CHAPTER 32: CHAPTER 32: THE LU FAMILY ABLAZE

This isn’t some gang where the more people, the better.

This is a martial arts world, a time of chaos. For an ordinary person without strength or ability to say they want to follow him, to Chen Mo, it’s nothing but a burden.

After all, if he were to agree, then as your little brother and you as his big brother, you would have to take care of him, right?

Moreover, Zhang He previously pledged allegiance to Wang Xi, and now he turns around and says he wants to follow him...

"I... I..." Zhang He stammered for a long time but couldn’t say anything conclusive. As a farmer from Fu Ze Village, his greatest skills were farming, enduring hardships, and his strength, but people like him were everywhere.

Chen Mo shook his head and said, "Considering what you just told me, I’ll give you a pound of millet. Move along, no need to follow me."

Chen Mo stood up and issued an order to send him off.

But Zhang He suddenly knelt down, trembling, and said, "Brother Mo, I really want to follow you, please take me in. I only need a few bites to eat."

Now, with the mountain sealed by heavy snow, it’s impossible to go up the mountain to hunt. Even if he could, he couldn’t catch anything alone, and the price of grain has risen so high. Going into the city, there are entry fees, and at this rate, his family of five won’t last through the winter.

Chen Mo looked at him for a few seconds, closed his eyes and pondered before saying, "You say you have ability, but you can’t articulate it. So I ask you, are you ruthless?"

"Ruthless?" Zhang He was stunned, not understanding what Brother Mo meant by this.

Was Brother Mo testing him?

"I... I’m not ruthless," Zhang He thought and replied.

"You can go now." Chen Mo waved his hand.

"I’m ruthless, ruthless..." Zhang He quickly added.

"Being ruthless isn’t something you say with your mouth, but something you prove with your actions. Do you understand?" Chen Mo said softly.

Zhang He: "???"

"Figure it out for yourself, I’ll give you a day. If you understand, come find me again."

Chen Mo went inside, scooped a pound of millet for Zhang He, tossed it to him, and sent him away.

...

Evening.

After intimacy, Han Anniang lay soft as mud in Chen Mo’s embrace.

Chen Mo placed one hand on the millstone, measuring Han Anniang’s bosom, marveling at her broad bosom, broader than any man.

To be honest, Chen Mo liked a pretty face but a slightly chubby physique, looking more fleshy.

This is what is called voluptuous.

He didn’t particularly like the skinny beauty.

Not only is it uncomfortable to hold, but during competitions, it’s also a bit painful.

"Sister-in-law, in this cold winter, you and I embracing can save a lot of charcoal." In the bed, the two embraced warmly, unafraid of the outside cold, saving the need to heat the bed.

But Han Anniang heard another meaning in his words and said shyly, "Uncle, don’t make fun of me."

"How could I make fun of sister-in-law, I can’t love sister-in-law enough." Chen Mo kissed Han Anniang’s face, then hugged her to the window, leaned close to her ear, and whispered, "Sister-in-law, while it’s still early, let me take you to find that fairy in the sky."

"Uncle..."

...

The cold wind howled, the heavy snow fell all day, showing signs of stopping.

Fu Ze Village was shrouded in darkness, with only the sound of the wind howling.

Suddenly, a towering flame rose up, like a candle in the dark.

It was already past midnight.

When the fire was discovered, it had already been burning for a quarter of an hour.

Chen Mo and Han Anniang had just finished cuddling and fell asleep when a commotion was heard outside.

"Not good, there’s a fire."

"Come quickly, the Lu Family is on fire, save them."

"..."

"The Lu Family is on fire?"

Han Anniang sat up abruptly, wrapped in a blanket, and opened the window to check.

The Lu Family wasn’t far from the Chen Family, and Han Anniang immediately saw the firelight not far away, exclaiming, "It’s really on fire."

Chen Mo also watched from the side, squinting his eyes, then patted Han Anniang’s shoulder, saying, "Sister-in-law, you rest first, I’ll go see what’s happening."

"Alright, uncle, come back quickly."

...

Unlike the Chen Family, the Lu Family consisted of two thatched huts. Once it caught fire, it wouldn’t take long for everything to burn away.

By the time Chen Mo arrived, the Lu Family was already reduced to ashes, with a group of villagers standing nearby, staring at two charred bodies beyond recognition.

"In this cold winter, how could a fire break out?"

"Alas, Aunt Lu and Lu San were burned alive like this."

"Fortunately, Shui arrived in time to save Hu’Er, otherwise Hu’Er would have been burned to death too."

"Isn’t that the case, but both Aunt Lu and Lu San were burned to death, leaving only Hu’Er alone, alas..."

The villagers were discussing.

"Brother Mo is here?" suddenly someone shouted.

"Brother Mo."

"Brother Mo."

"..."

Chen Mo walked over, and the nearby villagers all greeted him with respect.

Chen Mo saw Zhang He, his face dirty. In front of him squatted a wailing child, Lu San’s son, Hu’Er.

Chen Mo looked a few times, mainly glancing at Hu’Er, then left.

Returning home, Han Anniang immediately beckoned Chen Mo to lie down: "Uncle, come in quickly, let me warm you."

After Chen Mo got into bed, Han Anniang didn’t mind Chen Mo’s cold body, held his hands in her bosom to warm them, then asked, "Uncle, how is the Lu Family? Has the fire been extinguished?"

"It’s all burned down," Chen Mo replied.

"Ah." Han Anniang was shocked: "Then Lu San..."

"Lu San and Lady Lu were both burned to death, only Hu’Er survived," Chen Mo continued.

Han Anniang: "..."

After all, they were people from the village, the scene of life and death, hearing it inevitably evoked some sorrow.

...

Next day.

The Lu Family’s house was burned down, naturally leaving no wealth behind.

The funeral for Lu San and Lady Lu naturally had no money to hold, so in the end, a few village elders discussed it, called in some young men, dug a pit in the mountain, erected a grave marker, and carelessly buried them.

In fact, this kind of behavior is illegal because the mountain belongs to the government, and burying someone there requires paying the government, and the fee is substantial.

This is why there are so many plotlines about selling oneself to bury one’s father in films and dramas.

But this is something the officials won’t pursue if no one reports it.

After all, death is a major matter.

As for little Hu, no one cares about him.

More people mean more mouths to feed.

The villagers were already not getting enough to eat, so how could they care about an outsider?

...

In the afternoon.

Chen Mo was practicing swordsmanship in the yard when Zhang He came again.

Chen Mo knew he would come.

When men discuss matters, Han Anniang never stays around.

Zhang He, after entering the house, immediately said, "Brother Mo, can I follow you now?"

"Not bad understanding, but still not satisfying me," Chen Mo replied.

Zhang He: "..."