Chapter 58 Love the People Like Own Children
58 Love the People Like Own Children
After Bai Wutong and the others built the shed for the night, Cui Shize finally reached the sh.o.r.e in the last wave.
Cui Lingyi waited anxiously on the sh.o.r.e. When she saw that Cui Shize had finally safely reached the sh.o.r.e, she realized that she was drenched in cold sweat.
The father and daughter had not seen each other for several years and were almost separated by life and death. Cui Lingyi looked at her father who had aged more than 10 years and tears welled up in her red eyes.
Cui Shize’s eyes were also misty. “Why is Xiaoxiao here?”
Cui Lingyi choked and complained, “If I don’t come, who will! Do you know how dangerous it was just now!”
Cui Shize only had one daughter. He did not hesitate to fall out with the emperor for her sake. How could he feel good when he saw her sad? Even though he was scolded by her in front of his disciples, he still smiled ingratiatingly. “Xiaoxiao, don’t be angry. Daddy knows his mistake.”
What the h.e.l.l did he know? If he knew, he wouldn’t have been so determined to persuade the dog emperor to value the people even though he knew that Duke Chu was going to rebel.
Cui Lingyi glared at him angrily. It was as though she was still acting coquettish in her room. The group of disciples behind Cui Shize hurriedly glanced at her, and their ears turned red.
Cui Muzhi came over and patted his chest with a smile. “Uncle, it’s okay. Even if Cousin can’t come, there’s still me!”
Cui Lingyi smiled slightly. The meaning in his eyes was clear. If you dare to say another word, I’ll skin you alive.
Cui Muzhi trembled in fear and quickly fell silent.
Cui Shize smiled dotingly. He had grown up, but he was still like a child.
There were more than 500 people in the entire Fallen Rain Village. In the past, the flood would not pa.s.s by their village. This year, the entire village was drowned.
When it came, they were not prepared at all. Now that their lives were no longer in danger, they felt so hungry that their chests were almost touching their backs.
Thinking that they were safe, the officials no longer had any scruples and directly asked Cui Lingyi for food. “We are starving to death, give us some dry rations and water first.” They still thought that if Cui Lingyi wanted her father to be fine, she had to serve them like a master.
Some people’s gazes landed on Cui Lingyi’s slender waist and even revealed l.u.s.tful expressions.
Cui Lingyi sneered. “There are fishes in the flood. You can jump in and eat them.”
The official’s expression suddenly changed. He threatened Cui Lingyi, “Do you believe I…”
Lan Jingbai pulled out his sword. Just as he was about to stab these annoying officials to death, Cui Shize stopped him. “Leave them alive.”
The official thought that Cui Shize was worried about them. He sneered and pulled out his saber. “We have the right to kill any prisoner who tries to escape.” Prime Minister Cui was famous for loving his people and being loyal. He would not dare to disobey the emperor’s orders and escape.
As long as Cui Lingyi and the others were obedient and let them eat their fill and be in a good mood, it was not impossible to send Prime Minister Cui to Jiangyuan City instead of Fengming City to be a servant who picked up horse dung.
At this point, Prime Minister Cui still had to abide by those pedantic rules. Cui Lingyi felt as if he had eaten dozens of catties of feces. The joy of meeting her father immediately dissipated.
Cui Muzhi could not hide the disappointment in his eyes. His uncle was too kind-hearted.
Didn’t he see how dirty these officials eyed at his cousin?
Even the disciples behind Cui Shize felt that since the Cui family was here, there was no need for their Master to condone this group of soldiers.
Faced with the threat of the soldiers, Cui Shize’s expression was indifferent. He looked at Cui Lingyi, who looked away and did not want to look at him, but a trace of imperceptible panic flashed in his eyes. Unexpectedly, he said to Lan Jingbai, who was holding a sword, in a low voice, “They’re hungry. Xiaoxiao wants to treat them to fish. Then treat them to fish.”
As soon as he said this, Cui Lingyi suddenly turned to look at him, her eyes filled with surprise.
After Lan Jingbai received the order, before the group of soldiers could react, he and the others kicked the 20-odd soldiers into the endless flood.
The soldiers only shouted a few times before they were quickly swept away by the flood.
They were not as powerful as Lan Jingbai. If nothing went wrong, they would die.
Only a Master would be so polite as to say ‘treat someone to a meal’ instead of ‘killing them’.
At the same time, the disciples felt much more at ease. No matter what situation they were in with Cui Shize, their dignity would not be trampled on.
Cui Lingyi suddenly became happy again. She asked, “Are you hungry?”
Before Cui Shize could answer, his stomach answered for him.
As if there was a chain reaction, the disciples behind him and the villagers’ stomachs all let out gurgling sounds.
Cui Lingyi’s smile froze on her face because she did not finish her sentence.
After Huang Zhong identified Cui Shize’s general direction, she led her people and rushed forward. After discovering that Cui Shize was trapped in the middle of the flood and might be in danger at any time, she had long forgotten to send people to dig for wild vegetables.
By now, it was too dark to find any food.
Cui Shize saw the embarra.s.sment on his daughter’s face and frowned slightly. He looked at the horses they had brought and the villagers behind them who were looking forward to it. Suddenly, he fell silent.
Cui Muzhi looked clumsy but was very meticulous. He said to the villagers, “We’re leaving. You guys should find a place to stay.”
With so many of them and the 20 disciples behind Cui Shize, they had to kill two horses to make do that night.
They had already spent a lot of effort saving these 500-odd villagers’ lives. It was completely impossible for them to provide another meal for them.
The village chief of the Falling Rain Village, Li Changzhi, had very good ears. He could tell Cui Muzhi directly chasing them, and his eyes flashed.
Li Changzhi shouted to the villagers, “Fellow villagers, Master has saved us. We have nothing now and can’t repay him. We can only kowtow to Master three times and remember his kindness forever.”
At night, Li Changzhi’s voice was like a bell. The villagers knelt down and kowtowed three times to Cui Shize.
After Li Changzhi finished kowtowing, his forehead was so red that blood was about to seep out. He asked solemnly, “Master, can you tell me your name? I hope that one day, the descendants of our Falling Rain Village will have a chance to repay you.”
Hearing the sincere words of the village chief and looking at the grateful and bright eyes of the villagers, Cui Shize had mixed feelings.
After a long time, he made up his mind and said to Lan Jingbai, “Go kill a few horses and make soup for the villagers to warm their stomachs.”
There were so many villagers here. How many horses would they have to kill?! If they killed their horses, how could they return to Qinghe as soon as possible?
Cui Lingyi frowned and said disapprovingly, “Father, we still have to return to Qinghe.”
Cui Shize sighed and said, “We can’t go back. Qinghe can’t be saved.”
The premonition that Cui Lingyi had been worried about was directly exposed by Cui Shize.
She looked at Cui Shize solemnly, and her mocking voice was filled with resentment. “The Prime Minister loves the people like his own children. Why should he kill our horses!”
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