Chapter 8: Caught on Top of the Jar

  New book is thin, Da Bai will work hard to update, two updates a day, and get fat as soon as possible. Passersby friends, hold a scene, recommend collection, endless gratitude!

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  The people around also started to catch and roast the locusts, preparing to eat them first. If they couldn't finish eating them, they would take some back home for their families to eat, which was better than starving to death.

  Those who have eaten it think the taste is very good and has a meaty flavor.

  "Grandpa, I've finally found you!" A man in his twenties pushed through the crowd and hugged an elderly white-haired man beside him.

  The old man with white hair was eating happily, saw his grandson coming back, handed one to his grandson and said: "It's delicious! You try it!"

  "Grandpa, this is a locust, it can't be eaten. You've been out of the house for two days, and everyone has been looking for you. There's no grain at home, but there are wild vegetables. Even if I starve to death, I'll give my share to Grandpa." A seven-foot-tall man, because he couldn't afford to support his family, wailed loudly with red eyes, knowing that Grandpa had left home to save food.

  Chang Sun Chong's heart felt a pang of sorrow, it was just like in the natural world where animals would quietly leave on their own when they grew old, so as not to burden the group during harsh winters or years of disaster.

  Thinking back to his past life, he had never suffered before. The biggest disaster he experienced was during the Wenchuan earthquake when he was traveling in that area, venturing into dangerous terrain with two friends, isolated and helpless. For the last piece of bread, they hesitated and finally split it three ways. From then on, he knew the value of food.

  At that time, they were in the disaster area and couldn't contact the outside world. The three of them saw a lot of life and death separations, touching the softest part of his heart.

  "Hey big brother, don't be impatient, everyone is eating, right?" Chang Sun hastily consoled, seeing his anxious expression, and handed over a large serving.

  The young man saw everyone eating with relish, and no one had died, so he was half-believing and half-doubting, and ate a few.

  "Grandpa, this is really delicious. You wait here, I'll go catch some grasshoppers, we can roast more and wrap them in clothes to take back for the family to eat." The young man was bold, after a preliminary test, he ate a little bit and found it tasted good, so he thought of sharing with his family.

  Everyone thought so, after eating their fill, they rushed to catch the locusts. A group of people were burning the locusts, with a clear division of labor; others hurried back home to fetch sacks and called out family members to come and catch locusts in their own fields, perhaps they could still save the crops.

  Two pillars have gone to catch a big half pocket, three people are ready to go home.

  At this time, dozens of refugees had gathered by the river to start a fire and burn locusts, attracting the attention of passing cavalry officers.

  "What are you all doing!" Several dusty and exhausted cavalrymen asked loudly.

  However, everyone was busy burning the locusts and no one paid attention to them. A few people dismounted their horses and walked over in big strides, seeing that the crowd was burning the locusts, their faces changed.

  "Get them all arrested, these people are so daring and arrogant, they actually eat locusts as if they were heavenly delicacies! No wonder the locust plague is so severe this year, it's because of you bunch of people who defy heaven and kill innocent creatures!" One of the soldiers was spouting nonsense, having killed a few locusts, he actually said "kill innocent creatures", his mother must be a locust, his father must be a locust, or maybe his whole family are all locusts?!

  These people came out and turned around, thinking of a way to solve the locust problem, but there were too many locusts. Just as they were thinking that it was impossible to return with a good report, they fortunately ran into this group of unlucky ones - who else could they find to take the blame?

  The refugees around heard the officials and soldiers say this, and they stared at them in terror, not knowing what to do!

  Chang Sun saw the officials preparing to arrest people, especially when he saw the disdainful faces of those who had spoken earlier, and even caught a glimpse of a smile. He guessed eight or nine out of ten. Eating locusts was what Chang Sun told them, besides, his identity, even if he was arrested, as long as his father knew about it, he would be released soon. However, these ordinary civilians would be finished once they were thrown into prison, and would either die or be severely punished. He did not want these unarmed common people to suffer.

  "It was I who told these people that locusts can be eaten, you want to catch someone, catch me then!" Chang Sun rubbed his hands and wiped his mouth, preparing to take the blame alone.

  "It's not the young master of my house! It's me!" The master has something to do, and naturally the servant bears it. Anyway, this kind of thing that bears the black pot, he has done quite a few times before. This time he is willing to bear it for the young master, because the young master is very responsible this time, in order to protect other innocent people.

  "It was I who spoke out!" Er Zhuang stepped forward, he couldn't let Young Master and Brother get into trouble.

  Dà zhù pā zài èr zhù ěr duō biān shàng, qīng shēng shuō dào: "nǐ jiǎo chéng kuài, gǎn jìn qù gàosù lǎo yé, shǎo yé bèi guān bīng zhuā zhù le, kàn zhè xiē guān bīng de fú shì, gū suàn huì bèi sòng dào zuǒ jīn wǔ wèi, shǎo yé shēn biān yǒu wǒ!"

  Translation:

  The big pillar leaned against the second pillar's ear and whispered: "You run quickly, hurry to tell Master that Young Master has been caught by the government soldiers. Judging from their uniforms, they will probably be sent to the Left Golden Guard. I am with Young Master!"

  Two pillars think, also is, cannot all wait here, must have someone go report news.

  "Master, Second Master has gone to inform Old Master!" After saying that, he rushed out of the crowd, galloped a few times, found his horse and hurried into Chang'an City.

  "You two, go after them!" The leader ordered the two people behind him to chase, "Since they have admitted it, tie up the two of them!"

  Zhang Sun Chong thought it didn't matter, in broad daylight, could he still be stabbed to death with one knife?

