Chapter 75: Good And Evil
Snow blanketed everything, the Yan Mountain Range wrapped in silver, a magnificent sight from afar or near.
For the poor common people enduring hunger and cold, every such cold winter was a massive calamity. No one knew how many would freeze to death and starve to death in the endless cold winter.
Feng Chang put on a thick cotton jacket, drank a bowl of warm water to warm his stomach and body, rubbed his hands, pushed open the door, and loudly called to the people behind him to clear the snow and open the path.
After seeking refuge in Pei Family Village for over two months, the originally withered and thin as firewood refugees had all gained weight. Every day they had enough to eat, wore cotton clothes, and had a fire basin at night when sleeping. Such good days, even immortals wouldn’t trade. And there were even more enviable happy events!
Every day working together in the fields, three refugees were chosen by women. Sixth Sister Pei took charge and held happy events for them before the new year.
So what if they were sons-in-law? Wasn’t having a wife good? Steamed buns and rice were better the softer they were!
The refugees were all envious, putting extra strength into clearing snow these past two days. If they were luckily chosen by Pei Clan female dependents, it couldn’t be better.
Gu Lian was also leading a group of women out to clear snow. In no time, Pei Jia and the others came out too, and everyone worked together to clear the accumulated snow.
As for Pei Qinghe, an hour earlier, she had led Pei Yan and others out of Pei Family Village, heading toward the mountain forest.
The snow was deep; stepping into it made crunching sounds, reaching up to the calves. Taking a breath, the five viscera and six bowels felt cold.
“Cousin Sister Qinghe, in such cold weather, what are we out here for?” Pei Yan looked puzzled. “A few days ago, we hunted plenty of wild game, enough to eat for half a month. Do we still need to hunt today?”
Pei Yun was perceptive and much smarter, quietly chiming in: “Is it to recruit refugees?”
Pei Qinghe cast an approving glance: “Idling around is idling; coming out for a stroll, maybe we can pick up some people to take back.”
Pei Yun thought for a moment: “With such heavy snow, freezing to death and starving to death is nothing unusual. Those seeking a way to survive might just come down the mountain.”
Pei Yan finally reacted: “A few days ago, Cousin Sister Qinghe sent Feng Chang and them to wander the mountain forest; could it be to let the refugees in the mountains see how good life is after seeking refuge in Pei Family Village?”
Pei Qinghe sighed: “You finally willing to use your brain a bit.”
Pei Yan was very proud: “Usually I’m just too lazy to use my brain, but in Pei Family Village, aside from Cousin Sister Qinghe, I’m the best.”
The group of women burst into laughter.
After the new year, everyone had aged a year. The pain of last year’s family destruction, exile, and banishment gradually faded. Training, reading, practice archery, hunting—life was busy and fulfilling. Most importantly, Pei Qinghe showed them brand new hope and future.
“There are people ahead!”
The scout Mao Hongling blew the bamboo whistle to warn.
Pei Qinghe focused and looked into the distance, her lips curving slightly: “Everyone stay here; I’ll go take a look first.”
Pei Yan spoke without thinking: “I’ll go with you.”
Pei Yun followed along too.
A group of refugees with faces frozen purple, clothes tattered and barely covering their bodies, supported each other as they slowly moved forward. No one knew how long they had been hungry or walked in the snow; they staggered and swayed, ready to collapse at any moment.
“Is that Pei Family Village ahead?”
“It must be. Feng Chang said after going down the mountain, just head south all the way.”
“Seeking refuge in Pei Family Village means having rice to eat, cotton clothes to wear, houses to live in. This is our last way to survive. Everyone persist for half a day more; we’re almost there.”
“Wait, is someone coming?”
The refugees, cold, hungry, dizzy, and limp, reacted very slowly. They only noticed when Pei Qinghe and the other two were within twenty meters.
In the icy snow, the gray-clothed girl carrying a bow and arrow and gripping a long saber moved lightly, her black eyes bright and sharp: “All stop.”
“This is Pei Family Village territory. Who are you? Why are you here?”
They had finally reached Pei Family Village.
Hot tears welled up in the refugees’ dry eyes; no one knew who knelt first, soon a whole group knelt, kowtowing nonstop: “We all know Feng Chang. He told us, with nowhere to go, just come to Pei Family Village.”
“We are desperate, about to starve and freeze to death. Begging the miss to take us in.”
This group of refugees originally numbered over eighty. A heavy snow froze a few to death, and hunger downed a few more on the way down. Seventy-two persisted to arrive here.
Pei Qinghe didn’t let them enter the village immediately; as usual, she first checked for contagious diseases, making them stay at village north for three days.
This open area had several thatched huts built before the cold winter, enough to shield from wind and cold. Feng Chang brought people to deliver food; the refugees who knew him were so excited they cried bitterly.
Feng Chang comforted them warmly: “The hard days are over; in Pei Family Village, every day you can eat your fill and stay warm.”
The former Feng Chang was dry and thin, listless. Now his face was ruddy, full of vigor. His words were the most convincing.
The refugees drank hot soup and ate mixed flour steamed buns. They snuggled by the warm fire basin and fell asleep.
Before three days passed, another group of refugees came seeking refuge. This time even more, over a hundred.
Madam Feng was somewhat surprised and uneasy: “Qinghe, Feng Chang and them are only over twenty; they can’t stir up trouble. But these two groups of refugees together are nearly two hundred. All able-bodied men; once they eat their fill and gain strength, I’m afraid they’ll cause chaos.”
The Pei Clan household had women, children, young children, and stockpiled massive grain; too easy to covet.
Pei Qinghe smiled faintly: “To recruit refugees and expand the population, there will always be some risks. Don’t worry; I have it under control.”
Madam Feng’s worries were not wrong.
Among the nearly two hundred refugees who came seeking refuge one after another, two who ate their fill and gained strength incited a few other bold ones. Sneaking into the village at midnight, before they could reach the granary or women’s houses, sharp arrows pierced their legs.
Continuous screams woke everyone.
Pei Yan leaped down from the roof, spitting viciously: “Haven’t even eaten full for two days, and already causing trouble; not fit to be human. Cousin Sister Qinghe, kill them all!”
Gu Lian gripped a wooden stick, fierce: “Sixth Sister, leave these villains to us.”
Feng Chang was even angrier, holding an iron shovel: “I’ll do it!”
The unmelted snow gleamed coldly in the blazing torches.
Pei Qinghe’s gaze swept over the two uneasy ones: “Gu Lian, you’ve been in Pei Family Village for nearly half a year; Feng Chang, you’ve been here two or three months. I trust you. These newcomers have nothing to do with you; I won’t take it out on you.”
Gu Lian’s hand trembled, eyes heating up.
Feng Chang directly knelt, kowtowing three loud thuds.
Pei Qinghe stepped forward with her saber, severing the legs of the offending refugees: “Pei Yan, hang these few from the trees at village north.”
“Let the refugees seeking refuge see the fate of evildoers.”
The villains with legs chopped off were bound and hung from the trees, blood dripping nonstop, wailing endlessly in the cold wind, echoing through the mountains and wilds.
