survival in the wilderness

Niu Dashan was lucky enough to hunt a few hares. In order to enter the city smoothly, the hare he carried was prepared for the guards at the city gate.

Life is difficult, and a large family is waiting for him to support him.Niu Dashan had to do this.

The most expensive thing in Fengcheng is food, and the meat of any prey can be sold at a good price.

On this trip, he hunted more than 100 kilograms of rabbit meat. He left some for his family to eat and sold the rest for food, which was barely enough to last a family of eleven people for ten days and a half.

This is how he has been supporting his family for the past few years.If you are lucky, you can earn money by going hunting in the city. If you are unlucky, if you get injured and you save a life, you will have to pay back money.

Normally, he and his brother hunt together and take care of each other, but just last month, Niu Dashan's brother was seriously injured and became lame in one leg. He can no longer go out to hunt in the city.

After learning the true situation of Niu Dashan, Lin Yan looked at him and remained silent for a long time.

It is too difficult for the people living at the bottom to survive.

She asked: "Have you ever thought of any other way out? Hunting is too dangerous and most people won't go."

Niu Dashan shook his head, "I only have brute strength and courage. I dare to fight with ferocious beasts, so I can live a pretty good life."

"Oh, how do other people live? Prices in Fengcheng are extremely high. If you want to live, you will spend a lot just on food. How do ordinary people support their families?"

According to Niu Dashan, food prices in Fengcheng are high. One tael of silver can buy twenty catties of rice and fifteen catties of corn.

This price was five or six times more expensive than Anseong at that time.This shows that prices are really high.

Niu Dashan smiled bitterly, "The ordinary people are living in a tight life. Those who have land at home cannot have enough to eat, and [-]% of the food they grow has to be handed over. The slaves are even worse. They are kept in captivity in the village as coolies, whether they can fill their stomachs or not. , he will be killed if he is not careful."

In this area of ​​Tianduan Mountain, the yield of the farmland is not high, [-]% of it is turned over, and the officials don't care about people's lives or lives at all.

After walking for a while, Niu Dashan came to a restaurant and sold his prey.

Lin Yan returned the money to Niu Dashan as agreed before and said, "This restaurant looks good. Brother Dashan has helped us a lot. Let's have a meal here. Thank you for taking care of us along the way."

Niu Dashan shook his head hastily, "No, this restaurant is very expensive, and most people can't afford it. A meal costs at least five taels of silver. It's not easy to make money, so we can't waste it."

"Brother Dashan, this is our brother and sister's wish. The restaurant just took our prey for your sake and gave us 50 taels of silver. We can afford a meal."

Niu Dashan looked at her disapprovingly, "It cost me ten taels of silver to get into the city, and the twenty taels you promised me before, it's already been spent a lot. You, my brother and I, have to stay and eat in the city, so what's left?" You have to spend your money sparingly.”

Seeing that he sincerely planned for them, Lin Yan no longer persisted, "Brother Dashan, no matter what, you helped us, so we deserve a meal. If we don't go to an expensive restaurant, let's find another place."

It was already evening, and Niu Dashan, who had been out all day, was already hungry. With Lin Yan's persuasion, the three of them turned from the spacious and lively street to a food shop in an alley.

The restaurant sells flatbread and meat soup. Niu Dashan is familiar with the place and places the food. He chats with the owner of the restaurant and is very familiar with it.

This restaurant is small and crowded, and can only accommodate two small tables.The boss is a thin old man, and I learned from their conversation that his name is Lao Li.

There were no other diners at this time, and the three of them sat around the table near the door.The table is pitch black. I don’t know how many years it has been used, and it has been severely eroded by time.

Mi Yang glanced at Lin Yan and saw her sitting down without changing her expression. He pursed his lips and held down the hand he wanted to lift to wipe the table.

He was able to go home soon. Niu Dashan was in a good mood and said cheerfully: "Although it is shabby and small here, the taste is really good. Lao Li has opened a restaurant here for more than ten years, and we are all neighbors. I can usually I can’t bear to come here to eat. If you hadn’t invited me to dinner with Mihua, I wouldn’t have tasted Lao Li’s craftsmanship for a long time.”

Life is difficult, and money is hard to spend. Niu Dashan is usually reluctant to come for a meal.

Lin Yan smiled and said: "Brother Dashan, just be happy. It just so happens that our siblings will also take advantage of it and have a taste of Lao Li's craftsmanship. Is your home near here?"

"Yes, it's not far ahead. After dinner later, I will show you the door. You siblings are unfamiliar with the place. If you encounter anything and need help, just come to me."

