Chapter 5: You Don't Understand the Joy of Harvest
Qiao Huaping filled a bowl of chicken soup for herself, squatted down in the courtyard, held the bowl and ate happily.
While gnawing on the chicken legs, Qiao Huaping glanced at the four children who were still staring at her silently, and was amused: "What, don't tell me, I will have to treat you to every meal from now on? Hurry up.
Eat quickly."
She raised the chicken drumstick in her hand and said, "I have to do a lot of work tomorrow and my physical strength is necessary, so I won't be polite to you about this drumstick. If you don't eat it, the remaining drumstick will be gone."
Mei Qingyu was silent for a while, then took the initiative to get the bowl. He first filled a bowl for Mei Qingying, and then took the remaining big chicken leg into Mei Qingying's bowl.
Mei Qingying pushed the small bowl: "Yingying, no. Here, brother, eat."
Mei Qingyu coaxed Mei Qingying: "My little sister, you have to take this to gain strength. You have to walk a long way tomorrow. What if you get sick?"
Mei Qingying tilted her little head and thought for a moment. She didn't want to be a burden to her three brothers, and then she reached out and took the bowl.
The chicken soup was so fragrant that when the little girl took the bowl, she couldn't hold it back and took a big sip.
It's still a little hot, but the little girl still has a satisfied smile on her face: "It tastes good! Brother, drink it too!"
The three boys couldn't help but grin, and then they continued to serve the chicken soup.
Qiao Huaping watched from the side and couldn't help but click her tongue, but she didn't notice that a slight smile appeared on her face unconsciously.
This pot of chicken soup, one large and four small, was eaten completely, not even a mouthful of soup was left.
When sleeping at night, the four children huddled on the broken bed made of straw, whispering: "That woman looks different."
"She also cooks chicken soup for us to drink. The chicken soup is so fragrant!"
"I don't know what she is planning. We must be more careful when we go on the road tomorrow. She can run away if she wants. It doesn't matter, but we can't let her take away the food." Mei Qingyu whispered.
The remaining three children all nodded together.
We experienced a lot today. The four children cuddled each other and quickly fell asleep.
The next day, according to the time mentioned by the village chief, Qiao Huaping and the four children gathered at the entrance of the village with their packed luggage.
Although Qiao Huaping has space, if you don't bring some things with you, others will definitely become suspicious.
Therefore, Qiao Huaping packed the linoleum cloth, several people's bedding, pots and pans, and some scattered daily necessities into bags and put them on the trolley at home.
Her bow was carried on her back, and the bowstring was in place. It was made of strong beef tendon—she bought it for eighteen cents last night at a villager's house at the foot of the mountain.
At this time, Qiao Huaping only had five copper coins left.
Qiao Huaping's reputation in the village was not very good, and most of the people who looked at her looked at her with disdain.
Qiao Huaping naturally didn't care either.
The village she is in is called Liujin Village. The village is not big or small, with about a hundred households and a total of five to six hundred people, making it a mighty and large team.
Many people were familiar with the nearby places within three days' walking distance. The village chief did not let anyone go out to explore the way. When everyone was there, he said that everyone was from the same village and they should help each other.
The speech about overcoming this difficulty together led people to set off.
The villagers dragged their families with them, supported the old and the young, their bodies were covered with baggage, and their carts were piled with things, forming a long fleeing team.
This long escape team meandered nearly half of the mountain road.
Can't watch from beginning to end.
Qiao Huaping pushed the trolley, and the four children each carried something on their backs. Even the youngest Mei Qingying carried a few pieces of her patched clothes and a buckwheat pillow that she usually used.
The children did not dare to put the last half of the bag of brown rice left by the Mei family on the cart, so it was Mei Qingyao who carried it on his back.
Although he is only eight years old, he is stronger than some adults.
After walking for only half an hour, Qiao Huaping suddenly spoke to Mei Qingyao: "Yao Yao."
Mei Qingyao trembled all over.
Qiao Huaping didn't take it seriously and called him: "Come here and push the cart. I remembered that I left something at home. I'll go back and get it."
Only a ghost can believe this!
There were only so many things in the two thatched huts. When they came out earlier, they wanted to dig deep and bring everything they could use. Where did the "things left behind" come from now?
Several children only thought of Qiao Huaping and wanted to run away.
Mei Qingyao looked at Mei Qingyu, waiting for him to make up his mind.
Mei Qingyu had long expected that Qiao Huaping might run away, so he was not surprised.
"let her go."
Mei Qingyu said to Mei Qingyao.
Mei Qingyao nodded and said in a rough voice: "If you want to leave, hurry up!" and snatched the trolley from Qiao Huaping's hand.
Qiao Huaping didn't explain much and quickly turned around and ran towards Liujin Village.
When the villagers saw this scene, they all shook their heads: "Ms. Qiao has really lost her conscience!"
"It's pitiful. How can the children of the Mei family survive without an adult to take care of them?"
"Hey, in the war-torn times, no one is pitiful. All we can do is look at God!"
Qiao Huaping's five senses were heightened by the water droplets flowing out of the stalactites. As he ran past, he heard these comments in his ears, but he didn't take them seriously.
She soon returned to the deserted Liujin Village.
All the people in the village had moved away, and even the chickens and ducks raised at home were killed and taken away. At this time, Liujin Village was as quiet as a dead village.
Returning to the village of death, there are still some things that cannot be taken away and left behind.
Qiao Huaping is here for these things.
There was nothing she could do about it. The original owner had previously sold her belongings for a fortune to support her parents' family. Now she was running away, and she didn't have much to bring with her.
Qiao Huaping searched from house to house.
I have to say, it’s great to have space.
Everything that Qiao Huaping thought could be used was put into the space.
There were shovels, hoes, axes, and even a plow. Many of the tools that were thrown away because they were too heavy, Qiao Huaping was happy to take them away.
Qiao Huaping even found a small half bag of grain in the cellar of a wealthy family!
I guess they have too many things and they can't take them away.
Qiao Huaping was not polite at all. For the sake of convenience, he even used someone else's stove and an iron pot found in someone else's house to spread the small half bag of grain into about thirty steaming pancakes and put them all in the space.
The dustpan that can’t be taken away from the yard? Take it away!
Unfinished vegetables from the garden? Harvest them!
Hey, the people who sell pigs in this village didn’t take away many of the meaty bones?
The tofu seller has a big piece of tofu left in the yard?
If Qiao Huaping doesn't care about these things, won't they all become moldy and smelly in the yard?
What a shameful waste!
Collect, collect, collect!
Qiao Huaping had no burden in her heart and was so happy to take in the space!