Chapter 4: A World Worse Than Dogs

om worry and her appetite had returned. She urged Jia Yin to cook, even pleading, "Jia Yin, could you make me another soup please""No way!" Jia Yin firmly refused, "If you want to give it away, do it...The child clung to the car door and cried desperately, "Waaah, Mother, don't sell me! I won't go! I'll never drink fish soup again, Mother, don't sell me!"

The strong man was also cruel, he hacked a child's neck with a single hand knife.

The child fainted and was shoved into a carriage.

And the child's mother clutched a half bag of grain, her head bowed low as she quickly ran away.

"Oh, what a terrible thing! It's so pitiful!"

Tao Hongying kept shaking her head. Hearing her daughter's muffled mumbling, she realized that her daughter had flushed red from being held too tight. She quickly loosened her grip.

Jia Yin gasped for breath, her heart aching. This was like selling her own child!

Half a bag of grain, can exchange a life!

The burly man continued to bellow, "Food for children! Ten catties of rice for a girl, twenty catties for a boy! Anyone wanting to exchange, come quickly!"

"The boy is just a burden, slowing us down in our escape. We'll trade him for food, and that will keep our whole family alive. Maybe they can find a way to survive too!"

A basket of millet was placed in the sun, becoming increasingly golden and glistening. It made those who saw it drool with hunger.

Some people were originally poor, and after walking for half a month on the road, they had run out of food.

Then, one after another, young boys and girls cried and were thrown onto the truck. Their families, with drooping heads and lifeless eyes, were forced to retreat into their homes.

The whole Li family stood under the shade of a tree, sighing.

Separation of flesh and blood, a tragedy in the human world!

Not to mention Zhao Yuru and Tao Hongying, even Wu Cuifang didn't say anything harsh, after all, they are all mothers, and they can't stand this the most.

Li Jiayin hid in her mother's arms, her heart cold with dread.

Although she knew these days were chaotic, she still tried her best to help the Li family get enough to eat.

But witnessing such a tragedy firsthand, one truly understands the true meaning of "turmoil."

Better to be a pampered dog in a prosperous era than a person struggling in a chaotic one.

She instinctively leaned against her mother's chest, which was beating rapidly. Tao Hongying lowered her head and saw her daughter clutching her hair, her face pale. She quickly patted her a few times to comfort her.

Hearing the noise, Old Li scolded softly.

"The child is young, her soul is not yet stable. Let's not show her the excitement, quickly turn your back."

Tao Hongying smiled wryly, wishing she could tuck her daughter back into her belly.

Those tooth-pullers probably knew they weren't doing something right. They went around in circles, didn't try to persuade anyone anymore, and jumped into a carriage to leave quickly.

Lao Li knocked on the tobacco pipe pot twice and instructed, "Call the children back, hitch up the car, let's go!"

All members of the Li family were busy. Suddenly, Li Laosi asked, "Where are Jiaxi and Jianan"

"Just now I was under that tree!"

Li Jiarren raised his leg and went to look, but unfortunately there was no shadow of the two boys anywhere!

All members of the Li family panicked and searched frantically nearby, shouting.

It was still those children who had snatched the stewed fish last night. They pointed at the carriage driving away and reminded, "They were taken into the carriage!"

The entire Li family turned pale.

Li Laosi quickly unloaded the cart, put on his bow and arrows he used for hunting, and rode off on the donkey that had pulled the cart.

Li Lao Er and Li Lao San also wanted to chase, Li Laotai urged loudly.

"Get the axes and sickles! I'd rather see blood than let them keep our child!"

Li Jiaren, Li Jiayi, and Li Jiahuan, the three younger brothers, also jumped out of the car and chased after them desperately.

Li Laotai was not at ease, and she called out to Zhao Yuru, "Third daughter-in-law, take care of Fourth daughter-in-law and Fu Niuer!"

Then, she chased after him.

The human trafficker's carriage slowed down as it rounded the mountain bend. It was a good time to be happy, with such a good harvest this trip, and Li Lao Si rode his donkey up to catch up.

