Great Tang Idyll Volume 02 Chapter 28
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Volume 02 Chapter 28: Rushing Along The Way Without Running Out Of Energy
“Let’s eat. "Zhang Xiao’bao sprinkled some minced ginger into the soup, and the two of them began to eat. They each took turns taking bites and it didn't take much time for them to eat all of the wild vegetables and bugs.
Those adults who followed behind as they constantly criticized them couldn’t say a single word at this time. They were shocked by what Zhang Xiao’bao and Wang Juan did. It turned out that they were digging for lunch when they were walking along the way. These two little children were too daunting.
Surviving in the wild? Look at them, they’re the ones that are actually surviving in the wild. While the other children starved, they enjoyed their meals made from ingredients obtained from their surroundings. Whose children were they? Astonishing.
"Brother Lei, it seems that our children are going to go hungry. I wonder if they will have the energy to run in the afternoon." The man surnamed Xin didn't dare to look down on Zhang Xiao’bao and Wang Juan anymore. They even knew about looking for food to eat, and now they had drawn in closer with the children in the front. In an afternoon’s time, not only did they catch up with the other children, but it was easy for the two of them to overtake everyone else.
"That’s right. Who told the other kids to just fool around? Sigh~! Big Brother Xin, did you see the thing those two kids took out earlier? Later today, I’ll get someone to make that thing and let the kids use it tomorrow."
The person surnamed Lei felt that his face was burning hot right now. Just now he kept making negative comments about other people's children. He kept pointing at them saying this and that won’t work and was wrong, but now it appeared that they were the capable ones. Or, it can be said that those two children’s parents were particularly good since they taught their children so well.
Even if the two of them didn’t have any tools, they probably wouldn't starve to death eating the food raw. If the parents and their own children were thrown into an unpopulated area, they would definitely die from starvation, not to mention if there were any other dangers like wolves or snakes. However, this was not a concern for those two children.
The person surnamed Xin nodded, and then shook his head. "Look closely. That thing placed in their tiny equipment was slaked lime. We can’t give that to the kids. Do they even know what can be eaten and what can’t be eaten? What if they get food poisoning? Forget it, let’s just make a good meal for them in the evening."
While they talked amongst themselves, Zhang Xiao’bao and Wang Juan were back to walking down the path. They washed their equipment with water and placed it back into their backpack. Once again, they walked with their heads lowered and they headed towards their destination with one person leading and the other person following behind.
The set of actions they completed can be described as calm, steady, and full of patience. There were no hints of excitement on their faces, and it seemed like everything they did was natural and that they have done this countless times.
Turbulent waves of thoughts passed through the minds of the adults who were watching Zhang Xiao’bao and Wang Juan. Those two children were too level-headed. Just by looking at them, one could tell that the children were extremely confident and would not give up or cry and make a scene.
When they took another look at the children who were still lying on the ground and shouting that they’re hungry, almost everyone sighed. They were incomparable to the other two.
"My lord, do you think...?" Li Cheng also saw this and he also smelled the fragrant scent of the soup. He also didn't eat yet. Just now, he really wanted to steal the soup from them and take a few sips. It was a bit gross since it contained various kinds of bugs, so he wondered how those two little children ate so happily.
The middle-aged man’s gaze was fixed on Zhang Xiao’bao and Wang Juan the entire time. He also had no idea who were the ones that taught these two children. Previously, he commented that those two couldn’t even compare to the children on the Li Manor, but never did he expect that what he said was wrong.
Resilient and persistent was the most fitting way to describe the two children. From where did the Zhang and Wang manors find people to teach their manor’s children and little masters? Truly talented.
"My lord, you..." Li Cheng looked at the man beside him staring at the two children, so he had to ask again.
"Yes, I know. Take note of that. You saw what they used just now, right? When you get back, make it. Be sure to keep an eye on both of them to see what else they are capable of." The middle-aged man sighed and spoke.
Li Cheng nodded and asked, "My lord, I meant to ask about the children. Are we really not going to give them food to eat? Do you think they can bear the hunger?"
"Yes. Skipping a meal won’t kill them. Now that they’re here, they must be prepared to suffer. They also saw just now that other children can cook food to eat, so why can’t they think of something? Li Cheng, let me ask you, if you were given that soup, would you be able to eat it?"
The middle-aged man glanced at the children who were lying there resting. He rejected the proposal of feeding them, and asked Li Cheng another question.
"I could, but I’ll definitely be disgusted. Unless there’s really no food, then in order to survive, I’ll eat it." Li Cheng recalled what the two children ate, and he felt that it was indeed a bit disgusting. At the same time, he admired Zhang Xiao’bao and Wang Juan even more.
The children lying on the ground looked at the adults, and among the adults were their family members. They kept yelling out that they were hungry in hopes that the adults could give them something to eat.
The adults really pitied them, but they don't dare to find food for their children. Others have not eaten yet, so why do you get to eat? The Emperor's nephew was also hungry. The only thing they could do was to go over and persuade their child to endure it until the evening. If worse comes to worse, the children could drink more water to fill their stomachs.
