Traveling through time and space to meet a replacement bride? But I’m a man!

Xu Wenyan did not stay until the end.

He walked out amid the screams of the dancers. There were so many misfortunes in this era, almost every one of them was unacceptable to him as a modern man.

I slapped my face to wake myself up and decided to just live my life well.

Soon, the news of Mr. Zhang being attacked by an assassin at his birthday party spread throughout Feng County.

Listening to the noisy discussions around him, Xu Wenyan somehow came to the refugee area east of Fengxian County.

This was his third time walking here. The place was almost unchanged from the war. Beggars were still sitting against the walls on both sides of the street.

These so-called county people really live worse than refugees. Refugees are even exiled to villages and rented land to farm. These people have already run out of money because of natural disasters and wars.

However, their household registration is in the county and it is impossible for them to move into the village.

Some people also thought about running away secretly. Even if they continued to live in the village, they would be considered as empty households because they had no household registration. When the imperial court collected taxes, they would find out that they were empty households.

The lighter punishment is to serve in the military service, and the heavier punishment is to go to jail.

Just keep walking into the alley, you can see more vendors around. They are selling sweet potatoes and potatoes of poor quality. Xu Wenyan didn't even see a complete piece of vegetable.

Most of them are vegetable leaves.

Moreover, the people here are almost all elderly people, women and children. The young and strong people all go to work at the docks and struggle to make a living.

When walking forward, Xu Wenyan saw Zhan Laowu. He was sitting on a small bench with an injured arm. The blood almost covered his entire arm, which looked very horrifying.

An old lady was bandaging his wound.

Xu Wenyan walked straight towards him.

Sensing someone approaching, Zhan Laowu raised his head and asked, "Why are you in a place like this?"

Looking at the children who poked their heads out of the shack, they were wearing ill-fitting clothes and straw sandals that they hadn't known how long they had been wearing. They blinked their eyes and observed Xu Wenyan.

Xu Wenyan looked at him: "Why can't I come here?"

Zhan Laowu was so speechless after being rebuked that he finally ignored Xu Wenyan, who just looked around.

"What kind of medicine is it?"

The aunt laughed bitterly and said, "The medicine is too expensive. We can't afford it."

"Dry bag?"

"Ah."

Seeing this, Xu Wenyan also understood why Zhan Laowu would take his men to become bandits, and he must have suffered a setback.

But that's normal. With that group of skinny men, they would be at a disadvantage if they encountered a slightly stronger caravan.

After walking around, Xu Wenyan was ready to leave. He was not interested in watching other people suffer.

"Wait." Zhan Laowu stood up with difficulty.

"how?"

Xu Wenyan turned around and said calmly.

The air seemed a little heavy at this moment: "Can you lend me some money? I will pay you back when I make money."

Zhan Laowu knew how big Xu Wenyan's business was now. He had never asked others for help during the most difficult times after the war, but now it was really impossible.

"Why should I lend it to you, and how can you pay me back? By being a bandit, or by collecting protection money?"

Zhan Laowu lowered his head, his eyes full of helplessness.

"I just want to help the kids?"

"Then do you have the ability to help? If you don't have the ability to help, you expect me to help you? Do you think you are so great?" Xu Wenyan was so angry that he laughed at his words. What a twisted logic.

Zhan Laowu wanted to say something when the aunt called him, "Laowu, it's okay." The aunt limped over and supported Zhan Laowu.

Then he said to Xu Wenyan with an apologetic look: "I'm sorry to have embarrassed you. Go and do what you need to do. Don't bother with this brat."

What happened here attracted many people to go out and check it out.

These people have slack eyes and look lifeless. Can they be called human beings?

They have lost the motivation to live.

If things continue like this, it won't be long before many people die here. Perhaps this is what everyone expects.

Xu Wenyan glanced at them a few times and sighed secretly.

Without staying for long, Xu Wenyan knew that even if he wanted to help now, he couldn't. Who knows about such things that are left to fate.

In the past year, Xu Wenyan has witnessed too many tragedies. After leaving here, Xu Wenyan did not stay in Qing'an Hall for long. The banquet would start tomorrow and he had to hurry back to prepare.

Knowing that he had to prepare a banquet, Xu Wenyan had to get ready. He first bought 40 kilograms of pork. One kilogram of pork cost 40 cents, which cost Xu Wenyan more than one or two taels of silver.

After that, there were some seasonings and coarse noodles, which cost nearly three taels of silver in total.

Xu Wenyan liked the big fat boy in the family very much, and he also believed that Wang Dongmei was not the kind of parent who would spoil his child.

The banquet that Xu Wenyan attended today really opened his eyes. He thought that the scenes that were only played out in TV dramas were actually reflected in reality.

When they got home, Chen Sanlin took Rong Xiaoliu and other children to plant rice in the rice fields.

The seedlings were planted very late this year and will probably have to wait until late autumn to be harvested.

Because there were so many people to invite, Xu Wenyan couldn't think of what dishes to cook for a while.

But the sugar cakes are a must. The sugar cakes here are made of brown sugar and glutinous rice flour.

Here, every household must have this kind of dessert when holding a banquet, but it is usually given to children to share in the festive atmosphere.

China's ancient tradition has been to have even numbers, so the banquet is also very particular. Generally, there are 10 to 12 dishes.

But in their rural area, having eight dishes is already quite a luxury when holding a banquet.

In order to save face for his little cousin, Xu Wenyan felt that he had to cook at least ten dishes.

There were a few wild boars that Chen Sanlin had hunted before at home, and most of them could be used to make two dishes.

"Brother Xu, you're back." Xiaohu rushed into the house, picked up the cup and gulped down two big gulps of water.

"Why are you so impatient? You didn't bring any water with you when you were working."

"I was too busy today. I have to help prepare the food this afternoon. The banquet will start at noon tomorrow. Uncle Jianye told me to finish the work quickly."

There is no other way in the countryside now, the banquet has to be held, but the rice fields cannot be delayed at any time, so it can only make people a little tired.

Xu Wenyan nodded, and Wang Cuijuan and Zhou Rong had already gone to help.

Xu Wenyan took out a lot of wild boar meat from the stove, and then carried a large bag of dried vegetables onto the mule cart.

Seeing Xiaohu was in a hurry to leave again, Xu Wenyan pulled him back and handed him the bamboo tube filled with water.

"Give it to Brother Chen and the others, so that we don't have to run back again later."

After sending Xiaohu away, Xu Wenyan rummaged through the cupboard and took out several large pieces of brown sugar. These were to be used to make sugar cakes so that at least every child could have one piece.