Mixed In With the Refugees

"This is outrageous. Let's rob them and let them earn black-hearted money."

"Right, let's rob them! Let's see how they can still be so arrogant."

These people were obviously here to find trouble, and they looked unfamiliar, holding big machetes in their hands. They were not the refugees from before, but more like bandits who had mixed in with the victims and were waiting for an opportunity to rob.

A gloominess flashed in Ji Shui Sheng's eyes. He threw away the load in his hands and strode towards them.

The women in Peach Blossom Cove were all very afraid. They protected their children and ran to the middle, looking at those people nervously.

Seventh brother Jiang, Li Daniu, and Qiu Yongkang brought the men of Peach Blossom Cove and got ready to fight.

"Get lost."

Ji Shui Sheng walked over with vigorous strides, his gloomy and cold eyes sweeping over the people who were causing trouble. His body emitted a terrifying fiendish aura, and even though he was bare-handed, he made those people feel an invisible pressure.

This man looked too fierce!

"Everyone, let's go together. If we can snatch the food, we won't have to suffer from hunger and cold anymore."

The man who was leading the trouble was subdued by Ji Shui Sheng's imposing manner. He did not dare to come over immediately, but incited the refugees behind him to come over and snatch the things.

There were already a few hundred refugees gathered here, which was several times the number of people in Peach Blossom Cove. If these people attacked them together, they would really be robbed clean, and some people would even be injured or killed.

Ji Shui Sheng did not give him time to stir things up. His eyes darkened as he ordered loudly, "Fight,"

His target was clearly the man who had incited the trouble. Ji Shui Sheng was particularly ruthless, not giving him any time to catch his breath before breaking his arm and snatching the knife from his hand. He kicked him hard in the chest and sent him flying. The man spat out a mouthful of blood and fell to the ground, unconscious. He had obviously been seriously injured.

Seeing that Ji Shui Sheng was so ruthless, those people who followed the man panicked. Ji Shui Sheng did not give them a chance to regret their decision as he led Daniu and the others as if no one was there. These people were beaten until they cried for their parents. Their bones were broken and their tendons were injured as they covered their heads and fled like rats.

Seeing that Ji Shui Sheng and the others were so powerful, those people who were ready to make a move were so scared that they gave up.

"Let's pack up and go. "

After beating back those troublemaking refugees, Ji Shui Sheng raised his head to look at the sky and gave a loud order with a grave expression.

After the shock just now, the people in the Peach Blossom Cove also felt that they couldn't stay in this place, so they began to pack up their things regardless of their fatigue.

Ji Xiao Ying also went to pack up. The clothes she washed for her sister were already dry, but they were not sewn yet. However, there was no time to sew them now, so she folded the dress first and waited until they were safe before helping her sister.

Su Qing's eyes brightened when she saw Ji Xiao Ying helping her fold her torn clothes. 

'Can't I sew now?' she wondered.

 She walked over without a sound and took the clothes from Ji Xiao Ying.

"I'll do it myself."

"Alright. I'll go and collect the other things."

Folding clothes was not a tiring job, so Ji Xiao Ying did not stop Su Qing. She passed the clothes to her and hurriedly went to pack other things.

Pots, bowls, ladles, basins, the medicine-boiling jars left by her foster father, flint stones, and bags of grain. The little girl was like a busy bee, shuttling back and forth.

The other people in Peach Blossom Cove were also busy. Qiu Yongkang came over and handed twenty-eight silver taels to Ji Shui Sheng.

"Shuisheng, a total of 28 taels. You caught the fish, so you can keep it!"

"No need. I'll leave it with you. I'll have to buy things when I go to the next town!"

Ji Shui Sheng didn't take the silver. The journey was long and he couldn't care about these trifles.

"Alright, I'll record this."

Qiu Yongkang didn't refuse and kept the money, then went to help his mother pack her things.

The people from Peach Blossom Cove packed up very quickly and began to travel an hour later. Old Master Qiu gave up his seat to the seriously injured villagers and walked beside the group with his walking stick.

