Traveling Through Farmhouses: Taking the Baby on a Famine Escape

Zhou Dashan briefly introduced the two routes and then shared his thoughts.

"Personally, I think it's better to go into the mountains, since you can find food there, but you probably can't buy food outside."

"Uncle, but Tianmu Mountain is too dangerous!"

"Yes, none of us know the way. What if we get lost?"

Zhang Xixi also thought that taking the mountain path was better, but she didn't know the way. Oh right, she hurriedly went to Zhang Dacheng's side and whispered a few words to him.

“I also think it’s better to go into the mountains. We can go to the outer areas where there are fewer wild animals, and I have a map of Tianmu Mountain here.”

“Father-in-law, you really have a map!” Zhou Dashan asked happily.

"of course it's true."

"Since that's the case, everyone think about it. Those who agree to take the mountain path, stand this way; those who disagree, go that way." After saying that, Zhou Dashan was the first to walk to the side that agreed.

In the end, everyone agreed to take the mountain path, since every household was short of food and didn't want to starve to death; taking the mountain path offered a chance to survive.

After everyone else had gone home to pack their things, Zhou Dashan looked at Zhang Dacheng and asked solemnly:

"Father-in-law, do you really have a map, or is it just to appease the villagers?" After all, this concerns the fate of the entire village, so it's best to confirm it again.

Zhang Dacheng looked at his daughter, Zhang Xixi, who nodded heavily.

"Her eldest cousin, to be honest, this map was left by my ancestors. But before they died, they left a family instruction that their descendants should not use the map lightly. This time, there was no other way."

Zhou Dashan expressed his understanding; after all, this was practically a family heirloom, and no family would easily part with it. He cupped his hands in thanks to Zhang Dacheng, saying, "Father-in-law, you're so generous! I thank you on behalf of the whole village!"

“His older cousin is too kind. We are also part of the village and should stand together with everyone.”

Zhang Dacheng thought for a moment and then said, "I'll go back and pack my things first. I'll bring the map over with Dalang later, and then we'll discuss how to get there."

"It's great that you could come, Scholar Zhou. To be honest, although I know a few words, I've never seen a map before and don't know how to read it!" Zhou Dashan replied happily.

After speaking, Zhang Xixi took the 5 jin of sorghum rice given to her by Zhou Dashan's family and went home with her father.

Zhang Dacheng looked at the sorghum rice that Zhang Xixi was twisting and said, "Girl, your cousin is a good man! You must remember his kindness."

"Father, I know." This clan leader really takes good care of her family. Even at this time, he still sends grain. Although it's not much, grain is priceless these days!

I tried to refuse for a long time but couldn't, so I had to accept it. But I'm indebted to them for this favor.

Thinking of the map, Zhang Xixi silently asked herself:

"System, do you have a copy function?"

"No, but this system comes with a built-in GPS system, so the host doesn't need to worry about getting lost."

After arriving home, Zhang Xixi gave the parchment map to Zhang Dacheng, who then gave her some instructions on packing before going home.

After seeing her father off, Zhang Xixi told her three children that she was moving.

Zhou Yujie was reluctant to leave when he heard that he had to go, and his mood became low. "Sister-in-law, will we come back in the future?"

Da Bao and Er Bao also stared at her expectantly.

Zhang Xixi is under immense pressure; she doesn't know how to comfort children!

"I know you're reluctant to leave here, but we can't survive if we don't leave. You can come back and visit when you grow up."

"Oh! Sister-in-law, I want to go see my parents and older brother and say goodbye to them."

"Go! We'll all go." Zhang Xixi thought that since she had taken over someone else's body, and her in-laws had been quite good to the original owner when they were alive, she should go and see them after she passed away. And that cheap husband of hers, although it was just a cenotaph, was still the children's biological father, so they should be allowed to say goodbye after he passed away.

Early the next morning, Zhang Xixi boiled some sweet potatoes, put the water she had boiled the day before into a bamboo tube, and carrying the luggage she had packed the day before, led her family to meet up in the back mountain of the village.

Seeing that other families had lots of things and even livestock, Zhang Xixi realized that her family didn't have any means of transportation. What were they going to do with her two babies?

"System, is there any way to get livestock?"

"Host, complete tasks to earn luck points."

Isn't that nonsense? How can we complete the mission in this situation? We can only make do with the two treasures for now and figure something out once we get into the mountains.

Zhang Xixi arrived at her parents' home with her three children. Only her mother and two sisters-in-law were there with their children. She greeted them one by one and then looked at her family members in front of her.

Standing next to my mother was my eldest sister-in-law, Chen, my mother's cousin. The two boys who looked alike were my eldest brother's twin sons; the older one was named Zhang Zehui, and the younger one was named Zhang Zelin. Sitting on the ground were my second sister-in-law, Zhou, who was pregnant, and my youngest niece, Zhang Yuhan. Her family had good genes; everyone was good-looking, and my two sisters-in-law were also pretty young ladies.

Moreover, her family is small and doesn't have any problematic members, so they shouldn't hold her back. After all, she's going to take her family with her on her path to wealth.

Zhang Xixi looked at the things on the ground again. She estimated that there were about 100 jin of grain, and the most abundant thing was water, with dozens of long bamboo tubes placed in different baskets.

There's so little food!

Once everyone had arrived, Zhou Dashan and several other elders from the clan divided the village's able-bodied men into two teams, with one team walking at the front and the other at the back, each carrying a hoe or sickle from their own home. The elderly and women led the children in the middle.

A large group of people headed towards Tianmu Mountain. Zhang Xixi and her family, along with her maternal relatives, walked in front. Since only her eldest brother knew how to read a map and her father was a hunter, they were asked to lead the way.

Zhang Wenbo felt a pang of sympathy when he saw his younger sister carrying a tall basket on her back.

"Little sister, let me carry it for you!"

Zhang Xixi glanced at the scholar, who, though not as robust as her second brother, was not weak either. Moreover, because the mule was carrying her sister-in-law and niece, he was also carrying several dozen kilograms of grain on his back, which looked quite heavy.

Zhang Xixi quickly refused, saying, "It's alright, brother, it's not heavy." The bottom of her basket was actually hollow; it was just to conceal its weight.

Seeing that his younger sister looked relaxed, Zhang Wenbo didn't think she was lying, so he decided to take the basket from her when she got tired.

After walking for almost an hour, Zhang Xixi looked around and saw that most of the people around her were covered in sweat and looked exhausted, while she herself was perfectly fine. How strange!

"System, could it be that I ate some rare and exotic herbs?"

System: "Host, you are wearing protective shoes that can not only relieve fatigue but also protect your feet from injury."

"so smart!"

"of course."

"Is it sold in the store, but I don't have enough luck points?"

"Couldn't you scan around to see if there are any rare treasures? Look how exhausted my two little darlings are! They're practically your little masters, aren't they!"

System: "Host, each scan will deduct 100 luck points."

"Go ahead and deduct it, why didn't you say so earlier!"

"Ding! Scan function activated. Rare treasures discovered 500 meters ahead on the cliff."