Top-notch Little Horseman

Ye Chen didn't say anything. He rolled up his sleeves, washed his hands with spring water, and then took a small knife from his waist.

He heated the knife over the stove fire and said softly, "Zhu Zi, go get some warm water, just enough so it's not too hot to handle."

"Oh, and find a clean piece of cloth, tear it into strips."

Although Zhu Zi didn't know what Ye Chen was going to do, he immediately turned around and ran home.

Ye Chen turned to a burly villager beside him and said, "Come help me. Hold down the sheep's front half. No matter how much it struggles, you have to hold it down firmly!"

"Ah!" The burly villager was stunned for a moment, not reacting immediately.

"Ayu! What are you standing there for! Hurry up and do as the adults say!"

Ayu snapped out of his daze, hurriedly nodded, and squatted down, pressing his two rough hands firmly against the ewe's shoulders.

Just then, Zhu Zi returned carrying warm water and a strip of cloth.

Ye Chen dipped his hands into warm water, then gently parted the ewe's tail and probed his fingers into the birth canal.

The ewe struggled for a moment, but Zhu Zi immediately steadied it with all his might.

Ye Chen quickly touched the lamb's hoof, then its nose... The head was facing outwards, the fetal position was correct, but it was stuck.

Ye Chen took a deep breath, hooked the lamb's front hoof, and supported its head with his other hand.

He took another deep breath and pulled out very gently and slowly.

"Hey, smoker, hurry up and cover it up with the hay!"

Upon hearing Ye Chen's words, Smoker immediately sprang into action, his movements incredibly swift as he smoothed out the dry grass on the ground.

Soon, the second lamb landed on the hay.

"There's more!" Ye Chen took a deep breath and continued to pull outwards.

The third one, the fourth one... the sixth one!

There were six lambs in total, and each one required more effort than the previous one.

The ewe's breathing grew heavier and heavier, but her eyes remained open.

"This is... there's one more!"

There was a seventh one, which was also the smallest. When it was pulled out, it was already motionless.

Ye Chen picked it up upside down and then gently patted its chest.

One, two, three! ...

On the seventh twitch, the lamb kicked its leg, spat out a mouthful of saliva, and let out a soft "baa!"

Alive!

The ewe turned her head and licked the seven lambs beside her.

The seven lambs were wet and shivering slightly on the hay.

Dazhu plopped down on the ground, panting heavily.

Ah Yu, who had been holding the sheep down, released his grip, his lips trembling as he couldn't speak.

Village Chief Chen stood at the entrance of the sheepfold, looking at the seven lambs and Ye Chen's arms covered in blood. He turned and shouted outside, "They've given birth! Seven lambs! They're all alive!"

Immediately, cheers erupted!

The village women burst into tears, the children jumped up and down with joy, and the men patted each other on the shoulder.

Village Chief Chen walked into the sheepfold, led Ye Chen to the water vat, and personally scooped water to pour on his arm.

"Sir..." Village Chief Chen only managed to utter two words before his voice choked up.

Ye Chen gently shook the water from his hand: "Village chief, this ewe is weak. She needs to be fed some thin porridge for the next few days, and a little salt should be added."

"Also, the hay they eat needs to be tender, and the hay needs to be changed every day in the circle."

Village Chief Chen nodded gently, taking every word Ye Chen said to heart.

He invited Ye Chen to his home, and A Yu came along to the village chief's house.

Ah Yu handed over a cloth bundle and a small bag of wheat: "Sir, please accept these!"

Ye Chen shook his head and said, "I can't accept your things. You've all had a hard life, and I won't take your things."

"We're stationed at Desolate Dust Pass. No matter what happens on the imperial court's side, the ten of us will rebuild Desolate Dust Pass!"

"You've all had a tough time. If anyone comes to collect grain in the future, you can come to me and don't have to hand over grain to them anymore."

"However, before that, I'd like to ask you for a favor."

Village Chief Chen straightened his clothes and solemnly bowed to Ye Chen, saying, "Sir, I am Chen Weibei. This village is called Chen Family Village, and all of the dozen or so households here share the surname Chen."

"You didn't just save one sheep, you saved the lives of our entire village!"

"If there is anything you can do to help Chenjia Village, please don't hesitate to ask."

Chenjia Village was on the verge of starvation. If the last ewe died, the entire village would either have to migrate or simply wait to die.

No matter what Ye Chen says, as long as their village needs to contribute, they will do their best.

"Village Chief Chen, there's something we need your help with. The wall of Huangchen Pass has collapsed and the house is damaged. There are ten of us, but we don't have the skills to fix it."

"I wonder if there are any able-bodied people in the village, any craftsmen or carpenters who can lend a hand? I can pay them!"

Upon hearing Ye Chen's words, Chen Weibei waved his hands repeatedly and said, "How could I possibly accept your wages! There are two craftsmen and carpenters in the village. I'll have them go with you to the pass right away. It would be our honor to serve you."

"Please wait a moment..."

He turned and walked out the door, shouting at the top of his lungs, "Ayu, Zhuzi, Shitou, Gouzi, Mancang, come here!"

As Chen Weibei shouted, five men quickly came over.

"You five take your tools and go with the official to Huangchen Pass. Help him repair the courtyard wall and tidy up the house. No slacking off!"

The five men immediately agreed, ran back home to get their tools, and quickly returned.

Ye Chen nodded slightly and led them out of the village.

As he walked out the door, he stopped, turned around, and looked at Chen Weibei, saying, "Village Chief Chen, this place isn't far from the Qingshui River. Do you know what the situation is like for the refugees over there?"

Chen Weibei's expression changed slightly upon hearing this, and he lowered his voice, saying, "Sir, things aren't peaceful over there. The number of refugees is increasing, at least a thousand, and they're all gathered there now."

"A few days ago, a group of people robbed a family in Tianjia Village and took all their grain."

"By the way, since you're stationed at Huangchen Pass, make sure to barricade the doors at night."

Ye Chen nodded slightly and said, "Thank you for informing me, Village Chief Chen."

Ye Chen did not linger any longer. He led the Smoker and five villagers carrying tools on their way back to Huangchen Pass.

Two miles away from Huangchen Pass, Ye Chen had just turned a corner around an earthen ridge when he suddenly stopped.

A thick plume of smoke rose into the sky above the direction of Huangchen Pass, churning and shooting upwards.

not good!

Ye Chen's heart tightened, and he took off running!

He had told Qin Mengyao to light a cigarette if anything happened, and now that they saw thick smoke, it meant something had happened at Huangchen Pass.

But how could this be? He left two people behind, how could something have happened?

Qin Mengyao was powerless to retaliate, but A Wu and the other two were armed, and ordinary people couldn't touch Huang Chenguan at all.

Even if there are refugees, they cannot threaten them unless a large group of refugees is mobilized!

Could it be that refugees are already rushing through the pass as soon as I arrive at Huangchen Pass?