Chapter 128: Ups and Downs

Laosi didn't hesitate for a second, he bowed his head and sucked on his mother's arm.Bit by bit, he coughed up blood that was almost black.Everyone was so frightened that they didn't even dare to bre...Everyone held their breath, wondering if Gou Sheng had been rescued or... something worse had happened.

Fortunately, a villager ran back soon after, jumping and shouting.

"Village head, Zhao Uncle, you two come down quickly! Gou Sheng is back, and everyone brought a lot of food!"

Uncle Zhao shouted anxiously, "Where are the people Are any villagers injured"

The villagers quickly replied, "No, Uncle Zhao! They are just minor injuries, and they look fine."

The crowd could no longer contain themselves, and they erupted in cheers.

This time, the cave was completely emptied, everyone in the village, old and young, went down.

... Treve all crawled onto the warm sea, having descended the rope ladder.

...

At this time, the team had left the woods and reached the hut.

Mrs. Wu tightly held her son, not wanting to let go for a moment. She cried and laughed, laughed and cried again, like a precious treasure that she had lost and regained. She wanted to put her son in her eye sockets, so afraid of losing him ever again.

All the other women also wiped their tears and patted Goureng's head.

This little boy has suffered a lot. He's now listless and hiding in his mother's arms, not uttering a word.

"Quickly take the child to the cave, warm them up, and give them some good food. After sleeping soundly for a few nights, they'll definitely be better."

"Yes, the kid is tough. He'll be fine soon."

"Wu Sanniang responded with nods, picked up her son and was about to leave. But suddenly remembering something, she turned back, put her son down on the ground, and then both mother and son knelt down together, banging their heads against the ground in greeting to everyone. "

"Wuwuwu, thank you all for saving me! Gousheng, quickly kowtow to your uncles and elders! Your life, our family's life, was saved by all of you!"

Wu Sanniang missed her son and husband dearly. These past few days, she had barely eaten or slept. She had lost a whole circle of weight, with dark circles under her eyes, looking as haggard as one could imagine.

But because of the son by her side, the gleam of hope in her eyes sent shivers down everyone's spine.

Thankfully, the child was found. Otherwise, Auntie Three wouldn't have been able to live.

Thinking about Uncle Three, who had bitten off the ears of bandits alive, everyone felt that this trip was well worth it.

"Come on, quick! It's okay, the child is back."

"Yeah, let's race down the road together. It's our duty to help save the child."

"Yes, let's take care of Gou Sheng first. We have a long time together."

Finally getting Aunt Three to leave, everyone let out a sigh of relief and had time to look at what Li Lao Four and the others brought back.

Eight doors of the sled were made full to the brim, packed with food, bedding, and supplies, leaving everyone in amazement with their mouths agape.

"You really got robbed by bandits"

"With so many things, won't the bandits come after us"

Mrs. Liu searched for a long time but couldn't find her husband or son. Thankfully, Jia Yi wasn't there either. She had vague suspicions, otherwise she would have gone mad.

At this time, she squeezed in and asked, “Fourth Brother, where is my Lao Liu Where are Liu Yang and Jia Yi”

Li Laosi quickly replied, "Don't worry, sister-in-law. Everyone else can rest assured too. We wiped out that band of bandits, not a single one left. Big Brother Liu and the two boys are fine. Big Brother Liu is worried there might be more bandits, so he wants to stay another day to see the situation. At the latest, he'll be back by noon tomorrow."

Everyone was even more amazed, "You're too amazing! You actually killed all the bandits!"

The village head quickly beckoned the women, "Quickly build some fires and bring hot water. Whoever's finished cooking, also bring some food to help out, to tide over Lao Si and his people first."

Li Laosi and the others didn't refuse, they went into the grass shed and sat down on the wooden stools from exhaustion, unable to get up.

With so many things to carry, and eager to return home early, they barely stopped along the way.

I've almost finished all my provisions, it was sheer willpower that got me back.

I'm feeling deflated and overwhelmed right now.

Soon, the bonfire was burning brightly, and hot water and hot rice were served. Li Laosi and others ate quickly and loudly.

Jia Yin finally got the chance to be held by her father, nestled in his arms, unwilling to leave.

