Traveling through troubled times to escape famine and cultivate crops as a grain merchant

Ordinary people who went up the mountain couldn't even look at each other, for fear of being slapped in the face if they were not satisfied.

The group reached the foot of the mountain smoothly.

Zhou Guo and others had been waiting by the roadside. When they saw them coming down, they hurried to meet them.

Everyone put the water they collected onto the cart in bundles and pushed the cart forward in a hurry, as if there was a vicious dog chasing them.

There is an endless stream of people going up the mountain. With so many people, even if every one of them spits, they will be drowned in there. If we don't leave now, we will be afraid that we will not be able to escape later.

The group walked hurriedly for a mile and were blocked by a group of people.

I'm really afraid of what's coming!

Zhou Guo tilted his head and looked forward, only to see a group of about 20 to 30 people in front of him, ranging from teenagers to middle-aged men, all of them men, with tattered clothes and unkempt faces, holding things in their hands, mostly wooden sticks, but also hoes, sickles and even axes.

One of them, a tall man in his thirties with thick eyebrows and big ears, stood up and said with his chin raised: "This road is under the control of our brothers. If you want to pass through here, you have to leave your things behind."

"Yes, hand over all the food and water you eat, otherwise, hmph..." Another younger man stood up and threatened everyone with murderous intent.

It’s over, we’ve run into robbers!!

They were all well-behaved farmers who had been dealing with the land for generations. They had never seen a bandit who killed people without blinking an eye. The crowd suddenly became panicked, and the timid children were trembling with fear.

The village head adhered to the principle of not taking action if possible, and said in a low voice: "My dear gentlemen, we are all refugees who have escaped from the disaster. We have nothing and only eat tree bark and grass roots. It has come to this point. Where can we get food? Look at us, old and young, please be kind and let us go."

The man curled his lips and said sternly, "Humph, let you go? Do you think I'm blind? Don't think I don't know that the big bags on your car are all food, and there are so many buckets on the cart. Did you just get them from the mountain? You're still lying to me, if you know what's good for you, hand over all the things quickly, or none of you will survive!"

As he spoke, the robbers behind him waved the weapons in their hands.

The head of the village bowed and said all kinds of nice things.

Zhou Guo's eyes turned cold. She was afraid that these people had already targeted them before they came to fetch water, and were waiting in front on purpose. After they fetched water, they would naturally pass through here. She looked at their movements, which were no different from those of the disaster victims. It seemed that they were not bandits from nearby mountains, but were most likely formed spontaneously by the fleeing disaster victims.

If this really is a robber, it would be much more difficult.

Relying on her small stature, she moved a few steps towards Zhou Dacang and tugged at his sleeve.

Zhou Dacang clenched his fists and was ready to charge forward at any time. He looked down and saw Zhou Guo. He stared at him and whispered, "Why are you here? Go to the back quickly. I won't be able to take care of you if a fight starts."

Zhou Guo whispered, "...I don't need you to take care of me. There are too many people on the other side. Twenty-eight of you are not enough. Aunt Wang is the only one left with her two children. If something happens to her, there will be no one to take care of the two children. She can't go!"

"We need to find some more people to take over. Find thirty more. If one person can't win, then two people can fight one. I don't think we need to find anyone else. The group of people you came down from the mountain with can do. The rest of you can carry the things, the elderly and children, and run forward as far as you can. Don't forget, there are so many people watching behind you."

Zhou Dacang wiped his sweat. He was confused and forgot that his niece was very strong. He didn't need to worry about anyone else in the team, but her. He nodded and said, "I understand. You go to the back."

Zhou Guo had no time to stay there, so he took advantage of his small stature to move among the crowd and informed everyone around him of the arrangements he had just made. Word spread from one person to ten, and from ten to a hundred. In a short while, everyone knew their tasks.

With a specific task and knowing what they should do, everyone is not so panicked. Although they are still a little scared when they see the other side's shining weapons, they will still muster up the courage to take action for the sake of the family behind them.

After making all the arrangements, she quietly returned to her family.

She took the big hoe from the cart and shook it. The hoe was taller than her, but this was her biggest advantage. She said to the Huang family, "Grandma, mother, aunt, when the fight starts, you guys should find a gap and push the cart and follow the others. Don't look back or stop."

He also told Zhou Gu, "Brother, don't show up this time. We still need you here. Remember to take good care of Zhou Su and Zhou Tao. They are slow, so be careful not to get stepped on when they run."

Seeing that she had arranged everything, as if she were arranging her funeral, Li said with a pale face, "What do you want to do?"

Zhou Guo looked at her and explained, "Mom, these people are different from the ones we met before. They are strong and powerful, with real weapons. And it seems that this is not the first time they have done such a thing. Who knows how much blood is on their hands. I have to help my uncle and the others. One more person means a better chance of victory."

Li's eyes were red, her lips trembled, and she opened her mouth several times and said, "But...but, you are still so young..."

Only eight years old!

Huang was speechless. After looking around, she felt that it would be more appropriate for Guo to go. She was very strong and could fight against several adult men. None of the children in the family had her strength. If they went up rashly, they would be thrown out like a chicken before they could get close.

Zhou Mai pursed his lips and said, "Let me go." He is the man of the family, and he should protect his younger brothers and sisters and the whole family.

Zhou Guo squeezed his hand and said with a smile: "It's okay, brother. You know how strong I am. Don't worry, I will be fine. You are the man of our family. You have to take care of your brothers and sisters and protect our family's food."

Zhou Gu touched his head and said, "Let me go. I'm the oldest and I'm quite strong."

Xu glared at him fiercely, "What are you doing? Are you as strong as your sister? With your body, you were knocked down by a single punch."

Zhou Gu said nothing.

Li was a little unhappy.

Huang said angrily, "Shut up, if you can't speak, don't speak. I don't know if we didn't do good deeds in our previous life to have a daughter-in-law like you."

Xu was speechless.

Zhou Guo pulled her mother's hand and shook it, indicating that she didn't care. She was going to go anyway and she was indeed strong.

Li's eyes were wet. Why did her child have such a miserable life?

"Hey, old man, stop talking nonsense. Hurry up and ask the people behind you to hand over all the food and drinks, otherwise we will have to do it ourselves."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Guo picked up his hoe and went forward without looking back.