A few days later, the land of Chu.
Although it is almost autumn, the weather is still extremely hot.
In a field, a single weed is drooping in the sun.
Suddenly, a pair of rough, old hands, covered in mud and dirt, grabbed the weed by the roots.
With a ragged panting sound like a bellows, it was uprooted.
The owner of the hand, an old farmer who looked as if only sinewy skin was left, then tossed the weed far from his hand.
Wiping his forehead, which looked like it was made up of countless tiny, dried-up rivulets, the old farmer continued to bend over his labour.
It was only when the sun reached the middle of the day and it was too much to bear that the old farmer was ready to take a break.
The fields were now mostly filled with old farmers like them, and the young men were either taken away to fight in the war.
If not, they had gone out to hide.
So they have to rely on themselves.
At that moment, an equally old voice came from the ridge of the field.
“Old man, come and take a break.”
When the old farmer saw his old companion, he too gave a smile and then slowly walked over to him.
“Here, have something to eat.”
Only when she reached the ridge, the peasant woman took out from her arms a small, coarse cloth parcel, inside which was an earthen lump-like object.
When the peasant woman broke it open, the inside was as white as jade.
Only when she saw this food, the old farmer was not particularly pleased, but his face was solemn and he said.
“Why have you steamed the potato seeds? Don’t we still have some wild vegetables at home?”
“I’m not that hungry.”
Of course he recognised the stuff, it was potato seeds that the farmers had given them.
Although they had never seen it before, it was always right for the farmer to give them something.
And the names fit the bill, and they lived off the land.
The delivery was made, and they were precious.
Wait for them to sprout and grab a wave of seeds before winter.
His wife has always been extremely sensible, what’s wrong with her today?
When the peasant woman heard this, she explained in quick succession that
“This is what the farmer gave out today, even if the wife is hungry, she will not move the seeds!”
The old farmer was then relieved, and only then did he sit down and
first argued and let the peasant woman eat some.
Only then did the old farmer take some in his hands and put it in his mouth, not daring to waste any of it.
The two of them had been supporting each other all their lives, so naturally, they would not be separated by this.
Feeling the softness of the food inside his mouth, he could not help but reveal a smile.
It was only one meal a day, and this food, naturally, had to be enjoyed.
Swallowing the food in his mouth, the old farmer only asked.
“Is there any explanation for the farmer’s visit this time? Don’t you forget.”
The peasant woman thought for a moment and said back.
“The farmer said it was some chief who needed us farmers and asked all the farmers around Gaixia to go and help.”
“Alas, it may be that there is going to be a war and the peasants need men.”
Hearing this, the old farmer faintly stared, then immediately stood up and said that
“Why didn’t you say so earlier, I’m on my way.”
Only to be pulled back by the peasant woman, saying.
“Granny I asked, the peasant said that only those under sixty are needed, and you are already in your sixties.”
“It would be a nuisance to go.”
The old farmer, however, said obstinately.
“Who says I’m sixty? It’s only fifty-nine!”
“If we weren’t farmers, we would have starved to death in the last two years, how could we have waited for Da Wa Zi and the others?”
“Even the chief has come out to shout at people this time, it must be a big deal!”
“If we don’t help the peasants, who else can help him?”
The chief of the farming family was known to the old farmer.
For at the very beginning, the farmer had said that all these things, they were given by the chief.
Although he had never seen them, he still remembered this love in his heart.
The peasant, like the land, will treat you well if you treat him well.
It’s been two years and this is the first time that the chief farmer has called out!
So, no matter what is said, he’s going!
Hearing the old farmer mention Da Wa Zi, the peasant woman was a little sad that she hadn’t heard from him since he had been forcibly pulled away by the Chu army.
Wiping the corners of her eyes, the peasant woman said to the old farmer that
“Who’s worse than you, old man, the village has long gone!”
The old farmer sat up even more now.
“Then how can I be left out?”
And with that, he got up and walked towards the village.
The peasant woman carefully put away her rough parcel.
There was still half a potato left here, enough for two people to last half a day.
Then she went after it towards the old farmer.
The two men made their way back to the village and saw the farmer heading out with the men, and hurried up to him, saying
“And me!”
Seeing the old farmer, the farmer hurriedly said that
“You should stay home, old man, there are enough people in the village.”
The old farmer said, with a glare in his eyes
“How can there be enough of this man, do you resent my lack of breath?”
“I’ve just finished working on an acre of land today!”
Looking at the other man’s bravado, the farmer hurriedly explained that
“We’re going to Gaixia this time, it’s a long way away.”
“Gaixia?”
A trace of confusion appeared in the old farmer’s eyes, he had never been far away.
When the other farmers saw this scene, instead of advising, they started to coax
“Ha ha ha, old goat-head, the farmers are right, you don’t want to break down on the road!”
“And it also says that we are going to confront the Chu army!”
But he quickly returned that
“Gaixia is Gaixia, I can’t even walk!”
“If you don’t take me with you, no one will be able to leave!”
“I’m willing to break on the road! It’s better to see the Chu army, so I can go and see Da Wa Zi.”
Seeing the old farmer mention Da Wa Zi, everyone kept quiet.
They knew that Dawazi was probably gone, but none dared to say so explicitly.
Who has no one in their family who has been forcibly pulled away?
Everyone has a little something in mind.
The peasant family had been in contact with these people for so long that they knew everyone’s nature and could only agree with a bitter smile.
But he didn’t dare to let anyone fold on the road, so he hurriedly took out two steamed potatoes from his arms and put them into the other man’s hands.
“If you don’t eat, then let’s all stay put!”
Logistically, the farming family still arranged things well.
There was nothing good, but the potatoes that had been brought over from Yunmengze were barely holding up.
The old farmer had no choice but to take it over.
Soon, the group set off again, led by the farmer.
The journey was long, but there were more and more companions on the road.
It was as if a drop of water had merged into a tiny stream, which then converged into a great river!
A few more days later, the old farmer was in a trance as he looked at the procession before him that could not be seen before him and could not be seen after him.
Were these really all farmers?
How could the peasants possibly have such a formation?
The peasant woman on the side was even more tightly held the old farmer’s hand, they had never seen so many people in their lives.
The good thing is that although there were many people, the order was extremely good.
During the break, the old farmer, like the others, sat down on the ground and distributed the food to the peasant women.
They were about to eat, but they were inevitably a little tired after so many days of walking.
His hands shook and the potatoes fell into the mud.
The old farmer was distressed and rushed to pick it up.
He didn’t mind the dirt at all and was about to put it in his mouth when he was stopped by a pair of nice hands.
When he looked up, he saw an extremely handsome young man smiling and crouching in front of him.
“Old man, you’ve worked so hard for so long, it’s not good for your health to eat this when it falls to the ground.”
“I’ll take these and eat them, you eat mine. ”
With that, he gave him his own potatoes.
The old farmer had no time to refuse, and the other man left with the dirty potatoes.
The old farmer looked at the potato in his hand and asked the farmer, somewhat confused, towards the
“Who is he?”
The farmer looked at the young man’s back as he left and said, with an extremely complex expression
“He is our chief.”