I Heard They Eat People in Black Wind Stronghold?

Zhao Muyuan burst into laughter:

"My master was trained by me personally, so there's naturally no problem with him."

However, she was originally very quick to learn, and with her own hard work, she made rapid progress.

"Don't even mention taking the county-level exam to become a scholar; you could even take the provincial-level exam to become a scholar now."

Shen Yu'an's lips twitched. "Take the imperial examination for the title of Juren? She's only five years old, surely that's too much to ask!"

Zhao Muyuan coughed and said:

"I was just exaggerating the facts a bit."

Alright, you're a county magistrate, you must be very busy, right? Go back now!

Shen Yu'an returned home, but as soon as he arrived, he saw the prefect's men already glaring at him at the door.

The constables looked at Shen Yu'an and said, "Lord Shen, we've been looking for you everywhere! The Prefect requests your presence."

Shen Yu'an sighed and said, "What can I do for you, Prefect? I've been very busy these past few days; there's been a problem in the county."

The constable sneered, "No matter how big the problem is in the county, it's nothing compared to the prefect coming to you, right? Hurry up and come with us!"

Knowing he couldn't escape, Shen Yu'an sighed and said, "Alright, then you'll have to wait! I just came back from outside, I need to go in and change my clothes, right?"

The constable nodded and said, "We'll wait for you right here at the gate."

As soon as Shen Yu'an returned home, he looked at Madam Shen and said:

"Madam, please get ready quickly, someone will be coming to pick you up tonight."

Just follow them; they'll take you to Black Wind Stronghold.

Madam Shen shuddered in fright and twisted his ear, saying:

"Shen Yu'an, are you crazy? Are you trying to send me to be a bandit's wife?"

I'm telling you, don't even think about it, I'm not going.

Shen Yu'an shouted loudly:

"Madam, Madam, be gentle, be gentle! What do you mean by 'bandit's wife'?"

This is my backup plan. I went to Black Wind Stronghold today and Black Wind Stronghold's quite nice."

Madam Shen burst into tears:

"If we go up the mountain, won't we become bandits? What will we do then?"

Those people on the mountain lack food and clothing; if they have no money, they have to resort to robbery. I don't look like someone who can rob people, do I?

Shen Yu'an, what are you really thinking? You don't mean to let the bandits capture us and take us up the mountain to kill us, do you?"

Shen Yu'an rolled her eyes and said:

"What nonsense are you spouting? I'm going to the prefect's office now."

This time, Yunxi County failed to pay taxes, and the Prefect will certainly demand an explanation from me.

I'm doing this so as not to be a burden to you. Black Wind Stronghold is still trustworthy, so please wait here.

"Prepare everything useful from our house, hurry, I have to go to the prefectural government office."

Shen Yu'an changed his clothes and followed the yamen runners out.

Upon arriving at the prefectural government office, the prefect scoffed, "Shen Yu'an, how dare you! To this day, your Yunxi County hasn't paid its taxes. What exactly are you trying to do?"

Shen Yu'an knelt down in the tunnel:

"Your Excellency, this year's locust plague is devastating, and the disaster is severe."

I implore Your Excellency, Prefect, to open the granaries and distribute grain, thus giving the people of Yunxi a chance to survive!

The prefect sneered:

"Shen Yu'an, how dare you! You spare the lives of the people of Yunxi, but who will spare mine? How will you explain this to the imperial court?"

I'm telling you, you need to find a way to go back and get me some food right now.

"If I can't gather enough food by the day after tomorrow, I'll cut off your head and use it as a stool, believe me or not?"

Shen Yu'an wiped the sweat from his brow and sighed, "But..."

"Get out of here right now! You'd better give me an explanation by tomorrow, or I'll chop your head off!" The prefect waved his hand dismissively.

Shen Yu'an walked out helplessly. Yunxi County had no grain at all; how could he possibly conjure it up?

When he returned home, he saw Madam Shen packing her things while wiping away tears.

Upon seeing Shen Yu'an, she cried:

"My husband, I thought you weren't coming back! Waaah... Are we really going to Black Wind Stronghold?"

I've heard the robbers there are terrifying. I don't want to go; I don't want to live that kind of miserable life without food or water.

Should we run away?

Shen Yu'an sighed and said:

"Where can we run to? Where can we run to now?"

If I can't gather enough food by the day after tomorrow, my head will be chopped off. If you go to Black Wind Stronghold, at least you can save your lives.

Actually... I'm really helpless too!

As she spoke, Shen Yu'an also began to cry:

"Why is it so difficult for me to be a good official?"

The people of Yunxi have suffered enough. I want to advocate for them, but no one will sympathize with us.

If you don't go to Black Wind Stronghold, my whole family will be beheaded. I'd rather die than lose you all!

Madam Shen burst into tears, and her three children beside her also cried uncontrollably.

The eldest son cried:

"Father, Mother, can we not go to Black Wind Stronghold? I heard they eat people Black Wind Stronghold!"

"With skin as delicate as ours, wouldn't they just eat us up once they get there?"

The youngest girl was so frightened that she burst into tears.

"Waaaaah... I have the most delicate skin in our family, and I'm the youngest, so they'll definitely eat me first!"

I don't want to go to Black Wind Stronghold.

Shen Yu'an looked at them and said:

"Who said Black Wind Stronghold is cannibalistic? Black Wind Stronghold is actually quite nice. Don't believe those people outside."

These people are talking nonsense; none of them have ever been to Black Wind Stronghold.

Madam Shen looked at him with teary eyes and said:

"Husband, did you bribe the leader of Black Wind Stronghold? Otherwise, why would Black Wind Stronghold let us go?"

"That way, I'll bring more things, everything I can use from home."

Shen Yu'an sighed and said, "There's everything on the mountain... but you..."

But Madam Shen wouldn't listen to him; her actions were swift and fierce.

They're practically ready to pack up the entire Shen family estate.

As night fell, they saw a horse-drawn carriage approaching from afar.

Madam Shen was trembling uncontrollably, and the three children beside her were so frightened that their legs went weak.

The maids and servants around Madam Shen were so frightened that they swallowed hard.

The person inside the carriage poked their head out and said, "Shen Yu'an, hurry up and get your family members up!"

Madam Shen said, trembling, "Sir, what should we do with our luggage?"

The man stared at the luggage, dumbfounded. "You've packed up everything in the warehouse?"

Shen Yu'an said helplessly, "I told them that there's everything on the mountain, but they just wouldn't believe me. They're just being overly sentimental."

Madam Shen glared at him and said, "Isn't this because you're worried the children will suffer on the mountain?"

The man laughed loudly:

"Sister-in-law, don't be afraid, there's everything on the mountain."

You all get on the carriage first! We'll have them come and help us with these things in a bit."

Madam Shen climbed shakily onto the carriage, nearly falling off several times.

The three children trembled violently.

The maids and servants were also trembling, huddled in the corner.

The man coughed and said, "Sister-in-law, don't be afraid. Our village is actually quite hospitable, unlike what people outside say."