  "Big pillar eyes red, protecting the long grandson rush, said: 'Our family's old master is Long Sun Wuji, this is our young master Long Sun Rush! You are so bold, don't you want to live?'"

  "Hahaha......" The leader couldn't help but hold his belly in laughter, "You're the number one dandy of Chang'an, it's really laughable to death. Look at that trembling appearance, pretending to be a tough guy! Quick, tie him up for me!"

  Dà zhù yào shì zì jǐ táo pǎo jué duì méi wèntí, kěshì shǎo yé jiù bù xíng le.

  Translation:

  It's absolutely no problem if the big pillar runs away by himself, but it won't work for the young master.

  The refugees and farmers around me wanted to plead for mercy, but thinking about it, this official is not a good person, if he doesn't die, he will be stripped of his skin, so they can only watch with their eyes wide open, not daring to speak out.

  The leader tied up Zhang Chong and Dazhu, put them on the horse, let Zhang Chong and Dazhu lie on the horseback, and rushed to Chang'an City.

  This nearly scared the fat Long Sun-chung to death, who fell onto his horse's back, almost throwing up the whole scene, dizzy and seeing stars, unaware of how much time had passed, until he finally heard that Long Sun-chung was thrown to the ground.

  "Master, are you alright?" Da Zhu struggled to get up, but his hands were tied behind him, unable to catch the long gun.

  Chang Sun Chong was in great distress, his whole body swollen like a dead dog lying on the ground.

  Dazhu rushed over on his hands and knees, crying out: "Young Master, wake up! It's all my fault for being useless, letting you suffer injustice!"

  Chang Sun Chong felt his throat burning with rage, hearing the sound of Da Zhu's voice, he thought that his oily and fat body was really in poor condition, he had to lose weight.

  "I'm fine! I'm fine!" Chang Sun said angrily. If he had known it would be like this, he would have brought the locusts back home to eat.

  "You won't die!" The leader sneered and said, "Lock them up in the big prison for me, I'll report to General Cheng right away!"

  "Mr. Han, what have these two people done?" The little official who came to greet them asked with a smile, bowing his head and bending at the waist, obviously this Mr. Han held a high position!

  Han Qiang clasped his hands together in satisfaction and said with a smile: "We've caught the culprit responsible for this year's locust disaster!"

  Clang, clang, clang, the heavy footsteps quickly approached, and Han Qiang, who was about to brag, had his shoulder grabbed, his seven-foot-tall sturdy figure suddenly shrinking a bit.

  "You little scoundrel, Han Qiang! What nonsense are you spouting!" The speaker was a sturdy man with a thick waist and broad back, dark skin, and a big beard, about forty years old.

  Han Qiang, who was still being arrogant just now, suddenly became like a roasted wild chicken in the city, tucking his tail and speaking respectfully: "General Cheng, I went out to inspect the people's situation today and saw someone eating locusts. I think that since there are so many locusts today, it must be that the Locust God is angry."

  Cheng Yaojin's two thick eyebrows twisted like a caterpillar, his face ferocious, as he cursed: "All nonsense! In the old days when I was at Mount Liang, there was no food to eat, and I ate a lot of locusts. Didn't see any locust plagues back then! I'm still alive today, not because I wasn't struck dead by heaven! When people have nothing to eat, they'll find ways to get something to eat. Eating locusts is also because one is starving!"

  Chang Sun bursts into tears, heroes see the same thing!

  Han Qiang saw General Cheng say this, and repeatedly bowed his head in submission, saying: "General Cheng is right, I will release the person now!"

  "Master, that big fellow is Cheng Yaojin!" Da Zhu said gritting his teeth, thinking of Master being beaten half to death by Cheng Yaojin's son, his eyes looked at Cheng Yaojin with malice.

  Cheng Yaojin? That's an old acquaintance! Zhangsun Chong said weakly, "The men under Uncle Cheng are truly brave!" His words were laced with sarcasm.

  Cheng Yaojin was shocked and turned around to see Zhangsun Chong bound to the ground like a dead dog.

  Cheng Yaojin was shocked, this fat guy is not the turtle son of Changsun Wuji! He lifted his big foot and kicked it heavily on Han Qiang's buttocks, scolding: "Bastard, don't you hurry to untie Young Master Changsun!"

  Han Qiang's cold sweat flowed down his forehead, and he hastily knelt on the ground, kowtowing to Zhangsun, saying: "I am blind to my own mistakes, please forgive me, young master!"

  "Untie me now!" Chang Sun shouted, gritting his teeth. His stomach was still uncomfortable, as if his heart, liver, spleen, lungs and kidneys had all changed places.

  Han Qiang quickly untied Zhang Sun's rope, and Da Zhuang came up and wanted to hit Han Qiang.

  Cheng Yaojin was thinking of ways to deal with the young whippersnapper from the Zhangsun family, but the old turtle from the Zhangsun family was a protective father. Just the other day, his own useless sons had beaten up Zhangsun Long, and now they had tied him up again. Was he going to clash with Zhangsun Wuji this year?

  "Xian nephew, why are you eating locusts in the outer city?" Cheng Yaojin didn't want his subordinates to be punished, so he started to change the subject.

  Chang Sun Chong rolled his eyes inwardly, wanting to change the subject, but couldn't. He said: "Dà Zhù, give Han Qiang a good beating, not for me, but for the people outside the city. Luckily they caught me today, if they had caught those unarmed refugees, they would have been thrown into prison and their lives would be in danger! I want to uphold justice on behalf of Heaven!"