The man riding in a cart couldn't help but laugh, "That fellow on the donkey must think he can outpace our fine horses with his legs!"

Before his words hit the ground, a long feather arrow whistled past his cheek and lodged itself in the chariot's axle.

"Stop! If you don't stop, I'll shoot you!"

Li Laosi ran while drawing his bow, aiming a long arrow at the man in the carriage.

The man cherished his life, he hesitated for a moment and was thus approached by him.

He heaved himself off the donkey, braced his hands against the cartboard and with a mighty heave overturned the whole contraption!

Two men jumped back in surprise and hurriedly scrambled to the side.

The horses pulling the cart tipped over and began to whinny loudly.

"Boy, you're looking for death!" the two big men roared, pulling out their long swords from their waists and charging forward.

At this time, Li Lao'er and Li Lao'san arrived with three young boys.

They waved their sabers and charged forward, shouting loudly.

"Fourth brother, mother said she's not afraid of blood, she must get the child back!"

Li Lao Si, upon hearing this, became even more red-eyed and kicked open the carriage door.

The children inside had been bundled into a heap, two of them bound and gagged. They were Li Jiaxi and Li Jianan!

Upon seeing their family, the two boys burst into tears, wailing and crying.

Two men also panicked, pushing forward to confront Li's family, refusing to let them save the person.

At this moment, Old Mrs. Li arrived. Seeing her grandson was still alive, she felt relieved.

"Two valiant heroes, our child is playful and accidentally got onto your carriage. You're in this business for profit, and you surely don't want to cause trouble, do you

If you release our child, we'll go our separate ways. Otherwise, we'll fight to the death and make sure not a single one of you survives!

Li Lao Er and several others raised their gleaming axes and sickles. Li Lao Si also nocked an arrow and aimed at one of them.

The human trafficker actually caught two children as well, it was just a matter of convenience after all, since the business involved no upfront investment.

Never expected to run into such strong resistance, this child's family is so united and courageous.

Both of them looked at each other, and they both seemed a little discouraged.

"Since it's a misunderstanding, quickly bring out your children! We're in a hurry to leave!"

Li Laosi didn't put down his bow and arrow. Li Laoer stepped forward and pulled out the two nephews, quickly untied their ropes, and pulled off the rags from their mouths.

Two children cried out loud, and when Li Laotai slapped each of them once, they immediately stopped.

Li Laosi, seeing his family retreat ten or so steps, finally put away the bow and arrow, exerted himself with both hands, and clambered back onto the carriage.

One man looked on, his heart moved with emotion, and couldn't help but probe.

"Brother, you've got such strong arms, it's a shame to waste them. Why don't you join us in business..."

Li Lao Si refused to pay them any attention, striding back. The man's face darkened, but he finally got on the carriage and set off again.

Not until the carriage disappeared from sight did the Li family let out a breath of relief.

"Hurry back, only Red Ying and the others are left watching the luggage."

Grandma Li urged, and everyone realized that all the men from their families had arrived.

It was too dangerous to leave the woman alone, so Li Laosì rode his donkey back.

Good spirits, bad spirits!

Beside Li's family's cart, the tricycle used for carrying grain bags was empty and overturned.

Tao Hongying hugged her child tightly, standing beside Zhao Yuru near the donkey cart.

Zhao Yuru was holding a stick, while Wu Cuifang was hiding under the cart.

"An Zi's father... Where is An Zi Have you found him"

Tao Hongying, who was always outspoken and cheerful, shed tears this time.

Even the sweetest lullaby, struggling to peek out from its swaddling clothes, strained its neck, afraid that such a cute and mischievous older brother might be taken away.

Li Lao Si quickly replied, "Found them, both Jia An and Jia Xi were found, they're behind, coming back right away."

Zhao Yuru also burst into tears, “It’s good to find you. Wuwuwu, but our food supplies have been stolen! Just as you left, those people came and stole the grain bags. Hongying was pushed over, I couldn’t stop them…”hurried a few steps forward on his knees and respectfully replied, "Your Highness, when the County Princess left the palace, she left the little fox with Her Royal Highness as a companion. But last ni...