The weather is getting colder.
And the famine became more and more serious.
It is said that.
Even the wealthy gentlemen in Qingyang Town have begun to show signs of running out of food.
As for the poor villagers within a hundred miles, countless of them starved to death or froze to death.
Xiaoshi Village.
Lu family.
"Mom, I'm hungry... I'm so hungry..."
In the courtyard.
I saw a two-year-old child with a pale face and skinny body crying and talking to Wang Cuilian.
"Be good, don't cry. We're out of food... Drink some water first..."
As Wang spoke, she trembled as she held a bowl of water and fed it to the child.
But how can drinking water possibly satisfy hunger?
Seeing her own son crying like this, Wang Cuilian started cursing towards the inner room.
"Mr. Lu, look at how starving your son is! Why don't you go to Qingyang Town and beg Mr. Huang to give us some land to farm? Otherwise, our family of three will all starve to death!"
In the inner room.
Lu Dahai walked out with a sigh and a bent back.
"What's the point of begging? You know, I've been there almost ten times, but Mr. Huang won't even let me in."
turn out to be.
Ever since the couple insulted Lu Fan at Huang's Pawnshop that day, Huang Bairong confiscated all the rented land of the Lu couple.
even,
Some time ago, Huang Bairong even sent people to take away all the rent and grain that Lu Dahai owed last year.
Now, there is not a drop of grain left in the rice jar of the Lu family, not even a drop of bran for feeding pigs and dogs.
Looking at her son crying loudly, Wang couldn't help but curse.
"It's all Lu Fan's fault, that damned bastard!"
"If it weren't for him, our family wouldn't have offended Master Huang, and we wouldn't have to starve like this!"
"Mr. Lu, how did that little bastard get to know Mr. Huang? And how did he even get Mr. Huang to call him Little Noble?"
Wang was so angry that her teeth itched when she thought of the scenes of that day.
"How should I know?"
Lu Dahai groaned.
"Aren't you his biological father? How could you not know? Lu Dahai, are you deliberately hiding something from me?"
Wang continued to shout.
"What could I possibly be hiding from you? From the day I married you, you told me to drive them away, and I did. I did whatever you told me to do! Isn't that enough?"
Lu Dahai was also angry at this time.
"Mr. Lu, can you explain yourself clearly? Why do you want me to chase them away? Shouldn't those two little bastards leave?"
"That's right, okay?"
"Hmph, you're smart! Lu Dahai, let me tell you, my son hasn't eaten in almost a day! Whether you're going to kill people or set fires now, you better hurry up and find me some food! Otherwise, I'll never let you go!"
Hearing Wang's unreasonable words, Lu Dahai started to have a headache.
Where can he get food in this year of famine?
In the entire Xiaoshi Village, more than a dozen people have starved to death due to lack of food.
Just then, a lame man suddenly ran in.
This man is Lu Dahai's neighbor.
His last name is Niu.
In the past, Lu Dahai called him Uncle Niu.
After running in at this moment, the lame old man said: "Dahai, do you want to do some hard labor?"
"What kind of hard labor?"
Lu Dahai was slightly stunned.
"It's about doing hard labor for a wealthy man at the City God Temple! You know what I mean? A couple of days ago, a guy from another village was recruited to do hard labor. I heard that the wealthy man not only provided him with food, but also rice porridge!"
When he heard the word "Food", Lu Dahai's eyes suddenly turned red.
"real?"
Even Wang was excited and asked, "Uncle Niu, are you sure there is rice porridge to eat?"
"Why would an old man like me lie to you about this? The man from the other village said it himself. He also said that the rich man who hired the laborers was very generous. Not only did he provide rice porridge every meal, but sometimes he even gave us big white steamed buns."
Hearing about the big white steamed bun, Wang's eyes almost bleed: "Really?"
"That's right! Half of the laborers in our Xiaoshi Village have already gone there. However, it seems that the rich man doesn't recruit many people."
Master Niu said.
Upon hearing this, Wang immediately turned to Lu Dahai and said, "Mr. Lu, what are you still doing standing there? Go and take a look! If that wealthy man can really hire you to do hard labor, my little treasure will never have to go hungry again!"
"Yes, yes, I'll go. I'll go now."
"Thank you, Master Niu. Don't worry, if I'm really noticed by the rich man, I will definitely repay you."
As Lu Dahai spoke, he quickly put on his clothes and prepared to go to the City God Temple.
Wang didn't care about anything else at this time. She held her two-year-old child and began to prepare to go and take a look with Lu Dahai.
Walk out of Xiaoshi Village.
Just see.
Many people have already set out early to go to the City God Temple.
Looking at the crowd, Wang, holding the child, said to Lu Dahai, "Mr. Lu, are you stupid? Why did you say you wanted to repay that cripple Niu Er just now?"
"Why not repay him? He is kind enough to introduce a job to me. If I am really noticed by the rich master of the City God Temple, then I won't have to go hungry anymore, right?" Lu Dahai asked puzzledly.
But Wang just curled the corner of her mouth.
"I told you you're stupid, and you still don't believe me? The reason that cripple tipped you off was because he couldn't do it himself. Besides, you deserve the money you earn by doing hard labor. Let him dream on about paying that cripple."
After hearing this, Lu Dahai fell silent.
"It's just strange. Doesn't our City God Temple always have no one going there? Isn't it haunted? When did a rich man suddenly appear, and he even has big white steamed buns to eat?" Wang asked curiously at this time.
Lu Dahai also shook his head and said, "I don't know either."
"Never mind! As long as someone gives us food, he's our master."
After saying that, the couple took their child to the City God Temple.
Arrived at the village entrance.
Sudden.
Lu Dahai paused.
He was just looking towards one side of the village.
That direction was exactly the direction of the dilapidated thatched hut where Lu Fan and his sister used to live.
Pause for a moment.
Lu Dahai said timidly, "Wife, do you think I should tell Lu Fan about this good news? They live in the thatched cottage in front! What if the rich man takes a fancy to Lu Fan? Then they won't starve to death, right?"
Upon hearing this, Wang flew into a rage, "What? Even now, you're still thinking about that little bastard? Mr. Lu, are you truly unable to forget that damned woman, your ex-wife?"
"I... no, I just thought, no matter what, those two children are my own, and I just happened to be passing by!"
"Bah, those two bastards are your biological children? If they are, then what are Xiaobao and I?" Wang cursed.
Lu Dahai sighed: "Okay, okay, if you don't let me say it, I won't say it, okay?"
"You're smart, Mr. Lu. I'm telling you, if you dare mention those two bastards again, I'll never let you go."
And so, the couple followed the crowd to the City God Temple.
…
City God Temple.
Ever since Lu Fan started building his own mansion, he began to recruit people.
After all, building a house requires much more manpower and material resources than building an outer wall.
Early in the morning.
As soon as Lu Fan walked out of the City God Temple, the laborers saw him.
"Morning, young master."
"Young Master, do you have any other instructions today?"
"Thank you, young master, for giving us work to do. You are our lifesaver."
Just walked out.
A large group of laborers started shouting at Lu Fan.
Although Lu Fan's clothes are still shabby, in the eyes of those laborers, Lu Fan has already become a real rich man.
After all, these days, whoever has food is the boss!
Lu Fan greeted everyone with a smile, then looked around.