In the hut, Zhang Ping'an lit the oil lamp that he was reluctant to use, cooked a large pot of wild vegetable pimple soup, grabbed a handful of precious salt and put it in, and sat aside to watch Zhang Yi and Niu Ben eat.
He guiltily recounted his own experience. He left the mountain village more than ten years ago, originally thinking of trying to make a name for himself in the outside world. However, the more he wandered around, the worse he became, and in the end he could not go back.
As he spoke, he started crying again and paid homage to his deceased relatives from afar in the north.
Zhang Yi couldn't help but shed tears.
"Yi'er, you are the only child of our old Zhang family." As he said that, Zhang Ping'an dug out an animal skin bag from the corner, poured out two golden beans, and stuffed them into Zhang Yi's hands, "Uncle doesn't have much ability. If you can afford so much money, you can settle down in Mopan City from now on."
Zhang Pingan excitedly began to plan his nephew's life.
He rented an acre of land from the landlord Li Guaizi's family, and the harvest was 28%, and he harvested 20%, which is about more than 100 kilograms of corn a year. In the off-season, he worked more diligently, carrying bricks, delivering water, and doing odd jobs, and he could barely make ends meet.
All taxes were paid by Li Guaizi. Li Guaizi paid 50% to the overlord, General Cao, and kept 30% himself. Li Guaizi controlled hundreds of acres of cropland, and his income was considerable. In Zhang Pingan's view, Li Guaizi was a successful person. .
"You two are both strong laborers. Tomorrow I will put in a good deal with Li Guaizi and rent him a few acres of land. After working for two or three years, we will be stable. From now on, I will follow Li Guaizi's example and clear out my own land and rent it again. Once you get out, you won’t have to do anything else.”
Zhang Yi listened silently and slowly put down the broken bowl in his hand.
What logic is this?
Work hard to become a landlord and change from exploited to exploiter?
This uncle really has no ability. He is struggling at the bottom of society and holds an absurd ideal. To say the least, it is not that easy to become a landlord. In case of a disaster, the tenant farmers will have no choice but to sell themselves into slavery.
Even Niu Ben understood this simple truth, but he couldn't stand listening to it.
"Uncle, you are pushing my sworn brother into a pit of fire. How many people like you work lifelessly and end up becoming slaves. My sworn brother knows astronomy and geography and has read more than a thousand volumes. How can I do anything? This kind of hard work?"
"ah?"
Zhang Ping'an stared at Zhang Yi in surprise. He had grown up watching Zhang Yi, and he had never known a word after reading a book for a day!
"Well, uncle," Zhang Yi had no choice but to speak smoothly, "after you left, I met a stranger who taught me many skills."
Zhang Ping'an clapped his hands and laughed, his nephew had such an adventure, now the old Zhang family is on the verge of success.
Immediately afterwards, Zhang Yi told his uncle that he had turned into a two-legged sheep.
The smile on Zhang Pingan's face disappeared, and he was filled with panic.
He got up and walked around in the hut. After walking around for more than ten times, he stopped and said.
"You killed someone and burned down the bun shop. You can't stay in Mopan City. Yi'er, you two are hiding at home and are not allowed to go out. When Li Guaizi and I borrow money tomorrow, you two will leave Mopan City. Find a way to survive.”
"Uncle, you have to sell yourself into slavery for the sake of us two!" Niu Ben sighed. Borrowing money from the landlord's family means selling yourself. He has seen this kind of thing many times.
Zhang Yi felt sad for a while.
My uncle is a good uncle, but he always jumps into the fire pit.
"No!" Zhang Yi shook his head.
Zhang Pingan was shocked and looked at Zhang Yi blankly.
"We still want to kill that white-bone demon from Erniang Chu." Niu Ben explained.
"What, you have to go to the road of death?" Zhang Ping'an said in shock, "Yi'er, open your eyes and see what kind of world this is. We are poor people, and we can't even hide from the evil people!"
Zhang Yi smiled and pulled his uncle to sit down.
…
His calmness and calmness baffled his uncle.
This is not surprising, Zhang Pingan is a frog trapped in a well, while Zhang Yi holds the whole world in his chest.
Two-legged sheep, hard-working slaves, tenant farmers, landlords, gangsters and overlords, these information are enough to outline the outline of Mopan City. This small mountain city brings together all the dregs that have appeared in history.
