Unknown time and space.
Since the spring of 1917, there has been no rain in Zhongzhou Province. Pieces of grain gradually withered on the stalks, and a huge disaster was brewing silently on this land. However, all these signs were temporarily covered up by the smoke of war.
In the autumn of 1917, the mountains and rivers were broken, surrounded by enemies on three sides, and half of the province was occupied by the Sakura Army. The troubled Central Plains are experiencing the most difficult years in history. There was no rain in the spring, and the wheat harvest in the fields was less than 20% of the normal level.
People who have lived here for generations know very well that this means the arrival of another famine year. After the wheat harvest, people in Zhongzhou were in panic all day long.
In 1918, there was no rain again that summer, and summer crops withered in the continuing drought. Severe droughts are often followed by locust plagues. At the turn of summer and autumn this year, locusts that covered the sky and sun swept across Zhongzhou Province. Wherever it passed, the seedlings in the fields were swept away. Some fertile fields near rivers and wells could have yielded a small harvest, but this time they were all destroyed by locusts.
The warlords are separatist, the people are in dire straits, and there are bandits and bullies everywhere.
Locusts covered the sky and there was no grass in the fields; the disaster was so severe that people sold their sons and daughters.
The victims ate the bark of weeds and trees.
Those who ate weeds died from the poison, and those who ate dry tree bark couldn't help but suffer from irritation in their throats and guts, causing mourning all over the land.
In 1919, Guanyin soil became very popular.
Although it is soil, Guanyin soil is very fine and can be swallowed, but unfortunately it cannot be pulled out and piled up in the intestines, so it can only be dug out with hands. If too much accumulates in the stomach, the stomach will fall and the person will die.
At first, the bran of wild vegetables was mixed with Guanyin soil. Later, the bran of wild vegetables became less and less, and only the soil remained.
Before death, with a full stomach, chant Guanyin.
Those who could run would have fled long ago.
At this time, what can be sold is happiness, and at least it can make a living.
In a village of thousands of people, few people move around during the day. The houses are bare with only four walls. There are only a few people lying naked on the kang. They are as skinny as firewood. Only the slightly rising and falling chests and the occasional turning of the whites of their eyes can be seen. living person.
Inactivity is just to reduce physical exertion.
White bones are exposed in the wild, there are no roosters crowing for thousands of miles, and the living people have lost their remains. The thought of them will break people's hearts.
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Dagou Village.
Cracked land, deserted villages.
Like a black and white village, there is no human habitation at first glance, and there are piles of dung on the road.
The doors and windows were nailed shut.
Lu Ning suddenly came to such a world.
He was confused for a moment.
"who I am?"
"where am I?"
"Where am I going?"
He asked three philosophical questions in his mind.
Different from his glamorous appearance, the people in the distance were dressed in tatters, only in black and white, and their faces were full of vicissitudes of life.
Lu Ning was out of tune with them.
"Hello."
Lu Ning walked towards several villagers who were peeling tree bark.
But just as he opened his mouth, those people all had frightened expressions on their faces, as if they had seen something scary, and they hid far away in fear.
Only one bold man walked towards Lu Ning cautiously.
"Are you coming back from Nanyang?" the man asked.
Fortunately, Lu Ning understood the man's words.
Lu Ning nodded: "Yes."
Hearing Lu Ning's admission, the man breathed a sigh of relief, but when he looked at Lu Ning, he still looked at his face and Lu Ning's clothes from time to time.
He looked at Lu Ning and then around.
After questioning, Lu Ning learned that the man in front of him was named Zhang DaDa, and he was the boldest person in Dagou Village.
Lu Ning glanced at the people who were hiding in the house, only one eye showing to look at him.
Zhang DaDa lives up to his name.
Lu Ning also learned that it was now 1920, but it was different from the history of the Republic of China in his impression, with different dynasties and different names.
Obviously, this is an unknown unknown time and space.
"I didn't expect to come to such a place." Lu Ning was surprised.
