dead in winter

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As the sun set, the cold wind from the northern wilderness scraped at the skin, causing bursts of stinging pain. The soldiers in armor beat the ground with whips, cursing and urging the refugees to return to their residences, and the yellow sand flew up. , Gradually blurring the face of the person.

The border is bitterly cold, yellow sand is everywhere, and it is inconvenient to plant. After several years of reclamation, only a mere seven acres of land can be obtained, and the annual harvest is very small. Nearly [-]% of this harvest has entered the stomachs of soldiers and soldiers, and the refugees are miserable.

Winter is approaching, under the hunger and cold, refugees die every year, and there are many bandits, most of the soldiers turn a blind eye, no matter whether they live or die.

"Young master! See what good things I bring back."

Wen Shu rubbed his chapped fingers, exhaled a breath of cold air, and just returned to the house with the hoe, when he heard the sound, he turned his head to look, slightly dazed.

"Where did you get it?" Wen Shu asked

"It was given by Mr. Cao, who came to deliver food and grass to Mr. General. Last time I secretly exchanged it with him for silver taels, so I brought it to me today."

The boy looked about thirteen or fourteen years old, with a sallow and thin face, but it was not difficult to see that he was a handsome boy. He was wearing worn-out patched clothes, and he was holding a pheasant with his dry fingers. At this moment, his eyes were shining brightly. drooling

"Young master, how do we eat it? It hasn't been fishy for several years, and I'm going crazy!"

Wen Shu couldn't help smiling when he saw how greedy he was.

Raise your hand and cough a few times

"Then let's make chicken soup, it happens that chicken soup can be eaten with rice"

"Okay son, I'll deal with it now," Qingzhu happily responded

The soldiers in the exile area don't care about their private transactions, so Qingzhu, that is, Wen Shu's attendants, can easily exchange for pheasants. The border is bitterly cold, and there are too many people who die every year. If there are fewer people, those who cannot complete their work and endure hardships are also soldiers.

However, this matter can only be done in private, and if it is discovered, it will inevitably be whipped.

Wen Shu watched him skillfully skinning the pony tie sitting at the door, and smiled again.

"Try to peel off as much as possible, Qingzhu, this fur can be used as a few pairs of insoles after drying."

Seeing Qingzhu nodding, Wen Shu entered the house. He said it was a house, but it was just a hut piled up with mud and thatch. It couldn't keep out the cold in winter, so he could only buy some fur with the government merchants who came here to deliver food.

It was already dark at this time, Wen Shu lit a candle, took out the bowls and chopsticks, lit the firewood on the stove, added some water into it, and waited for the water to boil. There is a scar on the forehead, which is partially hidden by the hair.

When the Wen family was exiled, Wen Shu was only fifteen years old. In the blink of an eye, five years passed quickly. The scene of the day the house was ransacked seemed to be still in front of him. A world of cold wind, rain and snow.

Wen Shu was thinking in a daze, suddenly there was a sound on the bed in the back room, and a muffled cough sound came, Wen Shu got up and opened the curtain of the back room

The person on the bed had silver hair and raised his head when he heard the footsteps, revealing a resolute yet handsome face, the fine lines on his face showed that he was not young.

"Father, are you feeling better?"

Wen Shu whispered, helping him to sit up.

Wen Lian let out a low sigh

"That's all for the bones of this body. People are old and useless, and they have caused you to suffer together with me."

Wen Lian was telling the truth. There were mines in the Northern Wilderness, and the exiles had to finish their work every day before they could go to work.

Wen Shu looked down at his left hand, his eyes were dark, and he didn't say much, Wen Lian paused, but he didn't say anything after all.

Green Bamboo is shouting in the outer room

"Master, son! The meal is ready, come out quickly."

Wen Lian laughed, put aside Wen Shu's hand, and got out of bed by herself.

"What kind of happy day is today, that there is chicken soup?" Wen Lian was surprised

"Hey, isn't this just thinking about giving you...to make up for you!" Qing Zhu bit her tongue and said awkwardly

"Hahaha, you have a heart, Qingzhu! Hahaha, Yueqing, come out and eat!"

A smile appeared on Wen Lian's pale face, he turned his head and shouted

The white chicken soup was soaked in water, with some blood on it, just sprinkled with some salt, in the past, Wen Lian would never touch it

Even if he is a general who fights in all directions, all meals and lodgings are all kinds of home-cooked dishes in exquisite styles.

But now the two of them enjoyed it as if they were eating something from the mountains and seafood, even their bones were swollen and sloppy, they had long since lost the distinction between master and servant, Wen Shu's throat moved, after all, he didn't sit down with them eat.

He took out some medicinal wine from the thatch pile under the bed, walked to the door, sat on a small bench and slowly treated the wound on his body. Today's work is heavy, and he will inevitably be beaten severely. Wen Shu has long been used to it up

After dealing with the bruises on his body, Wen Shu went back and took a few bites of brown rice in a hurry. He didn't know that he was hungry, but Wen Shu didn't feel it. Wen Lian had already gone back to rest. Wen Shu didn't eat the chicken, so he took out the medicinal materials and boiled it for Wen Lian.

When Wen Lian was finished drinking, Wen Shu was about to go out when Wen Lian suddenly spoke

"Enough, the new emperor has ascended the throne two months ago, and we are about to return to Beijing."

Wen Shu blinked, a little dazed and a little unbelievable

"Did brother succeed?"

"The news that came this morning is unmistakable. Let it go, my Wen family has finally come to the fore! It is the Wen family's luck to have your eldest brother here!" Wen Lian said with a smile

Wen Shu knew that his father had his own private contact method with Jingzhong. Although his father never told him, Wen Shu was also happy. He would be able to restore his old status immediately, so how could he not be happy.

"The imperial decree is already on its way. Your elder brother told us to stay for a few more days, and we will be picked up to return to Beijing soon!" Wen Lian couldn't help but put on his clothes and get out of bed, walking back and forth excitedly

Wen Shu silently supported him

"At the end of the day, I have suffered for you these years. Even if I have a thousand regrets as a father, it is still hard to get rid of the pain with you these years. If it wasn't for me back then... oh, that's all, it's fine not to say it!" Wen Lian Looking back at Wen Shu, he said in a gentle voice, a middle-aged person looks old now

"Father, I know," Wen Shu said

"It's not your fault" It's my fault, Wen Shu secretly said

"Hey..., let it go, as a father, I can't say much about Yueqing. It was not my wish back then, but that was the fastest way to break the situation. You can put it to death and live later. You know that Yueqing is facing The risk is far greater than ours..." Wen Lian was a little excited

"I know" Wen Shu said

"Father, I know," Wen Shu repeated again, calmly

Wen Lian looked at him, after all he sighed heavily and didn't say anything else. Gradually, the strength of the medicine became stronger, and Wen Lian slowly fell asleep. Wen Shu tucked him in the quilt, and walked away quietly without saying a word. out.

Qingzhu in the outer room fell asleep early, snoring like thunder, Wen Shu walked out of the room, looked at the bright moon hanging in the sky, his thin brows and eyes were full of loneliness, and his glazed eyes were full of tiredness

I know, but... my heart is restless!

[The author has something to say: in the process of catching insects, there will be no overhaul, you can eat it with confidence]