In ancient times, I just wanted to be a salted fish

Tian suddenly understood the key points. She looked at Qiao Zien again: the aura is completely different. This child is no longer the timid and crying child. His elegant and cold demeanor made her feel cold. Has he completely changed his personality? That would be difficult to deal with. If that were the case, how could she control him? It would be better if he didn't come back. If he came back, it would be bad for them, and there would be no peace in the Marquis' Mansion. Looking at Chen Guchuan again, in addition to his good looks, his demeanor was also extraordinary. Although the two seemed close, she always felt that they both had a righteous spirit, which made her scalp numb.

Qiao Yuyan also stared at him. The handsome young man was concentrating on talking to another person. His serious look was really fascinating. His half-brother, Qiao Zien, was completely different from her two brothers. He was cold, aloof and noble. This was not the image of Qiao Zien in her mother's mouth! She was a little jealous of Qiao Zien. How could she let Qiao Zien approach such a handsome and flawless man and desecrate him? She really wanted to have that Mr. Chen. What Qiao Yuyan wanted, she had to get!

Just as Qiao Yuyan was trying to get closer to Chen Guchuan, the three of them had already walked away. Qiao Yuyan stamped her feet and looked at Tian next to her: "Mom, what are you thinking about?"

At this time, Tian was thinking: These two people are not as simple as I imagined. I have to take a long-term view and find a way to not let them have an easy time.

It was already dusk, and Chen Ruotong and the other two went to a teahouse to discuss something.

Zhang Yishun said seriously, "Brother Chen, my uncle asked me to tell you in advance that the government will look for wealthy merchants in the city to discuss relief for the victims in the next two days. There is a severe drought in the south, and many victims have flocked to Anyang Prefecture and will soon enter Pingyang Prefecture. My uncle wants to do something practical for the victims. After all, the government has limited money and grain, and my uncle cannot embezzle it without authorization. Therefore, let everyone raise funds, and your uncle will let you know how much to donate. For a big businessman like you, many people are watching. If you donate too little, you can't motivate everyone; if you donate too much, your uncle is afraid that you will suffer a loss. Therefore, I will give you a hint first, and you can weigh it yourself first!"

Chen Ruotong asked anxiously: "What about Qingyang Prefecture?"

Zhang Yishun said: "The drought in Qingyang Prefecture is also very serious. Although there is no harvest, at least there is water to drink and old grain to eat. Few people are fleeing from the famine."

Zhang Ruotong was very worried about the situation in Chenjiabao. He was afraid that the four people in his family were in danger. He was afraid that the disaster victims would rush to the village to rob, so he asked: "Are there any disaster victims causing trouble?"

Zhang Yishun said: "Of course there are, but the situation is not serious. There have been some robberies, but few casualties."

"Okay, I'll donate 20,000 taels."

Zhang Yishun's eyes widened: "What? Brother Chen, you've donated too much. No, no, you're forcing others to donate more. They'll be dissatisfied with you."

Chen Ruotong calmed down and said, "Okay, it depends on how much they donate. I can just donate a little more than the person who donated the most, and then we'll see how the situation plays out."

"Okay, then I'll go back and tell my uncle, and then help him write the document." Zhang Yishun hurried towards the yamen.

Chen Ruotong was in a heavy mood. Only Mrs. Chen, Zhang, Chen Jianshu, and Chen Dahai were left at home. What if there were refugees entering the village? With only four of them, could they handle it? They were afraid that they would get hurt in their efforts to defend the food!

She was a little anxious and wanted to go to Chenjiabao right now to pick them up. But there were disaster victims along the way, and she couldn't walk! She was very upset and almost fell down when she went downstairs. Qiao Zien was quick to grab her and saved her from falling.

Qiao Zien straightened her up: "Brother Guchuan, are you worried about the people back home?"

Chen Ruotong held her forehead and said, "Well, I'm afraid they are in danger!"

At this time, the villagers of Chenjiabao were relatively safe. The rice seedlings in the fields had all turned yellow. Needless to say, this must be a total crop failure, and people were very depressed. Many families had run out of food. Old Lady Chen was kind-hearted. Families who had run out of food secretly came to her house to buy food, and she sold it to them at the original price without making a penny. If one person did this, many people would come to buy. The food in Old Lady Chen's warehouse had been reduced by half. If she didn't sell it, she couldn't bear to see the villagers without food to eat; if she sold it, she was afraid that the few people in her family would not have enough to eat, and she was also very conflicted. In the entire Chenjia Village, most people have the surname Chen, and they are all relatives. It can be said that their ancestors were all one family. How could she bear to watch people starve and have no food to eat?

That day, Wang the escort leader personally delivered a letter to Chen Jianshu: "Jianshu, the escort agency is disbanded, and I am going to the capital. There are too many disaster victims in Qingyang Prefecture, and I am afraid that something will happen. It is not safe for us to stay in Qingyang now. Your father and two sons are in Pingyang Prefecture. I advise you to take your family to Pingyang Prefecture to hide for a while, and come back after the drought is over. Don't be reluctant to leave your 50 acres of land. Is life more important? I just want to ask you, if you want to go, we will go together. If you don't go, I will take a few brothers and my family to Beijing to seek refuge with my relatives."

Chen Jianshu was very conflicted. It was such a pity to just abandon this huge family business. This was the family fortune his father had accumulated for his entire life. His father was not at home, and he just abandoned his hometown. His father was determined to beat him to death.

"Brother Wang, come in quickly. Let me see what the letter says."

The letter was written by Old Man Chen. In the letter, he said that he should not worry about the land and houses at home for the time being, and should quickly bring a few people from his family to Pingyang Prefecture. At present, Pingyang Prefecture is the safest, and the business of his two sons is also very prosperous. He asked him to ask the escort agency to escort him to Pingyang Prefecture, the sooner the better.

So Chen Jianshu asked, "Brother Wang, when will we set off?"

"I'll leave tomorrow morning."

"Well, we'll set out before dawn tomorrow morning and go to the escort agency to find you. We'll go together."

After Wang Biaotou left, Chen Jianshu explained the matter to Old Lady Chen. Old Lady Chen felt that Old Man Chen's decision was correct, so she said, "Boss, go call the clan leader. I have something important to tell him."

The old chieftain Chen came hurriedly, and the old lady Chen handed the key of the house to the chieftain Chen. They left enough food for the four people on the way, and the rest was handed over to the chieftain Chen. The two cows at home must be driven, and the chickens, ducks and geese should be killed and pickled for food on the road. The big yellow dog must be brought along, as it is a good guard. The rest was handed over to the chieftain.

The clan leader was also in tears. He was reluctant to let Old Man Chen and his family move out of Chenjiabao. Although he was the clan leader, many important matters were decided by Old Man Chen, and he just conveyed them to everyone. Because Old Man Chen and Old Lady Chen had a more accurate and far-sighted view of things. He wanted to follow Old Man Chen to Pingyang Prefecture.

After packing up everything, they prepared food and water for the next few days. Old Mrs. Chen took out all her savings, spread them out among the four of them, and sewed them into their underwear, which was safer. She also packed Chen Ruotong's clothes and jewelry in a tattered cloth bag. The whole family wore patched clothes, just like people fleeing famine. After making all the preparations, the family drove two ox carts out of Chenjiabao before dawn the next day.