Chapter 3: and

Under the gaze of the whole family, Qin Wangshu wanted to say that she could indeed walk, but before she could open her mouth, Old Man Li remarked that she was too slow and would drag everyone down. Immediately, she sat in the spot specifically reserved for her.

"Hurry up, everyone pick up the pace. Let's try to reach Qingwa River in two days," the village chief’s voice was hoarse and unpleasant. He stopped for a long while after only a few sentences before speaking again: "Everyone, be sparing with your water. Each family only has so much. Don't think about begging from others once yours runs out. Your life is a life, and others' lives are lives too."

"Village Chief, can't we just stay in the county? We have no money and no skills; how are we supposed to survive if we go to the prefectural city?" A woman’s voice came from behind Li Jiang. Watching Li Jiang push a mountain of luggage and children without even catching his breath, the village chief was filled with envy. Hearing the voice, he looked away and glared at the woman who had spoken.

"Winter is almost here. If the prefectural government runs out of grain, we will only starve to death. If we go to the prefectural city, we can find work as long as we are diligent."

"Where would there be so many jobs in the prefectural city? We aren't the only ones fleeing. The village chief can't possibly ensure that every family's men find work."

The village chief had no patience for those who were unreasonable. Seeing that the last of the people had caught up, he ignored the woman and headed forward.

Seeing that the village chief ignored her, the woman pulled her young grandson and quickened her pace.

"Li Laosi, take the two little ones for Auntie."

The large wooden cart was piled with bedding and luggage in the front, where the children sat. Underneath in the back were pots, pans, and bowls, with various bundles stacked on top. The Li family’s children were all tucked into the piles of luggage; the only one who could sit somewhat comfortably was Qin Wangshu, who was by the cart handle.

If there hadn't been no room left for the children, the older two Li children wouldn't have had to walk.

With a sullen face, Mother Li walked around and lifted the children that Old Woman Ke had placed on the cart to sit precariously on top of the highest pile of luggage.

"Old Woman Ke, does your family not have a cart? Or are you trying to get these two children killed?"

"Mother Li, what kind of way is that to speak?"

"What kind of way? You put the children in danger yourself and expect me to speak nicely? Could it be that you wanted them to fall on purpose?" Helping to push the cart from behind, Mother Li told Li Laosi to hurry up.

Unable to hitch a ride, Old Woman Ke turned her gaze to Qin Wangshu’s face.

"The squire’s daughter is indeed delicate. We’ve walked such a short distance, and she’s already worse than a child."

Qin Wangshu lowered her head:...I admit it, I am worse than a child.

"It’s only natural for a husband to push his wife. If you’re envious, have your Old Man Ke push you," Mother Li retorted sharply, choking Old Woman Ke into silence. As for Qin Wangshu, she liked this "cheap" mother-in-law even more.

Seeing her young daughter-in-law so ashamed she couldn't even lift her head, Mother Li said bluntly, "Don't listen to that long-tongued woman’s nonsense. You should cherish your own body most of all. If you overexert yourself while you're young, you'll be riddled with labor injuries in your old age. When that time comes, you’ll be the one suffering, and it will drag the children down too."

"Yes, Mother, I know," Qin Wangshu nodded sheepishly.

Even if she wanted to overexert herself, she didn't have the condition for it. Although she was just a minor concubine-born daughter of a squire, the mistress of the house was a formidable woman who excelled at keeping up appearances. She never skimped on food or clothing and even hired tutors and seamstresses for her; there wasn't a person in the town who didn't say she was virtuous and generous.

Therefore, the original owner truly never stepped out of the inner courtyard and had never walked much. Although her feet weren't bound, the soles were soft and tender. It had only been half a morning, and she already felt as if her feet didn't belong to her anymore.

So, no matter how unsightly it looked, she could only sit securely.

······

In the north, early October should have been filled with chilling winds, but this year, it was not only not cold, it was scorching hot.

At high noon, with the sun hanging in the sky, everyone carrying bags and bundles was drenched in sweat. With their heads down, they dragged their feet forward, driven only by the conviction to keep moving.

Suddenly, the village chief’s eldest son came running over.

