Saving System: Calm Down, My Fleeing Host!-Chapter 100: Mission, Ambush 17

So Cheng Xiaoxiao shouted as she ran, "Women support the elderly and children forward, men pick up useful weapons around, and stay to fend off the bandits coming from the left alley. Reinforcements will arrive in half a moment."

Due to the shock from Cheng Xiaoxiao and Leng Qi earlier, many people still found their positions according to Cheng Xiaoxiao’s instructions.

However... these people lacked the courage and motivation to fight desperately against the bandits, so she decided to give them the motivation to resist the bandits.

She shouted loudly, "Reward for those who fight the bandits: upon escaping, each will receive 5 kilograms of coarse grain. You can form teams, ten people to attack one bandit; remember, each person will receive the reward of 5 kilograms of coarse grain. Additionally, killing a bandit brings an extra reward of 10 kilograms of fine grain.

Think about it, with nothing left, what will you eat after escaping? To live, to ensure your family has food, can you not fight? If you’re a real man, pick up a weapon and knock down the bandits humiliating us."

Cheng Xiaoxiao thought for a moment and added, "If anyone unfortunately gets injured, I, Cheng Xiaoxiao, will ensure medical treatment. We won’t abandon any living companions, so everyone should have no worries. I will take care of the elderly and children."

The men, who had been abused and whipped for days, were so stirred by Cheng Xiaoxiao’s words that their blood boiled, their fighting spirit ignited, and with someone promised to look after the women and children, they no longer worried, and began looking around for handy weapons.

Indeed, a single person cannot defeat the bandits, but with their numbers, they can attack from all sides. They refuse to believe they can’t kill these beasts, and doing so promises grain as a reward. Any way they think about it, it’s worthwhile—not only can they avenge themselves, but they can earn some grain for their family, so they won’t starve after escaping. Quickly, the men assigned themselves into over twenty small groups, effectively resisting the bandits’ killing blades.

Suddenly, two boys around 10 years old picked up an abandoned carrying pole and found an iron pot, preparing to charge back. As they passed by Cheng Xiaoxiao, seemingly hesitant, they asked in a clear voice, "Sister, is it true that killing bandits will earn grain?"

Cheng Xiaoxiao looked at the two dirty children, their hair messy, clothes tattered beyond repair, covered in wounds, yet their large black, bright eyes stared back at her.

Such young ones willing to risk their lives for a bite to eat, what could she say?

"Come back, you two little rascals, come back to me." An elderly man with a hobbling gait and graying hair hurriedly called from the front.

The slightly taller boy quickly supported the panting old man, "Grandpa! I want to earn some grain; otherwise you and my younger brother will go hungry."

The slightly shorter child echoed, "Grandpa, don’t worry, we’ll be careful."

The old man urgently exclaimed, "Children don’t understand; bandits are ferocious, you two couldn’t withstand a single slash. Listen, hurry and run."

"But Grandpa, we have nothing left. Our home, land, parents—they’re gone. You’re getting old, your legs can’t move well. Now there’s a chance to earn some grain. If we don’t seize it, how can we survive after escaping?" The older boy spoke, tears couldn’t help but fall.

The young boy also thought of their home’s fate and began to tear up, sniffling miserably, but stubbornly biting his lip to keep from crying aloud.

The old man’s deeply wrinkled face was filled with regret, questioning why it wasn’t him who died. At his age, he’s burdening the children, eyes reddened instantly, chokingly began, "Our old Hu family is left with you two. Grandpa won’t let you risk it. If there’s no food, we can dig for wild vegetables, scrape bark. There’s always a way."

The boy weakly said, "But Grandpa, there are so many people escaping. We’re afraid we won’t get any wild vegetables or bark."

The old man choked; indeed, even if there’s something to fill one’s belly, it won’t come to them. They’re too small and weak, the young are young, the old are old, how could they compete with able-bodied adults?

Oh heavens!

How should the grandfather and grandson survive? He, with his useless old bones, why is he still here?

But... if he should die, he can’t rest easy leaving behind the two half-grown children.

The desperate grandfather beat his chest and stamped his feet, filled with helplessness and sorrow. It’s all because he is useless, he understands it’s his fault!

Watching the anguished grandpa, the older boy resolutely said, "Grandpa, just let us go! Rather than starve after escaping, it’s better to fight now."

He then looked at the beautiful sister; she was well-groomed, dared to confront bandits, had grain to supply everyone, and had highly skilled guards—surely a powerful figure.

Tagged as a powerful figure, Cheng Xiaoxiao sympathized with this pitiful family. This disaster must have created countless such unfortunate souls, truly saddening to hear, tear-provoking to witness.

Yet, sympathy is one thing; life still needs to be led independently, she couldn’t save all disaster-stricken people.

It’s better to teach people to fish than give them fish. Arriving at the boy’s inquiring gaze, she handed her sword to the older boy, "You’re now the pillar of your home, relying on your brother and grandpa. Only by becoming stronger yourself can you protect them well. Go on! Watch how others kill bandits, learn and imitate, you can also sneak attack or finish off, use any method you can. If you make it back alive, I’ll give you 20 kilograms of fine grain."

Heartened by Cheng Xiaoxiao’s encouragement and approval, the older boy smiled through his tears, nodding heavily, "I will definitely kill the bandits and earn grain for Grandpa and my brother."

Cheng Xiaoxiao nodded in relief. In these times if you’re not tough on yourself, how can you survive? Isn’t she the example? To stay alive, she had done things she’d never dared think of before, like killing.

The old man wiped his tears, "I’ll go with you." If they are to die, they will die together.

"Younger brother, take Grandpa and go quickly, I can handle it alone."

The young boy, wanting to stay with his brother, knows if he follows, Grandpa will definitely join too. Tearfully but resolutely, he watched his brother, not willing to turn away, but tightly gripped the old man’s withered hand and pulled back.

"Brother, you must come back alive, Grandpa and I will wait for you." Saying this reluctantly, he tugged Grandpa along to run, fearing if he slowed down he might regret.

Looking at the boy bravely joining the ranks blocking bandits, Cheng Xiaoxiao decided that she’d help this unfortunate grandfather and grandson more in the future. Thinking of modern 10-year-olds reading third grade or was it fourth, while here these kids already wield knives to kill, truly she had to work harder! Maybe one day she would be surpassed.

Getting back on track, it seemed even without Leng Qi’s arrival, they could hold out until Qing Shi resolved the other bandits.

Breathing a sigh of relief, Cheng Xiaoxiao prepared to continue forward and instructed the system to record the situation of this bandit siege. Every participant’s performance was to be documented, and afterwards she would distribute supplies based on their merit.

Suddenly, the sound of hooves arose. At the fork ahead, another batch of two to three hundred bandits arrived, blocking the position at the street junction, obstructing another path leading to the North Gate.