Exile at the beginning: I rule the world by drawing cards

Chapter 23 The Lion's Big Opening

During lunch, Sun Dawang did not go to the kitchen to eat. He took out a pancake and sat under the willow tree to eat it.

Zhou Ling prayed for the blessing of Qin Meng Shang, but he didn't get much food. Instead, he was given a solid bowl of multi-grain rice.

"It's great to have a wife," Sun Dawang was a little envious, then took a bite of the cake, "But the cakes made by my mother are also quite delicious."

Perhaps his appetite had been spoiled at home these days, and now Zhou Lingqi found the food from Hedi unpalatable. After eating half a bowl, he put down his chopsticks and asked Qin Mengshang to take the rest of the food back and feed it to the dog.

It’s quite frugal and I know how to feed the leftovers to the dogs.Qin Mengshang wrapped the food in leaves, fearing that he would be hungry in the afternoon, and shoveled a piece of rice for him.

Before leaving, I thought about it and had a word with him: "Li Zhang is probably targeting us now. You should be careful alone."

Zhou Lingqi knew Li Zhang's thoughts early on, but he just didn't say anything.

Even if he doesn't take action, he's still close to death.

In the afternoon, the river embankment was still busy.With the combined efforts of everyone, the pulley several feet high slowly lifted the stone weighing hundreds of kilograms. After it fell to the previously measured position, the pulley was turned back with great effort and the stone was thrown into the bottom of the river.

Qin Mengshang and Ji packed up the kitchen and went back together.

I glanced at the river embankment from a distance and saw a group of shirtless men moving winches and said, "I'm afraid it won't be completed until the end of the year if we move rocks like this."

Ji said: "This is not bad. Before, nothing on the river embankment was moved by manpower. There was a heavy rain in the village two days before you came, and the repaired river embankment was washed away. The two dogs of the Chen family were then I was working on the river embankment and was suddenly rushed into the river. It was so scary!"

"Is it Chen Ergou?"

"Yes," Mr. Ji continued, "Fortunately, everyone is fine. If someone really died on the river embankment, work would have been stopped long ago! It's not like the quarry here where a human life is still worth two cents."

Qin Meng Shang was thoughtful.

At this time, Mrs. Ji suddenly pointed to the other side of the river and said, "Hey, isn't that Ergouzi? How did he come to the river embankment? After that incident, Aunt Zhu didn't let him come over again."

Qin Mengshang looked in the direction of his finger and saw Chen Ergou heading towards the river embankment with his left eye covered.

Ever since Chen Ergou became blind in one eye, he rarely appeared in front of people, and even Mr. Zhu hadn't heard any movement recently.

Ji felt strange and then remembered something: "Chen Ergou usually followed Foreman Li, but later he was blinded by people from the gambling house. Foreman Li also gave his family five taels of medicine money! Five taels of medicine." Two silver coins are enough to feed my family for a year."

Qin Mengshang was stunned: "Why did Li Zhang give him money?"

"Who knows? Anyway, after Aunt Zhu got the five taels of silver, she never had any trouble again, but Mrs. Xu made a lot of trouble."

Qin Mengshang suddenly thought of something and couldn't help but take a second look.

Chen Ergou, who was opposite him, obviously noticed that someone was looking at him. He glanced over here and walked away in a panic as if he was frightened.

Ji didn't notice, she just felt that the day was very hot and muggy. She murmured that it was going to rain, so she pulled Qin Mengshang back quickly.

The sky in Lingnan has become faster. The sun was shining brightly just now, but in an instant, dark clouds were drifting over the mountains.

Chen Ergou walked up the river embankment until he saw the temporary house, then he slowed down and walked over. Before he got closer, he heard ambiguous breathing sounds coming from inside.

The mountain wind blew up his tattered clothes, and his left eyelid felt cold.

His eyeball was poked out, and the doctor said it was useless to keep it, so he just gouged it out.

With one eyeball missing, he always felt that the left half of his face was light. Thinking of who he had blocked the knife for, he felt resentment rising in his heart.He raised his hand and patted the door. The person inside didn't respond and kept patting.

