Later, Xiao Deng was directly taken away by that group of men. Chen Li Shu watched their departing backs before turning to Gu Xing Dong and saying, "Go get my portion of food, I'm going to take a look."
She did not try to hide her words, and everyone around heard her clearly. Zhang Wan Er's eyes widened, and she sternly reprimanded, "Li Shu, do you know what you're doing? I just said that what you're doing could break the rules. If others follow suit, who will be responsible for the ensuing chaos? Will you?"
"I know you resent me, so you want to do the opposite of everything I say. Usually, I pretend not to see small matters, turning a blind eye. But this matter concerns the safety of other people. I cannot let you act recklessly!"
"Aren't we doing work that serves the people? Now that someone has reported that trouble has occurred below, don't we have to investigate the truth of the matter?"
"Don't worry, I won't use any supplies. This food is what I didn't eat at noon. How I distribute this bowl of rice is my own business, isn't it?" After saying this, Chen Li Shu turned to leave.
Seeing this, Zhang Wan Er's eyes lit up, and then she put on a troubled expression, saying, "But I just said, no one would do such a foolish thing, openly robbing others of their food and letting them starve to death. If this matter blows up, those who robbed food won't fare well either!"
"If you insist on going, there's nothing I can do to stop you, as you don't belong to the army. But I must go with you. If anything violates regulations, I will have to pursue you for obstruction of official duties, even if your man is the commander of the army."
Hearing Zhang Wan Er's words, Gu Xing Dong cast her a cold glance, then lowered his head and quietly asked Chen Li Shu in her ear, "Do you really want to go?"
Chen Li Shu nodded firmly and said, "When the forest is big, there are all sorts of birds. If a few lives are at stake, I can't just stand by and do nothing. I have to go. You shouldn't come. There are more disaster victims waiting for your help!"
"I'll accompany you. Let them handle the rest." After speaking, they didn't hesitate any further on this matter. After packing their things, they followed the direction the group had left.
----
"You've really gotten bold, daring to go to the soldiers and report us. Master Qin, it's a good thing we discovered it in time, otherwise, all our good deeds would have been ruined!"
"Is what we're doing not too bad? If something happens to him, none of us will be able to get away with it. Master Qin, why don't we give him something to eat, just enough to keep him alive? Once those soldiers leave, no one will care if he lives or dies."
The man called Master Qin snorted, "Our food is not even enough to eat, and my little treasures are still hungry. And you want me to share food with him? Just find some dirt and water and force it into his stomach. As long as there's something in his stomach, he won't die!"
"Master Qin, you really do have a solution!" The underlings beside the man all stepped forward to praise Master Qin.
Soon, dirt mixed with water was brought before Xiao Deng and the others. "You said you were hungry? I've prepared something for you. Eat up. Once I'm full, you won't be hungry anymore."
The people beside Xiao Deng heard this and quickly picked up the bowls full of mud, about to devour them. Xiao Deng shouted, "Don't eat! None of you eat! If you eat this, you won't live!"
"But Brother Xiao Deng, we're really hungry. Even if we don't eat this, we'll starve to death."
"Exactly, exactly. We haven't eaten in almost eight days. I don't have any strength left. I want to eat!"
"..."
The children spoke one after another. Xiao Deng looked at them with heartache, then glared at Master Qin and said, "You old bastard, you'll die a terrible death for your evil deeds!"
Before Master Qin could react to Xiao Deng's curse, the dogs around him couldn't hold back. "What are you saying? How dare you curse our Master Qin! I'll beat you to death!"
After saying this, they started hitting Xiao Deng with punches and kicks.
Xiao Deng looked at Master Qin with resentment in his eyes and gritted his teeth, saying, "You're just taking advantage of their low intelligence, like children, to do whatever you want. Your evil deeds will be exposed one day, and you will not have a good end!"
As he spoke, the force of the fists landing on Xiao Deng increased.
When Chen Li Shu and Gu Xing Dong arrived, they saw this scene. She shouted, "What are you doing? Is this what you call being well-fed? Is there a problem?"
Hearing Chen Li Shu's reprimand, everyone paused. Then, with looks of panic, they hid behind Master Qin and stammered, "How… how did these people find us?"
"Master Qin, what should we do? If they find out we've been hoarding grain, not only will we be infamous, but we might also be punished!"
"Master Qin..."
Master Qin glanced disdainfully at the people behind him and said impatiently, "Look at your guilty faces. Even if you try to hide something, your expressions will give you away. Alright, all of you, get to the back. Act according to the situation, and be smart about it!"
"Yes!"
"Yes."
"..."
The underlings agreed in unison and then lowered their heads tacitly, standing motionlessly behind Master Qin.
Master Qin watched Chen Li Shu approach him step by step, a loving and fawning smile appearing on his face. He said, "How come you young comrades are here? These nephews of mine are really too insensible. At such a crucial time, they still cause trouble for you. I'm just disciplining them. They don't have parents, so I have to take more care of them!"
"Is your way of taking care of them perhaps a bit too violent?" After saying this, Chen Li Shu glanced at Xiao Deng's wounds, her gaze growing colder.
Facing Chen Li Shu's questioning, Master Qin's expression remained unchanged. He continued to smile and replied, "Then this is our family matter, and it has nothing to do with this young comrade."
Chen Li Shu sneered and looked at these people, who had broken the law but were unaware of it, and said coldly, "Is that so? You are suspected of assault and obstruction of official duties, and this concerns us. You will have to come with us now!"