ebookland Chapter 204 Inquire
Chapter 204 Inquire
“How pitiful!
Such a young child has become an orphan, how will he live in the future?" Zhu said sympathetically.
"Alas, we don't have much to eat, so I'll give you two tender leaves to fill your stomach."
Zhu rummaged through her dry arms for about an incense stick of time before she pulled out two yellow and green leaves.
The pine needles, which were as big as needle tips, were stretched and retracted several times as if they were treasures.
He looked around nervously, quietly stuffed the food into Lin Hongyi's begging bowl, and whispered.
"Leaves are good stuff, hide and eat them!"
"Thank you grandma. God will help you. You will definitely get through this difficult time and live a good life."
Lin Shu praised Zhu eloquently, saying that it was quite difficult to get any support from her.
Although, they are just yellow pine needles with green.
Compared to the refugees who gave nothing, he was a kind old man.
Of course, this is just the surface they see.
Lin Shu took the initiative to pick the largest pine needle, closed her eyes and put it in her mouth.
Astringent…bitter…dry.
She couldn't taste any moisture in the leaf, she just knew it tasted terrible.
While covering the face with hands, throw pine needles into the space and chew a small piece of cabbage leaf in your mouth.
A hint of sweetness washes away the bitterness in your mouth.
"Grandma, thank you for your pine needles. I'll give you a piece of firewood as well." Lin Shu also said with a reluctant look on her face.
She picked the smallest piece of wood from the bundle to hold off the unpalatable pine needles.
Seeing this, Lin Hongyi also took a piece of firewood and gave it to Zhu.
However, he smoked the thickest one.
Lin Shu shook her head. Her elder brother was too kind-hearted and was obviously moved.
Fortunately, they were only given one, otherwise they would have been frozen.
"Give me one more piece of wood to cover the pine needles."
Zhu stretched out her chicken claw-like hand and grabbed Lin Hongyi and refused to let go.
"you……"
Lin Hongyi was surprised. He never expected things to change so quickly.
"What? You still want to deceive my old lady?
Food is much more precious than firewood, hurry up.
Otherwise, I will call for help."
Zhu's old face fell, revealing a mean look.
"Haha, since your leaves are precious, I'll return them to you."
Lin Hongyi raised his eyebrows, glared, returned the pine needle to Zhu, and snatched his own firewood.
He reached behind his back and blocked forward with the dog-beating stick in his hand.
"You..."
The old woman was about to curse at the top of her lungs, but was frightened by the pair of murderous eyes and closed her mouth, muttering in a low voice.
"You are so stingy at such a young age. It's just one more piece of firewood!
You have the nerve to ask for something back after giving it away! "
Lin Shu was regretting why she was so greedy that she ate the pine needles!
Otherwise, you can return it to the old woman and get your firewood back.
Otherwise, take out the half-chewed pine needles from the space.
Lin Shu was eager to take action, but was pulled away by Lin Hongyi.
"Brother Yi, I haven't got mine back yet."
"Little Stone, we didn't know how to judge people, so we paid for the lesson."
Lin Hongyi turned his head and glared at the old woman fiercely, then quickly left with Lin Shu.
...
"Mom, why did you give food to two beggars you didn't even know?" Wang Chun said in a soft voice.
"That guy doesn't look like someone you can easily mess with. Aren't you afraid that he'll beat us up?"
"Huh, what are you afraid of.
How could he turn the world upside down with just a little kid? From his ignorant look, it was obvious that he had never experienced any hardship.
If someone gets nothing from us and we give him two leaves, he will surely thank us with gratitude.
Didn’t you see the firewood those two beggars brought? Our firewood can only last for half a day.
Besides, mom has plenty of ways to deal with people like that.
If it doesn’t work, you guys come up again!”
Zhu pulled back a handful of greasy hair, revealing an old face full of wrinkles.
His old eyes were full of calculations, which were well hidden by his drooping hair.
"Mom, you are really awesome.
It's a pity that our family didn't get any benefit. It would have been great if we could have snatched those two bundles of firewood."
Wang Chun finally came to his senses after being reminded of this, and spoke to his mother-in-law in a flattering manner.
Because there was not enough firewood, they didn't dare to burn a bigger fire when they rested during the day.
Zhu rolled her eyes at her, and the daughter-in-law started to open her mouth.
This old woman has to take the lead in everything. She is such a useless thing.
...
The two brothers each carried a load of firewood and begged for it in the refugee camp, but there was very little left.
The things obtained in exchange were mainly leaves and grass roots.
There was not a single grain of food, let alone the iron-hard black bread.
I didn't find the person I was looking for, but I also knew that the government had set up new stalls at the checkpoint.
At dusk, the two brothers would hurried into the mountains.
During the day, he would carry a bundle of firewood and come out to inquire for news.
After a few days of this, people in the refugee camp knew that the two brothers were looking for someone.
Anyone who wants to exchange firewood will take the initiative to offer it.
Occasionally, I would get a handful of black flour, a handful of wheat bran, or a handful of chaff.
Although these things are not delicious, they are rare foods for ordinary refugees.
Lin Hongyi took the opportunity to spread the word that anyone who could provide useful clues would be rewarded handsomely.
After searching for seven days in a row, they didn't even find a trace of the two families.
I saw the refugees who had some skills lining up and walking towards Dongzhou.
Refugees who want to go but cannot enter the country inevitably have some ideas in their minds.
...
"Brother Yi, let's camp here."
Lin Shu's eyes rolled and an idea came to her mind.
"Okay, let's listen to Xiao Shitou. We have to find a place that is as sheltered from the wind as possible to rest." Lin Hongyi agreed readily.
It was rare for his younger sister to make a request, so as the eldest brother, of course he had to agree.
It was just right to cook the coarse grains they got in exchange. They couldn't keep eating leaves and grass roots forever.
Fortunately, it was cold and I wore warm clothes, otherwise I would have been exposed long ago.
It takes some skill to make a tasty porridge without anyone noticing.
...
Outside the large fire, another small fire was lit.
The two poor beggars hung two copper bowls over the fire and burned them.
Black flour, wheat bran, rice bran, a handful of dried vegetables of unrecognizable color, and a few shriveled grass roots.
Rolling in two copper bowls, the dark water gave off a foul smell.
Lin Hongyi held his little sister in his arms and gently patted her torn cotton coat.
"Little Stone, wake up, there is food."
"Brother Yi, I really want to drink wild vegetable porridge.
I eat bark porridge every day and my stomach hurts."
Lin Shu huddled in her eldest brother's arms, touching her empty belly, and said pitifully.
"Little Stone, be quiet! There is porridge to eat."
Lin Hongyi lowered the last three words and whispered.
He looked around and saw the refugees cooking various foods by the fire.
The two men were dressed in rags and didn't even have a pot to cook porridge. They were considered the poorest among the refugees.
The refugees cook all kinds of things together, the taste is really hard to describe, and it is also the most common food among refugees.
There is nothing special about their food, which is why it does not attract the attention of the refugees.
"Really!" Lin Shu said innocently.
A look of joy flashed across the palm-sized face, and he stared eagerly at the black copper bowl.