Madmen don't keep diaries

Chapter 436, Section 435: Three Types of People

Doors lined both sides of the passageway, and Feng Xiuhu and his group were staying in one of them.

There isn't just one passageway; it's a network of interconnected passages, much like the streets on the ground.

Every few dozen meters along the walls on both sides of the passage, there is a simple wall lamp, covered with wire mesh and glass, providing lighting that is better than nothing but is very important.

Feng Xiuhu didn't wander off; he wasn't familiar with the area and was worried about getting lost.

Suddenly remembering that the old lady had said she was going to fetch water from next door, Feng Xiuhu looked to the left and right.

Just then, the door on the left suddenly opened.

A dark-skinned, lean man came out.

He was stunned when he saw Feng Xiuhu: "Who are you?"

Feng Xiuhu pointed to the door behind him and said matter-of-factly, "You don't even know me? My eldest son!"

The man was even more suspicious: "Niu Jia Dalang? Who are you trying to fool!"

Feng Xiuhu replied, "It wasn't me who said it. The old lady said it was me, so it is."

The man suddenly understood. He looked Feng Xiuhu over carefully and exclaimed, "To be honest, your figure and voice are quite similar to Niu Jia Dalang's. No wonder Granny Song mistook you for someone else."

The man seemed easy to talk to, so Feng Xiuhu took advantage of the situation and said, "My mother sent me to ask for a bowl of water."

The man nodded and beckoned, "Come on."

Feng Xiuhu followed the man into the next room.

There was a woman holding a baby on a straw mat inside the house. When she saw a stranger come in, she quickly pulled up her clothes and then yelled at the man, "Are you kidding me! Curfew is coming, why are you bringing a stranger into the house at this time?"

The man scratched his head but didn't reply.

He went straight to the pot, lifted the wooden lid, scooped a bowl of water from the pot, and handed it to Feng Xiuhu: "Go back quickly, Granny Song is still waiting."

The woman, who had been muttering curses under her breath, immediately fell silent upon hearing the name "Grandma Song."

Feng Xiuhu took the bowl and sat down directly at the table: "No rush."

He took a sip of water and asked, "Do you know where Niu Jia Dalang went?"

The man had intended to persuade Feng Xiuhu to leave, but fell silent upon hearing this question.

A woman nearby muttered softly, "Where else could they have gone? They haven't come back for two or three days, they're probably gone."

The man sighed and continued, "The last time I saw Niu Jia Dalang was three days ago. We went to dig grass roots in the fields together and were rushing back when Niu Jia Dalang accidentally twisted his ankle. Curfew was approaching, but he couldn't run anymore, so he said he would find a place to hide nearby. I never thought that he would hide until now, and I haven't seen him since."

The woman cursed, "Dead is dead. What do you mean you've never seen him? Only his blind old mother still thinks he's alive, believing that as long as he can't see, he's still alive."

The man glared at her fiercely: "Keep your voice down! Granny Song is right next door."

It would have been better if she hadn't said anything, because once she did, the woman's voice rose even higher: "What can't be said?"

She shouted at Feng Xiuhu, "Go outside and see for yourself! On the ridges of the fields and along the roads, the charred remains are from being struck by lightning, and the pitch-black ground is covered with shadows cast by lightning. Every family has people dying, what's so strange about that? Even our whole family might starve to death in this tunnel one day!"

The man was truly angry now. He walked over and slapped the woman across the face, yelling, "What kind of unlucky things are you saying!"

The woman wailed loudly, and the baby in her arms began to cry as well.

"In this unbearable world, we might as well die, but I pity my poor child..."

The incessant crying was incredibly disturbing, and the man squatted down, burying his head in his hands and sighing repeatedly.

Feng Xiuhu stood up with his bowl in his hand: "Then you all keep crying, I'll come back later."

After saying that, he turned and left.

Back at Granny Song's house, Shunzi and Fang Youliu had already taken out all the food.

While eating in small bites, Grandma Song secretly hid the dried bread and pastries into her sleeves.

She thought she had left no trace, but little did she know that it was just that Shunzi and Fang Youliu hadn't pointed it out.

Feng Xiuhu placed the bowl of water in front of Granny Song, then reached into her sleeve and took out all the food: "Eat your food properly, don't think about saving any for anyone else, this meal won't make a difference."

Grandma Song pulled Feng Xiuhu aside and whispered, "Young man, quickly tell your friends that you must keep these delicious foods hidden and not show them to outsiders."

"I know it well."

Feng Xiuhu nodded and said, "Take care of yourself and fill your stomach first—don't hide it in your sleeves."

Grandma Song nodded in agreement.

Fang Youliu gave Feng Xiuhu a wink, and the two of them went to the wall.

Fang Youliu frowned and said in a low voice, "I know why the notes said this place is not suitable for cultivation."

"I went back to the carriage to move some things just now, and when I tried to cast a spell, I found that my magic power was out of control. I couldn't even cultivate normally, let alone cast a spell."

His information was outdated; Feng Xiuhu already knew it.

Feng Xiuhu nodded, repeating Shi's words without batting an eye: "The mortal world and the spirit world overlap here..."

It turns out that even reciting the original words requires skill. After saying this, Feng Xiuhu forgot what Shi had actually said. Fang Youliu was waiting for Feng Xiuhu to continue, but suddenly there was no sound. So he looked up at him in surprise.

Feng Xiuhu hesitated for a long time before finally saying, "...Well, the two pieces of paper are stacked together, you understand?"

Fang Youliu looked completely bewildered: "I don't quite understand."

Feng Xiuhu looked at him with a disappointed expression: "That's why I say you're the student and I'm the dean. You wouldn't understand even if I told you, so I won't say anything more."

Granny Song must have been extremely thirsty. In the short time it took Feng Xiuhu and Fang Youliu to exchange a few words, she had already drunk the entire bowl of water.

Shunzi handed over their own water pouches: "Grandma, drink slowly, there's more here."

Feng Xiuhu walked over, picked up the empty bowl, and said to the two of them, "I'll go ask around some more. Don't wander off."

Grandma Song heard this too and quickly turned around to ask, "Big Brother, where are you going again?"

Feng Xiuhu comforted her, "I'll return the bowl to the neighbor and be back soon."

When Feng Xiuhu went outside again, he found the man next door squatting at the door.

Seeing Feng Xiuhu come out, the man gave him an ugly smile: "That silly woman's crying is making people uneasy. It's much quieter outside."

Feng Xiuhu decided not to go in and squatted in the passage with the man.

Upon entering the city, Feng Xiuhu saw three types of people.

One type ran towards the ridges of the fields. From the man's words, Feng Xiuhu guessed that these people were going to dig up grass roots to fill their stomachs.

The second type is barter, whether it's exchanging lamp oil, bran cakes, or something else, it's all for survival.

The last type is those who run to the tower to grab the so-called "incense coupons." Feng Xiuhu still doesn't understand why these people are like this.

So he asked directly, "What are the incense coupons for?"

(End of this chapter)