Chapter 109 Mastiff
The snow fell more and more, and the battle in the north of the county became more and more intense. Sometimes Qin Wa, Qi Zhang, and Tan Ji were able to capture food from the vassal states, but sometimes they couldn't. With the coming of midwinter, the vassal states attacked more violently.

The subordinate country is close to Zhishou County, and is quite familiar with the situation in Zhishou County.

They knew that every year in mid-winter, a large number of people would starve to death in Zhishou County because of the harsh living environment.

In Zhishou County at this time, people's hearts fluctuate at least, and riots at worst.

As long as they take advantage of this opportunity this year, they will surely be able to go south and attack Daze in one fell swoop.

However, Tan Ji and Qi Zhang came out of the frontier army in Zhishou County. The defense line they pulled up was like a natural moat.

Tan Ji tried his best to support the war with war, and if he could get food from the subordinate country, he didn't want Sheng Jiaojiao's support.

If they couldn't produce food, Sheng Jiaojiao didn't hesitate to help them.

But no matter which battle it is, Tan Ji and Qi Zhang can capture a large amount of gold, silver and jewelry, swords and horses, winter clothes and heavy armor, and a large amount of fur from the vassal states.

Wenxiu's husband, Zhang Jin, is very reliable in his work. He frequently travels between Tiaoma Lake and Shanqing City. He pawns more and more things every time. He is also shrewd. Qingcheng is a pawnbroker, and sometimes he will go a little further to find a pawnshop in Beikang County behind Zhishou County.

Even sometimes, Zhang Jin would join forces with Lu Shou to directly sell the jewelry in his hand to the shopkeeper.

As long as the jewels in her hands can be cashed out, Sheng Jiaojiao will not care what method Zhang Jin uses, she gave Zhang Jin the greatest freedom to do this job.

Sheng Jiaojiao no longer needs to use the money that has been cashed in to collect grain.

She had already hoarded enough food, and she said last time that after collecting the last batch of compensation food for the army, she would stop and stop driving up the price of food in Jumping Horse Lake.

Under the condition that the military rations were distributed as usual, in the mid-winter, the money turnover of the leather goods sellers was gradually failing. If they wanted to eat all the leather goods in the hands of Tan Ji, the front wing leader, they would need a lot of money in their hands.

But all the money in their hands was used to hoard food.

Once Sheng Jiaojiao decided to stop collecting grain, they would not be able to sell the grain in large quantities. If they could not sell it at a reduced price, they would have to hoard it in their hands.

The salesmen in Nanji, who were about to drive up the price of grain, rushed to the house one by one.

It's the middle of winter, and seeing that the grain can't be sold, once the winter is over, the snow melts and the ice disappears, and spring begins, the land in Zhishou County is moistened, and wild vegetables can grow.

At that time, people in Zhishou County will be able to live even if they eat wild vegetables.

Although the amount of wild vegetables is very small, almost every family in Zhishou County joins the army. As long as they join the army, they will have food. You will never reach the end of the mountain.

Huangtu Village, Qi Family.

The heavy snow like goose feathers fell from the nine heavens, and there was a burst of noise outside the yard of Qi's family. Wenxiu, who was doing embroidery in the main room, hurriedly stretched out her hands to protect the little girl who was sleeping peacefully in the wooden cradle.

Zhang Jin came in hurriedly from the outside, helped Wenxiu clean up the needlework in the wooden dustpan, and held the sides of the wooden cradle with both hands, saying:
"There are a lot of shopkeepers outside, you and the girl go to the old lady's house first, and I will report to Jiao Niang."

Since the husband and wife were both working at Qi's house, Sheng Jiaojiao asked them to bring their children to work at Qi's house every morning.

Zhang Jin and his wife are naturally happy. Where can we find such a job in this world? The salary is high, and they can bring their children to the host's house when they are doing things. Therefore, they are working at Qi's house for a few days. , while taking care of the child.

Couldn't be more satisfied.

Wenxiu looked at the endless noise outside, followed her husband with a worried face, from the backyard to the old lady's room, and asked anxiously:
"Are those people outside here to make trouble? How is Jiao Niang?"

The old lady Qi also heard the wind in the house, and helped Zhang Jin pick up the child, and put it in her own house, and asked anxiously:
"How is my Jiaojiao'er? Uncle Zhang, what are those people outside here for? Oh, hurry up and ask my fourth brother and third lady to protect Jiaojiaoer first."

Because it was too noisy outside, for a moment, Mrs. Qi thought that her house had been robbed just like in Zhishou County in previous years.

Mrs. Qi is also very experienced in this matter. Every year when Zhishou County arrives in mid-winter and starvation is everywhere, there will always be people who will take risks.

