Chapter 4 — I use an iron ladle to raise the power of the gods

Perhaps my words had an effect, or perhaps it was because his survival instinct arose, he gradually stopped resisting and obediently let me take care of him. That night, I stayed awake to watch for him. Listen to the rhythm of his breathing changing from rapid to steady, feeling the hot body temperature gradually decrease. When it was almost dawn, I was exhausted, put my head on the edge of the bed and fell asleep without realizing it. In a dream, I felt a pair of eyes staring at me for a long time. That look is very complicated, no longer purely wary and distant, but mixed with something we don't understand. By the time I woke up again, he was sitting up, leaning his back against the wall. The room was quiet, only the sound of crackling firewood.

“Are you awake?” I rubbed my eyes, my voice was a bit hoarse because I had just woken up. He looked at me, didn't speak, only saw his lips moving.

“Want some water?” I stood up and poured him a bowl of warm water. He took it, but didn't drink it right away, just used his fingertips to caress along the rough rim of the bowl. A long time later, he raised his head and looked straight into my eyes for the first time.

“Why?” His voice was dry, like sandpaper had been rubbed over it.

“Why what?” I know it, but I still try to ask.

“Why did you save me?” He asked, each word uttered very slowly, with great force. “I am just a… sinner.”

I walked over to the stove, scooped out a bowl of simmered white porridge from the pot, and placed it in front of him. "I am not the crown prince, nor am I a sinner." I looked at him, responding word by word. “The person I saved was a person who wanted to live on.” “Let's eat.” 8. I didn't give him any chance to express his feelings, and directly used three words to cover up everything he was about to say. He looked at me, his eyes slowly turning red. It is a red color of extreme repression. Like a small fire burning in the middle of a field of ice and snow, weak, but strong. He bowed his head, picked up the spoon, and ate the entire bowl of porridge in small sips. From that day, he no longer refused the food I gave him, nor did he throw away the medicine I gave him. Our relationship entered a strange state of balance. There wasn't much verbal communication, but something called invisible chemistry was quietly being established. He will automatically accept the heavy wooden barrel in my hand when I go to carry water. He will quietly pick up another hammer while you are splitting wood. He did those things calmly, I also accepted them naturally. It's as if he was born to do those things for me. 【System notification: Target Tieu Triet, favorability towards host +10. Current favorability: 20 (Friendly).】 The system's long-lost voice rang out. I raised my eyebrows. Only 20? This son is truly difficult to raise. 9. Winter in the North is both long and harsh. Heavy snow blocked the mountain roads, making food supplies increasingly difficult. Meal standards in military camps have been reduced time and time again. From cereal dumplings to bran cakes that tear the entire throat, the soup is so clear that fish can swim. Soldiers' resentment is increasing day by day, and conflicts and clashes also occur more frequently. Tieu Triet's days are even more difficult to live. He originally was subject is pressed. Now that food is scarce, he becomes the first to have his rations cut short. He often had to starve for whole days without being given any food. But he never opened his mouth to ask me. Even though he was so hungry that his face turned pale and he walked unsteadily. He still silently completed his most difficult and tiring work. Then he crouched in a corner, like a tree about to wither in the cold wind. I know, his pride does not allow him to beg anyone, even if it is me. That night, the wind and snow blew especially strongly. I guessed that his dinner was cut short again, so I kept two hot roasted sweet potatoes in my body and went to his camp. As soon as he walked to the door, he heard Vuong Ma Tu's arrogant voice echoing out.

"Hey, isn't this the Crown Prince? What's wrong, can't you eat rice? Do you need your brother to share a piece?" Immediately followed by a few dull sounds of punches and kicks, along with suppressed breathing.

My heart sank, I opened the curtain and stepped inside. In the tent, Vuong Ma Tu and several juniors were surrounding Tieu Triet. Tieu Triet was knocked to the ground, the corner of his mouth bleeding. But he still held something tightly in his chest, refusing to let go. It was an old military book.

"Damn it, a despicable prisoner still pretends to read military books? Are you planning on treason?" Vuong Ma Tu stepped on Tieu Triet's hand and tried to grind it hard. “Give this book to me!”

“Don't give it!” Two flames burned in Tieu Triet's eyes, which were his dignity and his last hope.

"Don't you dare be stubborn!" Vuong Ma Tu was angered and raised his foot to strike him directly on the head.