An eight-year-old kid emptied his scumbag father's warehouse and followed his grandparents into

Chapter 308 The Life of July and September

However, when they arrived at Xunyang City, they found that there was no such entrance fee. It seemed that the city officials did not care about these meager incomes. If they had not known what they did in advance, they would have thought that they were good officials who worked hard for the people and were supported by the people.

Outside the city gate, the guards were no longer yamen runners, but rather well-dressed soldiers, all holding broadswords and long swords, looking majestic and imposing. However, they were not facing the vast desert smoke or the powerful enemies outside the Great Wall, but the helpless civilians.

As usual, there were two yamen runners in charge of checking the pass documents and travel permits. Their attitude seemed quite casual, even a little careless.

This time, the riders got off the horse and walked, but the women were not asked to get off the vehicle, and the cargo on the vehicle was not inspected at all. The yamen runners just glanced at their passes and waved them off.

When it was their turn, Jing Chunxi noticed a strange enthusiasm in the expressions of the two yamen runners, as if they were eager for them to enter the city as soon as possible. Occasionally, their glances revealed a penetrating question, but they did not ask it out loud.

One of the yamen runners even laughed at them, but in Jing Chunxi's opinion, that smile was a bit malicious, as if they were lambs being sent into the tiger's mouth.

Once you enter the city gate, the scene inside is completely different.

The atmosphere inside the city was completely different from that outside. The soldiers guarding the city were dressed neatly, holding knives and forks, with solemn expressions, staring at every citizen leaving the city with sharp eyes. They no longer had the enthusiasm they had when they came in, as if the people were ready to rebel at any time.

The line out of the city was not long, but there were several servants busy queuing for their masters. They all had slaves and carriages. Even if they were not rich, they were not poor either.

Twenty taels of silver, if used sparingly, could feed a family of five or six for two or three years. This expense was undoubtedly an astronomical figure for ordinary people, enough to deter them from even considering the cost, so most of them could only sit and wait for death.

The carriage moved forward slowly. A little away from the city gate, stood a group of ragged people. They were skinny and had sallow faces. It seemed they had not had a full meal for a long time.

Their eyes were filled with despair and helplessness. Although they were standing together, they didn't say a word to each other.

He seemed to want to take the opportunity to rush out of the city gate, but was intimidated by the sticks, knives and forks in the hands of the soldiers. He could only step back a few steps and did not dare to act rashly.

When Jing Chunxi saw this scene, his heart sank. The food shortage in Xunyang City had put the people in a desperate situation.

Xiao Man couldn't bear to watch the tragic scene outside any longer. She gently lowered the carriage curtain and turned around, her eyes filled with confusion and curiosity. "Why are there so few people leaving the city? It's such a big city, there should be many people who can afford twenty taels of silver, right?"

Jing Chunxi sighed, her heart heavy. She looked at Xiaoman's innocent face, finally seeing a hint of childlike innocence and curiosity in his eyes. After a moment's hesitation, she whispered, "Those who could have escaped would have already left. How could they have stayed here so long? Those who stayed behind were either desperate, or elderly and unwilling to leave their homeland, feeling bound by some inner bondage, or perhaps still had money to earn."

July, who seldom spoke, could not help but speak, her voice low and cold: "Those who stay and live a comfortable life are either corrupt officials or unscrupulous businessmen." There was deep disgust in her tone, as if she was full of hatred for those who were high and mighty and enjoyed the blood and sweat of the people.

"If you ask me, they should all be killed." September's voice suddenly rang out, tinged with a hint of gnashing hatred. She kept her head down, her gaze fixed on her toes, as if suppressing her inner rage. Although her voice was not loud, it instantly froze the atmosphere in the car.

Jing Chunxi had already heard about July and September's life stories from Tang Shuang. They were both orphans, and both were old enough to remember things when their families suffered misfortune.

Qiyue's sister was forcibly abducted by a local tycoon because of her beauty. Her two brothers were dissatisfied and went to the tycoon's house to argue, but they were beaten by the tycoon's servants, one of them died and the other was injured.

Later, their family filed a complaint with the county government, but they didn't expect that the county magistrate had already been bribed by the wealthy man. Instead, their father and brother locked them up in jail, where they were eventually tortured to death.

Qiyue's mother went mad and soon fell into a ditch and drowned. Qiyue, only seven or eight years old at the time, was forced to become a beggar. Once, she was almost insulted by an old beggar. Fortunately, she was taken in by a master and trained in kung fu.

Later, she and Jiuyue burned down the old man's house, cut off the old man's descendants and threw him into the sea of ​​fire.

Her poor sister had long since disappeared, and her life or death was unknown.

Jiuyue's family died in a drought, and the imperial government's relief grain was embezzled by corrupt officials, leaving little for the people.

The people could not bear the hunger and ate Guanyin soil when they had no food. Many people were eventually bloated to death. This was how Jiu Yue's family died.

Jiu Yue barely survived because she had little to eat, digging grass roots and eating leaves, and eventually became a beggar. It was not until she was taken in by her master that she had hope of survival.