"Grandpa Niu! Where's the grain?" A Jiu released Niu Dasheng's hand and hurried to look. Indeed, only a few grains of wheat lay on the ground.
That was the grain she had left for Grandpa Niu to eat, over five hundred catties in total.
Although she hadn't expected Grandpa Niu to be back this time, a bag of grain would have been enough for the old bachelor to eat for several years.
Now, nothing was left.
Niu Dasheng looked warily at the door, quickly closed it, and then said in a low voice:
"Jiu'er, keep your voice down. I asked the village head, and I know that grain was left for me by your family. But now those soldiers have eaten it. Qi Ming Mountain is constantly at war, and it will inevitably reach here soon.
These soldiers want a good meal, otherwise, they won't protect the people of Heba Village."
Hearing this, A Jiu lowered her eyes and clenched her fists.
Did this make any sense? They had their own military provisions, so why would they plunder the villagers' grain?
"Good child, don't overthink it. I was relieved when the village head told me you went into the city with the villagers. But you shouldn't come back anymore. I'm old, half my leg is already in the coffin, and I don't care about anything anymore."
A Jiu slowly looked up, her eyes misting: "Grandpa Niu, have you found your granddaughter?"
A Jiu's household registration was under Grandpa Niu's name. If he found her, she would at least have someone to rely on. If he didn't, she, Meng Jiu'er, would really like to bring him into the city.
Speaking of this, Niu Dasheng sighed and shook his head:
"I found her, but she was too young when she got lost, and she doesn't remember me anymore."
He blinked a few times, holding back tears:
"But as your grandmother said, she married into a good family. It's my fault, I was too eager to recognize her as soon as we met, and scared her. She sued me."
A Jiu gasped, being sued? Grandma had calculated this possibility.
"But it was thankfully without further incident, and I could explain myself. I didn't force it later. Knowing she's doing well is enough."
Grandpa Niu waved his hand as if speaking to himself:
"There was a plague in Nanzhou County, and they were afraid I had eaten human flesh, so they detained me upon entry. When they found I didn't fall ill, they let me go."
"Fortunately, a renowned physician went there and treated many people, so I wouldn't have been released so easily."
Niu Dasheng lowered his head: "Perhaps my whole life has been too fixated on my granddaughter."
He let out a self-deprecating, bitter laugh.
"Grandpa Niu, will you come into the city with me?" A Jiu spoke her mind.
"Into the city?" Niu Dasheng's eyes lit up with a smile: "No need. Grandpa, I've even chosen my burial site. There are so many elders left in the village. Whoever dies first will send the one who died earlier up the mountain. It doesn't matter."
Wouldn't the last one to die have no one to care for them? It felt as if whoever died first could return to their roots, with someone to see them off.
"Where's the grain?"
Someone muttered outside the door.
"Xiao Yan, you're not an outsider, come in and talk." Niu Dasheng said.
But when Xiao Yan Yan pushed the door open, he couldn't help but frown as he looked at sister Jiu'er.
"They ate it, the soldiers. I don't quite understand the disciplinary methods of the army. I always felt they shouldn't be plundering the villagers' grain."
A Jiu said indifferently, a hint of sadness in her eyes. How would Grandpa Niu live in the future?
"It's alright. Those who join the army to protect the country face an uncertain future. This is also your good deed, Jiu'er."
Grandpa Niu spoke with great understanding.
A Jiu suddenly remembered the merit system with different point values:
"Grandpa Niu, merit isn't for bad people. Those who are too kind will foster villains, and even raise a bunch of villains."
Niu Dasheng's pupils contracted. He exhaled slowly. At his age, how could he not understand human affairs? But A Jiu's reminder made him truly feel that he might be raising those soldiers into villains.
Tuoba Yan silently left the room.
"Heh heh, you brats, today I'll teach you a lesson."
Then, a scream echoed from the courtyard.
A Jiu flinched in shock: "Tuoba Yan... no!"