Chapter 2, South of the City (II)

Did you not just say that I am your child

"You owe your mother for the night money!" Wang Ermao could not tolerate the vicious insults from the other party and extended his hand, pointing at the face of the man with the surname Liu in retaliation. He had just entered puberty, and his voice was sharp and thin, immediately attracting the attention of many people. The man with the surname Liu could not hold back his anger, let out a roar, and rushed to Wang Ermao's side, swinging his fist to strike.

After a severe beating, the overseer ordered the two men to disembark. At that moment, Liu and Shi's tempers turned exceedingly docile; they bent down, bowing and crying out for mercy, pleading to be allowed to finish their day's work, even if it meant accepting a reduced wage.

The grain sack was placed on someone else's back, and the four men suddenly found their hands empty. The man with the surname Liu patted his calloused palm and said with a smile, "At least you were once a young master, you must have been wealthy at some point. Unlike us, born with a lowly fate!" After exchanging pleasantries, he couldn't help but curiously inquire, "What was that technique you used to pinch me just now? Why did I suddenly lose strength and see darkness before my eyes?"

"What are you all doing?" The grain carrier sensed something unusual behind him, turned around, and wore a look of dissatisfaction.

"Go to hell. A half-grown kid like him can take down Liu Laoshi! Who do you think you're fooling, you son of a dog?" The overseer's servant had no time to uphold justice for the laborers, nor did he believe that Cheng Xiaojiu had the ability to knock out a strong man like Liu Laoshi. Without further ado, he turned the whip and struck at the neck of the axle, delivering a good beating. Instantly, Liu and Shi, two roosters eager to fight, were reduced to submissive rabbits, holding their heads and begging for mercy. Without further ado, he turned the whip and struck at the neck of the axle, delivering a good beating. Instantly, Liu and Shi, two roosters eager to fight, were reduced to submissive rabbits, holding their heads and begging for mercy.

"My apologies!" The man with a neck like an axle, surnamed Shi, was startled and quickly tried to ingratiate himself with Cheng Xiaojiu. Although the other party was a fallen phoenix, one could not be sure that there weren't a few old feathers in their nest. It is better not to make an enemy of someone with such a background if it can be avoided.

Liu Laoshi found himself at a disadvantage once again, unable to retaliate, which left him feeling frustrated and agitated. Suddenly, he stopped smiling and muttered under his breath, "No, this is not right, those little bastards!"

Mind your own business! Cheng Xiaojiu pulled him once more and reiterated her advice

Among a group of men who make a living by selling their labor, even if conflicts arise, they do not last long. After chatting casually for a while, the two strong men, Liu and Shi, became quite familiar with the two young men, Cheng and Wang. Liu Laoshi is a typical example of someone who remembers the good but forgets the bad; as soon as he got acquainted, he immediately began to joke with the two young men, making crude and risqué remarks without any reservations. Wang Ermao is also a sharp-tongued and thick-skinned character, responding in kind to Liu Laoshi. As the banter heated up, it drew hearty laughter from all the companions, significantly alleviating their fatigue.

Sigh, www.hetushucom.com, sigh! Sigh! Those who have been whipped do not dare to retort, responding in a low and submissive tone. While hastening their movements, they hope that this day will end soon. However, the sun in the sky seems intent on making things difficult, moving slowly like a snail climbing a tree. It has already reached halfway to the top of the head, and just as a large boat of rice is about to be unloaded, it still clings to the treetop.

Er Mao, hold your breath while lifting the bag, and only start breathing again once the bag is laid flat. Make an effort to regulate your breathing in sync with your steps! Seeing that the other party has already given in, Cheng Xiao Jiu does not act selfishly. Taking advantage of the opportunity to guide Wang Er Mao, he imparts his work techniques to all his companions.

I am pressing the meridian at the back of your neck, which is what the doctor refers to when performing acupuncture! I am also just guessing; nine out of ten times, it's inaccurate! Cheng Xiaojiu glanced around to ensure no one was paying attention, then replied softly, "Let's not dwell on this anymore; let's consider it as if we never met."

"It's nothing, it's nothing. I slipped on the deck because of too much sweat!" Cheng Xiaojiu quickly smiled apologetically to the other party, bowing in apology while scanning the surroundings with his eyes. Fortunately, several of the overseer's servants had gone elsewhere, and no one noticed him, allowing Wang Ermao to narrowly escape a disaster.

