When the number fifty taels was mentioned, Ding Hong and Ding Zhi were shocked again. Ding Hong said with a bitter smile on his face: "The food we have worked hard for a year and the salt we have collected through hard work will be deducted for our own consumption.

Even if you take it out and sell it, you won't be able to sell these two hundred taels. You still have to buy medicine for emergency needs, and you have to pay tribute to all the masters. Mr. Jin, you threw it out without even blinking. It's really "

There was a lot of emotion in his tone, Zhao Jin laughed and said: "We meet by chance, you won't believe what I say, but I can give you a thought, do something good for me this time, and no one around you in the Ding family will have to do it.

It’s such a hard life, if you believe it, then do it well, if you don’t believe it, it’s natural.”

You can't believe what you said when you first met, but Zhao Jin didn't have that much time to win over him. He made a big bet at once. If the other party was willing to make a bet, everyone would be happy.

Ding Hong stared at Zhao Jin for a while, but did not give any reply. He just said: "Master Jin has worked hard all day. Have a good rest tonight. If you need help, just let me know."

This reaction was reasonable. Zhao Jin did not continue to ask, but Ding Zhi was a little anxious. Regardless of Zhao Jin and the others being still there, he said angrily: "Uncle"

Ding Hong had already stood up and was about to glare when he heard this, but when he saw Ding Zhi's expression, he turned around and said: "Master Jin, the hut is not small, but there are people staring at the few openings we go out.

These undocumented homeless people cannot go out. They used to be able to sell salt, but three teams of salt sellers left the village and none of them came back. This is a dangerous place. If I were you, I would turn back earlier."

Having said this, Ding Hong hesitated and said: "It's not convenient to take salt out. Mr. Jin really wants to buy it. Come back next time."

Zhao Jin stood up, waved his hand and said with a smile: "I won't take the salt with me this time. You keep the money for now. I will pick up the goods when the time comes. But what about the guide?"

Hearing Zhao Jin's words, Ding Zhi stretched out his hand to pull Ding Hong. Zhao Jin didn't know exactly how the villages in Caowozi lived, but he could tell that they were short of money.

"Tomorrow morning, someone will come and take Master Jin away. Master Jin, please rest early." Ding Hong finally gave the answer he wanted.

Zhao Jin had a smile on his face. Ding Zhi and Ding Hong came out of the tent, and the look on his face became solemn. Before the others spoke, Zhao Jin said: "Will the horse thieves who attacked us today attack us?"

Is this the salt dealer from Dingjiawei?"

The Caowo thieves who were interrogated also confessed that they were intercepting salt dealers in Caowozi, and they wondered whether the missing teams in Dingjiawei had something to do with these poles.

"Normally, this Dingjiawei is right on the roadside, and there must be some relationship or even collusion with these poles. It's probably not the case," Liu Yong said thoughtfully.

Rabbits don't eat grass beside their nests. In addition, these roadside villages are actually the foothold of the poles, informing them, providing them with supplies, and even providing backup personnel, not to mention the matter of hiding and selling stolen goods.

explain.

If they were plundered without mercy, Dingjiawei would not have existed for so long.

"Didn't those prisoners say that they were resting outside and became evil-minded after seeing our large amount of property? It means that before that, they were not active in the thatched cottage," Jixiang continued.

"Will there be other forces here?" Dong Bingfeng also asked.

If there are other forces besides the thieves, the situation will become more complicated. Zhao Jinyi, who is alone and alone, does not dare to be careless.

"Don't think too much. In addition to the thieves, the Feng family also has influence here. God knows if other people will interfere. We just go our own way. If there is really trouble, we can fight if we can. If we can't, we can run away.

." Zhao Jin came to a conclusion.

There are large carts that can set up positions, and the impact of the horse thieves on horseback can be offset. Each person has two horses. If something happens, he can immediately escape on horseback. Not to mention that Zhao Jin and these people are well-equipped and powerful. They really need to face him.

Against a large group of enemies, you may not win by winning, but you can definitely outrun by running.

There was nothing much to talk about in the evening. After everyone arranged the order of duty, they went to rest separately. They slept with their clothes on and their weapons at hand. They had experienced many things, so everyone had nothing to fear or worry about. It was just that before falling asleep, everyone felt a little heavy.

When they woke up the next morning, neither Ding Hong nor Ding Zhi showed up, but the young man came over. He looked to be in his twenties, but was actually just seventeen years old. His name was Ding Jun, and he was Ding Hong's son.

"Young masters, I will lead the way."

"Are you familiar with this place?" It's normal for Ding Hong to be familiar with this area. How much can a seventeen-year-old young man know?

Seeing that Zhao Jin and others were suspicious, Ding Jun's face suddenly turned red and he defended loudly: "Masters, please don't underestimate me. I have been following my father everywhere since I was ten years old. A big grass house is better than a small one."