At this time, the militia was not very effective, because many of the people who came to grab rice were hard-working locals, and even many people in the militia would come to ask for food with a shy face.

It's just that the folks in the village don't have the nerve to grab it in the village, so they go to other places to fight the autumn wind.

There are also people who come to steal food in the dark, no matter who it is, just beat them away. At this time, life is difficult for every family.

Because in the past, the Qi family had a very difficult time, and thanks to the fact that the Qi family had many sons, they never starved to death.

This year, the Qi family has become rich. There is an endless amount of bacon on the beams of the roof, grains, apples, side dishes that can last for a long time in the cellar, wool to keep out the cold, and goat milk made into cheese. The old lady was covering her tightly, but everyone in Tiaomahu knew the family background of the Qi family.

So as soon as winter came, the old lady Qi was wary and nervous. She expected to get rich this year, and there were more people thinking about her family's idea.

Sure enough, as soon as the winter came, people came to grab things.

However, it's a coincidence that the three masters of the Qi family all went to the north of the county today to deliver their luggage. For a while, the only force available to the Qi family was Si Lao and San Niangzi. It would be great to bring another Zhang Jin.

Zhang Jin hurriedly comforted him:
"Don't worry, old lady, there are Lu Shou and a few shopkeepers outside, I'll go find Jiao Niang immediately."

While speaking, he touched a foot-long iron pestle pinned to his waist, glanced at his own girl sleeping peacefully in the cradle, and left with her fists in her arms.

His calves were tied tightly with cloth straps, and he wore black thick-soled cotton shoes. He walked through the backyard in a few steps, and in a hurry, he swept over the fence of the backyard like a bird, and found the apple in Tuao. Sheng Jiaojiao by the tree.

Sheng Jiaojiao was wearing a water-blue velvet cloak, embroidered with white cranes and auspicious clouds on the cloak, standing quietly aside, watching Qi Rong and Niu Ju build the stables.

Lian Xin was wearing a brand-new white satin embroidered red plum blossom thick woolen dress with a slanted breast and a thread of white wool on the edge of the dress. There were two small buns tied on her head, and two red silk ribbons were tied on the buns. Inside, the silk sash fluttered.

Her attire did not look like a girl's, and it was obviously much better than that of the rich family's young lady.

I only sincerely say that being a house slave under Sheng Jiaojiao's hands is truly a blessing.

At this time, Lian Xin was holding Qi Zhi's Broken Mountain Sword in her hand, quietly waiting behind Sheng Jiaojiao, reciting poems in her mouth,
".Come back in the middle of the night, long drunk, hold on to the tassels and still not awake, drunk with alcohol and musk and blue. Startled to sleep, laughing, how long can a long life be?"

"Too negative."

Sheng Jiaojiao frowned, looked sideways at the snowflakes on her shoulders, and said:
"Change one."

Lian Xin thought about it for a while, then backtracked:
"The drama Xin Leyi is grateful, and the infusion of the liver and gallbladder is effective for talents."

Sheng Jiaojiao in front still frowned, she couldn't help turning her head, looking at Lian Xin who was holding a sword, and just about to speak, she heard Qi Rong in front laughing and saying:
"What is this on Lian Xin's back? I can't understand a word."

Sheng Jiaojiao was so angry that he looked at Qi Rong in the snow and said with disgust:
"If you can understand, our family is going to burn incense. This will be a champion. I see what you will do in the future. I will let you read more books. You are disobedient and will laugh at you from now on." I don’t know a single big character.”

In the snow, Qi Rou, who was doing his work, couldn't help raising his hand and scratching his head, then looked at Lian Xin, curled his lips, and said:

"Anyway, I have Lian Xin reading for me, so I'm not afraid."

It is enough for him to be able to read and write. He is not born to love reading, and my sister will kill him. He wants to sleep when he sees a book.

How can it be?

It's all right now, with Lian Xin at home, if he becomes a general in the future, he will dance with guns and clubs, and Lian Xin will read military newspapers for him, it's really great
"Jiao Niang!"

Sheng Jiaojiao was still waiting to reason with Qi Rong, when she heard Zhang Jin's urgent call in the distance, she knew something was going on, so she told Lian Xin,
"Let the fourth young master finish his work and write down the words. He will also be able to recite the poems you recited today."

Lian Xin holding the sword should be, Zhang Jin has already swept in front of Sheng Jiaojiao, bowed and said:
"Jiao Niang, there are many people coming in front of our yard, and Lu Shou is dealing with it."

"What's the matter?"

In the white snow, Sheng Jiaojiao went to the backyard of Qi's family, her aqua blue cloak was raised up, her skirt swayed lightly as she walked, although she walked fast, her demeanor was extremely graceful, her skirt didn't fall to the sides at all fluttering.

