Goldfield
Chapter 33: Beaten

Yu Xiaocao watched his eyes dart as he spoke and understood that his injury was not that simple. She recalled a short story she read in elementary school titled “Vanka”. In the story, internships are a source of free labor that is often cruelly beaten for the smallest reason.

Looking at the skinny figure and skinny face of her eleven year old brother, Yu Xiaocao knew that her life in the carpentry shop was not very good. As he answered a series of questions Yu Hang had, he took out the cloth bag he used to wrap the shepherd bag sandwich, which he had packed,

“Everything is fine at home. Brother Han taught me how to set traps to catch wild rabbits. I got one tael from selling games today. Oldest Brother, you don't have to worry. If you're not happy staying at a carpentry shop, go home. Our family has enough food for everyone, including you. ”.

“I'm fine here! The head craftsman often praised me for being a good worker and I worked hard to learn the skills. He also said that he would teach me how to cut wood in a few days! In two years, when I graduate from my internship, I will be able to earn a salary and support our family. By the way, why did you guys come here? ” Yu Hang quickly changed the topic as he quietly rubbed his injured leg, which was sick from being hit.

Little Shitou took out a piece of candy from an oiled paper bag, put it in her brother's mouth, and grinned, Young “Boss Restaurant Zhenxiu also treated us to a meal! The table was full of food just for the three of us. Oldest Brother, I saved half a chicken for you. It is made with ginseng. You must feel it immediately! ”

“Sister Han, thank you for bringing my younger brother and sister to visit me. However, this was too far from the village. Xiaocao's health wasn't very good, so he couldn't walk that far. You don't have to come anymore. ” Yu Hang did not take the chicken soup that Xiaocao handed over and thanked Zhao Han. After which, he turned around to warn his younger siblings.

Xiaocao shook his head and said, “It's okay. On the way, we met Grandpa Zhang, who was sending firewood to the city. We borrowed this basin from Zhenxiu Restaurant, so you should hurry up and drink the chicken soup. If you can not finish the chicken, wrap it with oil paper. It won't break even if you let it till night. I also brought you steamed bread. They just cooked before I left, so I have two for you .. ”

Xiaocao knew that his elder brother was not treated well in the carpentry shop, so he decided to send him food frequently in the future.

“I have a lot to eat and drink here, so I'm tired of eating steamed buns. You just have to take back the steamed bread to eat. Don't send me any more food in the future. The food provided by the carpentry shop was quite delicious! ”

Yu Hang hid the fact that he ate hard bean pancakes with cold water every day because he did not want his family to worry about him.

If Yu Xiaocao was really an eight-year-old, he would definitely be fooled. He deeply sighed in his heart and pretended to be angry,

“What? Have you gotten used to eating good food and now underestimates our family's coarse wheat bread? Even if they provide good food here, it cannot compare to the goodwill of our family. Quickly take! If not, I will be angry! ”

Yu Hang wanted to say something, but faltered. Her heart was filled with family warmth as she calmly held the cloth bag that her younger sister forced into her hands. It had been almost three months since he had interned. He was often scolded and beaten by shop workers and craftsmen. Although often dizzy and weak because of hunger, he still has to do heavy work every day. Thus, his entire body would be sore and painful every night. There were also times when he could hardly bear it anymore. However, he would always think of his family during those difficult times. She would remember her mother's gentle smile, her father's spirited gaze, and the sweet smiling face of her younger siblings …

The only reason he lasted so long was because of his family!

“Yu Hang! Where the hell are you going? Until when will you slack off? Wooden orders store arrived. Aren't you going back here to work? It is in vain to feed you lazy bums .. ”

The owner of the carpentry shop, Shopkeeper Zhang, looked out and inspected Xiaocao and Shitou's clothes. He moved his lips in disdain, and then shouted loudly at Yu Hang.

Yu Hang held the cloth bag tightly on his arm and forced a smile, “Manager Zhang looks like a cruel person, but he is actually very kind. He usually treats us very well. Be careful on your way home. You do not need to send food in the future. I'm fine..”.

“Why aren't you here yet ?! If you don't want to work anymore, get out! Trash that is just wasting food! ” Manager Zhang impatiently scolded, as if he was ordering an obedient animal.

Yu Xiaocao looked at his elder brother's back as he hurriedly ran in. He decided in his heart that he would bring Yu Hang home as quickly as possible. Internships do not have freedom and human rights. Furthermore, even their self-esteem was trampled by others. So, he would be the one to protect his own family!

Little Shitou held a bag of candy in her hand, but the candy was as if it had lost all its sweetness. The little boy seemed to be holding back his emotions as he raised his head to look at his second sister and said,

“Second Sister, if only there was a way to make people grow faster. If I was an adult, I could be like our father. I was able to catch a lot of game and earn money to support our family. That way, others will not underestimate us and Eldest Brother will not be bothered by others.

Yu Xiaocao stroked her little head and wanted to give her a agreeing smile, but she instead let out a deep sigh.

“Sister, Brother Han, where do we go now?” Little Shitou had already lost her initial excitement as she walked with her head bowed.

