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

Chapter 421 Obsession

"Please wait a moment, guests. I'll go make you something to eat."

After leading Chen Dao and the others into the house, Lü Xiaoyi's mother, Yu Cui, planned to go to the kitchen to prepare food for everyone.

"No need, Auntie! We brought our own food." Zheng Qiuyan quickly stopped Yu Cui. Given the bare state of the house, she couldn't possibly let Yu Cui cook for them.

"No, no! You've come from afar, so I must treat you properly."

Yu Cui, however, was extremely enthusiastic and went straight to the kitchen to get busy.

Watching her departing figure, Chen Dao and the others were deeply moved. Yu Cui was a woman who had to support a child, and her life was already difficult enough. Yet, she was still willing to share her meager savings with them, these strangers...

Perhaps this is the inherent kindness of the common people at the bottom of the Xia Kingdom; even when they are destitute, they still maintain the greatest enthusiasm for strangers.

"big sister."

Lu Xiaoyi rested his chin on his hands and looked at Zheng Qiuyan curiously, asking, "Are you martial artists?"

"how do you know?"

Zheng Qiuyan looked at Lü Xiaoyi in surprise. Since entering the village, they had never shown any strength. How did Lü Xiaoyi determine that they were martial artists?

"Because of this uncle."

Lu Xiaoyi pointed at Chen Cheng with her little finger: "I've never seen such a strong person in the village before, so I think you are martial artists."

uncle……

Chen Cheng's eye twitched. Lü Xiaoyi called Zheng Qiuyan and Qingying "sisters," and Chen Dao "brother," but called him "uncle." Did he look that old?

Chen Dao and the other two suddenly realized that because the people of Xia Kingdom were often hungry and had to do a lot of physical labor, most of them were relatively thin. A giant like Chen Cheng, who was tall and muscular, would easily make people notice his unusual appearance.

"We are indeed martial artists."

Zheng Qiuyan did not hide it, but admitted it directly.

"Can you teach me martial arts?"

Lu Xiaoyi looked at Zheng Qiuyan with anticipation. Becoming a martial artist, killing the Green King, and rescuing his sister was his greatest wish.

Zheng Qiuyan remained silent. Becoming a martial artist was almost impossible for a child like Lü Xiaoyi. She could certainly give Lü Xiaoyi martial arts techniques and teach him to practice, but what about the resources for practicing martial arts?

Lu Xiaoyi can't even get enough to eat, so where will he get the resources to practice martial arts? Forcing himself to practice martial arts without resources will only deplete his body and will not bring him any benefits.

Of course, with Zheng Qiuyan's financial resources, it wouldn't be difficult for her to provide some resources for Lü Xiaoyi to practice martial arts. However, she didn't want to do so because even if Lü Xiaoyi succeeded in practicing martial arts, he wouldn't be able to defeat the King of Qing. On the contrary, he might die because he provoked the King of Qing, which was something Zheng Qiuyan didn't want to see.

Seemingly noticing the unusual expression on Zheng Qiuyan's face, a hint of sadness flashed in Lü Xiaoyi's eyes. Although he was young, he knew that becoming a martial artist was not an easy thing, so he did not blame Zheng Qiuyan for rejecting him, but only sighed silently in his heart.

"Xiao Yi."

Chen Dao reached out and touched Lü Xiaoyi's head. Lü Xiaoyi's hair was very dirty, but Chen Dao didn't mind at all: "Becoming a martial artist is not an easy thing. If you really want to become a martial artist, you can go to a place called Chenjia Village. As long as you can get there, I will teach you martial arts!"

"Really? Brother Chen?"

A dazzling light burst forth in Lü Xiaoyi's eyes.

"real."

Chen Dao nodded seriously. He never minded giving others a chance. If Lü Xiaoyi's obsession with becoming a martial artist was really that deep, what was wrong with giving Lü Xiaoyi a chance? Anyway, Chen Dao never lacked resources for practicing martial arts.

"Great!"

Lü Xiaoyi almost jumped up: "Brother Chen, don't worry, I will definitely go to Chenjia Village."

"Okay, I'll wait for you!"

Chen Dao nodded.

At that moment, Yu Cui returned with the prepared meal.

"Guest, this is all the food we have at home. I hope you won't find it too bad!"

A hint of embarrassment flashed across Yu Cui's face as she placed the food on the table. Although she was a rural woman, she had some discernment. Just by looking at the clothes of Zheng Qiuyan, Chen Dao, and the others, she knew that they must be important people. And the food she served to these important people was obviously not presentable.

Chen Dao glanced at the food Yu Cui had brought out and fell silent. The food on the table was a porridge with yellow substances like bran and wheat bran floating on the surface. It looked unpalatable and was even worse than the food Chen Dao had eaten when he first transmigrated.

"Cheng-ge'er".

Chen Dao winked at Chen Cheng, who immediately understood, got up, went outside, and went to get dry rations from the four men's horses.

Chen Dao smiled and said to Cui, "Auntie, we also brought some dry food. Let's eat together."

"Why is this so embarrassing?"

"It's alright, ma'am. Dry rations are just for eating, aren't they?"

Not long after, Chen Cheng returned carrying a package and took out the flatbreads from it, distributing them to everyone.

The flatbreads carried by Chen Dao and others were made of white flour and were baked until golden brown and crispy.

Yu Cui swallowed hard after taking the flatbread, and waved her hands repeatedly, saying, "Young Master Chen, this flatbread is too precious, we can't accept it."

Lu Xiaoyi was also holding a large flatbread and swallowing hard, but politely did not eat it.

"Auntie, this flatbread isn't worth much, just consider it our lodging fee."

"Uh... well!"

After repeatedly declining, Yu Cui finally accepted Chen Dao's offer, sat down next to Lü Xiaoyi, and silently began to eat her flatbread.

After seeing his mother's consent, Lü Xiaoyi also wolfed down the flatbread, shaking his head as he ate, his face full of satisfaction.

For Lü Xiaoyi, who couldn't even get enough bran to eat, a flatbread made from pure flour and baked until crispy was the ultimate delicacy. Lü Xiaoyi even carefully picked up the crumbs that fell from the flatbread and put them in his mouth, afraid of leaving even a single crumb.

Watching Lü Xiaoyi wolf down his food, Chen Dao smiled. He picked up the porridge, took a sip, and used it as soup to eat the flatbread.

Zheng Qiuyan glanced at Chen Dao's actions unintentionally and sighed inwardly.

It's hard to imagine that someone like Chen Dao could eat such a gruel without any hesitation. This is something that Zheng Qiuyan, and even the martial artists in the Zheng family, could never do.

After all, the smell of this mushy rice... makes it hard to swallow just by smelling it.

Zheng Qiuyan tried to pick up the porridge and take a bite, but almost vomited. Having been pampered all her life, she simply couldn't accept such food, and neither could her maid, Qingying.

On the contrary, Chen Dao and Chen Cheng seemed completely oblivious to the strange smell of the porridge, and ate it with great relish.