After a while, the half-dressed Widow Zhang came out with a blushing face. When she saw Chen Ergou, she sneered: "Hey, the debt collector is here again."

Chen Ergou clenched his fists unconsciously, pushed her away unhappily, and walked into the house in silence.Widow Zhang spat fiercely at his back: "Blind man!"

His interest was interrupted. Li Zhang looked very unhappy and looked at Chen Ergou gloomily: "I've given you money, so why are you here?"

"It's just five taels of silver, do you think it's just for me to beg for food?" Chen Ergou pointed to his blindfolded left eye, "If it weren't for you, would I be like this?!"

"Because of me?" Li Zhang sneered, "It was the Zhou family who blinded you, what does it have to do with me? Besides, it was you who took the initiative to go to the Zhou family, I didn't force you!"

"If I hadn't blocked the arrow for you, you would have been blind today!"

Chen Ergou threatened with hatred: "You want to send me away for five taels of silver. Your calculation is too good! You miss the Zhou family's wife, but you make me blind. Li Zhang, your wife just arrived today." The river embankment is causing trouble, and I'm afraid that Capt. Xu will come to the river embankment himself to have a look soon!"

Li Zhang was not afraid of anything else but his father-in-law, who was the head catcher in the county government.

"Are you threatening me?"

He said how his mother-in-law knew about the Zhou family. It turned out to be the Chen family's dog who reported the letter.

Chen Ergou was forced to come to Li Zhang because he was blind. His mother made it known to everyone and somehow it spread to the town.

Yesterday, he went to the town to change his dressing, and was caught by the people from the gambling house. He was beaten and all the money he had on him was forcibly confiscated!They also promised to send him another 50 taels in three days. If he didn't send it, they would gouge out his other eye.

50 taels
His day's wages were only 50 taels, and even if he sold his life, he wouldn't be able to earn [-] taels!
He had no choice but to come to Li Zhang.

"Brother, I don't want to either," Chen Ergou softened his attitude, "But you know, it's not easy for my mother to support me by herself. Now that I have lost an eye, no employer is willing to go to town to find a job. want."

Li Zhang's two slender eyes flashed with a sinister light and said: "How many do you want?"

Chen Ergou pursed his lips and stretched out his hand hesitantly.

"Heh, five taels of silver is worth it for you to threaten me with my father-in-law?"

Li Zhang smiled sarcastically and was about to take out the money when he suddenly reacted and picked up the tea cup at hand and threw it at his face: "You fucking lion is so open-minded, how dare you ask for 50 taels?!"

Chen Ergou was caught off guard and his head was smashed, blood flowed down his face, and his legs suddenly became weak from fear.

"Brother, brother! Just this time, the last time! As long as you give me 50 taels, I promise to never come to you again, and no one will know about this!"

Li Zhang laughed angrily: "I only earn 50 taels a month, how can I get [-] taels for you?!"

Chen Ergou didn't believe it. The Xu family was working in front of the county magistrate. How could they not even get 50 taels?

He calmed down, covered his bleeding forehead and stood up, saying: "Brother, if you don't help me, then don't blame me for bringing this matter to Capt. Xu. I heard that Capt. Xu knew about you and Widow Zhang last time. Afterwards, you were almost fired from your position as foreman, right?"

This is a blatant threat!

Li Zhang clenched his fists and was furious.

At this moment, the sky outside suddenly changed, a thunder struck down, deafening, followed by heavy rain, and the workers on the river embankment instantly became noisy.

In the dark and cramped hut, the two of them were in a stalemate.

Li Zhang listened to the noisy sound of rain, and his wandering heart found its home for a moment. He straightened his clothes slowly and said: "Fifty taels is not a small amount, and I won't be able to get it out for a while."

Chen Ergou was anxious and was about to speak when he heard him say again: "It's almost the end of the month, and it's time to settle wages on the river embankment. Since you have an urgent need, I will help you."

Chen Ergou was extremely happy and said hello repeatedly.

(End of this chapter)