Zhang San’s parents are like a taboo existence to Zhang San.
Zhu Ying knew this, it was a very complicated emotion.
"Your Highness, I. They I."
Zhang San talked for a long time, not knowing where to start. He didn't even know how to say it.
After following Zhu Ying for so many years, this was the first time his eyes were full of confusion.
"Some things, let them go in the past. You have to let it go eventually. You also know that this damn natural disaster is not just you, but there are many people, all just like you."
"From now on, just think about the future. You are very good now. You have to believe that your children will never experience something like you again."
"Now crops such as sweet potatoes have begun to be promoted in the Ming Dynasty. Soon there will be enough grain seeds. By then, these tragic experiences will never happen again in the territory of the Ming Dynasty."
Looking at Zhang San's appearance, Zhu Ying said comfortingly.
The name Zhang San was given to him by Zhu Ying. From the moment Zhang San was rescued, he was reborn.
"Thank you, Your Highness, I understand."
Hearing this, Zhang San's eyes began to turn red, and the previous scenes appeared in his mind again.
"It's okay, let's go. I just arrived in the capital today, so I'll take a day off and relax."
Zhu Ying said.
Zhang San wanted to refuse, but under the pressure of Zhu Ying's eyes, he could only agree.
Then he faced Zhu Ying and left slowly.
That year, there was a great famine, and people ate each other.
Zhang San was born in a small county town. His family was not wealthy, but he had more than 20 acres of land, and his life was relatively stable.
When the famine came, Zhang San's family of seven could barely survive the first year by relying on food reserves.
However, in the second year, the grain had been eaten, but there was no new harvest, and all the fields were dry.
Many people became refugees and began to flee.
Many people also began to sell their sons and daughters.
In this border city of the Ming Dynasty, the government seemed to have few options.
But the more than 20 acres of farmland at home made everyone not want to leave just like that.
In the end, the old cow in the family and the big yellow dog that grew up with Zhang San had no choice but to be turned into food rations.
I can barely get by like this.
News also came from the city that the government had provided relief. Although it was just gruel, at least they would not die of hunger.
After the early rice is planted, everyone is looking forward to the autumn harvest.
The pouring rain made Zhang San's family start to cheer.
With this abundant rainwater, by the time it is purchased, life can be maintained no matter what.
Regardless of whether it is Zhang San's eldest brother, sister, or parents, although they are still hungry, they all have smiles in their eyes.
However, as the saying goes, after a severe drought there will be a locust plague.
Before it was time to harvest, they were eaten clean by overwhelming locusts.
At this time, Zhang San's family was completely panicked.
After the locust plague, it means that the fields are considered useless this year, and the family, including Chen Guzi, has planted them.
The remaining rations can only last until autumn.
Bad news continued to come, and the government's disaster relief food was already stretched thin. Zhang San held the porridge that was as clear as water, and his eyes began to fill with confusion.
This is the northwest, with endless plateaus. You don’t even know where to go to escape.
The family has no strength to escape and will surely starve to death on the way.
I can only squat on the kang, close my eyes and pant to save energy.
Drink some water when you are thirsty or hungry. My father said that this was how he survived the famine when he was young.
A family only has one meal a day.
Water porridge and meat.
The meat is made from locusts caught by a family when they cross the border and then dried into dried locusts.
It was through this that Zhang San and his family were able to survive for several more months.
As for the people in the clan, families have begun to starve to death.
Those who had gone out to escape were nowhere to be seen.
The lively clan began to become dead silent.
Then half a month later, Zhang San's family was completely out of food. At this time, the government's disaster relief food was also gone.
Only some wealthy families still have food in storage.
My father went there and said that the gate was closed and no more slaves were accepted.
After drinking water for two days, even the bark of nearby trees has been eaten away.
The whole family is at home, and there is no sound at all. Gu Chen
Zhang San's father looked at the clean bottom of the pot and said: If we don't do some things now, we will have no choice but to become completely extinct like the other families in the clan.
While talking, Zhang San's father's eyes were always staring at the child in Zhang San's arms.
When brother Zhang San heard this, he stood up silently and squatted at the door in silence.
The sister-in-law looked at the child in her arms and couldn't stop her tears from falling.
Zhang San actually knew what his father meant. A new vegetable shop was opened in the county town, specifically for recruiting people. It was said that it was run privately by the government and some large households.
Due to hunger, Zhang San did not speak.
When I woke up the next day, my sister-in-law's child was indeed gone.
Not long after, Zhang San's father and elder brother came back carrying two big pieces of meat, along with Chen Gu.
The aroma of rice and meat came from the big pot again. Zhang San had not smelled this aroma for an unknown amount of time.
It's just that when the family is eating, they are silent.
However, when Zhang San picked up a piece of meat and put it in his mouth, the delicious texture made him almost spit it out.
Even so, within a few days, Zhang San's family was clean again.
One night, Zhang San was awakened by the noise.
After listening carefully, Zhang San covered himself with the quilt.
The next day, it was new rice and meat.
But my sister-in-law is no longer here.
But this time, Zhang San seemed to be getting used to it.
Having gained strength after eating rice and meat, Zhang San, his eldest brother and his father began to go out to search for something to eat.
At this time, the entire county had begun to panic.
A certain wealthy family's house was invaded, but Zhang San and others arrived too late and everything was lost.
My father was very regretful and said that if he had known, he would have sent his sister-in-law there earlier.
Groups of people began to flee, and if they stayed in the county town, they would starve to death.
Zhang San watched helplessly as someone fainted from hunger and fell to the ground. He was immediately picked up by his companions and started a fire.
Some children, if they did not follow their parents, would soon be beaten to death.
The father and the eldest brother discussed it, and while they still had the strength, they boldly went over and asked them to share some of it.
Looking at the two energetic people, the group finally compromised.
Under the current situation, even the dead have become unsafe. Those buried do not need to wait until the next day, they will be exhumed that night.
Later, no one buried the dead people in the family.
As time went by, the entire county began to become sparsely populated.
At this time, Zhang San discovered that the government offices in the county were still empty.
Zhang San's mother died of hunger and was not buried.
This is what Zhang San's mother asked for. She hopes that the family can survive.
Soon, my sister was also sent to the shop.
Finally, it was Zhang San’s turn.
Because the eldest brother is the eldest son in the family.
Only then did his father tell Zhang San that he was once the eldest son in the family.
Only then did Zhang San understand.
There was no resistance or anger.
Zhang San followed his eldest brother and father and walked towards the vegetable shop.
Someone led Zhang San in at the door of the vegetable shop, while his father and elder brother were waiting outside.
But when Zhang San turned the corner, he turned around and found that his father and eldest brother had disappeared, which made Zhang San a little sad.
Many people in the yard were tied up naked and hung in mid-air.
The sound of knives on the chopping board kept coming from the backyard.
From time to time, a fat man would come and pick someone up and drag them into the backyard.
Some of these people are dead and some are in coma.
Not long after, someone came over and gave Zhang San a large bowl of yellow water.
After drinking the yellow water, Zhang San began to become drowsy.
It turns out that this is the smell of Mongolian sweat medicine.
On the streets of the capital, scenes from the past are still emerging in Zhang San's mind.
The lively crowd in front of him made him feel like he was in another world.