Late Qing Dynasty Executioner

Chapter 73: Heavy Rain in the Mountains

Just after noon the next day, everyone arrived at the Shitou River, a tributary of the Yangtze River. After pulling a short distance from the river mouth, the towing was over.

Next, Chen Jue had to lead everyone into the mountains to Fobao by land.

When they arrived at the place, Bian Shichun prepared a meal, a bowl of rice for each person and a large spoonful of pork stewed with green beans. Although there was not much meat, it looked quite oily.

This was prepared in advance by Bian Shichun's men, and we can start eating as soon as the boat stops.

After a big meal, everyone regained a lot of energy and spirit, so they continued to march into the mountains.

People of that era were very able to endure hardships. As long as they were fed and clothed, even if they had just pulled the oars for 20 or 30 miles and had to walk another 40 or 50 miles, they would still be unafraid and would not complain at all.

They walked forward, talking and laughing along the way, with happy expressions and brisk steps, hoping to reach their destination as soon as possible so that they can work and earn money.

As for what to do, it is not within their consideration.

The team of eight or nine hundred people stretched for two miles. Naturally, the ones walking in the front were Chen Gu and Lao Nian. The two did not have to walk because Chen Gu bought more than ten horses from Bian Shichun for the old brothers to ride on.

Someone answered loudly: "As long as there is enough food, that's enough!"

"Everyone catch up. There will be food to eat when we get there. Although the conditions in the mountains are worse and there are many of us so there is not much meat to eat, there will still be enough rice!" Lao Nian shouted loudly.

The weather was fine and everyone's morale was high. Chen Gu originally thought that there would be no problem in reaching Fobao before dark. However, after walking twenty miles and passing Tanghechang, the road became more and more difficult to walk on, and from time to time he would encounter a muddy road.

Fu Baoyou had the grain stored by the Bian family for two or three years, so Chen Gu didn't have to worry about food at all. Even with these eight or nine hundred people, there would be no problem in eating for a few years.

With the carpenters cutting wood and paving the way ahead, everyone's progress was not delayed too much.

It was better when Chen Gu was walking in front, but as more people walked, the road became worse and worse. When he heard that someone had fallen because of the bad road, when Chen Gu came to check, there were already puddles on the road.

Chen Gu was so angry that he wanted to curse, but when he saw the mud on his brothers' trouser legs, some of them were even covered in mud, he wanted to laugh.

Those who are highly conscious and positive may not be given more privileges, but they should be given more opportunities, and they will be given priority in promotion and training in the future.

For ordinary small farmers, there is always enough rice. It is already good enough if they can fill their stomachs with sweet potatoes and radishes throughout the year. Having enough rice is like a god's life.

Chen Gu smiled and said nothing more. Forty or so people were enough. He returned to the front, found Lao Nian, and said, "Ask a few brothers to lead these carpenters to pave the way ahead. Tell them that each person will be paid fifty coins. Also, compile a list of the forty-two people and give it to me."

It didn't rain, but because the road was close to the mountain, water seeped down from the mountain and wet the mud. This was even though someone had dug a drainage ditch, otherwise the whole road would have become muddy.

According to the list given by Lao Nian, there were about a hundred carpenters among these people, but only forty-two of them stood up in the end.

"Let's rest for a cup of tea on the riverbank ahead. The carpenters will go ahead and cut wood to pave the road. Only fifty people are needed." Chen Gu shouted.

However, the further you go inside, the steeper the mountain becomes. Some roads are located halfway up the mountain, with one side close to the mountain and the other side being a slope more than ten meters or even dozens of meters deep.

Although falling down is not fatal, it is inevitable that you will be half-dead.

This road also made Chen Jue understand why the Bian family left the grain in Fobao and did not transport it out. In addition to storing the grain in a safe place for backup, it was more likely because of inconvenient transportation.

After hurrying for a long time, we finally saw a large flat land in front of us when it got dark. It was called a flat land, but in fact it was just a shallow hill with a gentle slope. However, compared with the surrounding mountains, this shallow hill terrain was simply a blessed land.

After the founding of the People's Republic of China, Fobao's name was changed to Fubao.

"Young Master, we're here!" A boy of about fifteen or sixteen years old ran up to Chen Gu and said. This was the boy sent by Bian Shichun to lead the way. His name was Bian Yuan.

Because this guy had a round head since he was born, the head of the Bian family thought he was blessed, so he adopted him as his godson. He grew up with Bian Shichun and had good food, so he has also grown up to be round.

Chen Gu nodded and said with a smile: "Thank you for your hard work. Come and have fun in Fobao for a few days. I promise to treat you well!"

Bian Yuan smiled, cupped his hands and said, "Okay, I'm sorry to bother you, Young Master."

"Boom!"

As the two were talking, a thunderclap suddenly sounded in the sky. Chen Gu looked at the sun in the west which had not yet completely set, and couldn't help but frowned and asked, "It doesn't look like it's going to rain, does it?"

"Oh, Shao Shantou, please send someone to urge the brothers to speed up. It's not that it's going to rain, it's that it's going to rain in this valley. It's going to rain in this part of the valley. Although it won't rain for long, it may be heavy.

It's getting dark now, and it looks like we're still two or three miles away. It would be a pain to walk on this muddy road in the rain and darkness." Bian Yuan said anxiously.

Chen Gu had personally witnessed this kind of scene where it was raining in only one valley. There were many such places on the southwestern border.

Chen Gu was startled when he heard this, and quickly said to Lao Nian, "Quick, quick, go inform the brothers and tell them to run. When we get there, there will be hot meals and hot dishes to eat, and beds to rest on."

Before Lao Nian arrived in Chongqing, Chen Gu sent someone to Fobao to ask Zhang Haomin to prepare accommodation for these people. Two days ago, he sent someone to confirm the arrival time, which was when the ship docked at noon, and asked Lao Nian to send someone to notify them in advance.

So Fobao made preparations at this time.

Sure enough, just as Chen Gu came down the mountain, he saw Zhang Haomin standing on a small hilltop, looking over here. When he saw Chen Gu riding over, he also said, "Hello, young man. It's going to rain. Let's go back first!"

"Okay, okay, let's go!" Chen Gu had no objection.

Unfortunately, although everyone started running, they had not walked a mile when heavy rain came down and everyone was soaked in an instant.

There was a faint light ahead, so Chen Gu immediately rode his horse over, followed closely by Lao Nian. The heavy rain obstructed visibility, so everyone could only follow the person in front closely.

After a while, when he got closer, Chen Gu realized that it was a temple.

"Open the door!" Chen Gu jumped off his horse, raised his fist and smashed it against the door.

With the sound of "bang bang bang", the door opened and a fat and big-eared monk walked out with an angry face.

(End of this chapter)