Crossing the famine to find the white moonlight

The night was dark, and the camp was completely silent, broken only by the occasional muffled coughs and faint breaths of exhausted men. The cold night wind blew across the wasteland, biting the bones, seeping into the people's tattered clothes, chilling them to the bone. Ye Wan, as usual, surveyed the camp, making sure there was no danger. Then, she took Xiaotong and her mother, Ye Cui Niang, to sit a little further away, trying to shrink to protect against the night's chill.

Just then, a weak gasp could be heard not far away. Ye Wan turned her head and saw a thin old man slowly falling to the ground. His face was as pale as paper, his eyes half closed, as if he had lost his last bit of strength. Ye Wan's heart suddenly tightened. She knew that this was the limit of hunger and exhaustion. The old man seemed to be on the verge of death.

Ye Wan quickly walked to the old man, gently shook his shoulder, and whispered, "Uncle, how are you? Can you hear me?" Her voice was anxious and concerned, and her eyes were full of worry.

The old man opened his eyes slightly, as if he recognized Ye Wan. His lips trembled slightly, and he made a broken sound: "Child... I can't take it anymore... My old bones... can't take it anymore." There was a trace of powerlessness and despair in his eyes, as if he had accepted the arrangement of fate.

Ye Wan felt a pang of sadness as she watched him. She knew the elderly and frail had already endured immense hardship along the way. Their physical strength and endurance were inferior to those of the young, and especially under such extreme hunger and fatigue, they could lose their lives at any moment. She hesitated, looking down at the last small piece of dry food in her bag. It was emergency food she had intended to leave for Xiaotong and her mother, but seeing the frail old man before her, a kind heart compelled her to make a decision.

Ye Wan took out some dry food from her bag, gently broke off a small piece, and handed it to the old man, saying softly, "Master, eat something. You can't give up. Just hold on a little longer, and we will definitely find food."

The old man opened his eyes and saw the dry food in Ye Wan's hand, his eyes filled with surprise and gratitude. His hands trembled as he took the dry food and said with a sob, "Child... Thank you, thank you..." As he spoke, he slowly put the dry food into his mouth and chewed it carefully, as if it was the most precious food in his life.

Ye Wan looked at the old man silently, helped him to a flat place to sit down, patted his back gently, and comforted him: "Uncle, you must hold on. Although this road is difficult, as long as we don't give up, we will definitely find a way to survive."

Tears glistened in the old man's eyes. He nodded slowly and said in a hoarse voice, "Child, you are a kind person. If I can survive, I will definitely help you to the best of my ability. I don't have much ability in my old bones, but as long as I am here, I will do my best to protect you." His words were full of determination, as if he was expressing his gratitude to Ye Wan with the remaining strength of his life.

Ye Wan listened to the old man's sincere words, feeling both warm and bitter in her heart. She smiled, shook her head, and said softly, "Uncle, seeing you safe is my greatest reward. We're all on the road to escape famine, so it's only natural for us to help each other."

After that, Ye Wan continued to silently care for the old man. She didn't have extra food or water, but whenever she gathered wild vegetables, she would try to share some with the old man and other frail elderly people. The old man gradually regained some strength, no longer as frail as before. He even took the initiative to help Ye Wan share some of the heavy loads during the journey. Despite his own advanced age, he still fulfilled his promise with practical actions.

Ye Wan's kindness and selflessness earned her growing gratitude and respect from more and more team members. Her selflessness and composure gradually became the team's spiritual pillar. Whenever someone felt hopeless or exhausted, they would look to her for help, and she would always quietly use her knowledge and patience to help them overcome the difficulties.

That day, the team continued their journey through the wasteland. As the sun gradually set, everyone stopped to rest. Ye Wan surveyed the surroundings, confirming there was no danger, and then led Xiaotong and her mother to a secluded spot. Just then, several elderly men and women approached her, gently shaking her hands with respect and gratitude in their eyes.

An old woman said softly, "Sister Wan, you are truly kind-hearted. We are able to survive this journey thanks to you."

The middle-aged woman next to her nodded in agreement, tears in her eyes. "Sister Wan, you're so young, yet you know so much and have such a kind heart. We're still alive today thanks to your guidance."

Ye Wan felt a little shy after hearing these words. She shook her head gently and said softly, "We are all on the road to escape the famine. It is only natural for us to help each other. Saving one more person is a blessing for survival."

The elderly men and women nodded silently, exchanging grateful glances, as if they had reached a tacit understanding. From then on, they began to help Ye Wan more consciously, sometimes even taking the initiative to share some of her work, or taking turns to stand guard at night to prevent anyone from breaking into Ye Wan's temporary camp and ensure her and Xiaotong's safety.

Ye Wan's kindness and selflessness gradually triggered a chain reaction within the team. Those who had once been indifferent to her gradually began to change their attitudes and began to look upon her with respect. Some even took the initiative to ask her for survival tips during the journey. Her position in the team became increasingly solid, and everyone's trust in her went beyond simple dependence and became more of admiration and respect.

In the stillness of the night, Ye Wan sat beside Xiaotong, watching his sleeping face, her heart filled with emotion. She knew her act of kindness wasn't just helping others; it was also creating a relatively safe environment for Xiaotong. She understood that if she could gain the trust and protection of more people in the team, she and her family would have a greater chance of surviving in this turbulent world.

She gently stroked Xiaotong's hair and secretly made a resolution: as long as she had some ability, she would continue to help those in need. She firmly believed that kindness could be passed on, and it was this belief that made her more determined on the difficult journey of fleeing famine.