Niu Dashan sincerely invited him, and during the process of getting along, he understood clearly that both siblings were good people and not evil people.If he could help, he would be willing to do so.

"Thank you so much, Brother Dashan." Lin Yan did not refuse, but said, "We siblings are very unfamiliar with Fengcheng. Brother Dashan is from the city. Please introduce us to a place to stay."

"What do you want?"

"It's fine as long as it's clean and suitable for people to live in. We don't care. Prices in Fengcheng are high. It's not cheap to stay in an inn for one night, right?"

"No, the worst inn costs at least two taels of silver a night." Niu Dashan hesitated for a moment and said, "Why not stay at my house, it can be accommodated even if it is crowded."

Lin Yan's heart skipped a beat, then shook his head and said, "It's better to stay in an inn. It's not appropriate to come and disturb your family."

"It's okay. Everyone has difficulties when they go out. I made money from you today and had another meal. It's getting late, so I'll spend the night at my house. Tomorrow, you can take a walk around the city and find We'll move the inn over there. After dinner, let's find a place to put the horse down first, and then go to my house, what do you think?"

Lin Yan did not refuse again.She finally figured out that Niu Dashan looked vicious but was kind and warm-hearted, which was quite different from his sturdy and majestic physique.

They didn't know anyone in Fengcheng, so being friends with Niu Dashan would save them a lot of trouble.

After dinner, I followed Niu Dashan to his house.

It is a small courtyard with three main rooms and wing rooms on both sides, low and crowded.

The whole family was anxiously waiting for Niu Dashan to return home. It was already dark now. In the past, he had already gone home.

After waiting for no one, the family couldn't help but think of various possibilities.Going out hunting is always the most dangerous.

I heard Niu Dashan shout angrily, "I'm back."

Everyone rushed out of the house, and when they saw the man came back intact, they all surrounded him and asked questions.

Lin Yan and Mi Yang stood behind and did not come forward to disturb the family reunion.

Until Niu Dashan introduced the two to his family.

Lin Yan greeted everyone with a smile, while Mi Yang remained silent as always.She said: "My brother doesn't like to talk and has a dull temper, but he is kind-hearted and easy to get along with. Don't mind me."

Niu Dashan's father waved his hand: "Come in quickly and talk in the room."

A group of people cheered into the room. Against the dim candlelight, a group of people surrounded Lin Yan and talked non-stop.

Lin Yan responded calmly, smiled brightly, and quickly integrated into the situation.

Niu Dashan and his family are all good-natured and welcome them warmly.

After chatting for a long time, it was not too early. Niu Dashan was tired after a day, so he sent everyone away and let Lin Yan and his daughter live in a room while Mi Yang and the boys at home squeezed in.

Niu Dashan's daughter is 12 years old, skinny and obviously malnourished.

In fact, except for Niu Dashan, who is tall and strong, everyone else in this large family is on the thin side, which shows how difficult daily life is.

Niu Ying was a little shy in front of Lin Yan. Looking at Lin Yan's fair skin, beautiful blond hair, and tall figure, she said with envy: "My sister is so beautiful."

Lin Yan chuckled and said, "You will look better when you grow up. They say that women change their age. In a few years, you will look completely different."

Niu Ying didn't believe it. Looking at her sister who had washed her face, her suspicion increased even more, "Sister, your face is getting paler. Do you stay in the house all the time?"

"My sister is born with this complexion. She has to go out to work every day, so how can she stay in the house all the time. What do you do on weekdays?" "I clean the yard every day and help my grandma with cooking and laundry."

Niu Ying is already a big girl and is very sensible. "I will get up tomorrow morning and help my sister wash clothes."

"No, how can I ask you to wash the clothes? I can do it myself." Lin Yan refused hurriedly, "You are not old, you are really capable. In our home, most girls like you are in school and after school. In the future, I will also help with chores around the house.”

Niu Ying's eyes widened, "What is going to school for?"

Lin Yan took out a book from the backpack he carried with him, "Going to school means going to school to learn, including literacy and arithmetic. Children should start learning. They usually go to kindergarten at the age of three. After a few years, they go to elementary school, middle school, and so on. University."

Niu Ying seemed to be listening to a book from heaven, but she understood one thing. Reading and literacy were the qualifications only for the rich and powerful, and it was impossible for commoners to have access to books.

She reached out her hand carefully, not daring to touch the book.

Lin Yan smiled and encouraged: "Open it and take a look."

Touching the pages of the book with trembling hands, Niu Ying didn't know how to express her inner excitement for a moment.

She had only heard of books but never seen them. This was the first time she had seen them.

Lin Yan: "Books are the carrier of words. Look, this character is cow, which is your family's surname."

