Dressed as a farmer's widow, she brought her daughter to stock up on food and reached the top

Chapter 515 The Calm Before the Storm

Mrs. Sun said disdainfully, "Look at the way they fight, it's no wonder our Great Yan State is always bullied by the Shang State."

Tian Guilan rolled up her sleeves angrily and complained, "They're just wasting our time by dawdling like this. If they're going to come, let's do it quickly so we can finish them off right away. I'm in a hurry to get back to feeding the pigs and chopping grass."

Fusu and Zhuiying were released by the villagers, but they had been fed a muscle softener, leaving them completely powerless. Fusu felt a mixture of emotions. The Yan army couldn't even handle a bunch of peasants. Was this the true strength of Yan? At the same time, he felt a sense of relief, thankful that the villagers had won the war.

Fusu couldn't help but say, "You are now facing officials and bandits from Nanyang Prefecture. Do you know the relationship between Nanyang Prefecture and Jizhou Prefecture?"

However, the villagers just looked at him indifferently and did not say anything about it.

Someone said, "Ashu, don't worry. We will let you go once these officials and bandits retreat."

Another villager responded with disdain: "What is their relationship? What does it have to do with us?"

Xiuying frowned slightly, "I'm afraid this is just the calm before the storm."

Upon hearing this, Yang Qingfeng hurriedly asked, "Sister, are you saying that the troops from Jizhou Prefecture are about to attack us?"

Xiuying looked up at the increasingly thick clouds over Futian Village, sighed softly, and said, "Let's all get some rest first. We'll still have two groups of people on the wall taking turns resting, and make sure to keep a close eye on what's going on outside."

She turned to Wang Dali and Wang Daya and said, "Dali, Daya, come with me to the cabin." Then she walked towards the cabin at the back. Wang Dali and Wang Daya hurried to follow. The cabin contained important items. Wang Dali had been there to help take care of them, and he had also assigned several servants who had signed death indentures to guard it.

Except for the villagers who were responsible for guarding the wall, everyone else dispersed one after another. After several consecutive battles, everyone was exhausted.

Zhao Cunliang led his sons slowly back home, mentally planning to hurry back home to cook. The village elders only prepared meals for the villagers guarding the wall. Although Tian Guilan was also among the cooking team, she was there purely for free meals. After cooking, she ate and left.

Because Cuihua was emotionally unstable, Xiuying arranged for her to stay at home and did not let her participate in the battle.

"How is it? Did we win?" When Cuihua saw Zhao Cunliang and his sons returning unharmed, she guessed in her heart that Futian Village must have won.

Zhao Cunliang said proudly, "Of course we won! We, father and son, were incredibly brave in this battle, killing countless enemies!" In reality, Zhao Cunliang and his sons had only been standing behind the man guarding the village gate, pretending to be there for a while. They ate when it was time to eat and changed shifts when it was time to change shifts. Their life was more comfortable than at home.

Zhao Cunliang thought to himself that he was now considered a "hero" in the village, and Cuihua would not dare to do anything to him.

But just when Zhao Cunliang was feeling smug, Cuihua slapped him in the face and said unhappily, "Since we've already won, there's nothing left for you to do. Hurry up and cook! Are you trying to starve me to death?"

Zhao Cunliang nodded and bowed hurriedly, "I know. I'll go right away. I'll see if I have any ingredients at home and I'll definitely make you a delicious meal." He looked at Cuihua with a flattering expression, thinking to himself that his good days were finally coming. He couldn't let anything go wrong at this critical moment and lose his life. The position of village chief was still waiting for him.

While the village appeared to have won a victory, these villagers had no idea how officials could protect each other. After all, the Jizhou prefect was the father-in-law of the Nanyang County Magistrate. If Jizhou's troops arrived, they could simply open the village gates and become the Jizhou soldiers' "friends." Once the village gates were open, Xiuying and those "troublemakers" who dared to defy the government would face certain death.

Zhao Cunliang was becoming more and more proud as he thought about it. He felt that no matter if bandits attacked or officials came to attack, he would be the winner in the end. His name was a good choice. "Cunliang" meant a wealthy and noble man with a full warehouse of grain.

Seeing Zhao Cunliang distracted again, Cuihua raised her hand and slapped him. "What are you thinking about? All of you, behave yourself! If you dare to have any thoughts that you shouldn't have, I will not be polite and will chop you down directly!"

"Tian Guilan brought back three bags of flour. Let's make some steamed buns tonight." Then she instructed Zhao Cunliang, "Mix flour and cornmeal together. I've tried it at Xiuying's house. The steamed buns made with this mixture taste even better."

Zhao Cunliang nodded in agreement. Normally, he and his sons barely survived by eating wild vegetable porridge. Today, he was actually able to eat steamed buns. He hadn't tasted fine food made with flour in a long time. At lunch, he had only drunk some noodle soup with a few vegetable leaves.

The Zhao family father and son were busy in the kitchen. Cuihua sat in the rocking chair in the yard, thinking about it over and over again, feeling uneasy.

No, I have to go to Xiuying's house. She looked up at the people busy in the kitchen and said loudly, "You guys, eat the meal first after it's ready. I'm going to go out for a while."

When Zhao Cunliang heard this, he was so happy. Cuihua was not at home, so he could eat the flour as he pleased. He quickly poked his head out of the kitchen and said, "Okay, go ahead and don't worry. I'll take care of the housework."

Holding a short knife for self-defense, Cuihua hurried toward Xiuying's house. The large iron gate to Xiuying's yard, which was usually open, was now closed. Cuihua knocked gently on the door.

Dangdang

"Is Aunt Xiuying home? I'm Cuihua."

Shi Liu responded from inside the house, "Sister Cuihua, my mother went out for something and hasn't come back yet." Then, Shi Liu opened the small window on the iron gate, and after carefully confirming that Cuihua was alone, she opened the door with confidence.

"Sister Cuihua, come in quickly." Shi Liu greeted her warmly.

After welcoming Cuihua in, Shi Liu carefully closed the heavy iron gate. She recalled how many people in the village had laughed at her family's construction of this iron gate. But now, given the current situation, it seemed that her family's iron gate was the safest and most sturdy in the entire village.