It was clear that the Xu family treated them well.
Lin Ya frequently brought over grains and meat, and they were eating better than before, no longer as malnourished.
“In two days, your father will come to pick you up, so stay home and don’t run off to play.”
“Okay! We understand,” Ren Zhao and Ren Lin, though young, were very sensible. They didn’t cry or fuss, and the members of the Xu family doted on them dearly.
As the sun set, Lin Ya returned home, exhausted. He keenly noticed that there seemed to be fewer things in the house. His expression darkened as he cautiously walked around the house but found no one there.
They must have left long ago.
After examining the house carefully, Lin Ya discovered that some of the meat hanging from the eaves was missing, and the rice sack in the kitchen was tied oddly.
Fortunately, he had stored other important belongings in the system space; otherwise, they would have certainly been stolen too.
Watching the water in the vat ripple slightly with his movements, Lin Ya covered it up again, his expression cold. He had no intention of drinking that water.
He was also unwilling to pursue the matter any further; he had a good idea of who was responsible. The thief only took a part, leaving the rest, and he couldn’t be bothered to investigate.
After tidying up the other things, Lin Ya poured some beans into a wooden basin in the courtyard. The mule tied up there obediently came over to eat.
He had bought the mule two months ago specifically for this purpose because the Xu couple was older and might not be able to endure the daily walks in the heat. Hence, he had the mule harnessed to a cart, and the cart frame had been made by a carpenter, making travel and transporting luggage easier for everyone.
Fortunately, the mule hadn’t run away.
After taking a quick bath with some water from the vat, Lin Ya carefully closed the large gate of the courtyard. He lay down on the bamboo mat, enduring the sultry summer heat, lost in thought.
Had the Xu family noticed that he seemed like a different person?
They probably had.
Not to mention the others, just the understanding that Father Xu had, having taught the original homeowner for ten years, was enough for him to realize that the current Ren Jing was not the same person he used to be.
Initially, Lin Ya could occasionally see the complex look in his eyes, but later he no longer perceived any emotions. Although he still acted close, the feeling conveyed was one of distance.
Lin Ya’s performance wasn’t flawless; despite his best efforts to mimic the original character, he wasn’t a professional actor. Actions like walking, sitting, posture, and tone of speech, as well as habitual little gestures and preferences, couldn’t remain consistent all the time.
He closed his eyes, contemplating in silence, and gradually fell asleep on the bed.
The next morning, just before dawn,
Lin Ya was already baking flatbreads.
Given the hot weather, he didn’t need to prepare much. He wouldn’t be able to endure a continuous diet of these during the journey, so he only made a little bit, while most of the meat had been turned into tough jerky for easy storage.
He packed some pickled vegetables and Chinese cabbage, previously stored under the bed, into jars to bring along, as these were necessary for the journey.
Additionally, he organized clothes and bedding, placed medicines in the hidden compartment of the cart, and laid soft quilts and cool mats inside the carriage.
Looking over a large bucket of water he had just taken out, Lin Ya frowned, faced with a dilemma.
The water would sway during the journey, and it couldn’t be sealed tightly. Stagnant water wouldn’t last long; the journey might take months or even a year, and this water would last at most a month.
“If it’s unavoidable, then it must be this way; when the time comes, I will cross that bridge when I get to it.”
At worst, he could go out alone to look for water.
Having the system space was indeed a great advantage.
“Knock, knock, knock! Scholar Ren! Are you home? The village chief wants to discuss something with everyone. If you’re free, remember to come over!” A loud knocking came from the courtyard door, followed by a shout.
Lin Ya looked up at the sun and was surprised that someone from the village was at his door. Ever since the original owner had given up on himself after his hand was injured, no one in the village had shown any interest in him; after all, no one wanted to associate with a gambler.
People generally only notified others about important matters in the village, so Lin Ya prepared to check what it was about.
He walked past a patch of dry woods and appeared in the bustling courtyard wearing a short-sleeved shirt.
Almost every household had someone present; the village had over forty families, and each family had filled their courtyard.
Many people wore confused expressions, some looked numb and sorrowful, while others were dirty and covered in dried mud, clearly just having come from the well.
“I called everyone here to seek everyone’s opinions,” the village chief, with his frail and skinny body, walked shakily forward. He coughed a few times, and his wrinkled face showed signs of grayness.
“I don’t know what this is about…”
“Could it be that we need to dig wells again?”
“I heard that the county officials have been driven out by bandits…”
“Sigh…”
“You all must know that it hasn’t rained in our area for several months. This year’s harvest of wheat and rice is less than sixty percent of previous years. With taxes taken into account, this year’s harvest won’t even be enough to last a year.”
“Who would say otherwise? There’s simply not enough to eat…”
“Considering taxes, our family can only last another month with the grain we have.”
“Our family has even less; with seven to eight mouths to feed, we can barely make it through another half month.”
“If it rains again, at least we could venture into the mountains to look… but alas, the weather isn’t fair!”
“Based on my experience and that of others, this drought may not end anytime soon. If we wait it out, we might run out of food before the rain comes. Therefore, I’d like to ask everyone if you are willing to relocate the entire village south?” The village chief leaned on his cane, slowly scanning the crowd.
“What?!! Relocate?”
“To the south?! That won’t do, it just won’t do—”
“How long will it take to get down south…”
“The journey will be perilous, if something goes wrong, who can take responsibility?”