"Stop, everyone stop!"

They halted in their tracks, and everyone gazed into the distance.

Seeing the man run back, Old Man Li grabbed him and asked, "Gangzi, what happened?"

"The front is blocked by government soldiers," Gangzi whispered, wiping his sweat. "Whatever happens, don't make a sound."

Old Man Li’s heart skipped a beat. "Uncle knows. You go back up and help keep watch."

Worried, Old Man Li told the children to sit tight and had everyone take a few sips of water, then watched the front with a nervous expression.

Seeing her father-in-law so tense, and having only heard a fragment of the news, Mrs. Jiang began to wail.

"Is this not letting people live? Not even letting us flee? Do they want everyone to die at home..."

"Shut up!" Old Man Li turned and roared.

Pursing her lips, Mrs. Jiang felt extremely aggrieved.

She was only speaking the truth.

"The government is sending water and grain; it’s not that they aren't letting us live, it’s clearly that we are never satisfied," Mother Li stared at her eldest daughter-in-law, feeling a sense of powerlessness. "You aren't young anymore; you should understand that disaster comes from the mouth. There are no courtyard walls now, no doors or windows. A single slip of the tongue can cost someone their life. If you don't want to live, go further away, don't drag my whole family down with you."

Mrs. Jiang:...She was only saying it in front of her own family.

"Mother, don't be angry, I'll keep an eye on her," the eldest Li son glared fiercely at his wife and hurriedly promised.

Glancing coldly at her foolish eldest son, Mother Li looked away.

The disaster in the north was too severe. To prevent large-scale refugees from heading south and causing chaos, the capital had long since begun distributing water and grain.

But with winter approaching, the prefectural government stopped issuing even a single extra day’s worth of water and grain. Every village and town began to grow restless, and many people started to flee after hoarding a little water and grain.

To prevent refugees from the various counties from threatening the prefectural city, each county blocked the main roads as soon as they discovered refugees fleeing.

Thus, the twenty-some households of Baitang Village, like most of the refugees passing through, were led by government runners to a refugee gathering point outside the county seat, beginning a life of specific refuge.

"Hoo~" Qin Wangshu, who had lost count of how many times she had sighed, let out another long breath.

It had been half a month. They had been holed up in this refugee point for half a month.

For these fifteen days, Old Man Li had taken his four sons to follow the village chief to collect water and grain every day, but the amount of water and grain kept decreasing. It was already mid-October, yet the weather remained hot, with no rain, let alone snow.

They weren't full, and the heavens wouldn't even let them drink melted snow. However, compared to others who were hoping for snow, she preferred the dry heat; at least heat was easier to bear than the cold.

"Drink a bit more, you can't handle it," just as Mother Li handed the large gourd to Qin Wangshu, a commotion broke out not far from their village's group.

"What’s wrong? That’s the Chenjiagou area, right?"

"I don't know."

"Should we go over and look?"

The surrounding crowd grew restless due to the commotion nearby. People who had been trying to act like potatoes—moving as little as possible to minimize water evaporation—stood up. Qin Wangshu was also helped up by Li Jiang.

"Sit down, everyone sit down!"

Before they could even figure out what was happening, the government runners under the tents outside the refugee circle came roaring over.

Hindered by the large blades in the runners' hands, the people clutched their heads and squatted back down. But though they squatted and kept their mouths shut, their eyes strained toward the direction of Chenjiagou.

Another wave of discouragement.

The heroine of this story is just a small, ordinary person in society. She has no bloodlust or surging ambition; all she has is a Buddhist-like outlook on life. This story only depicts the daily life and helplessness of ordinary farming folk, struggling to keep up with life.

If you are the type who can't tell if a mushroom is poisonous in the mountains, hasn't eaten many types of wild vegetables—or doesn't even know them—is afraid to touch live seafood, and needs the seller to chop up poultry for you, please continue.

If what you want is an elite-style protagonist with a halo who is proficient in everything and tops every field, who thinks that if the sky falls, a superior will hold it up, that the world can be destroyed as long as the heroine lives, and that everyone should revolve around her, please decisively drop the story.

(End of chapter)