"Why did those two children who just passed by had something to eat? I smelled it, it was so fragrant." The child who didn’t eat his breakfast properly this morning could not stand the hunger anymore. He pointed at the leaving figures of Zhang Xiao’bao and Wang Juan as he questioned the adult.
"They found the food themselves. If you have the ability, you can also look for it. See what kind of plants on the ground can be eaten and eat it." The middle-aged man walked closer at this time and gave the complaining child a lesson without even bothering to act courteous.
The children knew that they couldn't afford to provoke this person, so they didn't make any noise. They didn't even complain that they were hungry anymore. They took the water pouch next to them and roughly poured the water down their throat. Filling their stomach with water was better than being hungry.
After drinking the water, they started to run forward again. If they don’t run to the place, they won’t be able to eat. They could choose to quit and they would be able to eat whatever they want. Otherwise, they must arrive at today’s designated area where tents were set up.
The adults once again followed behind them, and they did not eat anything too. Seeing that their own children had nothing to eat, they did not have the heart to eat. As they walked, they asked around to find out what those two children’s names were and which family they were from.
Li Cheng was given a lot of bribes, and in the end, he exposed Zhang Xiao’bao’s and Wang Juan’s identities. He pointed his finger at the four people in the team and said, "Do see those four people? They’re from their household. Those two children are the little masters of the Zhang and Wang families from the Tu’qiao Village."
After he pointed his finger, everyone turned their gazes to the four people. Shi'liu led the other three. They had their chests upright, and an arrogant look on their faces. They heard every single praise the others made about their Young Master and Young Miss just now. Their master’s glory was also their glory.
Shi'liu also thought in her mind, ‘if these people knew that her Young Master and Young Miss were only over two years old, they would be even more surprised. It was the correct choice to follow a master like those two. ’
The crowd also advanced forward since their own children were still up ahead and they didn’t want to stay with the children who complained that they were hungry anymore. They quickened their pace. It was normal that the few family members of these children would stay behind and accompany their own children, even if they knew that their children were well protected by people behind them. They couldn’t leave their children behind to go watch other people.
As Zhang Xiao’bao and Wang Juan rushed forward, there were more and more adults who stayed behind to accompany the children and all these children fell behind.
When it was four quarters after the Wei hour1, Zhang Xiao’bao and Wang Juan stopped again. They overtook a lot of people. If they continue at their current pace for another four hours, they will probably be able to reach the place at four quarters after the You hour2.
However, they chose to stop walking. They cut a few small bundles of grass with a knife, tied them up, and placed them down. They took out two blankets from their backpack. One of the blankets was spread at the bottom, and the other was placed on top of the grass. The two of them crawled inside and laid down. They closed their eyes and slept.
At this time, it was the hottest time of the day. If they continued to travel, their body would quickly become fatigued and lose electrolytes. Lying down for an hour will allow them to get some rest and avoid the hot sun.
When the adults saw the two children’s actions, no one said that they would fall behind others anymore. Everyone was uncomfortably hot now. If there was a place like this where they can lie down and take a rest, then it would be great. They wondered if the children can continue on with the scorching sun shining down on the top of their heads.
Three quarters of an hour later, Wang Juan and Zhang Xiao’bao finished napping and they got up to pack their things up. Then, they continued rushing forward. They didn’t worry about catching up with others. The other children didn’t eat at noon, ran like crazy in the morning, and walked under the burning sun in the afternoon, so it would be a miracle if they don’t suffer from a heatstroke. How far could they possibly get to?
The children walking ahead did not get a heatstroke. The children were being watched the entire time, so if any of them couldn't keep up anymore, someone would give them ice water to drink.
When Zhang Xiao’bao and Wang Juan were about two hours away from the final destination, they were walking in the front of the team. Only a few healthy children could continue to keep walking in the front. However, judging by how they were walking, they were out of energy already.
Within these few hours, nine people have already given up. Even though their family members were still looking at them with encouraging eyes, they couldn’t persist on walking. Some even cried and made a scene. When they were at home, when did they ever suffer like this?
The families of nine children didn’t force their children. They had no choice but to find food for their children under other people’s eyes of scrutiny. They found people to pull their carriages while they sat in it and followed behind the group so that they could watch what other people’s children did. After this experience, they can teach their own children when they get back.
Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan suddenly moved faster at this time. They changed from a brisk walk to a jog. One person was jogging in the front, and the other jogged behind. Their arms swayed gently, their expressions were relaxed and their eyes were half open. They tried their best to minimize their physical energy consumption.
It only took about a quarter of an hour to become the head of the group of children from five to eight years old, and they overtook more than thirty children who were eight to twelve years old.
The parents of the five to eight-year-old children looked at the two distant figures and sighed. The other age group’s parents made surprised expressions when they saw the two children passing by. They did not expect that there were still children who had the energy to run right now.
Translator’s Notes
Four quarters after the Wei hour
This is 2:00 pm.
Four quarters after the You hour
This is 6:00 pm.
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