Northern Prefecture Rivers and Mountains

Chapter 15 Something happened
When the spring plowing season came, Liu Yu had not returned yet.

Someone from the riverside brought back news that the embankment had been repaired long ago, but the court wanted to build a Buddhist temple in Jiangcheng County, west of Jingkou, so the construction period was extended.

This move caused complaints from the people of Jingkou. Building a dam can be completed in one or two months as long as there are enough people and they are willing to work hard, but building a Buddhist temple is a meticulous job.

Quarrying, felling, laying the foundation, and carving will take at least a year and a half.

The nobles and wealthy families loved luxury. Sima Daozi and Wang Guobao worshipped Buddhism and indulged in extravagance. Of course, the Buddhist temples were not simple. The utensils, stone statues, and curtains used were all high-quality products.

The cost was no less than tens of millions, and tens of thousands of refugees were recruited from Guangling.

I don’t know what went wrong between Sima Daozi and Wang Guobao, but they changed their previous habit of fishing in a dry pond.

They actually provided food for all the laborers and refugees. Although there were only two meals of porridge a day, it gave the refugees a way to survive and prevented unrest.

Liu Yu was seven feet six inches tall and a big man, so two meals of porridge were definitely not enough to fill him up.

Xiao Wenshou would send some dry food every few days.

Liu Yu had a generous personality and could get along well with people everywhere. Somehow, he would send back wild animals every now and then, either wild rabbits, wild sheep, or fat fish.

Jiangcheng is sandwiched between Jingkou and Jiankang, bordering the Yangtze River to the north, Sheshan to the west, and Huashan to the south. The population is not that dense, and there is no corruption like the Diao family, so the products are relatively abundant.

Every time he brought back wild animals, no matter how much, Liu Daogui would divide it into four parts, with Liu Huaisu, Xiang Jing and Meng Huaiyu each getting some.

They help a lot on weekdays, so we can't forget others when eating meat.

Although the things are few, they represent the Liu family's intentions.

The only benefit of Liu Daogui's years of studying is that his temperament has been tempered and he has become very meticulous. He knows that the smaller the matter, the more he should not be careless.

Liu Zun was alone, and just because of an extra pair of chopsticks, Xiao Wenshou and Liu Daogui both treated him as one of their own.

These days, the only way to survive is to stick together and keep each other warm.

With the help of everyone, the Liu family's more than ten acres of thin land were quickly plowed.

After a few spring rains, water accumulated in the fields. The Liu family, young and old, went to the fields together to plant rice. The family was full of laughter and did not feel it was too hard.

Liu Zun stood on the ridge of the field with a bow and sword, on guard against both wild animals and people.

At dusk, Xiao Wenshou and Zang Aiqin would cut the wormwood on the ridges of the fields, dry it, and tie it into bundles to make fire for cooking.

My little niece Xingdi picked a basket of mulberry leaves.

In Jingkou, any family that can afford it will raise silkworms. These days, silk and brocade are more valuable than money and can be used to buy food.

The climate in Jiangzuo is mild. Liu Daogui feels that if there were no wars and no pressure from the noble families, the life of men farming and women weaving would be pretty good.

In the evening, Zang Aiqin boiled a pot of fish soup, added half a basket of water shield, and paired it with dry rice cooked with corn and beans, and ate it with pickled vegetables and fermented black beans. The whole family had a delicious meal.

Although Zang Aiqin came from a family of officials, he was frugal and managed his household well, and was very affectionate with Liu Yu.

Liu Yu was addicted to gambling. Without this virtuous wife to support him, the Liu family would have had a hard time surviving.

However, most of the fish soup was drunk by Liu Xingdi and Liu Zun.

Children grow and become greedy, and Liu Zun is strong and has a big appetite.

"The fields have been planted. This year, the weather has been good, and the beans in front of our door will be ready for harvest soon. In a few more months, the fields will yield a harvest, and life will be better."

Xiao Wenshou's eyes were full of longing.

"Brother, you have martial arts skills. When you return from your labor service, you can join the army. My cousin said today that the court wants to re-employ the Northern Army. He has been recruited by the Major General. Brother, you can also find a future in this field. I will be happy to help you at home."

Liu Daogui expressed his thoughts.

