Chapter 153: Chapter 121: Zero-Dollar Shopping for 60,000 Jin of Rice; Recruiting Refugees (Part 2)

Hearing this explanation, the other five finally understood.

’It makes sense!’

Instantly, the five of them slowly stood up and looked at Wang Tianfeng, their expressions darkening.

Even if someone had come to steal the grain, it would be impossible to silently make off with eight hundred bags in such a short time.

The only possibility was that someone moved the grain out after it was stored, during the time they were away, and then orchestrated this whole sloppy affair!

"Wang Tianfeng, it seems you’re the one who should be giving us an explanation, right?"

"Hah! If you want to kill us, just say so. First you have us submit to you, then you frame us! You want to brand us as disloyal and unjust? Dream on!"

"The six of us together, Wang Tianfeng—do you think you have the Ability to suppress us?!"

"..."

Hearing them turn the tables with false accusations, Wang Tianfeng laughed in fury.

"Good, good, good. Your true colors are showing, aren’t they? I was wondering why you’d volunteer to guard the granary—so you were just waiting here for me! Fine! Even if you don’t say it, I know who’s behind this. I’ll personally see you on your way out of this world! Attack!"

Wang Tianfeng roared.

Instantly, three Eighth Grade Martial Artists leaped over the outer wall.

All of them were Wang Family Elders!

"He even brought the family Elders! This really was premeditated!" a young man roared. "Wang Tianfeng, you despicable villain!"

"As expected, those not of our clan will always have different loyalties! Kill them all! As for this matter, I will personally have a good long talk with the County Magistrate!"

Instantly, the sounds of fierce combat erupted in the courtyard.

Cheng Zongyang, who had already rushed to South City, was naturally unaware of this scene. If he knew, he’d probably have to admire their ability to jump to conclusions.

But ironically, both sides had a point, and neither could explain the situation clearly.

One could only say it was a coincidence opening the door for another, a coincidence of the highest order!

After a quick trip home, Cheng Zongyang immediately entered the Wilderness World.

Ma San was still cleaning up the rice sacks, at least clearing enough space so that Cheng Zongyang had a place to stand when he appeared.

Leaving Ma San to deal with the sacks, Cheng Zongyang placed three large water vats in the front yard of the residence. He filled them with a good amount of water and also brought out a lot of meat, wild vegetables, some firewood, and a large cauldron, among other things. They might be needed later.

After that, he filled a bamboo basket with a large amount of dried meat and prepared a large bucket of water, placing them at the entrance of the small market hut.

After exiting, he immediately rushed to a dilapidated, abandoned building in South City. From a hidden spot, he took out the bamboo basket and the large bucket of water. He then walked toward the street where the abandoned houses were.

Just halfway down the street, he saw a large number of refugees gathered there.

Cheng Zongyang held his Tang Blade in his left hand and carried the large water bucket in his right, with the back-basket placed on the ground in front of him.

Cheng Zongyang’s appearance drew the attention of the two or three hundred refugees in the area.

Cheng Zongyang spoke slowly, "Tonight, I’m here looking for people. Anyone who meets my conditions will get a piece of dried meat and a bowl of fresh water."

Instantly, the quiet surroundings became noisy and began to surge with movement!

One by one, they started to rush forward.

"Shut up, or I’ll kill a few of you first!" Cheng Zongyang swung the Tang Blade in his left hand, and a wooden beam leaning against a wall snapped in two.

At once, the rowdy crowd fell silent, and the people all stopped in their tracks. But when they looked at the water and dried meat in front of Cheng Zongyang, their faces were filled with immense greed.

Seeing this, Cheng Zongyang nodded slightly and said, "Anyone with a family, step forward. Single parents with children are also fine. You’d better not be faking it. If I find out you are, you die!"

"I... we are."

Just then, a disheveled, ragged woman who reeked of a foul odor stepped out, pulling along two children who were likewise little more than skin and bones, their eyes numb.

The woman opened her cracked lips and spoke in a raspy voice, "I... I’m their mo-mother. This is my second daughter, and this is my third son. I beg you, sir, please give them something to eat. You can take them with you, sir, as long as they have food to eat, that’s... that’s enough."

As she spoke, the woman knelt before Cheng Zongyang.

Cheng Zongyang looked at the two children. "Is she your mother? Tell me the truth. If she’s threatening you, I’ll kill her and avenge you!"

