As soon as they entered the city, they saw people kneeling on mats on both sides of the road begging from time to time. Their hair was dry, their faces were sallow, and they looked like they were withered.
The ground was scalding hot, and even the mat was of no help. Jiang Yue saw that their knees were red, some were even blistered, and the blisters were broken and bleeding.
She sighed in her heart, but she didn't dare to show kindness on her face for fear of being swarmed.
Even so, it seems inevitable.
When some people saw people coming with mule carts, they rushed up and kowtowed to them, "Please, sir and madam! Save my life!"
"Please, give me some food!"
Those cries for help hit Jiang Yue's heart, but she could only pretend not to hear them. She cannot be the savior of so many people.
The official who led them into the city drove the people away, and then continued to lead them inside. It is said that this city has specially set aside houses to help the refugees.
Relief or detention?
Jiang Yue didn't expect this step. She just wanted to come in to have a rest, ask for directions, and give the mule a two-day rest. Is it too late to regret it now and get the money back?
Fortunately, the officials did not let the refugees who had spent huge sums of money live in abandoned houses. A few people arranged for a house in an alley. It didn't look messy, and it really seemed like it had been specially vacated.
The official opened one of the houses, pointed to the house on the far left and said, "That's your house. You can't run around at will, otherwise you will be arrested as a robber."
"What if we want to go out for supplies or ask for directions?"
He smiled half-heartedly, "There is no place to replenish supplies. If you want to ask for directions, you can come and ask us. You are only allowed to walk out from midnight to midnight (9 a.m. to 3 p.m.)."
After that he left.
Jiang Yue and the two led the mule cart and walked in. There were five rooms in the house, and the other four were obviously full of people, exuding a very strong sour smell.
They closed the doors and windows tightly, and when they saw someone coming, they would peek through the cracks in the small doors.
The house was too small for the mule and cart to enter. Jiang Nian had no choice but to tie the mule cart to the post next to the door. You can't stay too far away. Many people in the house are jealous when they look at the mule.
He touched the mule's head and warned it, "You can't run around barking. If someone pulls you away, you will become roasted mule meat on the fire!"
The mule lowered his head as if he understood.
Jiang Nian also closed the door to the room.
This room is not much bigger than Xiao Jiangyue's in the village. It only has a bed board, which is just right for the couple to sleep in. It cannot fit more people.
Jiang Yue sighed, 20 taels of silver only paid for such a kennel. If he didn't sleep all day long, he wouldn't be able to afford this huge sum of money.
In fact, it was impossible to sleep through the night.
In the middle of the night, someone sneaked onto the mule cart. Jiang Nian put a knife on his neck, "You don't want to die?"
The thief was frightened and quickly begged for mercy.
Jiang Nian let him go, but gave him a cut on his palm to teach him a lesson. Blood spurted out, and his screams attracted the attention of other refugees, but no one dared to come out to save him.
Jiang Nian threw him into the yard and went back to sleep.
He took off Jiang Yue's hand covering his ears and said comfortingly, "It's okay, just go back to sleep."
The next morning, still no refugees dared to go out.
Jiang Yue and the others took the mule cart out.
Tuck the mule cart into the space, otherwise it will be too eye-catching.
They walked around the city and finally chose the home of an old woman who lived alone with her grandson.
"Grandma, we want to ask something." Jiang Yue approached her and lowered her voice.
The old woman looked back and forth between the two of them, with hesitation on her face.
Under Jiang Nian's cover, Jiang Yue quickly stuffed a pancake into her hand.
The old woman was startled, then looked around and whispered, "You guys come in and talk."
The courtyard wall of this house is two meters high, but the rooms inside look old. I wonder if all the money and energy were spent on the courtyard wall. very smart.
The little grandson is not even taller than her waist. I don’t know if he is five years old or not. He was so skinny that he hugged his grandma and dared not speak.
The old woman closed the door and windows tightly and asked in a low voice, "What do you want to ask?"
Jiang Yue said, "We want to go east, but we seem to be going in the wrong direction. I want to ask you for directions."
It turned out that he was asking for directions. The old woman was relieved and said, "If you go east, you have to go straight to the north gate. But don't go to the north gate. There are many forks in the road over there. You haven't gone through them yet." I’m afraid I’ll get lost again…”
The old woman hadn't spoken to anyone for a long time, and suddenly she started to chatter.
Her eldest son had been a businessman before and mentioned that there was a sea to the east and there was no shortage of rain. But now they are the only ones left in the family, old and young, and they can't run away.
She looked into the eyes of the two couples. They must be young. She hesitated for a while and then said, "Are you living with the refugees?"
"yes."
"Oh, you have to leave quickly!" The old woman looked nervous.
"We don't have much food in the city for a long time, and half of the people starve to death. But the guards always collect money, let people in, and then lock them in one place."
"It won't take long for someone to come and take the refugees away, saying that they will take them to work and have food to eat. There are also people in the city who voluntarily follow. But no one who goes can come back. It's been a long time. , we all knew there was a problem.”
"How long has this been going on?"
"It started showing up during snowstorms."
The snowstorm happened in September last year, and now it is October, which is already a full year.
Jiang Yue pursed her lips, "Are all the refugees brought?"
"No, they will choose, as long as they are in good health, between the ages of 13 and 35."
"Don't you care about the refugees outside the city?"
The old woman shook her head, "They don't want the ones from outside the city. They say they don't know if they contain diseases, so they don't want them."
Jiang Yue seemed to have an idea. She was screening, and the inn was also screening.
Is there any connection between rich people and young and strong people? Or do they only choose between the rich and hate the rich?
Maybe it's a hidden mental illness, commonly known as psychopathy.
Jiang Yue thanked the old woman and left with Jiang Nian.
After they left, the grandson found something beside the courtyard wall. He covered his mouth tightly, excitement showed in his eyes, and he carried the things into the house, "Grandma, they left something for us!"
The old woman rubbed her blurry eyes, and when she saw it, her hands were shaking. It was a can of water, 10 pancakes, and a few green cucumbers.
The grandson's mouth was watering.
She quickly took her grandson and hid all the things under the bed in the bedroom, but she couldn't let the bandits take them away again.
The two of them walked towards the alley, and Jiang Nian whispered, "The government officials from Zhaoyang City are here."
Those big brothers? As for that?
Didn't they just steal something and kill two people, and then pursue the murderer for thousands of miles?
