In years of famine and drought, their village even rejected fatty meat.

Chapter 20 Entering the City Again

Of course, what disappointed Chen Dao the most was not the failure of this gray-feathered chicken to advance, but that none of the gray-feathered chickens that advanced had become fighting chickens like Xiao Hei.

"Giggle!"

As soon as you say "Little Black," Little Black arrives. Always patrolling the courtyard like a tyrant among chickens, Little Black quickly runs to Chen Dao's feet and rubs its head against his trouser leg.

"Are you hungry?"

Chen Dao immediately understood Xiao Hei's thoughts, returned to the house to retrieve food to feed Xiao Hei and the white-feathered chickens in the cage.

"Xiaodao, it's time to go."

Just after feeding the chickens, Chen Da's voice rang out from outside the door.

Chen Dao opened the door for Chen Da, then said, "Uncle, wait for me a moment."

After saying that, Chen Dao went to the chicken coop, put all seven roosters he was going to sell into one coop, and then, carrying the coop, went with Chen Da towards the village entrance.

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At the village entrance, a group of young men whom Chen Da had found to help were chatting idly.

"Mr. Chen is living a really good life!"

A young man looked at the chicken coop on the donkey cart with envy in his eyes.

There were seven roosters in the coop, each with white feathers and a large size, looking quite plump.

"Chen Cheng, you're not thinking of stealing Chen Da's chicken, are you?"

Chen Jiang chuckled and teased, knowing full well that Chen Cheng would never steal Chen Da's chickens. After all, the young men Chen Da recruited were all well-behaved and honest men in the village. Although they were poor, they wouldn't stoop to petty theft.

"Chen Jiang, you're underestimating me, Chen Cheng!"

Chen Cheng retorted, "I'm not one of Chen Jin's three brothers, why would I do such a thing?"

After saying that, Chen Cheng sighed and said, "I just envy Mr. Chen's good life."

Hearing this, everyone nodded.

Let alone Chen Cheng, who in the entire Chenjia Village doesn't envy the life of the Chen family?

Nowadays, every household in the village eats gruel, except for the Chen family, who can still eat meat occasionally and raise so many chickens. Their lives are thriving.

"How do you think Chen Da raises these chickens?"

A young man named Chen Sanshui couldn't help but ask, "This chicken is really something else! It's big and looks great; it must be worth much more than a gray-feathered chicken."

"I suspect it's related to Daoge'er."

Chen Si, who had been to the county town with Chen Dao, said, "Didn't we all see the Chen brothers stealing things that night? Dao'er's family also has chickens like that."

"Yes, yes, yes! I saw it too!"

"That chicken at Daoge'er's house is really something! It chased the three Chen brothers around. I went to Chen Jin's house to check on the three brothers before, and their wounds were so deep that you could see the bone. It was terrifying."

"Isn't Daoge'er's family so poor they're barely able to afford food? How can they still afford to raise chickens?"

"Who knows! They've probably found a way to make a fortune."

"..."

The young men seemed to be deep in thought. The changes in Chen Da and Chen Dao's homes could not be kept from the villagers. After all, the frequent crowing of roosters coming from their yard could be heard by anyone who wasn't deaf.

Although no one knew how Chen Dao and Chen Da could afford to raise so many chickens, it didn't stop them from envying their family's wealth.

With so many chickens, Chen Dao and Chen Dajia must have plenty of food at home.

"What are you talking about?"

As everyone was talking, Chen Da and Chen Dao walked over side by side.

The envy in everyone's eyes deepened as they looked at the chicken coop Chen Dao was carrying.

Chen Dao had seven chickens in his cage, each with bright feathers and a large size, just like the chickens Chen Da had placed in the car.

"We're talking about your chickens, Uncle Chen."

Chen Jiang replied with a "Chen Da Yi" and then looked at Chen Dao, saying in a joking tone, "Brother Dao, your family's life has become quite prosperous, you can afford to raise so many chickens now."

"Brother Jiang."

Chen Dao nodded to Chen Jiang and quickly changed the subject, saying, "Thank you all for your help. When we get back to the village, I'll give each of you 5 jin of sorghum flour as a reward!"

Upon hearing this, everyone's faces immediately lit up with joy.

"Brother Dao is magnanimous."

"I knew I wouldn't be at a disadvantage helping Chen Da with his work!"

"Five catties of sorghum flour? Brother Dao is really generous."

"..."

With the promise of 10 jin of sorghum flour, everyone's goodwill towards Chen Dao immediately soared. There was no other way; these days, no one's family was having an easy time. Although 5 jin of sorghum flour wouldn't last long, it would at least give the family some extra food reserves.

"Xiaodao, let me help you carry the chicken coop."

Chen Cheng eagerly helped Chen Dao take the chicken coop and carefully placed it on the vehicle. His family was large and had a lot of food, so they were extremely eager for the 5 jin of sorghum flour.

Although the others were not as attentive as Chen Cheng, they still treated Chen Dao with exceptional respect, and even implicitly regarded Chen Dao as their superior.

"Okay, let's go."

After everyone helped Chen Dao onto the donkey cart, Chen Da waved his hand, and Chen Si drove the cart all the way to the county town.

.…………

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Outside the county town, the number of migrants increased even more, and they even formed residential areas. The migrants who gathered there collected timber outside the town and built one simple house after another, settling down outside the county town.

Of course, the houses that were built could only help these refugees protect themselves from the cold; the vast majority of them were still hungry.

Sitting on the donkey cart, Chen Dao saw some unrecognizable corpses and government officials distributing porridge. The refugees lined up, holding broken bowls, to receive the bland, watery "porridge".

Each refugee who received the porridge drank it all in one gulp, like a starving ghost, and then lay down on the ground or returned to their makeshift huts to minimize energy expenditure.

"stop."

The soldiers at the city gate stopped the donkey cart that was trying to enter the city. After a thorough inspection, they said, "You need to pay 10 coins to enter the city."

"Sir, I've never heard of such a thing!"

Just as Chen Si, who was driving the cart, was about to argue, Chen Da stopped him, handed over the ten coins he had prepared to the soldier, and then the donkey cart passed through the city gate smoothly and entered the city.

"Fuck him!"

Chen Si glanced back at the soldiers guarding the city and cursed, "Do we have to pay to enter the city? Are these soldiers and officials in the city crazy for money?"

Chen Si had often gone to the city with Chen Da before, but he had never heard of having to pay money to enter the city, which is why he was particularly annoyed.

"Stop talking! It's better to avoid trouble."

Chen Da didn't say anything. He was also annoyed by the practice of charging an entrance fee, but compared to the 10-coin entrance fee, selling chickens was undoubtedly more important. Therefore, Chen Da chose to pay the 10-coin fee instead of arguing with the city guards.

Besides, arguing would be useless; those soldiers with knives wouldn't reason with you.

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