The two children stared at Cheng Zongyang, their gazes a bit dazed. After a moment, their eyes met his, and they shrank back behind the woman in fear, each murmuring, "Mama."

Hearing that word, the woman’s eyes reddened, but not a single tear could fall.

Cheng Zongyang said, "Get up. Take your bowl, get a piece of dried meat and a bowl of water to drink. Stand behind me."

Hearing this, the woman’s eyes suddenly flared with hope. She kowtowed repeatedly, pulling her two children down to kowtow as well, then took out a chipped earthenware bowl from her clothes.

Cheng Zongyang gave the three of them a larger piece of meat and a bowl of fresh water.

Instantly, the onlookers became agitated.

Just then, a burly man suddenly charged forward, reaching for the dried meat in the back-basket. The next moment, with a *PFFT*, a long saber gleaming with a faint light pierced the man’s throat. His body was then kicked away, scaring the rest of the crowd into instant silence.

"Next one to make a sound, I’ll slaughter them! After I’m done with my business, the rest will naturally be yours." Cheng Zongyang used his Tang Blade as a staff, folding his hands over the pommel as he stood his ground, his eyes sweeping over the crowd.

"Those with families, with children in tow; female orphans under twenty and male orphans under fifteen, step out. Anyone with a trade, step out as well."

This time, a number of people straggled out from various spots in the crowd.

But they almost all shared the same characteristic—they were all emaciated beyond recognition.

Cheng Zongyang checked, questioned, and counted them one by one. Including the woman from before, there were a total of nine female orphans, six male orphans, twenty-one families with children, and eight craftsmen.

Among the twenty-one households, there were eleven families with both parents, totaling thirty-seven people; six single-mother families, totaling fifteen people; and four single-father families, totaling ten people. In all, sixty-two people.

Adding the fifteen orphans and eight craftsmen, the total number came to ninety people.

Among the eight craftsmen were two cooks, two carpenters, a blacksmith, a bricklayer, a butcher, and a Doctor.

Cheng Zongyang watched them chew the dried meat as if they were wolves devouring their prey and said coolly:

"Follow me, and I guarantee you will have full meals, a place to live, and medical treatment, no longer wandering from place to place. If you’re unwilling, you can stay here and continue to wait for death."

With that, Cheng Zongyang turned and left, paying no mind to the half-full basket of dried meat and the other bucket of water.

Seeing this, the ninety people selected by Cheng Zongyang all looked at each other.

Just then, the woman who had been the first to step forward hastily stuffed the last of the softened, chewed meat into her two children’s mouths. Then, pulling along the children—who were covering their mouths for fear of dropping the meat—she stumbled after Cheng Zongyang.

For her, as long as her children could eat their fill and receive medical care, she would go anywhere!

With one person following, the others immediately hurried to catch up. As more and more people joined, the few who were still hesitating also tagged along.

Although they had been getting rice porridge for the past two days, what Cheng Zongyang offered was far more tempting.

But behind them, the rest of the refugees had already swarmed toward the back-basket, breaking into a brawl over the dried meat!

The bucket of water was knocked over, and many people dropped to the ground, lapping up the now-filthy water without a second thought.

Those following Cheng Zongyang looked back, and the sight of the crazed, savage scrum filled them with a lingering fear.

Soon, Cheng Zongyang led them to his residence.

The ninety people gazed at the house, which looked like a mansion in their eyes, and a glimmer of hope appeared in their own.

After the last person entered, Cheng Zongyang closed the door and said to them, "Who were the ones who said they were cooks? Step forward, wash your hands, and then cook the rice, meat, and wild vegetables in the courtyard into a meat and vegetable porridge.

The rest of you, get some water and wash your faces and hands. Hurry up. After you’ve eaten, I’ll tell you what’s next."

"Me. I was... I was a cook before," said a man so grimy his face was nearly unrecognizable, raising an arm as thin as a bamboo stick, speaking breathlessly.

The other cook stepped forward as well.

"You two are in charge. Pick a few people to help you. The rest of you, go wash up. After you’re done, remember to clean the ground. Don’t worry about water; there’s more in the backyard. Move!"

At Cheng Zongyang’s final, low shout, everyone shuddered and quickly got to work.

With someone giving orders, they didn’t descend into chaos.