Ji Xiao Ying wanted Su Qing to take the cart, but Su Qing refused. Not only did he refuse to take the car, but he also carried the burden on his own. Ji Xiao Ying was worried to death and came over to take the burden several times. In the end, it was only when Ji Shui Sheng ordered them to put the things in the cart that she stopped pulling.

Seeing that the people from Peach Blossom Cove had left, the refugees did not follow them like they did yesterday. They were hungry and tired, and they just wanted to find something to eat to fill their bellies.

Yesterday's heavy rain had caused them to catch a cold, and many of them were so sick that they couldn't get up. They no longer had the strength to follow the people of Peach Blossom Cove.

The villagers of Peach Blossom were also very tired, but they had all eaten their fill and drank the cold-warding soup so that they would not catch a cold. Therefore, although they walked slowly, none of them fell behind.

Su Qing did not slack off even when she was free. She took cattail grass from her load and wove straw shoes as she walked. The mountain road was rugged and covered with gravel. The shoes on her feet were already old and worn out after being destroyed by the mountain rocks. Only the upper part of the shoes still hung on her feet, which affected her walking.

Su Qing simply took off her shoes and threw them away, walking barefoot. Ji Shui Sheng turned around and called for the team to follow. He accidentally saw her walking in only a pair of socks and frowned, forgetting that her shoes were broken.

Wouldn't her feet have blisters after walking for so long? This woman was strong enough. She didn't show any pain on her face, and she followed him closely.

Ji Shui Sheng called out to his sister, "Xiao Ying."

"Brother."

Ji Xiao Ying was supporting the injured from behind when she heard her brother's shout and ran back.

"Find her a pair of your shoes."

Ji Shui Sheng lowered his voice as he spoke to his sister. He didn't want others to notice that Su Qing was only wearing socks.

In this era, women's feet could not be seen by others!

"Oh."

 Only then did Ji Xiao Ying realize that Su Qing was barefoot. She hurriedly rummaged through her bag for the embroidered shoes she had brought. This pair of pink embroidered shoes was something she had embroidered for the new year. It was still new, not even worn once.

"Sister, here you go."

Ji Xiao Ying's heart did not ache at all as she handed the new shoes to Su Qing.

Su Qing looked at the new shoes in front of her. They were embroidered with Twin Peach flowers, and the stitches were so detailed that they looked alive. It was clear that Xiao Ying had put a lot of thought into it. She must have liked this pair of shoes a lot, but she was willing to part with them without any heartache.

Su Qing shook his head and refused, "No need, your shoes are too big for me to wear."

Su Qing wasn't trying to shirk responsibility. The original owner's feet were very small and very beautiful, white and tender like lotus roots. Xiao Ying's feet were at least two sizes bigger than hers, so Su Qing couldn't wear her shoes.

 "I'm dragging you."

Ji Xiao Ying did not care about her new shoes at all. She insisted that Su Qing wear them.

"Look, I have shoes."

Su Qing showed Ji Xiao Ying a straw shoe that she had finished weaving. She was slower the first time, but once she finished weaving one, she would be able to master the technique and would be faster the next time.

 "Ya, sister, you're so good at making up stories."

Ji Xiao Ying didn't know how to weave straw sandals, but she felt that Su Qing was too amazing. Her beautiful almond-shaped eyes looked at Su Qing in admiration.

 "You'll be fine after you put them on."

Su Qing smiled as she took the shoe covers and put them on. The size was just right, but the blisters on the soles of her feet had burst, and she felt a piercing pain.

Su Qing acted as if she didn't feel the pain. She continued to walk without a change in her expression, her hands quickly weaving another straw shoe.

"Master, little seven has made you some cooling cream."

Little Seven's heartache-filled voice rang in Su Qing's ears. An ointment that looked like lipstick appeared in Su Qing's hand. Su Qing stopped weaving the straw sandals and took a look at the ointment. She wanted to apply it after the straw sandals were done.

 "Sister, what are you holding in your hand?"