, right?"
Li Chengqian smiled and said: "Just think that I lent it to you. If I come back next time, you will be able to repay it, and you will return it to me with interest. How about that?"
The young mother hesitated.
Then, she shook her head and said, "What if you don't come, wouldn't I have to break the promise?"
Although she is from the country, she attaches great importance to credibility.
Why borrow even if you know you can't repay it?
Moreover, she doesn't want Li Chengqian's things.
After all, the two of them are not familiar with each other, so asking for someone else's things is tantamount to being shameless.
Li Chengqian sighed lightly and didn't say much after all.
Anyway, his purpose is to know how the war orphans survive today.
So, he simply nodded and agreed: "Well, since you said so, I won't force it."
Afterwards, the young mother took Li Chengqian out with her.
And walking with them was the village chief.
This actually gave the young mother some courage.
After all, with the patriarch here, he can't do anything bad or say any dirty words, right?
Women still have to be a little defensive.
As he walked, Li Chengqian asked the clan leader, "Uncle, how many households and people are there in our village?"
"Thirty-five households in total."
The patriarch thought for a moment and said, "The last time the government came for a census, they said that our village has a population of 332."
It is quite good for such a village to have a population of three to four hundred people.
Li Chengqian nodded and said, "How many soldiers are there in our village?"
"There are probably thirty-two or three people who are still alive."
The clan leader stroked his beard and said, "However, many people have reached their age this year. If the Zhe Chong Mansion asks for more people next year, I'm afraid they won't even be able to reach twenty."
The laws of the Tang Dynasty clearly stipulate that soldiers must retire after they reach the age of thirty-five.
From now on, unless there is a major event such as national crisis, there will be no need to continue military service.
Therefore, some people hope that they will grow up quickly, so that after all, they will no longer have to go to the battlefield at the age of thirty-five.
There are a total of thirty-three soldiers in this village, but next year there will be less than twenty.
It can be seen from this that the aging of this village is very serious, and the faults are also serious.
Young men like this young mother's husband may have died in the wars in the past few years.
Li Chengqian sighed lightly.
As someone who has experienced war, he knows all too well how hard-won the current peace is.
Thousands of men of the Tang Dynasty fought for it with their blood and lives.
There was very little he could do.
Only by leading the younger generations to continue to protect this peace will their sacrifices not be in vain.
"From this perspective, our village is truly a hometown of loyalty and bravery."
"Thirty-five households, there are thirty soldiers. Almost every family has one person joining the army."
Li Chengqian looked at the clan leader and said, "Based on this, we must ask for a reward from the clan leader."
After all, the clan leader is equivalent to the village chief in later generations.
They don't have any official position, let alone salary, but they have to lead the whole village to move forward.
The fact that Nanyao Village has become a village of loyalty and bravery must be closely related to the influence of the clan leader on the villagers.
After hearing what Li Chengqian said, the clan leader waved his hand.
He smiled and said: "What does it have to do with me? It's all the children in our village who strive for success."
"No matter how successful the child is, doesn't he have to be led by someone?"
Glancing at the calluses on the patriarch's hands, Li Chengqian raised his eyebrows and said, "It seems like the uncle has also come down from the team, right?"
"Young man, you are very smart."
The patriarch smiled and said: "When I was young, I was in the ninth formation of the 8th Regiment of the Liangzhou Army and followed His Majesty to invade Luoyang."
Thinking of these, the patriarch's face was full of yearning, recalling that glorious time.
"It's a pity that I'm unlucky."
"After participating in those several wars, I reached old age and was forced to retire."
The patriarch shook his head and sighed: "I really wish I could be a few years younger."
Hearing this, Li Chengqian raised his eyebrows and said, "If you were a few years younger, wouldn't you still have to continue killing on the battlefield?"
"What happened to Killing?"
"To die on the battlefield is a warrior's highest honor."
The clan leader raised his head and said: "If I were a few years younger, I might be able to follow His Highness King Qin to fight twice in Goguryeo, and then go to Silla to show off my power."
The people of Longyou Road are all old Qin people.
These people are really different from people in other places.
Their bones are full of warlike passion.
Let them talk about war more truthfully than anyone else.
And they are not just talking, let them go to the battlefield, they are not ambiguous at all.
This personality also created the glory of the Liangzhou Army of the Tang Dynasty today.
And heard the noble words of this clan leader.
As the person involved, Li Chengqian smiled slightly and said, "Maybe, then King Qin will have to take you to die on the battlefield..."
