Three Kingdoms: A Million Soldiers Grown from the Fields

Chapter 43 Huang Zhong (Please continue reading)

Zhang Xian also had the intention of helping him save his son.

The fact that he could travel for several years with a child shows his character and perseverance. His physique is also different from that of ordinary people. Taoyuan now has more than a thousand acres of land. It is inevitable that the twenty-seven young men in the small mountain village cannot take care of it all. It would be a good thing to hire some capable people with decent character.

These days, talented people are not hard to find, but good character is. He patted the burly man on the shoulder: "Would you like to stay?"

"Sir, you said my son can grow up and start a family, and that is true!" The burly man stared intently into Zhang Xian's eyes, as if trying to discern something from them.

Zhang Xian smiled and nodded sincerely: "It's true."

The burly man tilted his head back and closed his eyes, seemingly pondering the truth, but ultimately, the child's life was paramount, and he chose to believe.

He rose, took two steps forward, smoothed the hem of his robe, knelt down, and said with his hands clasped, "I believe your words, sir. Huang Zhong of Nanyang is willing to be your vanguard!"

Zhang Xian, who was sitting upright, almost jumped up, but fortunately, his two months of living in ancient times had tempered his temperament, so he did not make any sudden movements and remained sitting steadily on the horse stool.

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“Nanyang and Jingzhou native, you’ve traveled quite a distance these past few years. Get up. Taoyuan doesn’t have many rules yet.”

He lightly gestured with his hand, and Huang Zhong bowed again before straightening up.

"Master, Xu'er is now..." He looked intently into the thatched hut.

Zhang Xian waved his hand and patted the stool next to him: "Come and sit down. He is fast asleep and there is no need to worry. You should know about his illness. When he is not sick, he is only weaker than an ordinary person. He is only dangerous when he has an attack."

Huang Zhong sat back down on the stool, and Zhang Xian continued, "I have discussed this with several great doctors in Zhen Ding County. We should always avoid going into damp and hot places, and use Yu Ping Feng San as a daily medicine to reduce the frequency of the illness. Try to relax. You must have been too stressed these past few years. That child is much more sensible than most people."

"Alas," Huang Zhong sighed deeply.

Zhang Xian stood up and patted his shoulder: "I know you won't feel at ease, so I'll leave the night watch to you. If the child wakes up and feels unwell, go to that thatched hut to find me."

He pointed to a thatched house with a courtyard not far away and said.

Huang Zhong nodded: "My family is very kind, I am ashamed."

"Alright, let's not talk about this anymore. Take it easy. Once you're in Peach Blossom Spring, it'll be hard to die even if you want to." He patted his shoulder a few more times and then walked away.

Back in her thatched hut where she slept, an oil lamp was still burning. The little girl, Li Zhen, rested her chin on one hand, her head bobbing up and down, seemingly caught between sleep and wakefulness.

"Hey, you're awake! What are you doing in my room so late instead of going to sleep?"

Zhang Xian approached her, smiled irritably, and tapped her head to wake her up.

"Oh, Master, you're finally done with your work. You haven't eaten dinner yet. Mother is keeping the food warm; I'll go get it for you."

Upon seeing Zhang Xian return, Li Zhen quickly got up from the stool and ran to the kitchen outside to bring over a clay pottery steamer.

The earthenware pot was opened, and a fragrant aroma wafted out. A large bowl of rice steamed with southern rice was topped with twenty or thirty slices of oily chopped chili and steamed cured pork, with chicken legs and fried eggs arranged on the side.

After so many days, the cook Zhou Cuike has finally figured out Zhang Xian's eating habits. Her master loves to eat rice and strongly flavored dishes, and chili peppers are a must.

"It must have been tough for you to keep watch over him." Zhang Xian took out a large bowl from the earthenware pot and patted Li Zhen's little head.

"Here you go." He picked up the fried egg and stuffed it into Li Zhen's mouth. The little girl's mouth was completely stuffed, and she had to chew several times before she could speak.