Not many people are familiar with it and understand it.”

That suspicion was more of a joke. Ding Hong dared to ask his son to lead the way. He had his reasons. Moreover, Ding Jun was the young leader of the Ding family and was also an important figure.

matter.

According to Ding Jun, if you continue walking northeast for half a day in Dingjiawei, there will be three forks in the road. If you walk along this road for half a day, you will reach a small village with more than a hundred households.

"There are several forked roads over there, and there are villages and stockades on the road. You can get there before dark, but there are many contacts with Liujiazhuang over there, and there is not much shortage of things. You gentlemen may not have any business there." Ding Jun.

Said very clearly.

What Zhao Jin asked Ding Hong last night made people doubt him. They were wearing armor, covered in blood, and they didn't look right. However, they were still considered to be a caravan or a team of selling and collecting salt. The salt dealers and salt lords were on the run.

It is not surprising that they are armed, but the equipment of Zhao Jin's team is too sophisticated, which is beyond the understanding of everyone in Dingjiawei.

Zhao Jin didn't say where he was going, he just told him to pack and cook. He might be on the road for a long time this day, so he had to have a full breakfast.

The food was no different from yesterday. It was a thick porridge made from coarse grains and bran, but the two marinated lamb legs from yesterday were cut into small pieces and thrown in. This surprised Ding Jun. Of course he could tell that Zhao Jinhe

The companions were the leaders of this group, and they thought they would eat the two legs of lamb themselves, but they did not expect that Zhao Jin would share them with everyone.

Of course, coarse grains, bran, and vegetables are hard to swallow, but with the marinated lamb leg cut into small pieces, the taste has improved a lot. The thick porridge is churning in the pot, exuding a strong aroma.

The residents of Dingjiawei are all inside the earthen walls. Except for those who deliver fodder supplies, no one else shows up. But while breakfast is being cooked, three children come over.

The three children are not very old, probably no more than ten years old. Not to mention they are thin and small. They look like they haven’t washed their faces for who knows how many days. They are wearing tattered leather robes that don’t fit them. They timidly move towards the pot, unable to stop.

Swallowing.

"Go back, go back." Ding Jun went over and chased the children away. The three children ran away quickly. After running a few steps, they looked back eagerly.

Ding Jun didn't seem to have a good temper, but he didn't speak harshly to the three children.

"Two teams went to the east to exchange salt, and one team went to the west to sell salt. None of the three teams came back. These three children belong to two of them. Now the east family sleeps for a day, and the west family eats a meal. Although everyone takes care of them

, but after all, it’s not my own child, so that’s it.”

"Where is the child's mother?" After hearing Ding Jun's explanation, Dong Bingfeng asked smoothly. The man went out to run away, while the woman stayed at home.

Ding Jun smiled bitterly and said: "Our place is not so particular. If you have the energy, you will work hard. Buying and selling salt can make more money for your family. We all work together as a family."

Everyone's expressions became a little bad, and they could understand that these three children were already orphans. Zhao Jin pondered for a moment, waved his hand and said, "Come here, come here."

The three children who were walking around immediately turned around. They first looked at Ding Jun. Ding Jun just smiled. The three children ran over quickly. Zhao Jin started to fill them with three bowls and scooped out as much as possible.

Got some meat.

Zhao Jin brought the wooden bowls and wooden spoons himself. From the looks of it, the three children started eating without giving them the spoons. They devoured the food. In Dingjiawei, it must not be easy to have a meaty meal. The children each

Be happy and smile.

"You have taken good care of them." Zhao Jin said, and the three children came over to poke their heads in. It was because no one was taking care of them. Although the clothes they were wearing were old and tattered, they were wrapped tightly and would not get cold.

Although there are dishes, there are not as many as other people in the village, which shows that Ding Jiawei still takes care of the three orphans.

Ding Jun said quite proudly: "We all came from Shandong, and we finally found a place to live and settle down. Of course we take care of each other. My father said that we will raise these children until they grow up."

The children ate happily, and Zhao Ziying's group also ate deliciously. Liu Yong finished eating quickly, then went to the cart and dug out a small bag, and took out three snacks from it. The three children

They had already finished the paste in the bowl, and the wooden bowl they used was even cleaner than it had been washed. They were hesitating whether to have another bowl.

Over there, Liu Yong gave three pieces of peach cake to the children. The three children's eyes widened immediately. Each of them carefully took a bite, all smiling. They did not eat immediately, but put the snacks into their arms.

It's not unusual for Liu Yong to come out with snacks. There was even rouge and gouache in his bag. He always had to deal with various situations along the way.

The three children were extremely happy. In addition to snacks, someone also filled a bowl for them, and they wolfed down the food.
Chapter completed!