"The villain guessed that it should be related to food. Most of the people who came were shopkeepers."

Specifically, Zhang Jin is not very clear, he works for Sheng Jiaojiao, but he may not know Sheng Jiaojiao's plan.

While talking, the two arrived at the front yard of Qi's house.

Sheng Jiaojiao looked coldly, there were about a dozen shopkeepers gathered in front of the noisy courtyard, and Lu Shou led the three shopkeepers to stand in front of Qi's family.

I heard someone say angrily:
"Lu Shou, you are also a small shopkeeper who runs a business. You also know that we are all small businesses. If we have so much food in our hands, if we can't pay it, we will lose everything. If you don't accept it, you won't accept it. Let us what to do?"

"That's right, I just watched you keep harvesting grain before, so I hoarded several large carts of grain, and traveled thousands of miles from Nanjun to Zhishou County. How did you know that once the grain arrived here, you would say no to it. , aren’t you making fun of us?”

"We know that you are someone who does things for others. The owner behind you is Sheng Jiaojiao of the Qi family, right? You let that little girl come out, and I must have a good talk with her today."

"Lu Shou, get out of the way for me"

The peddlers have their own circle. Since the beginning of the cold weather, Lu Shou brought a few small peddlers and began to collect grain endlessly. .

Although Lu Shou never said who he was working for, he had a good relationship with Qi Ming, and recently he went in and out of Qi's house several times.

Now the Qi family is headed by Sheng Jiaojiao again.

So everyone guessed that Sheng Jiaojiao might not have collected all the food that Lu Shou collected and gave it to the barracks.

Therefore, once Sheng Jiaojiao didn't collect grain, and Zhishou County was not in chaos to the point of starvation, and everyone couldn't sell their grain, they rushed to Qi's house to find Sheng Jiaojiao.

Before Sheng Jiaojiao could speak, Qi Rong took Lian Xin into the front yard. He moved his hand back and held the Broken Mountain Sword held in Lian Xin's arms. , Pian Ruo startled, people have arrived in front of the yard.

When he fell, the young boy said angrily:

"I see which of you would dare to break into my house?"

Pointing at the headed shopkeeper again, he asked in a cold voice:
"Who was it that called my sister 'little girl' just now? Come out and die."

A group of shopkeepers suddenly pushed back, and one of them laughed and said:
"Don't be annoyed, Shiro, I'm waiting for the people who walk all over the world, who have I never seen? From the wealthy officials and ladies, to the traffickers, soldiers, vagrants and thieves, we come and go, stretch and bend, today I just want to have a way out with Jiao Niang, and she must give us a way out today."

Another salesman raised his voice:

"Jiao Niang, don't force people to go to a dead end, since we can come out and walk around, we must not be incompetent."

Hearing this, Qi Rong was so angry that he wanted to laugh, he opened his mouth to reprimand, and Sheng Jiaojiao's voice came out from the yard behind him,

"I only found out today that there are people in the jumping horse lake that dare to talk to me like that."

Embroidered shoes stepped on the white snow, and Sheng Jiaojiao, wearing a water-blue cloak, walked slowly under the eaves, and the graceful figure of Ping Ting moved lightly among the straight trees.

Behind her, a mastiff with black mane, like a bear, grinning its fangs, its blood-red tongue sticking out of its mouth, steaming, dripping from its mouth, silently followed Sheng Jiaojiao.

The beast-like mastiff, with fierce eyes, stared straight at the group of shopkeepers outside the yard.

Lian Xin, who was holding the scabbard, glanced at the mastiff hesitantly, and followed.

After coming to the Qi family for a few days, Lian Xin found out that the Qi family has a mastiff named Mastiff, which is a fierce dog that doesn't have a leash.

It's not that the Qi family doesn't want to tie it, but that it can't be tied at all.

Even if it is tied with an iron chain, it can break free in an instant. Where is there anything hard and durable in the world that can hold this fierce dog?

Fortunately, this mastiff never hurts anyone, and usually sleeps in the back yard. It doesn't bark when strangers pass by, and it doesn't appear when someone comes to Qi's house.

If it weren't for someone who was acquainted with the Qi family, it would have been impossible to tell that the Qi family had such a fierce beast.

Today is also the first time Lian Xin sees the mastiff coming out of the backyard. It seems to be very human, knowing that Sheng Jiaojiao is in danger, it immediately sweeps away the decadence, quietly follows behind Sheng Jiaojiao, grinning, looking cruelly at the group of people who came to the door Troubled shopkeeper.

A dog that bites does not bark, a mastiff, never barks.

(End of this chapter)

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