On the wilderness outside the Desheng Gate, a large number of displaced people gathered in the east and west. Some of them built rudimentary huts out of twigs and rags, while others simply lay down in the snow and ice with nothing at all.

Zhu Youzhen approached a small group of homeless people, and saw the elderly in their 70s and the babies in swaddling clothes, all of whom were ragged and had vegetables on their faces. Seeing that someone stepped forward, those who still had the strength to walk "Hula" surrounded them, stretched out their hands full of chilblains, held broken bowls one by one, and pleaded in a hoarse voice: "Good luck guys, we haven't eaten for almost three days!" ”

And more women, young and old, don't even have the strength to stand up. Their eyes were glazed, they didn't blink for half a day, and they looked like dead people.

Zhu Youzhen saw that his heart was sour, and he hurriedly touched it into his arms. But after touching it for a long time, there was not even a copper plate, and then I remembered that I was used to being a prince and had never brought money with me.

Sun Chuanting whispered to Zhu Youzhen: "It's useless to give them money, because the government doesn't let the displaced people into the city at all, and there is nowhere to spend the money." ”

Zhu Youzhen was stunned and said: "Why don't you let the displaced people enter the city?" ”

Sun Chuanting sighed and said, "The displaced people entered the city, and their clothes were ragged, which hindered the view. And it is easy to gather all living beings, so we have to guard against it. In addition, dead bodies are also prone to spreading the plague. ”

As he spoke, a terrible wail rang out from the crowd: "My son, why did you go like this..."

When Zhu Youzhen looked up, he saw a scrawny woman lying on a small, motionless body, but she was only wailing, and there were no tears for a long time.

The displaced people who were originally surrounding Zhu Youzhen and the three turned to the woman who had just lost her son. I don't know who said first: "Anyway, the child is starving to death, and it's useless for you to cry." It's better for everyone to eat separately, and you can last two more days. ”

The woman was terrified and yelled at the crowd to keep the child's body from approaching. The surrounding crowd smelled blood like a hungry shark, and the eyes that had already lost their minds suddenly burst into a greedy gaze, pressing forward step by step.

Zhu Youzhen had never seen such a human tragedy, and he had already burst into tears at this time. He couldn't stand it anymore and yelled, "Stop! Even wild beasts do not eat their own kind! ”

The group of homeless people stopped when they heard this, but they all turned in unison, their eyes flashing with hatred and anger. One of them shouted, "Don't stand and talk without backache, how many days will you try to be hungry?" If you have dry food buns, stay quickly, and the old and young masters will thank you for your great kindness; If not, get out of here! Don't wait for a while, everyone is hungry, tear you up too, tear it up, and eat it! ”

Hearing his snort, the angry hungry people gathered around him, shouting, "Beat them!" Beat up these things! ”

Zhu Youzhen's face turned pale with fright, thinking that the dog jumped over the wall in a hurry, if a person was hungry, it would not be much better, maybe he really ate himself alive.

Seeing this scene, Lin Youkun sneered and said, "Which one dare to come?" ”

"I'll just come over here, what's wrong!" A young man slammed down from behind Lin Youkun, intending to knock him down.

Lin Youkun seemed to have eyes in the back of his head, he didn't even twist his head, and kicked out directly, hitting the man's chest. The man flew out like a kite with a broken string, foaming at the mouth, and immediately unconscious.

When the hungry people saw Lin Youkun hurting people, their long-suppressed anger was completely ignited, and they rushed up and said: "He still dares to beat people!" Shoot him! Kill them! ”

In fact, Lin Youkun's kick just now was merciful, otherwise he would have kicked that person to death on the spot. At this time, when he saw the hungry people rioting, he roared, and the sword at his waist was coldly unsheathed. A man who rushed to the front only felt a flower in front of him, and the tip of the sword was already in his throat, so frightened that he didn't dare to move.

And the hungry people who followed the coaxing were actually just poor people, and they were just bluffing. Seeing that Lin Youkun moved the real guy, they all stopped in fright.

Seeing that the audience was shocked, Lin Youkun roared: "You mobs, you don't know anything!" My son-in-law originally wanted to help you and others, but who asked you to interrupt him? If you don't make trouble, everyone will have something to eat; If there is anyone who wants to make trouble, I will send you all with a sword! ”

The man in front of him knelt down with a "plop" and cried loudly: "Masters, we don't want to make trouble, but we are so hungry that we can't stand it!" ”

When he cried, all the hungry people wept bitterly.

Zhu Youzhen felt the same way, and his tears couldn't be stopped like opening the floodgates. Sun Chuanting saw that Zhu Youzhen couldn't even speak, so he had to choke up and shout for him: "Don't worry, everyone, our son-in-law came here just to open a porridge factory so that everyone doesn't go hungry!" Please bear with me and bury the dead! Our son-in-law will enter the city immediately and bring a batch of dry food first! Early tomorrow morning, a porridge factory will be opened here, and everyone will have something to eat! ”

Hearing his shout, all the hungry people knelt down, crying and shouting, "Lord Qingtian... O living bodhisattva who saves suffering..."

Without further ado, Zhu Youzhen discussed with Sun Chuanting and Lin Youkun, leaving Lin Youkun here to maintain order first, and he and Sun Chuanting returned to the city to buy food.