Before, the mysterious triangle metal only took him to jump in space, but at least it was still on earth. Unexpectedly, this time he actually traveled through time and space in an exaggerated way.
And the mysterious triangle metal has also changed.
Lu Ning looked at his left wrist. At this time, his wrist was surrounded by a bracelet made of yellow metal.
The bracelet was bright and clinging tightly to his wrist.
Lu Ning was not wearing any metal bracelet, but this bracelet seemed to be made of a mysterious triangular metal.
"So many people have fled the disaster, why didn't you escape?"
Lu Ning asked as he glanced at the people hiding in the house.
"Where can I escape? I might die on the road. It's better to stay in Dagou Village and die in my hometown." Zhang Dadan said nonchalantly.
"How many villagers in Dagou Village are still here?"
"We are the only ones in our village, and there will be more in the county."
"Is that bracelet on your wrist real gold?"
Zhang boldly asked, staring straight at the metal bracelet on Lu Ning's wrist.
He just dared to come over because he saw that Lu Ning was alone, and with his sharp eyes, he could see the golden thing on Lu Ning's wrist at a glance.
"no."
Lu Ning shook his head.
It's not true. He doesn't know what metal the mysterious triangle metal is made of, but it's definitely not as simple as gold.
"Oh." Zhang Dadar's eyes moved.
He didn't believe what Lu Ning said.
"You see you are not very familiar with this place. How about I help you? I don't eat much. As long as you can give me one steamed bun a day, that's enough. If you don't have any, half a steamed bun will do."
Zhang said boldly to please.
Lu Ning looked at Zhang DaDa in front of him and couldn't help but find it interesting.
Sure enough, the brave ones will be starved to death and the timid ones will be starved to death.
The other party has some plans for him.
"I don't have any money on me now, let alone food." Lu Ning said with a smile.
He really had no money and was completely naked except for a metal bracelet and a mobile phone.
However, Zhang DaDa obviously didn't believe his words.
How can you have no money when you are dressed so well?
"Where do you plan to go now? I'll take you there."
"Just take a stroll and find a place to stay."
The bracelet doesn't light up and goes silent again. I'm afraid it has no energy and needs to find a place to stay for the time being.
"I'll take you to see the surrounding area."
Zhang DaDa was very enthusiastic.
"You don't mind if I have no money and no food for you?" Lu Ning joked.
"I don't mind. I don't mind."
Zhang boldly smiled and showed his teeth.
Next, Zhang DaDa took Lu Ning for a walk around.
There is dry land everywhere, as well as trees with bark peeled off and dry weeds. At first glance, it is devastated and very desolate.
"How did you survive the drought here for so long? Are there any rivers or wells nearby?" Lu Ning asked.
It is not easy to survive in such a harsh environment.
Compared with the modern 21st century environment, there is heaven and here is hell.
He already had some plans in mind. If possible, he would help them in the future.
"I ate stored grain at first, but when I ran out of grain, I sold my things to get food. After everything was sold out, I ate wild vegetables and tree bark. Many people in the village fled the disaster, knowing that they would die sooner or later if they stayed here any longer. .”
"There is no river, and more than a dozen wells have dried up. Only the last well in the town still has some water."
"Maybe later, we will all starve to death."
"Where's the county?"
"We can't compare with the county. There are many big families in the county. They have surplus food and there are few people who have fled. Many people in our Dagou Village sold their children to the big families in the county just to make a living."
"Why didn't you go to the county?"
"Hey, I've been there a few times. I stole some food and was almost beaten to death."
Zhang boldly touched his head in embarrassment.
It turns out there is such a thing.
It is indeed bold enough.
Zhang DaDa was very enthusiastic towards Lu Ning. Not only did he take Lu Ning to get familiar with Dagou Village, he also specially arranged a place for him to stay at night.
This is an ordinary small house.
"Everyone in this family is dead. If you don't mind, you can stay here first."
"good."
Lu Ning naturally didn't have many demands.
