Traveling Through Farmhouses: Taking the Baby on a Famine Escape

Back at the encampment, it was already dark. Her family stood anxiously outside. Zhang Xixi saw Chen Shi standing outside and quickly called out:

"Mom, we are back!"

"Are you alright?" Madam Chen quickly stepped forward to check on Zhang Dacheng and the others.

"It's alright, go back!"

Zhang Dacheng and his men left the wild beasts they were carrying outside their door and went into the kitchen to eat; they were actually quite hungry!

Because there were many wild animals, Zhou Dashan didn't divide them up. Anything he brought back belonged to his family. So Zhang Xixi and her two friends, including Xiao Jin and his wife, brought back seven wild animals, including wild goats, wild deer, and wild boars. This was enough for both families to eat for a long time.

Fearing that the wild animal would spoil overnight, the villagers slaughtered it after dinner, sprinkled it with a little salt, and hung it in the kitchen.

The Zhang family did the same, except that after skinning the animals, they gave a sheep and a deer to Xiao Jin and the others for dinner. Previously, because there were few ducks, Zhang Xixi had only let them eat until they were half full, but now they could finally eat their fill.

Zhang Xixi delivered the meat and also gave Yihu a bucket of spiritual spring water, which made Xiao Jin and Xiao Hua shout with joy. They then rubbed their big heads against Zhang Xixi's legs and looked at her with excitement.

Ah! Tiger's happy days have finally returned!

This set of stick techniques has few moves. Zhang Wenhong learned it yesterday, and this morning he has been promoted to master and is teaching the male members of the Zhang family, the two Bao brothers, and Zhou Yujie how to practice.

Many of the men in the village came to watch, making it a lively scene. Some even held up wooden sticks and joined in the gesturing.

Seeing this, Zhang Dacheng stopped what he was doing and thought for a moment. Although this set of boxing techniques was passed down from his ancestors, it didn't mean that only family members could learn it. Besides, it would also benefit his family if the villagers learned it.

"If you all want to learn, then learn with us! But after you learn this stick technique, I hope you won't use it for bad things or bully the weak. If you can do that, just come back tomorrow morning. Now, everyone go home!"

"Uncle Zhang, are you telling the truth?"

"I, Zhang Dacheng, never speak empty words!" Zhang Dacheng declared righteously.

"Okay, let's go back first, prepare, and come back tomorrow."

"Let's go!"

After everyone in the village had left, Zhang Xixi said, "Dad, you're quite generous to share this stick technique with the villagers."

Zhang Wenbo and Zhang Wenhong looked at Zhang Dacheng with admiration. Their father was truly magnanimous!

Zhang Dacheng said earnestly, "I'm weighing the pros and cons. After all, we'll still be traveling with the villagers. If they learn this stick technique, not only will our safety be better guaranteed, but the villagers will also treat our family with more respect. After all, we're outsiders, so it's always good to do them a little more favor."

Zhang Xixi and the others glanced at Zhang Dacheng, amazed that he had thought things through so thoroughly. He truly lived up to his father's reputation!

That day, Zhang Wenhong taught Zhang Dacheng and Zhang Xixi the techniques step by step. After dinner, many people who wanted to learn the stick fighting brought their own food to the Zhang family. The next day, Zhang Dacheng also became a master and taught everyone the stick fighting techniques with Zhang Wenhong.

Although he didn't formally become an apprentice, he did learn something from them. Since learning the stick fighting techniques, the villagers have been very respectful and polite to the Zhang family, and Zhang Dacheng has achieved his goal.

Because stick fighting emphasizes skills and methods, combining both strength and gentleness, it is also suitable for women to learn. So Zhang Xixi dragged Chen Shi and the others to practice, but after a few days of learning, only Zhou Shi persisted.

"Second sister-in-law, this is blood vine fruit. You can eat it now that your postpartum period is over."

"You can keep this, little sister, there's no need to give it to me." Zhou thought to herself, after saying those things earlier, how could she have the face to accept such a precious gift!

Seeing Zhou Shi with her head down and a look of shame on her face, Zhang Xixi said seriously, "Second sister-in-law, I treat you all the same. This was originally reserved for you, so please don't refuse it, just accept it!"

Zhou accepted the blood vine fruit with embarrassment. "Little sister, I apologize to you. Please don't take what I said to you before to heart. I was just feeling down, so..."

Zhang Xixi quickly waved her hand and laughed, "I've forgotten what happened before, so you don't need to worry about it too much. You should eat this fruit first, and then we can continue practicing."

"Yes!" Zhou replied with a smile.

Two weeks later, the villagers cleaned up the greenhouses they had built, packed their things, and set off again. They left the tents unattended, thinking that they would disappear in time and wouldn't affect the forest environment, so they left them alone.

The villagers stood on the hillside, took one last long look at their former encampment, then turned and strode forward, their thrilling escape from famine beginning once again.

Following the map, Zhang Xixi and her group continued along the outer perimeter. The path wasn't difficult, and the villagers, having recovered from their previous period of rest, were all in good health, so they traveled quickly, crossing several mountains in just over half a month.

"Wenbo, where are we?" Zhou Dashan asked as soon as he finished lunch.

"Clan Chief Zhou, we have reached the border between Qingzhou and Lingzhou, and we will soon enter Lingzhou."

Zhou Dashan exclaimed happily, "We're finally almost there! That's wonderful!"

"Father, there are refugees ahead!" Zhou Yuping and his scouts returned and immediately reported.

How many people are there?

"There were probably several hundred people, and they were resting up ahead!" Zhou Yuping recalled for a moment and said.

Zhou Dashan's expression turned serious. They had brought so much food; it was too tempting for others to covet!

"Wenbo, do you see if we can take a different route?"

Zhang Wenbo glanced at the map and said, "No, this is the only road."

"There are so many of us, what are we afraid of? If they dare to try and steal from us, I'll beat them to death!" Zhang Wenhong shouted.

Zhang Dacheng slapped him on the back of the head. "Don't think you're so great just because you've learned a little martial arts. Refugees are starving and don't care about their lives!"

Zhang Wenhong retorted, unconvinced: "Then what do we do?"

Zhang Xixi looked around the mountain and said, "There are so many wild vegetables and weeds here. Let's wrap our food and hides in the withered grass and wild vegetables so that fewer people will look at us with covetous eyes. Let's grab our weapons and hurry over."

We have no choice but to bite the bullet and go on. We can't exactly turn back! Zhou Dashan said loudly, "Everyone, do as Da Bao's mother says. All the able-bodied men should stand outside, and the women, children, the elderly, and the weak should stand inside with their livestock. When you go over, remember not to show any sympathy or be soft-hearted. Just keep going. If you encounter anyone trying to steal your things, beat them hard, as long as you don't kill them."

The villagers responded loudly and took out their own grain to pack it up.

After everyone was ready, Zhou Dashan gave the order to set off. As always, Zhang Xixi led her family and the two tigers at the front. Hmm, this time there was also a sharp-beaked chicken.