After finishing their meal, Xu’s father sighed, took a lingering glance at the house where he had lived for nearly several decades, and then boarded the mule cart with his wife.
As soon as they got on the cart, they were surprised by its comfort. Touching it, they discovered that beneath the bamboo mat, several thick quilts had been laid out.
Zhang looked at the low cabinets on both sides of the carriage and the hidden compartments at the back, exclaiming, “This carriage is really well-made; the back even has separated compartments, which are perfect for storing grain. But…”
After putting their luggage away, she and Xu’s father exchanged glances, realizing that the grain stored in the back was much more than they had anticipated.
They had originally thought that the food and meat he often provided despite their warnings were saved from his own earnings, but it turned out he had indeed taken part of what he had claimed.
There was a small bag of flour, a bag of shiny white rice, a large bag of cooked jerky wrapped in oil paper, two jars of pickled vegetables, and a jar of pickled plums. There was also a jar of crispy dry cakes, and even an iron pot, a clay jar, and some oil and salt. Additionally, there were several wooden bowls and chopsticks along with a clay pot sufficient for a few people to drink boiled water for half a month.
In comparison, their amount of food was indeed very little.
“Grandma! Grandpa! Sister! I found them! There are pastries here!” Ren Zhao excitedly told his father about the hidden snacks as soon as he got on the cart.
To his delight, he discovered that each compartment in the low cabinet was filled with different snacks, making him incredibly happy.
Ren Lin counted the snacks together with her brother, her previous timidness fading away. Although she remained shy, she seemed much brighter.
The cart had a satisfactory load capacity, so the group got on without any noticeable reaction. Lin Ya and Xu Jin were outside, driving the carriage. The mule was strong; although it moved a bit slowly, it was still slightly faster than walking.
To reach the capital city, they had to pass through the county town, using the official road. Although there were other routes, they were either unsafe or unsuitable for cart travel.
“There are so many people…”
On the way to the county town, Xu Yue lifted the curtain of the cart and saw that most of the people on the road were heading to the county town with their families in tow.
“So many people already; luckily we didn’t wait a few more days. If we had waited a bit longer, there would be even more,” Xu’s father sighed in relief, unable to concentrate on the book he had in hand.
“Grandpa, where are they going?” Ren Zhao, munching on snacks, blinked curiously at the gathering crowd outside.
Zhang hugged him gently and replied softly, “Zhao’er, they are going to the same place as us. It’s just that they don’t have a cart and can only walk. If it weren’t for your father, we would have to walk just like them.”
Ren Zhao nodded, half understanding.
“Grandma, they look so pitiful…”
Ren Lin’s gaze fell on a ragged child by the roadside. Looking at the snacks in her hand, she turned and asked, “Grandma, can we share some snacks with them?”
“No,” Zhang released Ren Zhao, pulled Ren Lin into her embrace, and pointed gently but firmly at the snacks.
“Lin’er, remember, when you cannot protect yourself, don’t help others. If you give them a piece of snack and they want more, and the remaining snacks get snatched away, what will you do?”
Ren Lin held the snacks, feeling confused, and lowered her head.
“Mom, Lin’er is still young. She doesn’t understand what you’re saying,” Xu Yue said, wiping the crumbs off Ren Zhao’s face with a smile. “Alright, don’t eat too many snacks; it’ll upset your stomach.”
Ren Zhao obediently nodded and put the remaining snacks back in the cabinet.
“Lin’er, you’re still young. You’ll understand when you grow up,” Xu Yue said, reaching out to touch her face.
Xu’s father stayed silent on the side. Although the children were small, it was time to start teaching them.
Outside the carriage, Lin Ya could also hear their conversation; he shook his head. Some lessons can only be learned through experience. Although Ren Lin was still young, she would understand in due time, given the harshness of the world.
“Brother-in-law, we have arrived at the county town.”
The county town entrance was empty, the city gates wide open. The previous corpses were gone, leaving only dark, congealed blood stains. As they drove in with the mule cart, they found all the shops along the street were closed, and there were hardly any people moving about; it seemed everyone had left.
Lin Ya and Xu Jin exchanged glances and did not stop driving, exiting the city from the other end.
“Most of the people inside should have left. Let’s head directly along the official road towards the capital; we can go to Qingzhou Prefecture from there. It’s located further south, and even if the situation in Qingzhou is bad, we can check if there is any grain available at the grain store.”
“If there’s no grain available there either, we may have to head further south.”
It was about a hundred miles from the county town to the capital, which would take at least ten days of travel. Along the way, they had to watch out not just for other people but also for the possibility of wild beasts in the mountains.
Although Lin Ya had trained in combat and his body had been enhanced by the system, he could handle five or six adversaries, but against ten or more, he certainly wouldn’t stand a chance alone.
Then he glanced at Xu Jin—
A scholar with no strength.
Better not take that risk.
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