Rest assured, you can be at ease. The next time I see you, we will be doubly careful! Cheng Xiaojiu's smile grew even wider, as if she owed the other party dozens of coins that she had yet to repay

Under the scolding of the house servants of the Zhou residence, the selected strongmen formed five chaotic lines, taking turns to step forward and bend over with their backs to the ship's railing. Cheng Xiaojiu, Wang Ermao, and a dozen other fortunate individuals were divided into groups of four, lifting rice bags from the deck and placing them one by one on the backs of the sturdy men.

Hey, hey! Wang Ermao did not dare to argue, puffing his cheeks with effort. Just as he reached the edge of the boat, his left foot suddenly gave way, and he nearly fell headfirst into the canal. Fortunately, his partner Cheng Xiaojiu, who was on the same side, was strong and quickly grabbed both corners of the grain bag, ensuring that the bag of grain was safely placed on the shoulder of the grain carrier.

Indeed, indeed, one does not get acquainted without a fight. I endured a beating, and in exchange, I got to know you!" The man with the surname Liu muttered in complaint. Bending down, he, along with the others, lifted the next sack of rice. The four of them held their breath, exerted force in unison, took a step, then adjusted their breathing, slowly walked towards the ship's side, and gently placed the sack of rice on the back of the one carrying the load.

You, you little rascal

You little rascal, sharp-tongued, how are you just like my son! Liu Laoshi steadied the straw sack used for storing grain and smiled as he took advantage of the situation

In times of suffering, people often hope for the appearance of others who are suffering even more, as this brings a glimmer of joy in living. When the strong man with the surname Liu was being beaten, the onlookers laughed heartily, and their legs became much more agile. The man with the axle neck, who was on good terms with Liu, saw his companion being beaten to a pulp and hurriedly approached the foreman to explain, "Brother, brother, it was this kid with the surname Cheng who was up to no good from behind; he choked Liu Laoshi and knocked him out. I saw it clearly; it was not Liu Laoshi who was slacking off, but these two little brats who were the ones being negligent, not Liu Laoshi!"

Apart from Wang Ermao, the other two "zongzi" who teamed up with Cheng Xiaojiu to carry the straw bags were both locals from Guantao. One of them was a round-faced man with the surname Liu, while the other was a man with a neck as black as an axle, whose surname was Shi. The two strong men felt that they were at a disadvantage working alongside the two young boys, so they always made a slight effort to lift the bags a moment earlier. On the surface, it seemed like they were taking care of Cheng and Wang, but in reality, by lifting the straw bags containing rice half an inch earlier, they caused the rice inside to tilt towards the side of the young boys, thereby gaining an unfair advantage.

Cheng Xiaojiu, Wang Ermao, and others were solely responsible for unloading goods onto their shoulders, yet four of them had to manage an entire team of men, making the task far from easy. However, considering the pay of one and a half dou per day, everyone gritted their teeth and persevered. They would rather feel faint from exhaustion than allow anyone to wait by the ship's edge. Despite this, the overseer's servants still complained that everyone was moving too slowly, constantly striking the backs of the workers with the handles of their whips, saying, "Be quicker, be quicker. If you can't do it, step aside and let someone who can take your place! It's one and a half dou a day; even the God of Wealth can't afford to support those who eat without working!" Despite this, the overseer's servants still complained that everyone was moving too slowly, constantly striking the backs of the workers with the handles of their whips, saying, "Be quicker, be quicker. If you can't do it, step aside and let someone who can take your place! It's one and a half dou a day; even the God of Wealth can't afford to support those who eat without working!"

Wang Ermao wiped the sweat from his face, chuckled, revealing a mouthful of white teeth, "My grandfather has been gone for over ten years. If you want to be my grandfather, that's fine; in a couple of days, I'll go burn some paper for you. Grandfather, grandfather, you have to agree!"

During the time spent watching others being beaten, Wang Ermao had already caught his breath. He stuck out his tongue and pulled Cheng Xiaojiu towards the grain bags in the center of the boat. The beaten Liu and Che Zhou glared resentfully at the deck of the boat and hurriedly ran forward to work. This time, they finally realized that the young man they were partnered with was not to be trifled with, and they dared not provoke him any further. Their hands lifting the rice bags no longer played any tricks, fearing that they might inadvertently upset Cheng Xiaojiu and provoke some extreme measure that would leave them unconscious. This time, they finally understood that the young man they were partnered with was not to be trifled with, and they dared not provoke him any further. Their hands lifting the rice bags no longer played any tricks, fearing that they might inadvertently upset Cheng Xiaojiu and provoke some extreme measure that would leave them unconscious. The next time the foreman saw them, it could mean losing an entire day's wages

His lowly demeanor naturally made it inconvenient for the grain carriers to retaliate. After casting a few disdainful glances, they shouldered their grain bags and walked towards the official road. Having navigated the immediate crisis, the two young men, Cheng and Wang, secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Just as they were about to turn towards the cabin, the two burly men, Liu and Shi, unexpectedly decided they no longer wanted to partner with them. They rushed in front of the two and pointed at Wang Ermao's nose, scolding, "Haven't you eaten, or were you busy with women last night? If you throw the grain bags into the water, won't you make everyone else suffer with you?"