"Does Patriarch Wu no longer like fried eggs?" she asked, tilting her head in confusion.

Zhang Xian smiled and said, "She loves to eat, but I felt sorry for her because she was still awake so late, so I fed her."

"Hehe, isn't this what I should do?" The little girl smiled innocently, feeling warm inside.

Zhang Xian laughed: "Look at your silly grin." As he spoke, he scooped half of his rice out of his bowl and put it into another bowl, then added a few slices of steamed cured meat, and finally placed the chicken thigh on top.

"Go, take this to the uncle outside the thatched hut, and also get him a pot of water." "Okay." The little girl looked a little unhappy. This was all for the head of the family to eat. That man came so late, not only causing the head of the family to miss his meal, but now he had to share half with him. Li Zhen was a little unwilling.

"Go on, we're all family now, try to control your petty temper." Zhang Xian tapped her forehead a few more times, but he didn't feel any disgust towards Li Zhen for siding with her relatives.

The little girl always sided with him, so what could he say? Besides, if she didn't side with him, would she side with outsiders?

"Okay." Hearing that they were all family, the little girl's reluctance lessened considerably, so she picked up the ceramic bowl and chopsticks and ran out.

In the Peach Blossom Spring at night, only moonlight and the chirping of insects could be heard. Under the bright moonlight, the thatched huts for healing emitted a few dim yellow lights.

Li Zhen hadn't walked far when she saw the figure sitting on the thatched hut bench like a statue. She jogged over and presented the ceramic bowl to Huang Zhong with both hands.

"Here you are, the head of the family asked me to bring this."

The greasy cured meat exuded a fragrant aroma, and the rice was slightly yellow but plump. After traveling for more than ten days, Huang Zhong, who had been preoccupied with his son and had little time for himself, couldn't help but swallow.

"Is this for someone?"

Li Zhen nodded: "Yes, the patriarch even specially gave you his own chicken leg. Eat it quickly, it won't taste good if it gets cold."

Thank you very much.

Huang Zhong lowered his head, uttered only a thank you, and then began to swallow his food in large gulps.

"It's so spicy."

Even though Zhang Xian cleaned all the chopped chili peppers off the cured meat, the lingering spiciness still made Huang Zhong, who rarely eats spicy food, grimac.

But he couldn't give up meat, so he had to endure the pain in his mouth and quickly finish the whole bowl of rice.

Li Zhen also sat on the side of the stool, swinging his legs and curiously looking at this guy who was obviously taller and stronger than the average person in Peach Blossom Spring.

"Here you go." Huang Zhong returned the earthenware bowl and handed the chicken leg to Li Zhen with his other hand.

"Girl, you eat. I'm already full."

"Hehe, the head of the family fed me a chicken when I came out, and my belly is bulging now, so Uncle, you should eat it!" The little girl replied with a silly smile as she took the bowl and chopsticks.

Huang Zhong was taken aback but didn't force it on him. He just held the chicken leg and asked with some curiosity, "Are you a farmer here?"

The little girl shook her head: "No, I'm the master's little maid, hehe." There was a hint of pride in her tone.

"Patriarch... What kind of person is the patriarch?"

"What a good person!" Li Zhen said without hesitation. Then she looked Huang Zhong up and down and said seriously, "Uncle, you look tall and strong, you must be very powerful."

Being praised by the young girl made Huang Zhong a little embarrassed. He hesitated for a moment and then nodded, "I guess you could say I'm good."

"Then you must protect the patriarch well. Everyone on the estate was saved by the patriarch, and he has saved many, many more people. You must protect him well!" The little girl made a big circle with her hands.

Huang Zhong looked at the thatched house where Zhang Xian lived, and then glanced back at his son in the thatched house behind him.

He nodded solemnly.

"must!"

"Hehe, then uncle is family from now on. I'll serve you extra food from now on!"

After saying that, the little girl skipped away happily, her two braids bouncing.

Just like Huang Zhong's feelings at this moment.

(End of this chapter)