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

Chapter 100: A True Reflection

"So, how does the county magistrate plan to deal with these refugees who have stormed into the city?" Li Hu asked.

"We can only deal with it afterward."

Xu Zhiwen sighed and said, "There are always trade-offs in everything. Right now, eliminating the Zhu family is our biggest priority. As for these refugees... we can deal with them later after we've dealt with the Zhu family."

At this moment, Xu Zhiwen couldn't help but feel that he still had too little power at his disposal; otherwise, these refugees would never have caused such a huge mess.

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"Grandpa, what's happening outside?"

Inside the Hundred Herbs Hall, Su Qiaoxi and Su Shihua each held up a door, listening to the shouts of killing coming from outside, their expressions filled with fear.

Just as Baicaotang closed its doors, incessant shouts of battle erupted outside, filling the two men with fear and making them desperately hold the door shut, lest someone break it down.

"Something must have gone wrong in the city."

Su Shihua lowered his voice and said, "Qiaoxi, you must hold the door shut and absolutely cannot let anyone in!"

Having lived most of his life, Su Shihua had a wealth of experience. He knew very well that if the thieves outside broke into Baicaotang, he, an old man, would at most die. But his young and beautiful granddaughter, Su Qiaoxi, would not be so lucky. In places where order is lost, beautiful women often meet a tragic end. Being treated like merchandise and passed around is considered a relatively good ending.

"I understand, Grandpa!"

Su Qiaoxi's pretty face was full of solemnity. Although she was young, she knew what would happen to her if thieves broke in, because at this moment, what came from outside the door was not only shouts of killing, but also... a woman's wailing!

The thought of what would happen to her after the thieves broke into Baicaotang sent chills down Su Qiaoxi's spine. She quickly gritted her teeth and pressed herself firmly against the door.

Fortunately, Baicaotang was a profitable pharmacy, and its doors were extremely sturdy. Perhaps the thieves outside thought that Baicaotang's doors would be difficult to break down, so they did not choose to force their way in. This relieved Su Qiaoxi and Su Shihua.

"This world is too chaotic!"

Listening to the footsteps fading away outside the door, Su Shihua wiped the sweat from his forehead and couldn't help but sigh. Having lived most of his life, this was the first time he had experienced something so thrilling.

"Grandpa, what exactly happened outside?"

Su Qiaoxi wiped the cold sweat from her smooth forehead and said with lingering fear.

"It must be refugees from outside the city who have broken into the city."

Su Shihua guessed that, looking around Taiping County, there was no one else besides the refugees outside the city who could cause such a big mess.

"Refugees from outside the city?"

A thoughtful look flashed in Su Qiaoxi's beautiful eyes. She had seen the refugees outside the city several times from afar. In her impression, those refugees were pitiful people who had left their homes to come to Taiping County just to find a way to survive.

I never imagined... that those seemingly pitiful refugees would turn into such a terrifying sight after entering the city.

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Taiping County is a classical city, with two intersecting straight avenues dividing the town into four square areas.

The two areas to the north are East City and West City, while the two areas to the south are the affluent area and the residential area.

The Tiger-Taming Boxing Gym is located in the wealthy district, where the Zhu family, one of the three major families in the city, also lives.

At this moment, the Zhu family's three-courtyard house was filled with tables, whether in the front yard, the back yard, or the living room. Lanterns hung from the eaves, casting an orange glow that made the entire house look like it was dusk.

Beautiful maids moved between the dining tables, promptly serving exquisite dishes to the living room.

Inside the living room, at the largest dining table, the elderly Zhu Fuxiang, the patriarch of the Zhu family, was receiving congratulations from his guests with a broad smile.

"Grandpa Zhu, I wish you a long and healthy life, and that you will grow younger with each passing year."

A young man with a beaming smile offered his blessings. His name was Yuan Qing, and he was a member of the younger generation of the Yuan family. He had come here today to represent the Yuan family in attending the 90th birthday celebration of Zhu Fuxiang, the patriarch of the Zhu family.

"I also wish Grandpa Zhu a long and happy life with lots of smiles and good fortune."

At another table, a young man named Fang Yong also offered his blessings. He was representing the Fang family. Although the three major families in Taiping County occasionally had some minor frictions, they mostly cooperated in the general direction. Therefore, both families sent their younger generation to attend Zhu Fuxiang's 90th birthday celebration, bringing honor to the Zhu family.

"Good, good, good!"

Although Zhu Fuxiang was old, he was in good spirits. He was looking at the young man who was giving him his blessings with great joy, and his smile never stopped.

On the dining table were exquisite dishes, mostly meat dishes. Such a meal would have been a hot commodity in Chenjia Village, but in the Zhu family's living room, very few people were interested in these dishes.

Those who could attend the 90th birthday celebration of the Zhu family patriarch were all extremely wealthy and powerful. Although the dishes were exquisite, they ate quite a lot on a regular basis and were not so desperate as to eat anything indiscriminately.

Behind the red gates, meat and wine go to waste, while on the streets, frozen corpses lie. The rich indulge in extravagant luxury, while the refugees outside the city can't even get enough chaff to eat. This is the most realistic portrayal of the world.

"Thank you all for coming to my father's birthday banquet."

At this moment, Zhu Ming, the current head of the Zhu family, stood up with a wine cup in hand: "Everyone, let's drink this cup to the brim."

As soon as Zhu Ming spoke, everyone in the living room stood up and raised their glasses.

"Since Patriarch Zhu has spoken, we will naturally comply."

A portly middle-aged man said with a smile, and the others followed suit in flattery.

So everyone drank the wine in their glasses in one gulp!

"kill!"

Just then, a shout of battle came from outside.

Everyone was taken aback, but Zhu Ming quickly realized what was happening and instinctively wanted to send the butler outside to check. Only then did he realize that the butler had already been sent to the gate to greet the guests.

Just as Zhu Ming was realizing what was happening, outside the Zhu family's gate, Zhang He, who had killed the steward with a single blow, looked at the wide-open gate and smiled broadly: "Brothers, success or failure hinges on this moment, follow me and kill!"

With that, Zhang He took the lead and stepped into the Zhu family's gate, followed by the others.

Upon entering the Zhu family's residence, everyone's eyes widened involuntarily.

But in the front yard, tables were set up one after another, and under the light of the lanterns, everyone could see the food on the tables.

"Meat, all meat!"

A young man looked at the food on the table closest to him, a longing gleam in his eyes.

He had never seen so many exquisite meat dishes in his entire life.