Chapter 5 — I use an iron ladle to raise the power of the gods

10.

“Stop!” I let out a loud scream, like thunder in the clear sky. Everyone in the tent was startled and turned their heads to look at me. My massive body blocked the tent door, shadows enveloped them. There was no expression on my face, but my eyes were as cold as the ice and snow outside.

"Lam... Fatty Lam? What are you doing here?" Vuong Ma Tu has a habit of being startled and stuttering.

“I came to find him to chop firewood for me.” I casually made up an excuse, went straight to Tieu Triet's side, and helped him up. My hand touched his arm, I could clearly feel him trembling. I don't know if it's because of the cold, or because of anger.

“He is my servant.” I looked at Vuong Ma Tu, deliberately emphasizing the word "mine". “In the future, without my permission, who will dare to touch him?”

My voice was not loud, but the threat contained in it was enough for everyone present to clearly understand. Vuong Ma Tu's face changed continuously. He couldn't beat me, and he didn't dare offend one of the kitchen managers who was holding their rice bowl.

“Consider yourself good!” He spat out a lot of saliva and led his gray henchmen away.

In the tent, only Tieu Triet and I remained. I lowered my head to look at the back of his hand, bruised from being trampled on, and looked at the military book that he considered a treasure tightly held in his chest. I didn't say a word, just stuffed the still warm sweet potato in my chest into his hand. “Eat it.” He took the potato, the warmth transmitted to help his cold fingers regain some feeling. He lowered his head, his loose hair obscuring his expression. A long time passed, when I thought he wouldn't say anything anymore. Then he spoke in a choked voice like a mumble: "They all say that I am a waste, a burden, a criminal who does not deserve to live." 11. His voice was mixed with a little trembling that was hard to detect.

“Is that what they say?” I asked the opposite.

He suddenly raised his head, his eyes streaked with blood, just like a young animal cornered. “I…” He opened his lips, but couldn't say a word.

“Tieu Triet.” I looked straight into his eyes and called his name. "How others see you is not important. What matters is, how you see yourself." "Do you want to be a pile of mud and endure being trampled on all your life, or do you want to be a sharp blade that can cut through the darkness? Choose yourself."

After saying that, I turned around and walked away. As he walked to the tent door, behind him came his suppressed, choked voice as if he was about to cry. "Thank." My steps stopped a bit, I didn't turn around. “From now on, you can move to live with me.” I threw back a sentence, my figure gradually disappeared in the wind and snow. That night, Tieu Triet moved into my firewood storage room. I gave him my bed, and I spread my sleeping mat on the ground next to the stove. The room is very small, the distance between us is only a few steps. Late at night, it was quiet and we could hear the sound of him flipping through books. Even though I tried to suppress the sound of coughing, I could still hear it clearly. Between the two of us, there still aren't too many words. But there are a few things that have quietly changed. 12. He started actively talking to me. Even though it's just short sentences like "The water is boiling", "The firewood is split "When I cook, he will quietly help me light the fire and add firewood. He will take half of the pitifully small portion of food he received and share it with me. Even though every time I glare at him, he will give him back double the capital and profit. 【Notification system: Target Tieu Triet, favorability towards the host +20. Current favorability: 40 (Trust).】 I lie around lying around. next to the warm stove, hearing the system's announcement ringing in his ears, the corner of his mouth curled up in an imperceptible smile. In the blink of an eye, the warm spring flowers bloomed in the North, but the snow and ice finally arrived. The meal has improved significantly. As for Tieu Triet, thanks to my "care", his physical condition has also improved a lot. He is no longer the skinny and wind-whipped teenager, but there is a bit more spirit between his eyebrows, and his eyes have become calmer and sharper. During the day, he is still the most indifferent, doing the most tiring work. But at night, in my firewood room, he will light up a fire Tiny oil lamp, all night long studying that old military book, repeating tactical drills over and over again. I never bothered him, just quietly prepared a late night meal and hot tea for him. I knew he was waiting for an opportunity to help him escape the quagmire and see the sunlight.