She spoke to Niu Ying in the language of Tianduan Mountain, but she was thinking that one day, girls like Niu Ying would have the opportunity to receive education.

Under the dim firelight, the two of them talked and listened.

When Lin Yan woke up the next day, it was dawn and he was awakened by Niu Ying's movement to get up.

During the day, the room is brightly lit, and the small, narrow room can be seen at a glance.

A small wooden bed with old bedding.In addition, there are debris piled up in the corners of the house.

It is poor and simple, and the walls are the color of mud. The color may have faded over time.

"Sister, you're awake." Niu Ying stared at Lin Yan with bright eyes. She was wearing shabby clothes with patches inside patches. The clothes were empty and did not fit her.

She looked at Lin Yan's white pajamas, her eyes shining.

Lin Yan looked down. The light was dim last night and he couldn't see clearly.At this moment, she was wearing white loose pajamas, which looked out of place in this simple house.

She had tried to be as low-key as possible. After scrubbing last night, she didn't want to wear the dirty clothes she had changed out of, so she put on her pajamas.

"Sister, your clothes are so beautiful, can I touch them?"

"can."

How could Lin Yan refuse a girl's curiosity.But I didn’t bring much clothing with me on this trip, so I couldn’t give the little girl a set as a gift.

"It feels really comfortable. What kind of material is it made of? Is it expensive?"

Lin Yan couldn't help but laugh, "This is cotton, which is very common where we live. There are also many materials with beautiful colors. I will take you to see them when I have the opportunity in the future."

"Is it far away?" Niu Ying yearned for it.

"Not far."

Lin Yan changed into low-key gray cloth clothes, packed his backpack, and walked out of the house.

At this time, almost everyone in Niu Dashan's family was up, each busy with his own work.

Several half-grown boys were pestering Mi Yang to teach him martial arts.

Mi Yang, who got up early to exercise, was knocked upside down.

Niu Dashan also saw it and tried a few moves. He suddenly felt that Mi Yang's kung fu was unfathomable. No wonder he dared to sneak out with his sister.

With such skills, walking outside is at least guaranteed to be safe.

In a narrow courtyard, if you speak slightly loudly, everyone in the house can hear you.

"Brother Dashan, my younger brother knows some boxing and kicking skills. This kind of kung fu requires persistence every day to be effective. I asked him to teach a few boys a few moves. I should thank my elder brother's family for taking care of him."

Niu Dashan said happily: "Can you really teach me?"

"Of course it's true, it's not a secret."

"You guys, study hard and don't be lazy." Niu Dashan was very happy. It would be great to have a little force to protect yourself these days.

Soon, when it was time to eat, I saw breakfast on the table. The standard breakfast for adults is a bowl of corn soup, very watery, and a palm-sized rice pancake.

For underage children, a small bowl of corn soup and half a pancake.

There were also two plates of dark dishes, and I couldn’t tell what they were.

Niu Dashan said: "My family is poor and I can only eat this. Don't be surprised."

Lin Yan shook his head and pointed to the plate in the middle, "What kind of dish is this?"

"Soy pork, the meat is cooked and mixed with sauce, and the other dish is pickled radish." Niu Dashan's mother hurriedly explained that her family couldn't afford salt, so she used cheap sauce to add a little flavor to the vegetables.

If there were no guests, there would be no food. The whole family would drink watery soup and eat pancakes at noon.

Lin Yan stretched out his chopsticks and picked up a piece of radish. The taste was not that good, and the same was true for the other plate of meat.

But she saw several children on the table looking at the two plates of food with longing expressions on their faces.

At this moment, she suddenly became sad.

Such meals are not even available to the poorest families in the league.Here, it is the delicacies of Niu Dashan and his family, and they are specially brought out to entertain guests.

No wonder the whole family is so hungry and skinny.In Fengcheng, this is actually a good family.It's really hard to imagine how people with worse conditions than Niu Dashan's family live.

She suddenly thought of the Sun Tribe many years ago. At that time, they ate raw flesh and blood and had no fire. Those days were very far away.

After finishing the meal in silence, Lin Yan still couldn't hold it back. He called Niu Dashan to the corner and whispered: "You eat these every day, both adults and children can't stand it. After a long time, your body won't be able to bear it."

Why didn't Niu Dashan know this? He smiled bitterly and said: "There is no way, life in Fengcheng is like this. It is really difficult to survive."

"Have you ever thought about living in a different place? There everyone is equal. As long as you are not lazy, you can have enough food and clothing, your children can go to school and live in a warm house."

Lin Yan thought for a long time and finally said it.They were having such a hard time.As long as you can, save every one you can.