Don't Mess with That Dragon-Chapter 713 - 101 Humble (5th update, requesting monthly votes)

There were such rumors among the villagers, and it was understandable.

This was a tragedy they had truly witnessed before.

Just not long ago,

The lords, out of boredom, played such a game. As a result, one of the peasants, unable to bear the hunger, actually believed the lords' words and offended their dignity. He was beaten to death with sticks in front of everyone.

The surrounding villagers watched silently as the peasant, who kept pleading, was beaten until he was bleeding, finally dying.

The lord sitting in the chair felt a bit relieved from his depression after playing this game.

The incident,

ended with the life of an insignificant wretch.

The villagers knew that the peasant had several small children waiting to be fed at home and a wife so thin that her ribs were visible. Without this strong laborer, they probably wouldn't survive the winter.

Thus,

A game known as "the lord's generosity" spread among the villagers.

The grassroots officials of the Blue Dragon Kingdom placed plenty of food outside, wafting the fragrance of wheat under the sun.

However,

No one came to claim the food.

The villagers in the countryside even regarded the old aristocratic castle, where the Blue Dragon Kingdom's grassroots government was located, as a Demon Cave and dared not approach it.

With progress not going well,

This information-sealed village remained hostile to the Blue Dragon Kingdom's grassroots officials and militia.

Regarding this,

The stationed Village Chief of the Blue Dragon Kingdom was not greatly concerned,

Because he was once part of the lower class and had experienced hunger, that feeling of one's entire stomach burning, where hunger drives away all rationale, leaving disregard behind.

Before long, surely someone would be unable to resist coming forward to claim the food.

And once someone takes the lead,

Then all subsequent problems would be easily resolved.

The newly arrived Village Chief of the Blue Dragon Kingdom sat firmly, waiting quietly, making it through the first day.

Although no one dared to appear,

The sharp-eyed Village Chief noticed certain hopes amidst the day's changes.

In the morning,

There were no figures in sight,

At noon,

A thin figure flitted through the lush trees in the distance.

By evening,

Occasionally, that thin figure was seen hesitating amidst the lush trees outside, gazing at the piles of wheat outside the castle and the steaming black bread, swallowing saliva.

Yet still dared not act, until late at night when the few silhouettes disappeared.

Seeing these changes,

The newly appointed grassroots Village Chief understood and did not appear anxious.

Before the villagers' hostility dissipates, he did nothing extra beyond categorizing and cataloging some account books confiscated from the old aristocratic castle.

A day passed uneventfully.

Then,

The second morning,

The castle's gate opened as usual, with food placed outside as usual.

Before long,

A small, thin voice was heard hesitating in the forest in the distance.

As the sun reached its peak,

Noon arrived, and a slight disappointment appeared on the new Village Chief's face in front of the pile of food, thinking maybe this day would end up busy in vain.

Just as he was about to leave to have lunch,

The thin figure hiding in the forest outside the castle finally couldn't help but slowly walk out,

It was a child of six or seven,

With a sallow and emaciated face,

Wearing tattered clothes made of several pieces of coarse cloth hanging on his body, which had been torn into strips, revealing ribs, and whose whole body looked like kindling.

Two small eyes timidly watched the Village Chief sitting beside the pile of food, nervously wringing his hands at the clothes' corners, with eyes filled with fear and dread.

Perhaps when he stepped out,

The child already felt regret and wanted to retreat.

But the hunger in his stomach,

And the fragrant black bread and piles of wheat not far ahead, made the child lick his dry lips, forcing himself to stop those kindling-like small feet.

Step by step,

Like a timid little beast cautiously exploring the outside world, the child slowly walked over.

The new Village Chief,

Had already noticed the child when he appeared.

But to avoid putting too much pressure on him, the Village Chief pretended to be engrossed in the booklets and notes in his hands, knowing that when staring directly at someone, the pressure can be immense, especially for a timid child.

The Village Chief focused on the booklets and notes on the table,

While the malnourished child hesitated and wandered closer.

Time seemed to pass quickly, yet felt unfathomably long.

Finally,

The dirty little child, having mustered his courage, arrived tremblingly in front of the Village Chief sitting at the table.

This was when the Village Chief, appearing as if he had just noticed, casually glanced at the thin child,

Upon closer inspection,

It seemed even more shocking.

This was a severely malnourished little fellow, with a dirty face, a body emaciated to skin and bones under torn clothes turned into rags, ribs evident, and timid small eyes looking at him.

Seeing the Village Chief look over, the child couldn't help but take a step back, his gaze evasive.

"Oh, here for food, take it."

The new Village Chief used as casual a tone as possible, and under the expectant gaze of the frail child, reached into a basket filled with black bread on the table.

He grabbed two large pieces of black bread,

Weighed them thoughtfully, his hand paused slightly.

The child, intensely watching the Village Chief's actions, felt a sudden tightness in his heart for some reason,

Seeing the Village Chief take another piece,

A total of three pieces of black bread,

Each a meter long,

This was pure bread without sawdust, a delicacy barely tasted a few times a year when grass roots and beans were cooked together!

In the dazed gaze of the frail child, they were thrust into his arms.

The child was clearly stunned,

The rich aroma of the black bread ceaselessly entering his nose, making the starving little peasant feel as if he were dreaming.

The child tightly clutched the three sticks of black bread almost as tall as himself,

Very tightly,

As if fearing the three pieces would fly away.

At this moment,

The Village Chief scooped a large scoop of wheat from a pile beside him, placed it in a small bag, and pushed it into the child's hand as well.

Seeing the child still standing there in a daze, one hand clutching the black bread tightly, the other gripping the bag of wheat, seeming at a loss,

The Village Chief "impatiently" waved a hand and harshly said:

"Take your stuff, hurry and scram!"

The frail child seemed to awaken, then, frightened, retreated, bare feet sprinting quickly into the distance.

When he reached the outside of the castle and his figure was about to disappear, he seemed to remember something and paused.

He turned around,

Facing the Village Chief,

He bowed deeply.

A very deep bow,

Almost touching the ground, like a humble ant.

Then,

He turned and ran off into the distance.