Originally, Lin Youkun still insisted on staying by Zhu Youzhen's side. Zhu Youzhen thought that if Sun Chuanting was left here, in case the hungry people made trouble again in a while, he would not have Lin Youkun's two hits. When he comes back, maybe Sun Chuanting will let the hungry people gnaw into bones.

I didn't go far into the city, and there was a "Dexing Mi" in front. The two rushed in, and the shopkeeper saw that a customer came to the door, and greeted Sun Chuanting diligently: "Is this gentleman going to buy rice?" ”

Zhu Youzhen saw that the shopkeeper only greeted Sun Chuanting, and he didn't even pay attention to himself, so he couldn't help but be stunned. After a while, he remembered that he was just a servant's attire, but Sun Chuanting was a housekeeper. But at this time, he couldn't care so much, and asked quietly: "Sir, how much rice do we have to buy?" ”

Sun Chuanting frowned and said, "The hungry people we met just now were only one or two hundred people. If you only want to save your life, you can give each person two meals of porridge a day, and one stone of rice is almost enough. But I am afraid that as soon as the porridge factory is set up, the hungry people around it will gather here, and the farmers in the suburbs will not be able to estimate the number of people at all. ”

Zhu Youzhen hurriedly said: "Then it doesn't matter so much, how much rice is here, let's buy it all, and let's set up the porridge factory first." By the way, sir, why don't we just distribute the rice to the hungry people, and instead of setting up a porridge factory? ”

Sun Chuanting explained: "The displaced people come from afar, they want money but no money, no food, no firewood, and even no cooking utensils. If the rice and silver are scattered directly, the hungry people will still not be able to cook. Only by opening a porridge factory can you eat it immediately and save your life. The opening of this porridge factory also requires manpower preparation, so I just said that we will distribute dry food today and open a porridge factory tomorrow. ”

Zhu Youzhen suddenly realized: "I see. Then sir, please hurry up and buy rice, we have to buy dry food after we are done! ”

Sun Chuanting nodded and asked the shopkeeper, "What is the price of rice in your store?" ”

The shopkeeper said with a smile: "Today's rice price is four taels and one stone for brown rice and five taels and one stone for polished rice." I don't know how many meters Mr. wants? ”

Sun Chuanting was taken aback and asked urgently, "The shopkeeper, isn't it?" Yesterday I asked in other rice numbers, brown rice is only two taels and five dollars of silver and one stone, why are you so expensive here?! ”

The shopkeeper sneered, rolled his eyes and said: "I said this gentleman, it has been snowing heavily for several days, and rice from the south cannot be transported in, and the price of rice has skyrocketed, don't you know?" Not to mention two taels and five dollars, half a month ago, even polished rice was less than two taels! Now go and ask, who will sell it to you? You asked yesterday, yes, yesterday we also sold two or five dollars in our store. But today, the price of rice has risen again, and I can't help it, that's the market! If you want to be too expensive, you might as well go to another place and ask! ”

Sun Chuanting was angry and anxious, and argued with him: "Aren't you raising prices? ”

When the shopkeeper heard this, he pulled his face down and said, "I said that you are an interesting person, at this price, do you want to buy it?" If you don't buy it, leave quickly, don't get in the way of our business! ”

Zhu Youzhen hurriedly whispered to Sun Chuanting: "Forget it, we can't afford to delay time!" Be more expensive! ”

Sun Chuanting had no choice but to suppress his anger and asked angrily, "How many meters do you have in your store?" ”

"A thousand stones!" The shopkeeper replied lazily.

Sun Chuanting consulted Zhu Youzhen with his eyes, and said: "I want it all, you hurry up and prepare, and I will send a car to Lami in a while!" ”

The shopkeeper was shocked and asked in disbelief, "You... All wanted? ”

Zhu Youzhen said impatiently: "Yes, all of you, didn't you hear clearly?" ”

The shopkeeper didn't expect these two people to look inconspicuous, but they were rare customers, and immediately changed his smiling face and said: "The two of you are all wanted, and our store only accepts cash ingots, copper coins and broken silver." ”

Zhu Youzhen and Sun Chuanting looked at each other, only to realize that they were in a hurry, and they didn't think about money at all.

Of course, Sun Chuanting has no money. Zhu Youzhen wanted to personally reply to the palace to withdraw the money, but after thinking about it, he had sneaked out in the first place, and it was thanks to Lin Youkun who made careful arrangements. Now that Lin Youkun is not here, it will be difficult to come up with it again this time.

In desperation, he had to ask for a pen and paper, and wrote a note to Rui'er by hand, and asked Sun Chuanting to take the note and ask Rui'er directly for silver. His two strokes are too distinctive, Rui'er knew it at first sight.

Sun Chuanting couldn't help frowning when he saw that Zhu Youzhen's handwriting was crooked, and it was not much different from that of a dog, how ugly and ugly it was. Although the king of Xindao is kind-hearted, he really dare not compliment this word. I didn't dare to delay at the moment, so I carefully took the note into my arms and hurried away.

Zhu Youzhen waited anxiously in the rice shop, really sitting on pins and needles. He couldn't even think about how many hungry people had froze and starved to death in this short moment!