At the foot of Toad Ridge, in the night, cries could be heard from time to time.
"Mom, I'm hungry, when will I eat?" A child nestled in her mother's arms.
"Go to sleep. You won't be hungry when you sleep."
"Uh... uh..." A big man groaned.
"You're a man, why are you moaning? It's embarrassing!"
"Brother, my leg... is rotten..."
When he opened the ragged trouser legs, he found that his calves were full of ulcers and exuded a foul odor.
These people have not been living a very good life recently. After they were reduced to slaves, they had to perform hard labor every day. Such as plowing fields, building cities, digging embankments, not having enough food to eat, and being whipped. Some of them used to have relationships with the Liu family.
It is understandable that people who hate someone take the opportunity to beat up a drowned dog and come over to kick him.
Therefore, these more than 90 people have more or less injuries on their bodies. And the environment in the mountains and forests at night is not good at all. Hunger, injuries, and fear torture their souls.
"Why do we have to endure this, why!"
Someone finally shouted out, as if asking the unfair heaven. But everyone knew that the person he was really attacking was Liu Muyun.
This gray-haired old man represents the last dignity and glory of the family.
Liu Muyun responded with silence, guarding the fire alone.
This disguise encouraged everyone, and there were many discussions.
"If we were in the mountains, they would give us a full meal."
"I had a good meal yesterday."
"That thing called chili pepper can only be eaten by nobles in the city..."
"It doesn't matter to me, it really doesn't matter to me, but my child is only six years old..."
Hearing these sounds in Liu Muyun's ears, he sighed from the bottom of his heart: People's hearts are in confusion.
These more than ninety people are blood relatives of the Liu family, and most of them are former servants and slaves of the family. They were also demoted to slaves following the Liu family's accident.
Now, under the torture of life and death, these people's loyalty to the Liu family is slowly weakening. Even among blood relatives, they are not happy. You are good, I am good, everyone is good, and there are many intrigues among each other.
Some people want to turn into bandits, while others still want to stick to their glory. They have different opinions, and the organization has begun to disintegrate from within.
Now even if these people go up the mountain, they are still divided into small groups, and they will definitely be used by Cheng Dalei. They cannot take the dominance of the village like before, and there is no need to think about competing with Cheng Dalei for power.
Is this also part of your plan?
Liu Muyun suddenly raised his head and looked towards the mountain, feeling a chill in his heart.
In fact, it wasn't that Liu Muyun didn't want to stay in Toad Ridge, after all, he had nowhere to go, but he didn't want to stay in Toad Ridge either, because his inherent concept didn't allow him to do so.
So, is there a way to get the best of both worlds?
Uh... Liu Muyun didn't think about this issue.
Although he is well-read in poetry and books and is known in the Liu family as being knowledgeable, he obviously does not have much wisdom.
He just posed this question to Cheng Dalei, showed off his knowledge in game science, and showed his old man's skills to a young man: You are still too young, you should know some rules, you don't have the final say here.
However, Cheng Dalei didn't play games with him. He just kicked him to the ground and said fiercely: Get out of here, I set the rules here.
Humiliation, or death.
Liu Muyun was helpless when faced with the multiple-choice questions thrown by Cheng Dalei.
Meng Ziyun approached Liu Muyun and whispered: "Grandpa Liu, I have a way, I don't know if it will work."
"explain……"
"Bao'er is very hungry. Let's leave him in front of the village gate. I don't believe that Cheng Dalei won't open the door. As long as he opens the door, he can send some old and weak people in, leaving the strong ones behind. We can slowly negotiate terms with him."
Liu Muyun raised his head suddenly, as if he was meeting Meng Ziyun for the first time. The two looked at each other with cold eyes, and they both felt the fear of each other in the other's eyes.
Liu Muyun had to admit that what Meng Ziyun said was a method. Cheng Dalei posed a multiple-choice question of humiliation or death, and Meng Ziyun's method also gave Cheng Dalei a choice.
Is it moral?
Not many people can face such torture, but faced with this method, Liu Muyun chose to remain silent. After a long time, he slowly said a sentence.
"Confucius said: "A man with lofty ideals and benevolence does not seek life to harm his benevolence, but he kills himself to fulfill his benevolence."
Meng Ziyun understood the consciousness behind Liu Muyun's words, and resigned silently. Looking at his back, a deep coldness welled up in Liu Muyun's heart.
The internal collapse occurred earlier than Cheng Dalei expected.
Before dawn, someone walked up the mountain along the road, carefully avoiding traps, and smashed the gate of the cottage with both fists.
"Open the door, I want to go up the mountain and become a bandit!"
He was the big man with the ulcerated calf, and his behavior was despised.
"You actually want to be a bandit, how can you meet the ancestors of the Liu family!"
"The ancestors have spirits, but they can't rest in peace in Jiuquan!"
The words were like a knife, piercing the man's back. He didn't look back, he just banged the village door with his fist and shouted one after another.
The door to the cottage seemed like it would never be opened until he opened it.
Now this door is the man's last hope for survival, and its closing seems to symbolize death. The big man is getting more and more frightened, and his voice is getting louder and louder.
Everyone at the foot of the mountain watched this scene. They ridiculed the big man, but they may not be unswayed in their hearts. Seeing the iron-clad man wagging his tail and begging for mercy like a bereaved dog, it seemed that this happened to them, and humiliation enveloped everyone.
What a humiliation!
They were politely invited back to the village, and their food and accommodation were carefully and thoughtfully arranged, and even clean clothes were provided.
But they chose to refuse for the sake of honor.
But now, he was kneeling on the ground, knocking on the door as if praying to God, hoping that the door would open just a crack for him.
How humiliating!
But to what extent must he be humiliated before this door will be opened for him? Isn't it enough to kneel down, isn't it enough to prostrate, isn't it enough to cry, isn't it enough to cry? I have put down my glory and my dignity as a human being, and lie down humbly.
Isn’t it enough to pray for your mercy on earth?
not enough!
People can have their own glory, but you must be prepared to die for this glory. No one has the responsibility to pay for your glory except yourself.
Put down your glory, dignity, everything you believe in, and then this place can give you life, only life.
We respect those who died for glory, but there is no burial ground for them here. Let me die far away.
This closed door represents Cheng Dalei's answer.
Naturally, he heard the noise outside and turned over to sleep, covering his face with the quilt.
How to say that sentence: You can't speak human words when you are held in high esteem, and you have to be kicked up hard to understand what your name is.
Just like if you give him a sling of money every day, if you don't give it for a day, he will hate you.
If you give him a slap every day and don't slap him for a day, he will love you.
There is another saying that goes like this: It is better to throw the bowl if you ask for food, and it is better to have a straight face than to open your mouth.