Koi Fubao: Being loved by everyone on the road to escape from famine

The villagers were deeply grateful for Xiao Zhixue's generosity. They did not want a woman from outside to bear all the expenses, so they dug out small pieces of silver from the tattered packages they carried with them. Although it was not much, it was all they had, and they wanted to express their gratitude in this way.

However, when Qian saw this scene, she quickly waved her hand to stop it.

"You all came here to escape the war, and you have little money left. You still have to travel a long way to Zhangzhou. I really can't accept this money. Everyone, just have a meal here. It's a favor from our fellow villagers."

Seeing Qian's persistence, the villagers decided to express their gratitude in another way.

They gathered the fresh wild vegetables they had dug up during the journey, and the village chief sorted them out and handed them respectfully to Qian.

"How can we eat and drink for free with so many people? Please accept these wild vegetables. They are all picked by hand. They can help you replenish your nutrition on the way."

Qian looked at the simple and strong villagers in front of her, her eyes full of smiles. She happily took the handfuls of wild vegetables that still smelled of soil, and said, "Haha, then I will use these wild vegetables to stir-fry a few home-cooked dishes for everyone, so that you can taste the real taste of the wild!"

Qian's face was full of smiles, her eyes revealing enthusiasm and concern. She waved her hand and softly invited each guest to sit on the round wooden benches in the yard.

Fan Yanmu sat down next to Xiao Zhixue quietly. There seemed to be a tacit understanding between the two of them. No words were needed, just an eye contact and they understood each other.

He lowered his voice, his words were light but full of determination: "I have quietly sent Yingyi to investigate the details of those officials, and they will report back to us with definite information soon."

Xiao Zhixue tilted her head slightly, her long hair brushing against her cheek, "I understand, I'll leave everything to you."

After the meal, with a long bell ringing, Fan Yanmu stood up and loudly told the people sitting around to stay for a while, implying that important news would be revealed soon.

The Cheng family's ordinary house is quiet and peaceful on weekdays and only becomes lively during festivals.

Today, due to this sudden change, neighbors and villagers gathered together, making the courtyard suddenly bustling. Although beads of sweat hung on the faces of the mother and her two children, their eyes were shining with determination and enthusiasm.

Fortunately, the Cheng family had made preparations in advance and had several sturdy pine tables at home. These pieces of furniture, which were usually used to entertain relatives and friends who occasionally visited the village, came in handy at this moment.

Cheng Wen and Cheng Wu, the young and strong brothers, acted quickly and put the tables and chairs in order in the blink of an eye.

Zhou Shuqiong and several enthusiastic ladies came forward to help when they saw this scene. They spoke in low voices and joked with each other in the chaos. After a while, the laughter and conversation were intertwined, warming this tense afternoon and gradually relaxing the brows of the Cheng family's hostess.

Soon, an enticing aroma of food wafted from the kitchen, and simple yet delicious dishes were served on the table one by one, steaming hot, dispelling the autumn chill.

Qian cordially invited everyone to feel free to enjoy the meal. There was a hint of modesty in his words, but his sincerity and enthusiasm were enough to make people forget all restraints.

The village chief smiled until his eyes narrowed into slits, and he praised repeatedly: "It is a great honor for us to share a meal here, so why would we have the energy to be picky!"

Everyone sat around the table and took out bowls and chopsticks from their bags. A feast of food began. Everyone ate with gusto, as if they wanted to engrave the taste of this meal deeply in their memory.

During the break in the meal, Xiao Zhixue inadvertently discovered the brothers Cheng Wu and Cheng Wen. They looked extremely nervous and were quickly eating the food in their bowls, hardly daring to look up.

These two people are physically strong and are indeed easy targets for pursuers.

Her thoughts instantly returned to the scene just now, the fleeting figure at the door. Now it seems that it was undoubtedly Cheng Wen who was avoiding something.

Just as she was silently observing the two brothers, she faintly heard Qian's sigh.

She turned her head and saw that Qian's brows were furrowed. Although she was facing the food in front of her, she rarely raised the chopsticks in her hand, and her eyes were full of worry.

That heavy longing was obviously a deep longing for her husband who was captured by the government.

From the previous conversation, we learned that her husband is the village chief of Taoyuan Village, named Cheng Zhiye, a respected figure by the villagers.

Xiao Zhixue was deeply indignant at those officials who abused their power and made arbitrary arrests. After all, her parents and brother had also been innocently detained by the officials of Jinguan Town.

I didn't expect that such an unfair thing would happen here, in this remote and quiet village.

Just as everyone was immersed in the harmonious atmosphere at the dinner table, there was a sudden noise outside the yard, followed by a rapid and forceful knock on the door, shaking the entire yard.

"Listen up, everyone in the courtyard. If you don't open the door, we will force our way in!"

The sudden sound broke the silence and made people shudder.

Qian stood up suddenly, her face turned pale, her inner anxiety and fear were clearly revealed.

"What should I do? Are the police here to arrest people again?" she murmured to herself, with a trace of despair in her eyes.

When Cheng Wu and Cheng Wen heard this, their faces suddenly changed. Like a frightened deer, they hurriedly dropped their bowls and chopsticks and almost stumbled into the house, fearing that they would become the next target to be caught.

The courtyard door made a dull sound after being hit hard again. If it was not opened again, the door panel seemed like it would shatter at any time.

At this time, Fan Yanmu strode towards the door and pulled open the heavy wooden door with force. The person outside the door took advantage of the momentum to stagger into the yard and almost fell.

He staggered and accidentally bumped into Fan Yanmu's chest, which was as solid as a rock. Just as he was about to attack, the latter easily pushed him out of the wall with a palm, making a dull "bang" sound.

Upon seeing this, the accompanying officers rushed forward to help their fallen companions up, while the leading officer gnashed his teeth with anger and pain.

He stared at Fan Yanmu with his eyes wide open, and his voice was as powerful as thunder, shaking the air around him: "How dare you, an ignorant fellow, lay your hands on me! Come! Take him down immediately, without any mistakes!"

As he spoke, an unquestionable majesty spread.

Upon hearing the sound, several sturdy men dressed in official uniforms reacted as agilely as cheetahs. They drew out the sharp blades from their waists with a few swishes, and surrounded Fan Yanmu with steady steps, forming an airtight encirclement, intending to rush forward and subdue him.

Fan Yanmu stretched out his body, leaped lightly into the air, and kicked out, hitting an officer in the chest.

The officer flew into the air like a kite with a broken string, then fell heavily to the ground, taking down a row of his companions behind him. For a moment, dust was flying and screams were heard everywhere.