Just as the moment seemed to drag on, it quickly changed; before the overseer's servant could intervene, the strong man surnamed Liu suddenly regained his composure. He leaped up from the deck, covering his neck, and shouted behind him: "You scoundrel, who was it that just grabbed my neck from behind?"

"I told you not to interfere, so don't! You haven't seen anything!" Cheng Xiaojiu straightened and positioned Wang Ermao's fingers, chiding him in a low voice. "If you choose to intervene, it would be equivalent to stealing someone else's meal. Once a fight breaks out, I won't be able to help you either!"

Liu and Shi were skeptical yet curious, and they attempted to follow Cheng Xiaojiu's method for a few steps. They found that their throats indeed felt less strained, which brought them great joy. Wang Ermao had always held Cheng Xiaojiu in high regard, and he complied with whatever the other said. The four of them exerted force and moved their feet in unison, their coordination becoming increasingly adept, and the hostile gazes gradually softened.

Four people continued to work, yet eight eyes unconsciously began to glance towards the crowd beneath the ship's railing. After placing the rice bags back on the backs of the grain carriers, Wang Ermao was the first to notice something amiss. "Ninth Brother!" He turned his back to the ship's railing and gently hooked his finger behind him, "They, they have torn the bags!"

In the latter part, the insults were abruptly silenced as a whip struck back into his abdomen. The overseer's servant, upon seeing him lying on the ground feigning death to shirk work, immediately harbored the thought of making an example out of him, and without hesitation, unleashed a flurry of over ten lashes.

"I don't care; it's not rice from our home!" Wang Ermao nodded and said resentfully. His gaze no longer wandered towards the edge of the boat, but the scattered grains of rice in the mud were deeply etched in his mind. "Damn it, I'm not afraid of the heavens striking me down!" Spitting on the ground, he muttered a curse under his breath. Since morning, his stomach had not seen a single grain of rice, and the hunger was unbearable.

Indeed, there are some intricacies! After a moment, the man with the surname Liu grinned and offered a smile as he commented.

I, I... clearly know that the other party is deliberately looking for trouble. Aside from feeling embarrassed, Wang Ermao could not make any response. The round-faced man secretly glanced at the steward's servant, relieved that the earlier scene had not been noticed, while the anger inside him grew stronger. He glared fiercely at Wang Ermao and whispered a threat: "You bastard, if you want to eat, put in some effort. Don't expect to just loaf around here. I don't owe your mother any night money"

Cheng Xiaojiu sensed that something was amiss and quickly adjusted his strategies and * diagrams * in secret. However, both he and Wang Ermao had been in the industry for too short a time, and their coordination was far from the proficiency of their opponents across the way. After a considerable period of covert competition, not only did they fail to make the other side back down, but the angle of the tilted rice bag became increasingly pronounced.

"Do not listen to Er Mao's nonsense; my grandfather has long since passed away!" Cheng Xiaojiu explained to the crowd in a low voice while panting and moving his feet. "If I were truly a descendant of a prominent family, I wouldn't be here at the dock carrying heavy packages. Come on, let's not talk too much; let's work together. One, two, three..."

A burly man was bullying a boy who had not yet grown facial hair; with one punch, victory was assured. The onlookers, eager for entertainment, immediately slowed their pace, waiting to see how Wang Ermao would fare under the opponent's fist. To everyone's surprise, the man surnamed Liu's punch suddenly dropped midway. He appeared as if he had suffered a heatstroke, his eyes glazed over, drool trickling from the corner of his mouth, and he slumped down onto the scorching deck.

The other three were taken aback by his scolding, unsure of what had happened. As they exchanged glances, Liu Laoshi lowered his head and said in a hushed voice, "Someone is up to no good. When we were moving the rice bags, we were extremely careful with the one hundred and twenty bags, fearing that we might break them and anger the host. Take a close look at what is on the ground between the dock and the official road"

Oh heavens, if the heavens had eyes, the rich would not be so fat and prosperous while the poor struggle to survive! The robust man with the surname Shi could not tolerate the envious and jealous expressions on the faces of Wang and Liu, and he muttered in response, "The heavens have long since died. If you don't believe it, just call for a thunderstorm and see!"