Zhao Han noticed that his siblings were not in a very good mood. He pondered for a while and said, “It's still very early now. After we send the fish to your youngest uncle, we can casually roam the streets. ”

The three quickly found Yu Bo's rented residence. He went to the academy and was not home. Xiaocao politely declined her aunt Madam Zhao's warm offer to stay. After he left with Zhao Han and his younger brother, they began to walk the streets.

The main streets of the three streets of Tanggu City were filled with restaurants and inns. Currently, all the largest restaurants and inns were owned by the wealthy Zhou Family.

With excitement and satisfaction, the two brothers surveyed their surroundings as they walked.

Little Shitou held onto the cookies her second sister had brought with her with one hand, while she messily ate the hawthorn sweets in the other. His large eyes didn't seem to be enough to see it all, as there were so many new and interesting things to see in the city.

“Hah? Second Brother, isn't that Uncle Zhao and Father? ” With a hand holding a candied hawthorn stick, Little Shitou pointed to the crowd in front. He looked more carefully and confirmed, “That's really our father! Second Brother, let's quickly go.. ”.

Yu Xiaocao quickly stopped his younger brother and shook his head in disapproval, “Why are you leaving? If Dad finds out we're selling the game, can we still keep a secret wallet? If all the money goes into our grandmother's purse, then we should be hungry and cold in winter! ”

Little Shitou looked at the hawthorn cakes and sweets in her hands. If her grandmother took all that money, would she still be able to eat sweet sour hawthorn candies and sweet maltose candies?

“Second Sister, what should we do?” Little Shitou adored her second sister, who looked like a different person since she injured her head.

When he followed her, not only could he eat meat, but he could also earn and save money. Even their grandmother did not dare to discipline him. Second Brother is also a very generous person. He was willing to buy expensive cakes for her to eat. Therefore, he decided that he would firmly support all the decisions made by his second sister in the future. It was an unshakable promise that he would keep for thirty years!

Yu Xiaocao suddenly gained the loyalty of his younger brother with just a few cookies and hawthorn candies that cost around a dozen copper coins. He is definitely a culinary lover!

Holding his younger brother and he pulled up Zhao Han's sleeves and quickly dodged into an alley. If he didn't move quickly, he would have been captured by his father.

“What's wrong?” Zhao Bufan, who was carrying a stag, could not help but ask when he saw his close friend, Yu Hai, looking back from time to time.

There were some small hunting results hanging on Yu Hai's tall body. With slightly furrowed brows and pursed lips, she muttered hesitantly, “Just .. I guess I saw Xiaocao and Shitou ..”

“Second daughter and your youngest son? Are you sure How could they possibly walk all the way to the city when one of them had a weak constitution and the other was only five years old? You might see someone similar to them and make a mistake. ” Zhao Bufan would never have thought that his own son would bring the two little ones to town to sell the hunted.

The supposedly weak Xiaocao became very brave and shopped casually after he managed to avoid his father.

[Master, Master! I could feel the spiritual energy nearby. It's on your right side. Hurry up, take me there to check it out!] The little sacred stone was so agitated that he forgot his promise to ‘not recognizing Xiaocao as his master’. The energy nearby was quite strong, so if it could absorb the energy, then it would be better than taking a bath for ten days.

Yu Xiaocao hurriedly looked towards his right. ‘Isn't this a pharmacy? Could this apothecary also sell elixirs that help with cultivation? ‘

“Tong — Ren — Tang.. Second Brother, I can recognize this character!” Little Shitou's face became sticky after she finished the hawthorn sweets. He looked up with a smiling face, as if he wanted to be praised and loved.

His brother can read? Of course, he should be praised. Yu Xiaocao generously praised, “You deserve to be my sister. You can really read! Tell me, where did you learn it from? ”

Little Shitou grinned happily and proudly said, “Second Brother, Eldest Brother learned many words from our younger uncle. After that, he taught the three of us. I can recognize over two hundred characters.You hurt your head, so you may not remember anymore! ”

“Although I cannot remember some things clearly, I can still recognize these characters.” It was much more convenient because the original host also recognized a few words.

Little Shitou nodded and said, “Second Brother, when learning to read, you are the fastest student among the three of us! The younger uncle said you probably have a very good memory. If you are male, our family will definitely send you to study at the academy. ”

Xiaocao noticed his irish tone, so he stroked his little head and said, Our Little “Shitou is also very smart. You are only five years old, but you can already recognize so many words. Don't worry, your sister has money. I'll send you to study at the academy next year. It would be the same if you came back to teach me after you learned to read. ”

Little Shitou recalled that the rich young master gave his second sister an ingot, which should be enough for a year's tuition. The little boy smiled brighter as there was hope he could go study.

Zhao Han, who was secretly walking behind the two brothers and protecting them, was surprised to see Yu Xiaocao enter the pharmacy, “Xiaocao, are you not feeling well? If you are sick, you should treat it. You should not delay it and do not be afraid to spend money. ”.

‘You're the one who's sick!’ However, Yu Xiaocao somewhat doubted the medical skills of the village barefoot doctor, Doctor You. When he moved into this body, it was already in a terrible condition. Hopefully, there will be no lingering effects from his illness in the past. He had to let the doctors in the city check his pulse, so that he could treat his illness or feel calm.