Crossing the famine to find the white moonlight

As the journey continued, the drought and desolate environment nearly depleted the group's food and water supplies. The long, day-in, day-out journey sapped their strength. Members of the group frequently collapsed from hunger and thirst, and the frail elderly and children collapsed even more frequently, some unable to stand. Ye Wan looked at the emaciated, vacant-eyed people around her, and a wave of sadness washed over her. She knew that without further food supplies, everyone's life would hang by a thread.

Xiaotong also became weak from lack of water, his face sallow, his eyes no longer bright. Ye Wan held him in her arms, feeling distressed, and quietly exchanged a small amount of dry food and water through the system. She broke the dry food into small pieces and fed it to Xiaotong bit by bit. Then she held the water bottle to his lips and whispered, "Xiaotong, drink a sip of water. Don't worry."

Xiaotong's lips were chapped, and he trembled as he took a few sips of water. Then he weakly raised his head and looked at his mother, his eyes full of gratitude and attachment. Ye Wan gently patted his back and said softly, "Don't be afraid. Mom will always be with you. We will definitely get out of this."

Ye Wan herself felt a dry mouth and stomach cramps, but she resisted drinking too much, conserving her water to ensure Xiaotong could maintain her strength. She knew that the system's resources were not infinite, and each exchange consumed points. These points were their most valuable guarantee on the road to escape the famine, so they had to be used with caution.

However, others in the group weren't as fortunate. Thirst and hunger had completely robbed many of their will to live, and the elderly, the weak, and the disabled suffered particularly hard. Ye Wan saw mothers helplessly gazing at their crying children, their eyes revealing despair and helplessness. She sighed silently, and the urge to help others arose within her. She knew that, despite her own predicament, if she could share a little food, perhaps it could help these children and the elderly survive another day, or even save some lives.

When the team stopped to rest again, Ye Wan quietly took out a small piece of dry food from her bag, walked over to an old woman squatting on the ground with a look of pain on her face, handed the dry food to her, and said softly: "Auntie, eat a little, we still have a long way to go."

The old woman's eyes were filled with surprise and gratitude when she saw the rations. With slightly trembling hands, she took them and choked out a sob, "Thank you, child." She said nothing more, simply nibbling at the rations, tears streaming down her face. Ye Wan nodded gently, then looked at a few children crying from hunger not far away. She decided to exchange another small bag of rations from the system and help them in her own way.

Ye Wan walked to the children, divided the dry food into several small pieces, and said softly: "Children, don't cry. Come, eat some dry food. We still have to continue on our journey after eating." The children's eyes were full of gratitude, as if they saw the last ray of hope. They looked up at Ye Wan, took the dry food and began to eat it voraciously.

This gesture caught the attention of other refugees, and those around her began to look upon Ye Wan with admiration. Many had initially maintained a cold attitude towards her and her family, dismissing them as mere refugees. However, these instances of Ye Wan's assistance filled them with gratitude and gradually led them to trust her. Some even approached her, quietly asking if she had any surplus food to share. Despite her own limited supplies, Ye Wan cleverly distributed food, leaving it for the children and elderly most in need, thus avoiding the need for further dependence and demands.

With Ye Wan's helpful actions, some elderly and children in the group were temporarily relieved of their hunger. Gradually, some began to rely on her, even actively surrounding her during the journey. Ye Wan's calmness and composure gradually made people see her as a ray of hope, and they followed her silently. This subtle trust brought Ye Wan a sense of pressure, but also brought her strength. She knew that she was no longer alone in the group, but was someone people relied on and looked up to.

One morning, the group set out again through the wasteland, but the dry weather and blazing sun became increasingly unbearable. Ye Wan walked ahead, frequently glancing back at her mother and Xiao Tong to make sure they were still keeping up. Suddenly, she noticed a young child behind her, exhausted, stumbling to the ground. His mother stood beside him, helplessly crying for help. Her heart pounded, and she immediately ran over, squatting down to check on the child. He was pale, clearly suffering from dehydration and hunger.

She quickly pulled out her water bottle and gave the child a few sips of water. She then urgently redeemed a small packet of dry food from the system, divided it into small pieces, and fed it to the child bit by bit. After several minutes, the child finally opened his eyes, a hint of light returning to his gaze. His mother, tears streaming down her face, repeatedly expressed her gratitude.

"Child, live well. Although the road ahead is difficult, as long as you persevere, there will be hope." Ye Wan gently comforted the child's mother, her eyes gleaming with determination. She realized that although her abilities were limited, if she could help these people survive for a few more days, perhaps she could give them more hope for survival.

After these acts of assistance, Ye Wan gradually earned the trust of the team. Her calmness and composure earned her reliance, and sometimes people even sought her advice, asking for tips on how to conserve water and food. Ye Wan didn't elaborate on the system she relied on, simply teaching everyone how to distribute supplies, how to find wild grass to satisfy hunger, and even how to collect morning dew for water.

Her little tricks benefited many and deepened their trust in her. The elderly and children in the team gradually came to see her as someone they could rely on, some even calling her "Sister Wan" and respectfully seeking her guidance. Ye Wan knew that this trust came with a heavy responsibility, requiring her to wield system resources with even greater caution, avoiding exposing her own secrets while also helping those most in need at critical moments.

As the team continued on its journey, Ye Wan's resolve to protect her family and help others grew stronger. She realized that the system wasn't just a tool for survival; it was also the support she needed to save lives in these turbulent times. Every time she saw the elderly and children whose lives were extended thanks to her small act, her heart was filled with a sense of accomplishment and warmth. Their trust in her made her realize that she wasn't just living for Xiaotong and her mother, but that she played a vital role in the famine-stricken group.

At night, Ye Wan watched Xiaotong sleeping beside her and silently made a resolution: she would use the power of the system and the skills she had gradually acquired to help as many people as possible on this long journey of escape, earning their trust while gradually moving towards the peace of mind she desired. She firmly believed that as long as she persevered, she would be able to bring a brighter future to Xiaotong, her mother, and others in need.