Liu Laoshi and the others thought for a moment, and indeed, this was the reasoning. The rice scattered on the ground did not belong to them, so there was no need to expose someone else's trick. However, upon further reflection, if the rice on the ground were gathered into a pile, cleaned, and dried, it would be enough for their family to eat well for several months. Instantly, a sense of imbalance arose within them. They spat on the deck and muttered under their breath: "Damn it, spilling rice and flour, aren't they afraid of being struck by lightning!"

Cheng Xiaojiu and the others peeked over and indeed saw a ground covered with rice grains. The grains, trampled by the strong men and soaked with sweat, had already taken on the same color as the gray river sand. Cheng Xiaojiu furrowed her brow slightly, and then understood the reasoning behind it. She gestured subtly to her companions and whispered, "Don't get involved. It's all for the sake of chewing and wrapping. It's quite clever of them to come up with this method!"

"Lazy bones, if I catch you slacking off again, I will strip your skin off!" The overseer's servant scoffed and coldly scolded. After cursing, he still felt unsatisfied, turned around, and pointed his whip at Cheng Xiaojium and Wang Ermao, who were standing by waiting for their companions to start working, and shouted loudly, "What are you looking at? Hurry up and move the grain bags. If the ship is not unloaded before sunset, no one will get paid!"

Each rice bag weighs over 200 pounds. When placed on their backs, it immediately causes them to sway unsteadily. The laborers, whose lives are as fragile as weeds, dare not complain; they grit their teeth and, under the scorching sun, carry the rice bags towards the carts waiting by the official road. Arriving at their destination does not mark the end of their task; they must help each other to place the rice bags onto the carts, arranging them neatly from start to finish before they can receive a life-saving bamboo stick.

Wang Ermao had just turned fourteen, and his physique and strength had not yet fully developed. Even when four people exerted their strength together, they had to grit their teeth and hold on; how could they withstand the opponent's cunning tricks? After the first boat had just finished unloading, he was already feeling somewhat overwhelmed. When he lifted the first sack from the second boat, his legs wobbled, prompting the other two companions to roll their eyes at him. As he lifted the second sack, he stumbled again, and the burly man named Shi standing opposite him immediately raised his eyebrows and quietly complained, "Take it easy, you little rascal. Don't be so jumpy. If you end up causing everyone to strain their arms, who do you think will be responsible for the six dou of rice wages?"

Brother Cheng, be more careful next time. I need to keep my back intact to support a whole family!" The grain carrier frowned and scolded with a stern expression

After only two or three trips back and forth, some people were already so exhausted that they could barely hold themselves together, squatting by the roadside and gasping for breath. The kind-hearted Cheng Bo, experienced in such matters, ordered the servants to fetch two large wooden barrels for fire prevention, each as thick as a water tank. He first sprinkled a tiny amount of coarse salt, about the size of a fingernail, into the barrels, and then instructed them to fill the barrels with well water. The laborers, nearly collapsing from fatigue, immediately surged forward, eagerly scooping up the saltwater with their hands as if vying for precious nectar, and poured it into their mouths. After quenching their thirst, they gradually regained some strength, gritting their teeth and swaying as they made their way to the dock, ready to risk their lives for the next bamboo skewer.

The sun ambles across the sky, yet the heat on the ship rises without any delay. Sweat beads drip from people's foreheads, and as soon as they touch the deck, they vanish in an instant. The soles of feet, thickened by years of toil, suddenly regain sensitivity; each step feels as if one is treading on a bed of coals. The glaring river, the scalding deck, and the sunlight overhead conspire to transform the entire ship into a large cooking stove. Those laboring hard on the ship, their clothes soaked with sweat, cling tightly to their bodies, while water droplets drip from their arms and hands, resembling dumplings that have been steamed to perfection. The glaring river, the scalding deck, and the sunlight overhead conspire to transform the entire ship into a large cooking stove. Those laboring hard on the ship, their clothes soaked with sweat, cling tightly to their bodies, while water droplets drip from their arms and hands, resembling dumplings that have been steamed to perfection.

My ninth brother is indeed a descendant of a military family!" Wang Ermao took over the conversation, boasting with great pride. In his view, the respect others showed for Cheng Xiaojium was equivalent to respecting himself, which made him feel particularly pleased