Heavenly Blessed Baby: Fleeing Famine, Busy to Prosper!-Chapter 145: Look Who I Found

"Qi Erlang!"

"Qi Erlang!"

The desperate shouting not only reached the ears of Yi Meng and the other five but also startled the pedestrians on the road.

Everyone turned towards the source of the sound and saw only a beggar standing in the corner, leaning against the wall, with one hand reaching out as if trying to grasp onto something.

The beggar was filthy all over, with a tattered cotton jacket from which stuffing protruded in various places, dark and grimy.

His hair was disheveled, and apart from his eyes, every other part of him was covered in dirt.

The beggar tried to step away from the wall, but his legs merely trembled and wouldn’t lift.

Qi Erlang pointed at himself, instinctively asking, "Me?"

Although he was indeed called Qi Erlang, many families used numbers followed by "Lang" to distinguish among brothers.

The surname Qi wasn’t particularly rare; it wasn’t extremely common either, but there certainly were others with the same name.

"Qi Erlang, I, I’m Ji Hu!"

The beggar struggled to shout.

His voice was hoarse, weak, as if he hadn’t eaten for many meals to end up like this.

Upon hearing Ji Hu’s name, the six of Yi Meng’s group all turned pale.

They forgot about buying things and quickly rushed towards Ji Hu.

The pedestrians looked on, some indifferently withdrawing their gazes, others shaking their heads and sighing, but no one approached.

Although Ji Hu looked wretched at this moment, Qi Erlang didn’t show any disdain and immediately supported the arm Ji Hu stretched out.

Ji Hu was already in tears.

But the dirt on his face was so stubborn that the tears couldn’t wash a path through it.

"Erlang, I, I..."

Ji Hu choked, unable to finish his words.

Qi Erlang’s eyes also reddened with tears.

He was only a year older than Ji Hu, and the two of them had practically grown up playing together.

It was only after Ji Hu moved to the city for work that they had less contact.

Now seeing his childhood friend in such a state, Qi Erlang felt an overwhelming sadness.

Seeing the two men crying as they looked at each other, Yi Meng couldn’t help but sigh, though he hadn’t forgotten the main task. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

"Taozi, Erlang, hurry and take Ji Hu home."

Yi Meng then asked Ji Hu, "Are you alone or with others? Where are the others?"

Ji Hu sobbed and said, "There... there are a few more people, just inside, sobbing..."

Upon hearing that there were more people, Yi Meng frowned even more.

Just hoping they’re not the ones who previously picked fights!

Yi Meng felt that their four families getting together was quite good, but now encountering people from the original village who were in such a poor state, they couldn’t really just ignore them.

The distance from here to their courtyard wasn’t far. Yi Meng told Qi Erlang, "Erlang, quickly run back home, get more people to help. Taozi, please carry Ji Hu, and let’s go in to check on the others."

Qi Erlang wiped his eyes, acknowledged with a sound, helped Zhou Tao carry Ji Hu on his back, and then ran towards his home.

Wang Daya and the others looked at each other, unsure of what to say.

At this moment, Yi Meng spoke to Xu Meihua and Wang Cuiniang, "Meihua, Cuiniang, both of you quickly go back and tell the family to prepare some hot water and perhaps cook some rice porridge."

Seeing Ji Hu, they could tell he was starving, and he’d need something to eat once they returned.

Wang Cuiniang and Xu Meihua nodded in agreement, supported each other, and hurried back.

They weren’t as fast as Qi Erlang, so it wasn’t suitable for them to deliver messages, but they could certainly help with cooking porridge and boiling water.

Yi Meng then looked at Wang Daya, "Sister-in-law, let’s go in and take a look!"

"Alright!"

Wang Daya hooked arms with Yi Meng, and the two of them followed in Zhou Tao’s footsteps, heading down the alley as guided by Ji Hu.

The further they walked, the stronger the unpleasant odor.

Fortunately, Yi Meng and the others were used to wearing masks, so it wasn’t unbearable.

The smell in the air was mainly foul, like that from excrement.

Considering it was winter, had the weather been warmer, the stench would probably rival that of a cesspit.

The more Yi Meng walked, the colder he felt in his heart.

The alley wasn’t wide, with courtyard walls on both sides, and not even a small door.

Recalling Ji Hu’s pitiful appearance, those other people he mentioned must have been hiding outside all along!

After walking over twenty meters, they turned a corner and saw, within ten meters into the alley, seven or eight people either sitting or lying down.

As they approached, they realized they were all people from the village.

Among them were Chen Erqiao and Zhang Sanniu, who had once sought refuge in Yongping Village, along with their families.

Astonishingly, Er Laizi and his mother, Mrs. Lai Sr., were also there.

At that moment, Mrs. Lai Sr. sat leaning against the wall, her head drooping, cradling Er Laizi’s head in her arms.

Er Laizi lay beside Mrs. Lai Sr., his body curled up into a ball.

Each one’s nostrils emitted faint white puffs of breath, indicating they were still alive, though their breathing seemed weak, indicating they were not far from death.

"Everyone, wake up, wake up, look who I found!"

Ji Hu was very emotional and tried to shout at them.

Only three or four among them, with great effort, lifted their heads slightly to take a glance.

Their bodies were too frail; even this slight head lift seemed to exhaust all their energy, after which they lowered their heads again.

"We need to figure out a way to move them to the mouth of the alley."

Yi Meng observed with a furrowed brow.

Wang Daya had already set down her basket, "Meng Niang, let’s each support one and take them out first."

Zhou Tao promptly said, "I’ll take Ji Hu out first, then come back for the others."

The alley was about thirty meters to the mouth, and not very wide; two people walking side by side had to keep their shoulders in, or else they’d brush against the walls.

The ground was covered with snow, so once the others came, everyone couldn’t just rush in to carry people out. They needed to move the people towards the mouth before help arrived.

No more words were needed among them.

Mrs. Lai Sr. was the oldest among them; they wanted her to release Er Laizi. However, as soon as she felt someone trying to pry open her arms, she suddenly became alert.

Although she regained consciousness, she still had no strength, speaking weakly, "You, don’t touch us. My son!"

"Mrs. Lai Sr., we’re here to save you. Let go of Er Laizi for now, Zhou Tao will carry him later! Don’t worry, you’ll all be alright!"

Wang Daya said firmly, applying slight force and lifting Mrs. Lai Sr.’s arm.

Mrs. Lai Sr. squinted, trying to see clearly who it was, but the effort of lifting her head and speaking utterly exhausted her last ounce of strength.

She closed her eyes and fainted.

"Let’s go!"

Yi Meng lifted one of Mrs. Lai Sr.’s arms; with Wang Daya, they raised her and dragged her out like dragging a dead weight.

But the alley was so narrow that the two of them had to walk sideways like crabs, which was very taxing.