After days of anxious waiting, I'm finally relieved to have my father back safe and sound.

Li Laosi put down his bowl and chopsticks after eating half a meal, and told everyone about this time saving people and suppressing bandits.

From entering the bandit's yard to Qiong's poisoning, saving Gousheng and encircling those seven or eight bandits, it was all described clearly. The process had ups and downs.

Everyone listened, shivering involuntarily, clenching their fists, and beads of cold sweat trickling down their backs.

At last, Li Lao Si sighed, "This time, we really have to thank Doctor Zhang and Sister Qiong. If they hadn't taken out most of the bandits, we wouldn't have been able to rescue Gou Ren Er. These bandits are too fierce and cruel. They robbed a family before, hanging the men and women on trees until they froze to death. They even threw the child in a cellar where it starved to death. They are worse than animals."

"What a disgrace! These animals, why doesn't God strike them down with lightning!"

“It’s just, good people don't live long, bad people live for a thousand years! It's really unfair!”

Everyone listened with heartache and cried out in condemnation.

Li Laosi and the villagers were also heartbroken. They had concealed part of the truth. If everyone knew how tragically those women died, they probably couldn't bear it.

"Uncle Village Head, Uncle Zhao, we found quite a bit of edible supplies in the bandit's courtyard. We brought back everything that was useful. Looking at these things, they should belong to the family who was killed previously. You guys take a look and divide them amongst everyone."

Li Lao Si pointed at the pile of things, and the village head immediately asked, "What about the family who died Did you help bury them"

Li Lao Si nodded, "We found a box to make coffins and buried them. We also made markers and got the family's will and belongings. We'll just wait until we get to Jiangnan and have a chance to send a letter to their family."

The village head sighed, puffed two mouthfuls of pipe tobacco, and then replied.

"That's fine then, otherwise we wouldn't feel at ease using other people's things, would we"

Having said that, he got up and discussed a few things with Zhao Shu and the others. Then, he shouted for everyone to unload their goods.

All the families had run out of food. Suddenly, to see so much food, and even fine grain, they were ecstatic.

Men, women, young and old couldn't help but crowd forward, but everyone understood the rules and none of them reached out haphazardly.

The village head counted it himself and was delighted. He then said,

"Along the way, when everyone ate together, Lao Si's family never skimped on food. Everyone can't eat for free, so this time just return a bag."

"This bag is just for the road, you still have to return those sorghum stalks you borrowed before."

The villagers all nodded in agreement, saying, "Alright, we'll listen to Uncle Village Head. After all, Li's family had the most food originally. Since they didn't let everyone else eat and drink with them, it's no wonder their food ran out so quickly."

Li Laotai was delighted that everyone knew how to be grateful, so she didn't ask for japonica rice. She only moved a bag of millet.

Firstly, Jia Yin enjoys drinking millet porridge, which is good for both the stomach and health. Secondly, there was the least amount of japonica rice in the supplies brought back, so she moved a whole bag back home since it wouldn't be easy to get some at her own place.

The village head continued to distribute, "This time in rescuing Gou Sheng'er, Zhang the Divine Doctor and Jiao sister helped a great deal. Both of their families also each received a bag of grain."

Everyone nodded in agreement. Dr. Zhang's medicine, administered by Sister Qiong, quickly incapacitated most of the bandits, proving to be the key to the successful eradication of this bandit group.

“Also, Liu Biaotou and his son, as well as Lao Si’s family, killed three bandit leaders. They fought hard for everyone, so they will each receive an extra bag of grain. The remaining grain will be distributed first to those who went with us, twenty kilograms per person, and then split equally based on headcount. Adults get whole numbers, children get half. Everyone agreed, now it’s time to distribute the silver.”

The village head, as he spoke, tipped the jar of silver, spilling it out. The blinding white coins stabbed at everyone's eyes, and their minds naturally turned.

Even though there was a bit of resistance to the rationed food earlier, at this moment it didn't matter. the children studying at home and his daughter-in-law working, he was left alone on the kang, with only a urine pot for company. It was truly pitiful.As Zhang Jin walked in, he was about to get up, b...