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

Everyone excitedly chopped some leeks and sprinkled them into the porridge. They also got a big bowl, planted leek seedlings in it, placed it in the middle of the carriage, and wrapped it with cloth to block the wind.

Zhu Xiuqin cooked the pickled fish and rice into porridge. The fragrant flavor exploded in everyone's mouth. Everyone held their bowls with tears in their eyes.

The fish was tender and smooth, blending perfectly with the aroma of rice. From time to time, you could taste the fresh chives. It was so delicious! Everyone was so engrossed in the food that they didn't even have time to talk.

After eating, everyone was too lazy to move.

Fortunately, the bonfire was burning brightly, and everyone took a short rest.

Late at night, Xiao Fuzi and the other children were so sleepy that they were staggering around. The adults carefully placed them in a "nest" that was converted from a grain cart and surrounded by reeds and branches.

After washing up and arranging a night watchman, everyone fell into a deep sleep under the stars.

Who knew that the next morning, snowflakes would fall quietly.

Everyone was shivering with cold, and they quickly added firewood to the fire. They did not dare to stay any longer, and hurriedly packed up their luggage. Taking advantage of the first snow of early winter, the people of Darong Village set off again.

……

In Jizhou City, Su Chongsong supported Wanniang while cautiously looking around. After confirming that there was no one around, he quickened his pace and left.

Wanniang's belly was slightly bulging, her face was as pale as paper, and she asked, "Chongsong, have you decided where we're going?"

Su Chongsong nodded firmly: "Of course!"

"The world is in chaos, but the capital is still peaceful because the Emperor is there."

"As long as we enter the capital, everything will be easy. Those chaotic Western Zhao troops will not be able to do anything to us."

Su Chongsong muttered, and Wanniang forced a smile on her slightly weak face: "I hope it will be so."

"Definitely!"

Su Chongsong smiled from the bottom of his heart and held her hand even tighter.

A warm feeling surged in Wanniang's heart, and suddenly she remembered something, and tears welled up in her eyes.

"It's a pity that my parents don't have this blessing..."

Su Chongsong comforted gently: "Don't cry."

"Your parents risked their lives to get medicine for you, hoping that you could live happily. For their hope, you can no longer shed tears."

Lu Wanniang looked at Su Chongsong, finally smiled with relief, and nodded gently: "Yeah!"

The two of them hurried out of the city. Su Chongsong caught something out of the corner of his eye and suddenly pulled down the hood on Lu Wanniang's head, hiding her completely.

"Hurry up and lower your head! There are a few beggars over there! Don't mess with them!"

Wanniang was startled and immediately hid in Su Chongsong's arms, moving stiffly.

Su Chongsong held Lu Wanniang in his arms and then stepped over the debris on the road with an expressionless face: "Watch your step."

"Hmm." Lu Wanniang lifted her foot as instructed, but accidentally stepped on something: "Ah! What is this?"

"It's just a dead cat. Don't be afraid, Wanniang. Just follow me."

Su Chongsong comforted Lu Wanniang and took her away from Jizhou City.

Plague is rampant in the city, and despair, sin, and Su Chongsong's only remaining conscience are everywhere.

……

Two months later.

The team from Darong Village crossed mountains and rivers and finally saw some people.

Little Fuzi caught a glimpse of the smoke, licked his cracked lips, and ran back to the line excitedly: "Grandpa! There's a village ahead!"

Xiao Fuzi's words cheered everyone up and made them all happy.

Their lips were cracked and their skin was curled up. They couldn't help but quicken their pace. Suddenly, the view in front of them opened up and they saw the village that Xiao Fuzi had mentioned.

At the entrance of the village, a well stands quietly.

"Water, water!"

I don't know who shouted first, but they were eager to run down the hill.

"return!"

The village chief hurriedly stopped him. His own lips were so dry that they were cracked and bleeding, and the blood seemed particularly thin due to extreme lack of water.

"Don't be rude!"

"It's a severe drought right now, so the village well must be guarded by someone. If you rashly go in, you might get beaten up!"

Hearing this, the man who had just shouted suddenly realized what was going on. His throat moved with difficulty and he turned back with a gloomy look.

"Why not send two men to investigate first? If the villagers are kind, perhaps they can ask for some water to quench their thirst."

"If they are difficult to deal with, we can only exchange them for food."

Sun Wan spoke, and everyone nodded knowingly.

Finally, Sun Wan led Zhu Xiuqin, Su Rongze and Zhang Daniu to investigate.

More than a month had passed since they left Jizhou City, and not a single snowflake had fallen.

Instead, there are declining groundwater levels and rapidly dwindling water reserves within the team.

At first, they tried to walk along the river, thinking that at least they would not die of thirst. However, after walking for more than ten days, they encountered government troops who had set up checkpoints along the river.

Fortunately, the horses were a little slow at that time and Xiao Fuzi was alert, otherwise these "fat sheep" would have fallen into the hands of the government troops.

The villagers of Darong Village escaped in time, but were completely away from the water source.

People searched for water along the way, and even collected the remaining snow on the ground, but the amount of drinkable water was getting less and less.

Today, I finally came across a village with smoke from cooking and a well.

When Sun Wan and others approached, they saw two men standing next to the well.

Seeing this, the two men immediately approached vigilantly with hatchets in hand.

Zhang Daniu quickly raised his hands in a gesture of friendship: "Brother! We are good citizens!"

The other party didn't buy it, staring at him and asking, "Which village are you from? What do you mean we are one of our own? Why have I never seen you before?"

"I came from the other side of the mountain. I saw there was water here, so I wanted to ask for a drink. Is that okay?"

Hearing this, the two shook their heads repeatedly: "No! Let's go, let's go!"

Seeing that the two were determined, Zhang Daniu had to go back in disappointment.

This time, it was Sun Wan and Zhu Xiuqin's turn to step forward.

Even though they were two women, they still held the hatchets tightly without relaxing at all.

"Young man, since you won't give me alms, can you trade your food for some water?"

"We are so thirsty!"

"Food? You actually have food?" One of them suddenly became excited.

Zhu Xiuqin was about to nod when Sun Wan grabbed her.

She looked worried: "Just a few steamed buns, life-saving things."

"But without water, people will die. We can only exchange food for water. Young man, please help!"

The two looked at each other.

"Wait!"

One of them turned and went into the village, while the remaining one stared at Sun Wan and the others as if they were facing a formidable enemy.

Finally, the young man who left returned with a few people.

The old man in the middle squinted his eyes and looked at Sun Wan and the others: "I heard that you are willing to exchange food for water?"

Sun Wan nodded and took out about five or six steamed buns from her pocket: "That's right!"

"Here are five or six steamed buns. Let's see how much water we can get in exchange."

The old man looked him up and down, then turned around and seemed to whisper something to the person next to him.

Sun Wan was unable to capture the details of the conversation. She only saw that not long after, the two men holding sickles silently put down their weapons.

The old man's expression eased slightly. "Madam, how many people are there in your group?"

Sun Wan rolled her eyes and halved the number to say, "Fourteen."

The old man hesitated a little after hearing this, but still nodded in agreement: "Well, everyone, please come in!"