Chapter 703: I'm a Match for a Scholar
With the serious business concluded, Li Daoxuan finally turned to face the women and children huddled in the stone house.
The soldiers distributed military rations among them.
The women and children devoured the food, their stomachs finally full, and the panic in their hearts began to subside.
These dozen or so women and children could no longer remain in Houjia Village. In such chaotic times, without the protection of men, a group of women and children simply couldn't survive.
Their only option now was to leave their homes, to become wanderers.
Li Daoxuan spoke softly, "Is there anywhere you can go, perhaps relatives or your maiden homes?"
The women shook their heads. "No, there isn't."
Li Daoxuan asked, "Then what are your plans?"
The women looked up at Li Daoxuan, their gazes strange.
Just as the uneasy sensation settled, the women spoke in unison, "Please, Master, take us in. We are willing to be concubines or maids; we will be yours from now on."
Li Daoxuan shook his head and sighed. "I cannot take you in, but my territory can. Please return with my people; they will make arrangements for you."
The women exchanged nervous glances, a hint of fear in their eyes.
One woman, emboldened, asked, "Master, will you return with us? If you're not there... we're... a little scared."
Li Daoxuan smiled. "Don't worry. Once you are in my territory, I am everywhere."
The women had no control over their own destinies. Though frightened, they could only accept the arrangements, following the Gao Family Village logistical supply team back.
Their future was uncertain, a blank slate of confusion.
They had no idea where they were going.
As they walked with the supply team, they remained incredibly submissive, terrified that the logistics soldiers might mistreat them.
However, they soon realized their fears were unfounded.
The military discipline of the Gao Family Village logistics team surpassed that of the Ming army by a mile.
No one behaved inappropriately towards them throughout the journey.
Half a day passed peacefully.
Then, it was mealtime...
The logistics team stopped in an abandoned village. They checked the village well, found water, and decided to set up camp there.
Some drew water from the well while others began to build fires and cook.
Everyone was busy.
The women and children swallowed, feeling hungry and wanting to eat.
But they dared not ask.
They simply wanted to quietly hide in a corner, drawing no attention to themselves. They didn't want to cause trouble by asking for food. What if the soldiers had forgotten them, and then by asking, they would suddenly be noticed?
The women cautiously retreated into a corner.
Just then, the captain of the logistics team, Zhuge Wang Chan, approached the women and children and called out gently, "Everyone, come quickly, dinner is ready."
His real name was Wang Chan, but he had a diploma from Gao Family Village School. Being educated and quite intelligent, he had given himself the nickname 'Zhuge Wang Chan' by adding "Zhuge" to the front.
Zhuge Wang Chan's call startled the women.
Already trying to be inconspicuous, they collectively recoiled.
Zhuge Wang Chan smiled. "Don't be afraid of me; I won't harm you. Oh! Right, let me show you something."
He took two steps closer and pointed to his chest.
There, an embroidered image of the Heavenly Lord adorned his tunic.
The women stared intently at the embroidered Heavenly Lord for a few moments, then a flicker of recognition crossed their faces. *Ah! Isn't that the same face as the young warrior who single-handedly charged into Houjia Village and defended the stone house door?* The embroidery made it a little hard to recognize at first, but a careful look revealed the likeness.
At this, they felt a tiny bit relieved.
Zhuge Wang Chan continued to beckon. "Don't worry, come over. We've set up an extra pot, and the water is already heating. It'll boil soon. This pot is for you dozen or so people; you can prepare it however you like. Here are your ingredients."
Zhuge Wang Chan placed a bag of flour in front of them. After a moment's thought, he pulled out two bamboo boxes of luncheon meat.
He set them on the ground and retreated a good distance.
It was as if he were feeding stray cats.
This tactic worked even for wild animals, let alone people.
The women cautiously approached, first picking up the bag of flour. Inside, a little less than half a bag of flour was more than enough for a meal for a dozen women and children.
Their spirits instantly lifted.
Next, they opened the bamboo boxes, and inside, to their surprise, were cubes of meat.
"Ah!" the women exclaimed, "Meat!"
Zhuge Wang Chan smiled. "You should cook it yourselves. We men here are terrible cooks; we can only manage to fill our stomachs. What you make will surely be much tastier."
He returned to his team.
The women quickly offered their heartfelt thanks, then gathered around the pot.
A flurry of hands started cooking. Their culinary skills truly surpassed the men's by a great deal. Before long, their thick flour porridge was fragrant and delicious.
Even though no one had taught them how to prepare the luncheon meat, they instinctively knew what to do, dicing it into small pieces and adding it to the porridge.
Soon, the lid was lifted, and an inviting aroma wafted from the pot.
The women quickly served a bowl to each of their children, then each held a bowl themselves, tears of joy streaming down their faces.
*Such delicious food! We truly hope to have it again for our next meal...*
Their small wish was easily granted. As evening fell and it was mealtime once more, Zhuge Wang Chan reappeared, offering them the same provisions.
This time, the women's fears completely vanished.
They watched the logistics soldiers clumsily prepare their own meal and couldn't help but shake their heads. Several women stepped forward. "Let us help you cook. We must do something; otherwise, we'd feel too embarrassed to eat your food for free."
And so, the logistics camp suddenly became a lively place.
The soldiers sat to one side, watching the women busy themselves.
The women, now bolder, began to speak freely.
One woman addressed Zhuge Wang Chan, "Big Brother, you seem like a scholar."
Zhuge Wang Chan responded with a touch of pride, "The captains of our Gao Family Village logistics teams are all educated. Because logistics involves 'signing documents,' 'counting quantities,' and often requires solving simple math problems and writing reports. So, the position of captain requires at least an elementary school diploma."
The woman asked, "Ah? What does 'elementary school diploma' mean? Who is more capable, you or a *xiucai* (scholar)?"
Zhuge Wang Chan laughed heartily. "In terms of language arts, I'm weaker than a *xiucai*, but in mathematics, I'm stronger."
The woman didn't understand "language arts" or "mathematics," but she gathered that this man was a match for a scholar, an equal.
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