Changing the world starts from Mopan City.
"Uncle, brother," Zhang Yi lowered his voice, "The evil people are very powerful, but don't be afraid. I have ways to deal with them. My goal is to get rid of all the evil people."
"Yi Ge, do you mean we won't just kill Chu Erniang?" Niu Ben asked.
Zhang Yi nodded and analyzed.
"It's easy to kill Chu Erniang, but it depends on the timing. Behind her is Liang Dingtian, and behind Liang Dingtian is General Cao. This is a hornet's nest, so you can't poke it randomly. Hunters all know that to deal with the hornet's nest, you need to attack it with smoke and fire at night, and you can't let them go. If I find you, I will finally be together."
Zhang Yi transformed the hunter's experience into strategies.
"Okay, I will kill whoever my brother-in-law tells me to kill, and I will set fire to whoever my brother-in-law tells me to set fire to." Niu Ben said fearlessly.
"I'm comparing it to a hornet's nest, brother," Zhang Yi said with a smile, "I will find the weaknesses of the villains. I think the best way is to sneak into the enemy and use their contradictions to defeat them one by one."
"Oh, this is a good idea, but I think we need to recruit more brothers to do things better." Niu Ben suddenly realized.
"Yes, we need to find a group of like-minded brothers and form a team to finally gain a foothold in Mopan City." Zhang Yi said happily.
The two of them talked passionately.
Zhang Ping'an felt restless in his heart. The two young men were too brave. He couldn't even think about such a thing, so he spoke.
"Yi'er, it's not my uncle who is pouring cold water on you. You don't know that the overlord, General Cao, is a giant! They say he is invincible. He can lift people up and throw them to death with one hand. Even two tigers are no match for him. I heard that he is invincible. His name scares even children away from crying."
"That's true, Brother Yi. I've seen General Cao from a distance. He's half a height taller than me. He can eat a sheep in one meal. We really can't beat him." Niu Ben scratched his head and said.
The ox ran 1.8 meters, and he was already a rare man with an iron tower. General Cao must have reached two meters higher. This kind of giant naturally had the upper hand after society degenerated into the cold weapon age.
Zhang Yi must break the curse and eliminate the fear in the hearts of the two.
"No one is invincible," Zhang Yi encouraged. "In ancient times, Xiang Yu and Lu Bu were both giants. They were once invincible, but they were defeated in the end. Those who are brave but not wise will undoubtedly lose, and those who are brave and wise will be defeated. Only then can we accomplish great things. Don’t worry, I will definitely defeat General Cao!”
Zhang Pingan and Niu Ben were stunned.
Zhang Yi's courage far exceeded their knowledge.
"Brother Yi, I heard from an old man that when the world reaches its darkest time, a hero will appear to save the suffering people. Could it be that it's you?" Niu Ben asked with his eyes shining.
Zhang Yi smiled and said nothing. No one has the word hero written on his face, but as long as he has ambition in his heart, anyone can become a hero.
Zhang Pingan's heart surged. This legend has been circulating among the poor for a long time. Everyone is looking forward to the hero appearing soon. If it is really his nephew, then a dragon will fly out of the old Zhang family!
"Yi'er, my uncle wants to ask you one last question, are you determined to fight against evil people?"
"Yes, uncle, Yier is determined to die."
"Okay," Zhang Ping said with a sigh, "Then uncle will go all out and die to fulfill your wish!"
Zhang Yi's heart was filled with emotion, and now he had two supporters.
A single spark can start a prairie fire.
"Yi'er, you just said you were going to break into the evil people and defeat them one by one. What exactly did you think?" Zhang Ping'an paid attention to this issue.
"It's time for uncle to come forward," Zhang Yi said confidently, "You know the landlord Li Guaizi, and Li Guaizi knows the overlord General Cao. Tomorrow you go and tell Li Guaizi, nephew, I know astronomy well and geography well. Qianjuan, let him help introduce you. I think General Cao will arrange an errand for me."
"Okay, once my righteous brother becomes someone close to General Cao, let alone Chu Erniang, even Liang Dingtian will look up to my righteous brother, and we can find a way to make dogs bite dogs!" Niu Ben high-fived.
"Brother is getting smarter and smarter."
Zhang Yi smiled and patted Niu Ben on the shoulder to encourage him.