Watch out Chicken

chapter 13

The day is over. They all sat down, exhausted, leaning against the wall of Jin's hut. Even the tireless Jin began to waver. But now, they were sitting together, hot and sweaty. Yun Ren and Gou Ren descended into their loincloths, slumped to the side and greedily drank the water. Even Meiling was stripped bare to the waist, with only her dudou keeping her modesty, groaning on her sore fingers and back. Even Big D had registered, brought the complete basket of Meiling to Jin, and gained more fiber so that he could weave.

But they're done. In accordance with Jin's words, at the end of the second day, the last rice was harvested.

83 40-kilo rice sacks. An incredible amount, for the bit of land that Jin had plowed.

Yun Ren sighed in satisfaction after he finished his drink, rubbed his tangled and sweaty hair, and grinned towards the ship. A bamboo tube, with a groove cut in it, so that the lid can be screwed. Meiling has trouble opening hers, her red and overworked fingers tremble and slip, until Jin reaches out and opens it for her.

“Kakak Jin, this is a pretty good ship. It is certainly easier to work with in the field.” He said, and handed the empty item to Jin, who shook his head.

“Save, Brother Yun Ren. They are quite easy to make. I actually broke a few pumpkins when I first started, and spilled a lot of water. It is more durable, and easier to clean.”

Gou Ren groaned, pushing himself into a sitting position. “Brother Jin, you work like an ox,” he lamented, but look proudly to many baskets, “But seeing the work done is always fun.”

“It was, wasn't it?” Jin asked with a gentle smile. They sat in matching silence, as the cool breeze smeared on their sweaty bodies.

Finally, Jin got up and stretched his body. “Come, we clean up, then I'll start dinner. We ate crayfish tonight.”

The river was still warm at this time of year, and with the little soap Jin had, dirt and grime were cleared from their bodies. It recounts their exhaustion that the usually quarrelsome brothers didn't even try to dunk each other, or try to start a spark war.

Instead, Yun Ren simply handed the comb over to his brother. The grumbling Gou Ren obediently first combed his elder brother's hair, and then Meiling's hair while Jin prepared food for them.

First, he dredged a basket along the river. Then, Jin split the crayfish in half, took out his entrails, and then in his dish, added pepper and oil, as well as leeks, ginger, and garlic. He fries it until the crayfish is red, then serves it over the rice.

Big D eats at the rest of the crayfish.

This time, everyone camped in Jin's little house. Meiling did not even offer an attempt at subtlety, just pulling Jin into bed with her, greatly comforting the brother.

“Oh no, brother! We must act to maintain Brother Jin's purity!” Yun Ren flinched. “No wonder Elder Hong sent us, his daughter is a lusting beast!”

Gou Ren snorted, and looked at them with tired eyes. “I think he's fine. He's asleep.”

Yun Ren laughed again. “Indeed,” said, and sit down. He had a look of consideration on his face.

“Kakak Jin?”

“Yes, Brother Yun Ren?”

“Jaga Meiling us well, yes?”

Jin nodded, and pulled Meiling closer to his body.

“With my best ability.”

///////

“Mph-de. Gou Ren, you bajiing**, go . ” Meiling awakens to the sound and annoys Yun Ren, Gou Ren rolls over on it at night.

It was early morning. Meiling sat down and yawned, stretching the body to remove the tangles on his back.

There aren't. In fact, he felt great, regardless of the work he had done. His muscles were still sore, but there was no pain he expected. Jin was still asleep beside her, as was Gou Ren, but Yun Ren was already sitting down, looking annoyed at his brother.

“Good morning.” Meiling whispered to him, and got a greeting in return.

“Light the fire, I'll take the eggs?” Meiling whispered, and Yun Ren nodded, holding his arm and stretching it.

He stopped, and then stretched his hand further back. He looked satisfied, and then got up to pick up the wood, while Meiling went to the cage. On his way out of the house, he saw Bi De, a spirit creature, at one of the fence posts. He turned towards her, in the light of dawn, and bowed.

Meiling returned the greeting. The chicken nodded, satisfied, and then, to her surprise, jumped onto her shoulder with light steps, just like she did with Jin. Her hands were raised, and she stroked her incredible chest fur to approve the clucking sound.

Collecting eggs is easy. Bi De was just roaring, and the chickens walked away obediently. Yun Ren lit a fire when he returned, and the light of the first dawn adorned the horizon. Bi De got off Meiling's shoulder, returned to the fence post, and welcomed the morning.

Jin thanked the two of them, as they cooked breakfast, and Jin went to start loading his carriage for the trip back to Hong Yaowu.

////////

Meiling lasts for a long time as the train slides down the road. Beside him, Yun Ren prayed.

“ Dear Ancestor, protect your unworthy son, for he is foolish in great proportion .. ”

Gou Ren, of course, laughed out loud at their predicament.

It started after they loaded the cart, with forty sacks full of rice loaded and tied up. The wagon must have been overloaded, the frame bent, but not broken due to the heavy weight. Gou Ren praised his skills, but Meiling realized the truth. It had Jin qi in it.

They're getting ready to go home. Jin bade farewell to his spirit beast, who bowed low to him in supplication, and stood guard at the farm fence.

The Xong brothers seemed worried about the load, and were measuring how they could help push it, when Jin lifted the front of the carriage easily, and without a little effort, started walking with it.

They looked at each other, and shrugged their shoulders.

The steps were pleasant, and the weather was clear as they departed, but it was almost noon.

“Tomorrow night, I guess,” said Gou Ren, gazing up at the sky. “Perhaps a little longer, my leg still hurts.”

Meiling agreed. The pain came back, though it was still not too bad.

Jin pointed to the wagon. “Alright, I'll take us there tonight.”

It was quite rude, for them to sit down, and Jin took them around like he was inferior to them, but he insisted.

So they boarded the train, in the bag, and Jin asked them to hold on.

And then he started running .

Which brings them here. Relying on the rice wagon, while Jin ran as fast as a horse.

“Kakak Jin, can you go faster ?!” Gou Ren asked excitedly.

“DON'T DARE, JIN ROU!” Meiling squealed, preoccupied with holding on to slapping the idiot for his idea.

Yun Ren continued to pray.

Jin's right. They reached Hong Yaowu at nightfall.

Meiling and Yun Ren were pale, while Gou Ren wanted to connect the pigs to the cart to recreate the experience.

///////

One of the scout finders has returned. It smells musk joy.

“Ya yes. We have smelled it. Good Qi, and delicious-delicious food.”

Gentlemen interested. These lands are very poor. They have been defeated and driven out of their first native lair, in a land of abundance. Many of their number had perished, and only they were left.

To find-find a new place qi? They will need it to grow-restore their numbers.

“Good. Find-Find the guardian of the Land, and find out those Powers. ”

“Yes, Yes, Gentlemen. I hear and obey!” His servant hurried away.

Gentlemen nodded, and turned to one of the other servants.

“Wake-Wake Nest-Warren. We're going-move tonight. ”