With Liu Yu's character, bravery, generous nature, and the reputation of the Pengcheng Liu family, he will definitely be able to stand out in the Northern Palace Army.

Although the Imperial College has a bright future, it also depends on family background. No one can predict what Liu Daolian's future will be like after he graduates.

That road had long been occupied by the noble families, but the Northern Army was different. It was a new force that the noble families looked down upon and instead gave the poor families a way out.

Xiao Wenshou did not object, "It's better for him to join the army, so that he won't go gambling again when he comes back." However, a look of loneliness appeared on Zang Aiqin's face. Since Liu Yu had joined the army, they would naturally be apart for a long time.

Liu Daogui saw the clue and comforted him, "The Northern Army is always stationed in Jingkou, so my brother can come home often. Sister-in-law, don't worry too much."

"It is a good thing for Ji Nu to join the army. How could I not agree? I am at home and can support him." Zang Aiqin is of average appearance, but he has a gentle temperament and is thrifty in managing his household.

"Then it's settled." Liu Daogui knew that Liu Yu had this intention for a long time, but it happened that he encountered a drought last year and his family could not make ends meet. In addition, the Northern Palace Army has been in recession in the past two years, so it has been delayed until now.

After chatting for a while, I felt sleepy.

After a busy day, I went back to my room and fell asleep as soon as I hit the bed.

I don’t know how long I slept, but I was suddenly awakened by a panicked knock on the door.

Liu Daogui took the ring-handled sword from the wall and hid it behind his back before opening the door. "Ninth Brother?"

Liu Xinzhi was standing in front of the door, his face full of anxiety and a bruise on his left cheek.

When the imperial court conscripted him for labor service, he went to the riverside with Liu Yu and several other young and strong men to build a dike, and later they went together to build a Buddhist temple.

He rushed back in such a hurry and looked like this, something must have happened to Jiang Cheng.

After hearing this cry, Xiao Wenshou called out from inside the room, "Agui, what happened?"

Liu Zun, who was next door, heard the noise and followed over with a knife in hand.

“Out, out…”

Before Liu Xinzhi could finish his words, Liu Daogui covered his mouth and said, "Nothing, nothing. My brother sent some wild animals back. Mother, please go to bed early."

"Why are you back at this hour?"

Xiao Wenshou was obviously not so easily fooled.

Liu Xinzhi was quite clever. "We met the baggage cart of our Northern Army and brought it back with us. We didn't stop at Tingkou on the way and didn't get back to Jingkou until nightfall."

He was an old soldier of the Northern Army, so it was understandable that he came back in the Northern Army's supply cart.

The Northern Army was composed entirely of expatriates from Jingkou, and their jurisdiction covered Guangling across the river, with frequent travel back and forth.

"Ji Nu didn't even pick a time." Xiao Wenshou didn't ask.

Liu Daogui pulled Liu Xinzhi out of the house and stopped at the entrance. "What happened?"

"Ji Nu...was taken away by the Diao family!"

"What? The Diao family is so bold that they dare to rush into the crowd to arrest people?" Liu Daogui looked Liu Xinzhi up and down.

The laborers were always accompanied by their own clansmen or neighbors and would never be alone.

In addition to Liu Xinzhi, Liu Yu also had twenty or thirty young and strong men from the Pengcheng Liu family. If other acquaintances were included, there were at least four or five hundred people around him.

As long as the Diao family dares to take action, these four or five hundred people will never sit idly by.

The people of Jingkou have always been united, which is why they have been able to gain a foothold in Jiangzuo.

The Diao family would not be stupid enough to cause trouble in Sima Daozi and Wang Guobao's Buddhist temple.

"Yes... yes..." Liu Xinzhi hesitated.

"Just tell me what it is."

"Someone invited...Ji Nu Chu Pu. He couldn't resist and left the camp. He gambled for two days and two nights and owed thirty thousand coins. When he asked, he found out the debtor was the Diao family. He was then captured. I went after him, but the Diao family beat me up..."

Liu Daogui's eyes turned black, and Liu Yu was still tricked by the Diao family.

Normally he was quite cautious, but after a few months of forced labor, if someone invited him to play Chupu, his gambling addiction would come on and he would definitely not be able to resist.

(End of this chapter)