Early the next morning, after Jiang Yue had fed her mules and was about to go down the mountain, there was a sudden noise outside the cave.
This was unusual. The refugees were worried about being discovered, so they kept quiet at all times and did not dare to make any sound.
The two walked to the entrance of the cave and screamed.
"ah--"
The moment she saw it clearly, Jiang Yue was surprised. It was a wild boar that had been thinned by starvation. It had a long mouth, big ears, and outturned tusks. Coupled with the sparse black hair on its body, it looked very ugly.
The wild boar may have been hungry in the mountains for a long time without food, so it flew towards the entrance of the cave next door, frightening the refugees there and fleeing in all directions.
The wild boar turned its direction, and its small eyes turned to Jiang Yue's side - the mule. It seemed to be drooling, and it rushed over with its long tusks!
The sound of huffing and puffing grew closer.
Jiang Nian pulled Jiang Yue behind him, then stepped forward, made a fist with his right hand, and hit it hard on the neck!
There was a "click" sound and the wild boar fell to the ground. After wailing on the ground for a few times, it gradually became silent.
Everyone hid behind haystacks and rocks in complete silence, shocked and afraid.
Especially the several refugees who tried to rob them yesterday were sweating. This man turned out to be a strong man. Fortunately, he missed his hand yesterday and didn't really hit him. Otherwise, wouldn't it be an egg hitting a rock?
Jiang Yue took Jiang Nian's hand, her knuckles were red, and blew gently, "Does it hurt?"
Jiang Nian shook his head, "It doesn't hurt."
She looked down at the wild boar. To be honest, it was too thin to look like a pig. The sagging belly seemed to have ribs. But no matter what, it weighs dozens of kilograms.
It looks ugly and smells bad. There are still more than a dozen pigs left in her space, so she naturally doesn't like them.
She waved to the child peeking behind her, "Come here."
The child was a little scared, but he didn't dare not go. His mother came with him tremblingly.
"Take this wild boar away and divide it up."
"ah?"
They stayed on the spot, as if they couldn't believe it, this was a pig!
Jiang Yue repeated it again, "Take it away now. Let's share it among several families and eat it together. We don't want it."
After they reacted, they were ecstatic and said, "Okay, okay!" They turned around and went back to fetch their men/dad.
After thanking Jiang Yue and the others, they took the wild boar away.
Some were shaving, some had their bellies opened, and some were having sex. Several families were busier than during the Chinese New Year.
It's been a year and a half since the natural disaster, and they haven't eaten serious meat for a year. Whatever mountain rats, snakes, bullfrogs, etc. are caught and eaten, the family will share it, and each person will only get half a mouthful.
Such a wild boar can be eaten several times by more than thirty people. If there is water, boil a big pot of soup, it will be even more beautiful! Can last for two days!
Unfortunately, there was no water, which forced them to become refugees in the mountains.
Jiang Yue saw Jiang Nian staring into the distance without moving, "What's wrong?"
Jiang Nian frowned, "It's very dark over there."
The sky was dark, with heavy clouds. Jiang Yue walked out of the cave, took off her mask, and felt a coolness in the wind on her cheeks, as if the water vapor content had increased.
No, it's going to rain, right?
Rain will alleviate the disaster!
However, she looked at the thick dark clouds. If it rained continuously for days like last year, she couldn't tell whether it would be better during drought or flood.
"Then let's wait another day and see how things go. It's better than being stuck in the middle of the road due to rain."
Jiang Nian naturally listened to her.
In Zhaoyang City, Mrs. Lianhua stood on a tall building and looked into the distance, reaching out to feel the wind direction. Turning around, he said to the Lord, "The time has come to prepare the altar."
The adults were beaming with joy. After waiting for more than half a year, the time finally arrived.
"Can be sacrificed..."
Madam Lianhua smiled half-heartedly, "Are the people in the city willing to contribute to the sacrifice? Just half a bowl of blood will not kill anyone."
In the past, there would have been no problem for an adult to donate half a bowl of blood. But now that everyone is weak in energy and blood, it's hard to say.
Madam Lianhua doesn't care about this, so she won't mention it.
The Lord did not even hesitate and passed on the decree. It was not like he was offering the blood of his family.
"Your Majesty has an order. Now the time has come. Tomorrow at midnight, we will open an altar to offer sacrifices and pray to God to give me sweet rain. Now I am looking for..."
The officials issued orders everywhere, explaining that half a bowl of blood would be enough and would not endanger lives.
Some people feel that half a bowl of blood is too much. If it flows out and cannot be drunk back, they don't want to...
There are also people who feel that they are strong and strong, so half a bowl of blood is not a problem, so they can cut themselves off at will...
Some people do not dare to donate blood themselves, but they drag their wives and daughters to go, "The adults said that there is a shortage of pure blood from women and children. As long as the sacrifices are made and it rains, we can live a good life again!"
The city had been looking forward to the sacrificial ceremony for many days, and finally the time came. Suddenly, people's hearts were filled with excitement, and there was light in their eyes. They were not as numb as before.
Mrs. Lotus walked around the one-acre lotus altar, "Lotus, lotus, can emerge from the mud without being dyed, but I will dye you red with blood. Hahahahahaha..."
There was mad hatred in her eyes, as if she had seen a blood-red world before her eyes.
Early the next morning, more than 900 people left in the city came to the altar to pay their respects to the sacrificial ceremony.
This was specially built for the sixteen altars. It took half a year to use up all the stone slabs in the city to build the city. Now, this day has finally come.
The 66 men, 66 women, and 66 infants responsible for the sacrifices were dressed in white and stood around the altar with smiles on their faces, seemingly proud of the opportunity to offer sacrifices.
Sixteen altars were dressed in Taoist robes, holding whisks in their hands, with solemn faces.
In front of the lotus platform are an eight-foot-long large green dragon and seven four-foot-long small green dragons, with their heads facing east.
Madam Lianhua stood in the center of the lotus platform, while the other fifteen people stood in various positions, facing the blue dragon.
After she recited a series of incantations, fifteen people danced to pray for rain.
More than 900 people knelt on the ground and bowed their heads in prayer.
"May the sky have mercy on us all and give us sweet rain!"
"May the sky have mercy on us all and give us sweet rain!"
Madam Lianhua gave an order, and the sacrificers began to cut their wrists with knives, letting the blood drip into the lotus platform. Infants are cut off by their parents.
The babies couldn't bear the pain and cried loudly. Suddenly, the whole city erupted in shrill screams, which was a bit earth-shattering.
Mrs. Lotus stepped on the blood and dyed her white socks red, but she burst into tears and smiled, feeling happy in her heart.
Some people were bleeding and felt dizzy, but no one taught them how to stop the bleeding.
The vision turned black, and people gradually fell down.
The people raised their heads, but no one cared.
Because, there are really raindrops falling from the sky.
"It's raining!"
"Oh my god, it's really raining!"
"The sacrifice has appeared!"
