Traveling through ancient times, I led my family to prosperity

"There weren't any before. They just came here in the past two days. Aunt Li from the front street. Her son works in the county government. He told me that they are fleeing from famine in the south." At this point, he glanced around and lowered his voice, "I heard that the county magistrate is also very worried and doesn't know how to resettle them."

"Lao Wang, what are you talking about again?" someone joked with a smile.

A few people chatted and laughed for a few words and then left.

"Dad, let's go to the grain store and use all the remaining money to buy food. I think these people really look like refugees. If the harvest in the south really is poor in the fall, the price of grain will rise very quickly in the next few days." Xiao Lan said to Sheng Xuan and Zhang as soon as she walked out of the butcher shop.

Xiaolan's family moved to the grain store. Now the price of beans, wheat, and rice has increased by two cents compared to before. Beans are ten cents, wheat is seventeen cents, rice is twenty cents, and millet is twelve cents.

Xiaolan's family ordered 200 kilograms of beans, 200 kilograms of wheat, 100 kilograms of rice, and 100 kilograms of millet. The store would deliver the goods to the door. Zhang paid a deposit of three taels, and the family followed the car back.

Xiao Lan was careful and asked the clerk in the grain store to take the grain to the mill to grind the beans, wheat and millet into powder. Xiao Lan took this opportunity to go to the blacksmith shop to make a bow and arrow. After bargaining with the blacksmith for a while, she finally agreed on a price of one or two taels of silver. This one or two taels of silver was given to her by Old Man Sheng. Now Xiao Lan was penniless.

Xiao Lan learned how to use the bow and arrow in modern times. After a little instruction from the blacksmith, she became very proficient and shot very accurately, which amazed the blacksmith.

The family returned home and originally planned to buy meat to make dumplings, but now they were in no mood, fearing that there would be trouble in the town, so they had a simple meal at night. "We have spent most of the money we earned from hiking, but fortunately we have saved so much food, so we are not afraid of going hungry even if the price of food rises," said Zhang.

"Mom, don't feel bad about the money. If we don't buy food now, the price will go up in a few days, and we won't be able to buy so much food with this money." Xiao Lan said, "Let's send a message to my grandparents so they can prepare."

"Okay, I'll go there tomorrow." Sheng Xuan said.

"Xiao Lan, is there really a famine in the south?" Xiao Ting was a little worried.

"It looks real. Mom and Dad, let's harvest the radishes and cabbages in the fields as soon as possible. If there are too many refugees and they become starving, we won't be able to preserve the vegetables in our fields." Xiao Lan was a little worried.

The grain was pulled back by the mule cart from the grain store. It was impossible for the old house not to notice such a big noise. In the evening, Grandpa Sheng sent Xiao Tao to invite Sheng Xuan over, and Xiao Lan also followed.

After recuperating for a while, Mr. Sheng regained his health and looked rosy. Xiao Lan told him what they had seen and heard in the town today. The old man was silent for a moment and said, "You are right to be cautious. Second and fourth brothers, go to the town tomorrow to check the situation."

Sheng Kai didn't care. "Dad, it's not that mysterious. I think the third brother is a little worried. Third brother, your Yue family is very capable. They must have left you a lot of money for heating the kang."

"Uncle, if you're jealous, you can always go to Brother Yuan's grandmother's house." Xiao Lan said with a smile, "Their home is not far from you anyway."

Sheng Kai was choked up for a moment. His wife's family had cleaner pockets than their faces. It was good enough that they didn't take advantage of him. How could he get any benefit from it?

"Okay, it's getting late, you should all go back early." Cui ordered them to leave.

Early the next morning, after Sheng Xuan had breakfast, he went to Xishan Village. Then Zhang Shanfeng took his two sons and Sheng Xuan directly to Dafeng County to inquire about the news. There were more refugees fleeing famine in the county town. On the way, they saw groups of people coming to the county town from afar, and there were people begging and snatching food on the roadside.

"It seems to be true." Zhang Shanfeng sighed, "Boss, let's go to the grain store to check."

The price of grain in the county has increased compared to what Sheng Xuan bought in the town yesterday. "Dad, the grain here is ten cents more expensive than what I bought in the town yesterday." Sheng Xuan said.

"The price of grain changes every day. I guess even if we have money in town today we may not be able to buy it. Let's buy more. The price of grain will go up in the future." Zhang Shanfeng sighed.

They bought 500 catties of beans, 500 catties of millet, and 500 catties of wheat, spending a total of 34.5 taels of silver. Fortunately, they drove two carriages, otherwise they would not be able to pull them back. The four strong men set out on the road, and the refugees did not dare to provoke them. After leaving Sheng Xuan, Zhang Shanfeng and his group also went back.

After coming back, Sheng Xuan told Zhang about what he saw and heard in the county. Zhang was very sad. She felt bad that her family bought so much food yesterday. When she heard Sheng Xuan talking about the food price in the county today, she couldn't help but sigh that it was fortunate that they bought food a day in advance. If they bought it today, her family's financial resources would not be enough.

Xiao Lan frowned, "The price of grain in the county has risen so much, I guess the price of grain in the town will not be low. I hope there won't be any more accidents at our border."

"It should be okay." Sheng Xuan was also a little worried. What he saw and heard today made him too nervous. If the border was unstable, his family would have no place to hide.

In the evening, Sheng Xuan went to the next door and told Grandpa Sheng what he saw and heard in the county. The news brought back by the second and fourth sons was the same as they expected. The grain prices in the grain store in the town were more expensive than those in the county town and were snapped up, and they were sold out early.

The next day, Sheng Xuan's family began to harvest the radishes and cabbages in the fields. They didn't dare to leave them in the fields anymore, as vegetables are half a year's food. If refugees entered the village and they had no food to eat, their vegetables would not be preserved either.

The five members of the family worked together and harvested the radishes and cabbages in two days. They were reluctant to throw away the radish tops, which could be used as food for rabbits after being half-dried. The cabbages had become firmer after being watered once. Looking at the neatly arranged radishes and cabbages in the yard, Xiaolan's family gradually lost their worries.

After dinner, Xiaolan discussed with Shengxuan about going to the mountains again. "Dad, let's do as much as we can this time." Xiaolan said.

"Okay, let's bring a few more sacks." Sheng Xuan said.

The whole family knew that apart from the five taels of silver given by Zhang Shanfeng, the family had no extra money. The world was not doing well now. If the border became chaotic again, her family would not be able to survive without some money. It would be a good idea to go into the mountains and fight for a chance while it was not snowing.

"You two should be careful." Although Zhang was worried, she did not stop them.

At the yin hour, the father and daughter put on cotton coats and trousers. Xiaolan carried a bow and arrow, and Shengxuan carried two backpacks on his back. The two of them took some dry food and set off.

The two men first went to check the trap from last time, and actually found a roe deer trapped inside. This made them very happy. They worked together to drag it out and tied it to a tree.

After resting the four traps, Sheng Xuan dug two more at the location designated by Xiao Lan. Then Sheng Xuan began to sharpen the pointed ends and inserted the pointed ends into the traps according to Xiao Lan's method and covered them with branches.