Moreover, their family is already faring better than many; other citizens likely have only enough food to reach the capital.
“What does the announcement say?”
“Brother, say something!”
Lin Ya faintly heard voices coming from afar. As he had guessed, the court had indeed issued a decree for begging. However, in such a large capital, there were surprisingly no charity kitchens set up outside the city walls; it seemed the situation within the city was also grim.
“The court commands… all disaster victims in Tianyan Prefecture to go to Qingzhou Prefecture and Nanyang Prefecture…” Xu Jin said reluctantly. “Those who refuse will be executed on the spot.”
“Nanyang Prefecture? Qingzhou Prefecture may be acceptable, as it’s less than a thousand miles away, but Nanyang Prefecture is even further south. How can we possibly make it there?” Xu’s father hunched over, his face pale, and even his once-pridefully groomed beard looked lifeless.
“Did the announcement mention any disaster relief grain?” Xu Yue asked, confused. In the event of natural disasters, the court generally opens the national treasury for relief and sends people to deliver disaster relief grain to the affected areas.
“Not a word…” Xu Jin shook his head.
Zhang Shi calculated their available food and found that if they rationed carefully, they might have enough to last for over a month, but the water supply was nearly depleted.
“We still have enough food, but…”
“I’ll find a way to get water.” Lin Ya knew he needed to reassure them for now; as for the water source, it could be solved easily, as long as he could deceive them.
“The daily access is only for two hours; isn’t that a bit too harsh?”
“Indeed.”
Lin Ya glanced at the sun and said, “It’s about time; let’s head to queue. Entering the city also takes time.”
Soon, a long line formed at the city gate, with guards on both sides, and every few steps, there was a guard, causing some people’s hopes to fade entirely.
The situation inside the city wasn’t too bad; shops were open, and even the grain stores were operating. Everyone stared longingly at the grain stores, but they dared not act recklessly due to the guards.
If things continued like this, they would inevitably face some sort of accident.
Leading the pack, Lin Ya held the reins of the mule just behind the head soldier. Suddenly, a sharp cry came from behind, and the mule abruptly stopped.
“Mother!!”
Lin Ya clenched his teeth, pulled the reins hard, and the mule reluctantly turned its head to continue forward.
“Lord officer! Please have mercy!” A dusty man fell to his knees, beside him lay an elderly woman, pale and unconscious. He wailed as he pounded his forehead against the ground, leaving it bruised, his voice full of despair, “My mother hasn’t eaten for two days! Let us buy some wheat, please! I beg you! I’ll bow down!”
“Please, Lord!” The woman cried with swollen eyes, and her children knelt beside her.
Seeing the guards unmoved, the man pulled his fair-looking daughter closer, gritting his teeth, “Officer, my daughter… she’s quite pretty, let her enjoy some fortune with you!”
“Father! Wuwu…”
The leading soldier turned back without expression and glared at the swaying soldier, receiving a timid smile in return.
“No buying or selling allowed in the city! At the other city gate, there are kind people offering porridge. Just take your old mother and leave the city with the queue! A grown man shouldn’t act like a little girl; it’s disgraceful!”
After he said that, he returned to the front of the line. Until they exited the city, those hanging on the words of kind-hearted people kept quiet, remaining peaceful until they left the city gates.
Most people’s faces showed signs of hope.
“Surprisingly, he’s a soft-hearted person behind that tough front; that’s rare,” Lin Ya smiled at the soldier.
Once outside the city gates, they indeed found a sign announcing charity porridge, and everyone leaving the city could line up to receive a bowl. Lin Ya and Xu Jin also took their bowls and waited in line for a bowl of thick porridge.
“I’ve never seen such thick porridge before.”
The man giving out the porridge smiled, saying, “Since the decree was issued, our master has seen that disaster victims can’t buy grain in the city. After witnessing several people starving to death, he has been distributing porridge at the city gate at this hour every day. However, today is the last day; our master will leave Tianyan Prefecture tomorrow, and after that, no one will come to distribute porridge here.”
“Who is your master? If we meet in the future, we will definitely repay him.” Xu Jin asked curiously.
“Our master’s surname is Li; most of the grain shops in Tianyan Prefecture are his family’s businesses.”
“Wow—” Xu Jin had indeed heard of the Li family, the kind-hearted Mr. Li. It was said that regardless of natural disasters or man-made calamities, the prices at the Li family’s grain stores were always significantly lower than others.
Thus, other grain merchants couldn’t survive in Tianyan Prefecture, leaving the Li family to dominate, while the rest were just small private grain shops. Lin Ya nodded beside him; if it were the case, then he certainly deserved the title of a kind person.
At this moment, they never imagined that their encounter would come so quickly.
After leaving Tianyan Prefecture, they traveled south along the official road and eventually stayed overnight at an abandoned village with others.
It was rare to have a house for shelter. Lin Ya looked at the remaining dry rations; only one bun was left, and it had begun to smell a bit sour. He threw the bun into the system space, taking out flour to prepare to make some more flatbreads.
Zhang Shi and Xu Yue wiped down the sleeping area with a rag, finally able to sleep in a spacious room, which made everyone a bit happy.
Once they had finished tidying up, they came to the kitchen to help.
Fearing the strong smell might attract attention, Zhang Shi suggested making rice with preserved meat in a pot, sealing it in the kitchen with the door closed so that no smell would leak out.
As Xu Jin and Xu’s father returned with firewood, Ren Lin and Ren Zhao also helped to start the fire. The family gathered together, enjoying the rare moment of relaxation.
After staying in the village for a day, they continued their journey the next day.
By afternoon, the sky was overcast, threatening rain, the sun had also vanished from sight.