Be a small county magistrate in ancient times

"It's not impossible." Meng Changqing, not one to shy away from drama, even had the mood to make such a joke. "We'd better be careful."

This is Meng Changqing's side. They are in an unfamiliar place, facing a group of unfamiliar people, so it's normal for them to be fearful and wary.

The situation was similar on the other side. How could one not be afraid when a group of burly men with knives broke into one's own home?

Among the crowd was a woman named Chunxing, carrying a package and supporting her elderly parents. She stood on tiptoe, trying to see what was ahead, but the night was too dark and there were too many people in front of her, so she couldn't see anything at all.

"I heard that the soldiers have entered." Chunxing's mother received this news after talking to the people in front of her.

"Soldiers?" Chunxing was terrified when she heard this word. "How could soldiers have entered the village?"

After the initial shock, Chunxing felt a glimmer of hope. What were these soldiers here for? Were they here to rescue her?

Chunxing will be married to Honghu Village in a few months. Although it is called a marriage, she and her family know that it is actually a sacrifice to Honghu Village.

Honghu Village has more men than women, and even fewer women of marriageable age. However, the village is very superstitious about the mountain god and sends fifteen- or sixteen-year-old girls up the mountain every year.

Since he didn't have enough in his own village, he tried to scam people from other villages.

Last year, Honghu Village tricked someone from their village into going there. On the day of the wedding, the person was sent into the mist forest. When their village received the news, they sent many people to look for them, but they heard that those who went there were stopped outside the mist forest by Honghu Village and could not enter at all.

Those who were tricked by them never appeared again.

The man who risked his life to rush to Red Tiger Stronghold to save his younger sister never appeared again after that.

Thinking about what happened last year, Chunxing felt deeply saddened, both for her friend's family and for her own future fate.

Chunxing had a hard time convincing herself to accept her fate. She couldn't let her family fight the Red Tiger Village to the death; she knew that even if everyone in their village went out in force, they wouldn't be a match for the Red Tiger Village.

But now, the government officials have arrived.

What are they here for?

I heard that the government does not agree to use live people to sacrifice to the mountain. Last year, they also put pressure on Honghu Village, but the government officials were too far away and the people of Honghu Village were not afraid at all.

But now, the government officials have entered.

Will they take down Red Tiger Village?
They'll help her, right?
This was Chunxing's secret expectation, which she dared not voice, fearing that others would laugh at her for being cowardly and afraid of death.

"The government officials are taking us out," Chunxing's mother inquired again, "We have to leave now."

"No wonder some people were carrying packages," Chunxing said. "But we didn't bring anything. Why didn't the messenger tell us to pack?"

"It's alright." Chunxing's father patted his chest and whispered, "I keep important things close to my body."

"Where are we going?" Chunxing asked again.

Chunxing's mother shook her head, wanting to ask further, but the person in front turned around and said, "The government has approved land outside so that we can live outside. Once we're outside, we'll have fertile fields and houses, and the government will also provide relief grain."

"That's wonderful!" Chunxing exclaimed, but then she couldn't help but wonder, would it just be their village moving out? Or would all four villages move out together? And after they left, would she still have to marry someone from Red Tiger Village?
Before she could even sort out her jumbled thoughts, the people blocking the way suddenly started moving forward. She heard someone outside the crowd say, "Let's go, let's go, follow the people in front, don't talk on the way, and don't fall behind." (End of Chapter)