Chapter 132
132 Preparing
The group of evil villains were so excited that their eyes turned red when they saw the food they had found in the house.
Brother Yang said to Yang Chun smugly, “Bring more blankets. We’ll go out and find a forest to hide in later. Tomorrow morning, return to the entrance of Tongzhou City and bring everyone who stayed there.”
Yang Chun’s face flushed with excitement. “Yes, Brother Yang. Bring them all here. Let’s get rich together.”
This group of people felt even more courageous with the food and gold and silver on their shoulders. After leaving the town, they found a forest to hide in.
Brother Yang and the other refugees found a cave in the forest and hid all the things they had snatched inside. They stayed in the cave during the day to recuperate and went out to plunder at night. They were ruthless and never left anyone alive. Only then did the people from the nearby towns start to organize their people to guard against them.
When Yang Chun brought the refugees left at the city gate and the main group gathered, Brother Yang led a group of men, women, old, and young to travel overnight. In the middle of the night two days later, they arrived at Phoenix Town.
Brother Yang asked those women to go to the town during the day to find out where all the big families in the town lived.
After investigating, he brought a group of people to Zhu Zhencheng’s house at night. Zhu Zhencheng’s family had long lived in a residence in the city.
There were only a few old families left in the town to guard the house. When the refugees broke into the house, they also raised their butcher knives at the old families. Before they could even grunt, they were killed by these bandits.
They stripped the house of everything and, taking advantage of the night, headed into the woods outside the town.
The people of Phoenix Village were busy for half a month before the wall at the village entrance was completed. They installed a door made of logs and isolated the village from the outside. Only then did everyone feel more at ease.
Ji Xiang and Zhao Cai returned to Phoenix Village and saw that a large wooden door was closed at the entrance. There was also a small house behind the door. Li Qing shouted from outside, “Open the door. We’re back.”
Chen Gui walked out of the house and saw the two of them. He smiled and opened the door. “Ah Qing, Brother Ji Xiang, Mr. Zhou came here yesterday to take a look. He said that the two of you will be back in two days. Were there many refugees on the way?”
Ji Xiang nodded. “Brother Chen, you have to guard the door well. Those refugees are very fierce.”
“Of course. If we let them in, will we still have a good life?” Chen Gui nodded and replied.
The few of them went home separately. Zhao Cai said to Zhou Jia, “Young Master, those refugees are already different from when we were fleeing. When they saw our mule cart, they wanted to climb up. If not for Ji Xiang raising his machete, they would have snatched it from us.”
Zhou Jia frowned and said, “It seems that they also know that the rioters in Qingzhou burned down the government office. With these examples, they will only become bolder. I’ll go to your Miss and see what she can do.”
When Li Qing returned home, he saw Li Yu in the room. He stood at the door and looked at Li Yu with a smile. Li Yu looked up and saw Li Qing. She smiled and waved at him. “Are you stupid? You didn’t even greet me when you came in.”
Li Qing walked in and complained to Li Yu, “You don’t even go to the city to see me. You don’t know that Sir often bullies me. I can’t finish the homework he left behind until midnight.”
Li Yu pulled Li Qing’s hand. “The older you get, the more delicate you become. You said it yourself that you wanted to surpass your teacher. If you can’t even endure a little hardship, what can you use to surpass him? He’s a Top Scorer!”
When Li Qing heard this, he said dejectedly, “Sister, I can only do my best. I wonder if I can be as outstanding as Sir.”
Li Yu stroked Li Qing’s head. “I know that as long as you work hard, there will be hope. If you give up on yourself, there will definitely be no possibility of surpassing him.”
“Okay, I’ll remember. I’ll do my best to do what I have to do and not let Sir’s results affect my learning attitude anymore.”
“Aye, that’s what you should be doing. Go and see our young cousin at your aunt’s. I left his gift in your room.”
“Alright, I’ll go see what my cousin looks like.” Li Qing returned to the house to get his gift and went to Li Mei’s house.
Zhou Jia went to Li Yu and told her everything that Ji Xiang and the others had encountered on the way. He looked at Li Yu worriedly. “Xiaoyu, how do you think we should deal with it?”
Li Yu rubbed her forehead and walked around the house twice. She said to Zhou Jia, “Arrange for people to patrol at night. Let Ruyi, the village chief, and the others lead a group of four and split into four groups. Each person can lead a group. If anyone comes, those on patrol should ring the village chief’s gong to warn everyone to be vigilant at night.”
“Okay, we’ll go discuss it with everyone and put this matter into action.”
Chen Yaohui and the old village chief were also talking about the village. The old village chief sighed at everyone and said, “You have to be grateful! Mr. Zhou is now a High Scholar. Mr. Zhou and Xiaoyu could have brought Li Mei and her family to live in the city. They only stayed in the village because of us. You have to take the initiative and not push everything to them.”
Chen Yaohui and his brother nodded and said, “We know that without Xiaoyu and Mr. Zhou, we wouldn’t have led such a good life. Let’s go look for Xiaoyu and the others to discuss what to do next.”
The old village chief waved his hand. “Go!”
Chen Yaohui and his brother walked toward Li Yu’s house. Just as they reached the door of the Qian family’s house, they saw Li Yu and Zhou Jia walking toward them.
Chen Yaohui called out to the two of them, “Xiaoyu, Mr. Zhou, where are you two going?”
Li Yu smiled and said, “We were planning to look for you. Are you looking for us too?”
Chen Yaohui touched his head and chuckled. “That’s right. My father said that the two of you stayed in the village because of us. He asked us to take the initiative and not push everything on the two of you, so I called your Uncle Yao over.”
“We’re here to look for you guys. Uncle Hu, Uncle Chen Gui, and the last time we barged into Clear Wind Ridge, we learned archery and gathered a few people who know martial arts. Everyone, train well with Ruyi and the others. We’ll start patrolling in groups at night,” Li Yu said to them.
“Yes! The two of you have made the appropriate arrangements. I’ll gather the people now and train the juniors in the village so that they can learn some skills from Ruyi and the others.”
The two of them looked at Chen Yaohui and his brother and hurriedly went to call for help. Li Yu turned to look at Zhou Jia. “Xiao Xi, how’s your training in martial arts? Did you practiced with Ah Qing in Tongzhou?”
Zhou Jia smiled dryly and said, “Your family is really made to be generals. Even Ah Qing is much stronger than ordinary children. He could also train faster than me.”
“Making excuses.” Li Yu rolled her eyes at him.
The two of them returned home. Li Yu walked around Zhou Jia and looked at him. “You were busy with the countryside examination. Now that the countryside examination is over, you can practice with Uncle He and the others.”
Zhou Jia pulled Li Yu’s hand and smiled handsomely. “Yu’er, I want you to teach me. I’ll definitely learn well.”
When Li Yu saw Zhou Jia’s expression, she patted his hand. “You! No one will believe you’re a Top Scorer if they see you like this.”
Li Qing stood at the entrance of the courtyard and rolled his eyes at Zhou Jia. “Sir, is this still you? Am I seeing things?! Why are you acting like a spoiled child like Brother Pig?”
Zhou Jia walked up to Li Qing. “Ah Qing, are you very free now? There are questions for the county and school exams that I’ve sorted out for you in the house. You can only go out to play after you finish them.”
Li Yu looked at the two of them in disdain and turned to walk into the house.