After the whole family was swept away, I lay down flat

Chapter 584 Asking for help
Although Zhou Jinlin has been stationed in Ningxia Zhongwei for more than ten years, he grew up in Chang'an. At that time, the Hai family was still in Chang'an, and the two families often visited each other. He grew up under the eyes of Ma, so he is naturally very close to this aunt.

Even though they hadn't seen each other for more than ten years, the two sat down and talked for a while, chatting about family matters, and that sense of familiarity returned.

Zhou Jinlin knew from a young age that there were some things he couldn't tell his mother, Zhou Ma, the truth, because she couldn't change anything. She could only cry or complain about others behind his back, which made him feel even more depressed. She couldn't do anything else. Even if he and his sister suffered a great injustice, she didn't dare to stand up for them, and could only let them endure it.

But he could confess his grievances to his aunt Ma, because his aunt could always give him practical advice. Even if she couldn't come up with any good ideas and couldn't make the grievances he suffered disappear, at least what she said could make him feel better, instead of falling into self-pity and never being able to find relief.

Therefore, when he felt that his aunt's concern for him had not changed and she was still the elder who had helped him before, some words came out of his mouth without hesitation.

"When the letter from home arrived at the garrison, I was discussing with the commander and my colleagues about suppressing several nearby horse bandits. Those people relied on their ability to hide well and their riding skills to come and go without a trace. They have robbed passing merchants and nearby people over the years, killing many people every time. For many years, no one dared to pass by our place, and no merchants dared to do business with us. Not to mention the nearby people, even our garrison had a very difficult life. If it weren't for the annual allocation of food from the higher-ups, even a high-ranking military officer like me would have been hungry."

Zhou Jinlin recalled the situation at that time, and he couldn't help showing some resentment in his eyes: "In the most difficult year, I really couldn't hold on any longer, and couldn't help but shamelessly send someone to send a letter home, asking for help from my family, even if it was just to send two carts of food and grass! But the old lady has always been in charge of the family, and she refused to respond, saying that I was pretending to be pitiful on purpose, and how could the border army let the soldiers starve to death? My father believed it, but didn't take it to heart. It was my mother who felt sorry for me, took out her private money to buy food, begged for help, and asked someone to send it to me, so that our family didn't get sick from hunger. But the horse that grew up with me didn't make it..." Because my mother only sent food, but no fodder. The fodder in the garrison was insufficient, so they could only give priority to ensuring that the military horses were well fed, and the private horse he brought from home had to be sacrificed.

Recalling those difficult years, Zhou Jinlin still felt a little resentful. When he looked back at his wife, Lin, he also had deep guilt in his eyes: "If you hadn't married me and followed me to the garrison, you wouldn't have suffered so much. You should have lived a better life."

Lin smiled, "What nonsense are you talking about, mistress?! Who didn't suffer during those most difficult years for the border troops? It would be the same no matter who I marry. But if I marry you, at least you will never bully me and make me live comfortably. With you and three well-behaved children, Yijun, Liangying and Liangxiong, I am content in this life. If it were someone else, who knows if I would still have such a blessing?"

Zhou Jinlin was so moved that he held his wife's hand, his eyes reddened.

Although Ma was very happy to see her eldest nephew and his wife loving each other, there was no need to show off such things in front of the elders. She and her husband were also very loving, right? But when did she show off such things in front of the younger generation?
Ma coughed lightly, reminding her eldest nephew and his wife to consider the occasion and know how to behave in front of the children.

Zhou Jinlin took his hand back as if nothing had happened. Lin was also calm as if nothing had happened. She even asked Ma to taste the specialties they brought back from Ningxia: "This date and this wolfberry are both produced in our place. They taste great and are sweeter than those produced elsewhere. Auntie, would you like to try some? If you like it, you can bring some back later so that your uncle, cousins, and the children at home can also taste it." She also urged Haitang to eat some. Haitang smiled and agreed, took a dried date and ate it, and then tasted the wolfberry cake. It tasted really good, but the method was a bit rough. But she remembered that the wolfberry in Ningxia Zhongwei should be quite famous, right?
Zhou Jinlin continued the narration where he had previously interrupted.

Because Ningxia Zhongwei had suffered from Ma bandits for a long time, when he received a letter from home and knew that Madam Ma might be in big trouble, and even the whole family would be implicated, he made up his mind to get rid of this cancer before leaving the garrison. Even if it cost him his life, he wanted to leave something for the place he had guarded for more than ten years.

His superiors and colleagues all agreed with his idea, but in order to achieve their goal, they had to first collect intelligence on the bandits, which was a time-consuming and troublesome process, and they could not alert the enemy. When they had collected enough intelligence, formulated a plan to suppress the bandits, united several thousand and hundred households in the surrounding areas, and contacted the private soldiers of nearby wealthy families, they were about to take action when a letter from Chang'an arrived, saying that Zhou Jinlin had lost his grandmother and had to go home to attend the funeral.

The arrow is on the string, how can it not be shot?

Commander Wei acted decisively and did not let him go back. Instead, he let him lead the anti-bandit operation. Together with other groups of people, they raided the bandits' hideouts and later arrested all the bandits who had escaped. It took more than half a month to complete the operation.

The bandits were wiped out, the credit was given, and the successor was selected, so the commander was willing to let him go. However, when he left, in addition to his family, soldiers and servants, he also took a few local small merchants with him. They hoped to spread the news that the bandits had been wiped out and attract merchants to Ningxia Zhongwei. They also transported a few carts of local products from their hometown, intending to sell them at a good price, exchange them for food and charcoal, and transport them back, so that they could live a richer life this winter and not suffer from hunger anymore.

How could Zhou Jinlin refuse? He had been there for so long, and he hoped that the soldiers and civilians there would live well. Therefore, even if these people brought goods with him, which would slow down his journey back home, he didn't care. Not only did he take this group of people with him, their carriages and goods, he also planned to find reliable buyers for them in Chang'an, so that they would not be cheated by unscrupulous merchants and suffer a great loss!
For this reason, Zhou Jinlin specifically asked Ma for help: "When my uncle was in Chang'an, he had the widest network of contacts and was the best at selling local products at a good price. I know that my uncle is busy with official duties now, and I dare not disturb him. I only ask my aunt to lend a hand. You must have learned a lot of skills by your uncle's side. It's just selling a few carts of wolfberries. What does it mean to you?"

Ma smiled and said, "You have a good memory, kid. You still remember your childhood. But you are always stubborn. No matter how much hardship you suffer, you will never ask for help from your family unless it is absolutely necessary. You rarely ask me for help, how can I not help you? I will take care of this matter. I will go find people for you tomorrow. I just don't know where these people are now? Where is the wolfberry you shipped? Ask someone to send me a small bag later. When I find a buyer, I can let him see the goods directly."

Zhou Jinlin was overjoyed when he heard this, and he quickly stood up and bowed to Ma: "Thank you for your help, aunt!"

(End of this chapter)