Rebirth of an Old Farmer: Escape from Famine with Children and Grandchildren

Zhu Xiuqin's eyes revealed a hint of envy as she showed off her calloused hands: "It's a pity that this Buddha didn't favor me and didn't give me this blessing!"

"Don't say that. Those who survived a great disaster will surely be blessed in the future. We have all been through hard times together, and good times are yet to come!"

Sun Wan smiled and shook her head, then lifted her hands and quickened her pace. "It's getting late, everyone, hurry up and find a safe place to rest!"

The village chief nodded in agreement: "Sanling Village is just ahead. Maybe we can take shelter there for the night."

After hearing this, everyone hurried forward and arrived at Sanling Village before night fell.

Sanling Village is worthy of its name. The village is sandwiched between three mountains. It is rarely visited by people and the mountain roads are rugged, so it is not easy for outsiders to enter.

This is also the reason why the village chief brought everyone here - if we talk about the village that survived the Xizhao Army's sweep, it must be Sanling Village.

The night was dark and the stars were twinkling. The people in Darong Village walked cautiously along the winding mountain road.

Su Rongze refused to let Sun Wan take the risk of pushing the heavy grain cart. She became stubborn, gripped the handlebars tightly, and became a taciturn person.

Sun Wan was so angry with him.

This eldest son is really a stubborn person.

If it were the other three children, they would probably wish she could push the stroller all the time, especially the sweet-mouthed and quick-witted third child, who would even praise her and coax her to continue pushing!

Although it makes sense, Sun Wan is as soft-hearted as tofu.

After thinking about it, she compromised and asked Su Rongze to tie a rope in front, and the mother and son pulled the cart together.

While her son was tying the rope, Sun Wan repeated her old trick and replaced most of the bags in the car with dry food.

Although the weight was not reduced much, and Sun Wan cleverly concealed it from the rear, Su Rongze did not notice the abnormality in the truck's load for a while.

When we reached the boundary of Sanling Village, we saw that the whole village was shrouded in the dark night.

Everyone involuntarily slowed down their pace: "Why is it so quiet?"

"Could something have happened? Did the Western Zhao army invade here?"

"That's impossible! If those bandits had really come, the village would have been completely looted and burned to the sky!"

"Maybe he rested early." The village chief hesitated for a moment, and finally decided to move forward slowly to investigate.

As he entered the village, a cough suddenly came from a thatched cottage: "Is it Old Li?"

The village chief was startled, then immediately recognized the source of the voice: "It's me!"

"Old man, I'm here to visit you!"

As he finished speaking, the light in the shabby room suddenly came on, and a young man stood at the door with a wary look on his face.

The village chief squinted his eyes and finally recognized the boy's identity: "Are you the young man of the Kou family?"

"Kou Zhong?"

The young man relaxed slightly upon hearing the name, but still approached cautiously: "Uncle Li, what brings you here at this time of night?"

After saying that, he glanced at the people from Rongshu Village behind the village chief.

"Alas, my village was ravaged by the Western Zhao army, and the few remaining people fled here, hoping to find shelter here for the night."

"Where is your grandfather? Why doesn't he show up to see an old man like me?"

Tears flashed in Kou Zhong's eyes, and he pursed his lips and whispered, "Grandfather is ill."

The village chief's face darkened. "Are you sick? What's wrong? Can you please see a doctor?"

Kou Zhong shook his head and said, "The Western Zhao army was rampaging, the doctors were plundered, and the pharmacy was also looted."

"My grandfather had been coughing and wheezing for days, and he had strictly forbidden me to go out and light a lamp at night. I was just willing to endure it alone."

"How can patience solve the problem? This old man is still so stubborn!"

The village chief complained in a low voice, pointing to the people behind him: "Kou Zhong, there are no empty rooms in the village. They don't need to be luxurious, just enough for shelter."

Kou Zhong nodded in agreement, "Indeed, since the Western Zhao army became rampant, many families have wanted to move into the city to seek refuge with their relatives, but none have returned, leaving their houses vacant ever since."

He offered: "I'll lead the way!"

The village chief nodded gratefully and trudged into the house. "Good boy, take them to rest first. I'll go see your grandfather."

Sun Wan and others followed closely behind, and upon hearing his words, they all smiled gently and greeted Kou Zhong.

Sun Wan quietly exchanged the remaining items on the grain cart for dry food, handed them over to Su Rongze to help everyone settle down, and walked into the shabby room alone.

As soon as I entered, a heavy atmosphere hit me in the face.

It's not a smell, but the smell of life's decline.

Sun Wan was shocked.

I had originally planned to take this opportunity to offer the village chief some holy water, but seeing this scene, I'm afraid it's no use.

As expected, after taking the pulse, the village chief fell into a rare silence.

The old man on the couch looked emaciated, lying on the reed mat, his thin body almost blending into the thin mattress.

"It seems that my old bones will go first."

Village chief Kou laughed and said, his face showing no fear of death, only calmness.

"Old Li, don't be sad, you should be happy for me."

The village chief turned his head and said in a hoarse voice mixed with sobs: "Old man, who has such an unlucky face!"

"I haven't seen you for a few months, and you've messed up like this yourself. You asked for it!"

Village Chief Kou was not annoyed. Instead, he smiled faintly: "I was upset for a while when I heard that your Darong Village was gone. Now that I see you like this, I feel relieved."

"You must have gone through a lot of hardships during this period. You are always so lucky!"

There was a hint of resentment and dissatisfaction in his words, a tone typical of old friends, but it was ultimately diluted by his slow and weak voice.

The village chief wiped his face.

"Don't worry, old man. I will definitely help you take care of your grandson."

"The world is in complete chaos. Just as my master predicted long ago, I must flee to Huizhou to avoid disaster. As long as I have a breath left in me, I will never let Kou Zhong suffer even the slightest injustice."

The depression in Village Chief Kou's heart completely dissipated after hearing these words.

He didn't even have time to say goodbye to the village chief properly.

Standing at the threshold, Sun Wan caught the childlike helplessness and confusion on the village chief's face for the first time.

The house was silent.

Sun Wan said nothing and quietly retreated. As soon as she stepped over the threshold, she heard the old man's choked sobs from inside the room.

The night seemed a little colder than usual.

Sun Wan looked up at the night sky and suddenly realized that today was the beginning of winter.

After stopping for a moment, Sun Wan rubbed her cold arms and walked in the direction where Kou Zhong left.

The villagers of Darong Village temporarily lived near the village chief's house. When Sun Wan arrived, Kou Zhong was helping to make a fire and move food.

Sun Wan called him and was speechless for a moment. After a long while, she said softly, "Good boy, go and accompany your grandfather."

A trace of confusion flashed across Kou Zhong's face. He was stunned for a moment, then suddenly his expression changed and he ran towards his home.

Suddenly, a chill hit her nose, and Su Guiying exclaimed, "Hey, it's snowing!"

Village chief Kou's funeral was held in the first snow after the beginning of winter.

Sanling Village was sparsely populated, and the funeral was completed in a hurry. Firstly, the Kou family was small, with only Kou Zhong as the only son. Secondly, in accordance with the wishes of the village chief Kou, no grand ceremony should be held to avoid provoking the Xizhao Army.

When Village Chief Kou was buried, Kou Zhong had fainted three times from crying.

Sun Wan was afraid that this small body could not bear it, so she quietly added a drop of spiritual spring water into the water, and Kou Zhong gradually recovered.

Even so, he fell seriously ill.

By the time Kou Zhong was able to get out of bed and walk, the first snow had quietly stopped.