Eavesdropping on Fu Bao's inner thoughts, emptying the stored grain and fleeing the famine

After leaving the jungle, Lian Rongrong realized that the place they had been in was actually halfway up a mountain.

Lian Rongrong simply couldn't imagine what kind of environment she was in now.

What kind of climate change could have created such a strange and bizarre mountain range?

Lian Rongrong didn't know whether, without the amber ring, without her eldest brother as her pillar of support, and without the help of everyone, she could still lead her family away from this hellish place.

Lian Rongrong had never felt so insecure, but this time she truly didn't know what to do.

After traveling for several hours, the group had simply moved from one jungle to another.

The small, misty grove in front of them, though not large, seemed far more difficult to deal with than the previous one.

"Rongrong, let's rest for a while," Mother Lian said to her daughter, supporting the exhausted old lady.

Lian Rongrong nodded, and after settling her grandmother and mother, Lin Chuyue sat down with Ru'er, her eyes no longer shining with their former light.

"Mom, please take care of Fu Bao while I go find some food."

Mother Lian nodded and took Fu Bao. Neither mother nor daughter seemed to have the energy to say anything more.

About the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Lian Rongrong returned carrying a pile of fruit.

"I didn't expect to find loquats here. Have some." Lian Rongrong shared the loquats with everyone, and they all ate quietly.

No one even thought to ask Lian Rongrong why she knew about this new and interesting thing.

Fu Bao hadn't eaten for a long time. In the rush of their escape, there was no time to bring those bottles and jars with them, but going hungry like this couldn't go on forever.

Lian Rongrong took out a silk handkerchief from her bosom, carefully peeled several loquats, wrapped the pulp in the handkerchief, and then carefully ground it.

After doing all this, Lian Rongrong took Fu Bao from her mother and fed Fu Bao small bites of the delicate fruit pulp and juice.

Perhaps because she had been hungry for too long, Fu Bao's little mouth never stopped, munching away with great relish.

But when Lian Rongrong saw the child like this, she couldn't help but tear up.

"It's all my fault, I've made you suffer along with me."

What is Mother saying? Fu Bao is Mother's son, of course he should share Mother's joys and sorrows.

Besides, this is delicious; Mother should try some too.

Although Fu Bao knows many strange things, his mind is still that of a baby.

It was precisely the child's innocence that brought a little comfort to Lian Rongrong's nearly despairing heart.

After resting for a while, Lian Rongrong suggested that they hurry on their way.

As the fog in the forest grew thicker, no one could say for sure whether there would be any more danger.

Lian Rongrong is now everyone's pillar of support. Since Lian Rongrong said she wants to continue on her journey, then no matter how tired we are, everyone has to get up.

Just as everyone was about to enter the depths of the forest, Lian Rongrong heard Fu Bao's voice again.

"Mother, you can't go in directly. This fog doesn't look ordinary; it seems to be miasma."

"Miasma? What do we do then?"

We need to prepare. Mother, could you see if there's a type of grass with serrated edges nearby?

Lian Rongrong looked around and actually found serrated grass under a tree.

"Is this it?" Lian Rongrong squatted down, holding Fu Bao.

Yes, that's it. Grind it up and hold it to your nose.

Lian Rongrong didn't even ask why, and simply picked the grass and did as she was told.

Lin Chuyue also heard Fu Bao's thoughts, so she pulled Ru'er along to pick herbs and grind them together.

As for the old lady, Lian's mother, and Wang Yang, they were too exhausted to care what Lian Rongrong was doing.

After grinding enough grass for seven people, Lian Rongrong packed the grass into cloth and distributed it to everyone.

"Cover your nose, let's go in! It's foggy in the woods, so don't get separated!"

The group nodded and quickly followed.

The miasma in the forest was indeed severe; for the first part of the journey, everyone could barely see the path beneath their feet.

But after walking for a short while, they could barely see the people around them anymore.

To prevent everyone from getting separated, Lian Rongrong had the five adults hold onto each other's clothes, while Ru'er was carried on Lin Chuyue's back, and Fu Bao stayed in Lian Rongrong's arms the whole time.

Because of the miasma, it was impossible to tell the time in the forest, and now there was no other choice but to grit our teeth and keep going.

Fortunately, the grove was not large, and in less than the time it takes for two incense sticks to burn, Lian Rongrong saw the end of the grove.

After emerging from the forest, everyone collapsed to the ground, breathing in the fresh air in large gulps.

Another hurdle has been overcome, Lian Rongrong thought to herself, but she had no idea how many more such perils she would have to overcome on the road ahead.

After resting for a while, the group prepared to move forward again, but at this moment, Lian Rongrong suddenly felt dizzy.

Just as she was about to get up, everything went black before her eyes, and she lost consciousness.

"Third daughter, third daughter?" In her hazy state, Lian Rongrong seemed to hear her grandmother's voice.

She slightly opened her eyes, the dazzling sunlight stinging them. Her grandmother, however, stood in the sunlight, dressed in a magnificent robe.

"Grandmother, when did you change your clothes?" Lian Rongrong rubbed her eyes and asked softly.

"Silly girl." Grandmother smiled, the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes filled with kindness and compassion.

Lian Rongrong felt her body was very light, and her grandmother's voice seemed very distant; she couldn't quite describe what this feeling was.

If I had to use one word to describe it, it would be: unreal.

"Third daughter, your grandmother is sorry for you! She is also sorry for your father and mother. And she is even more sorry for Yun'er and the servants who died for the Lian family."

There seemed to be tears glistening in her grandmother's eyes, and Lian Rongrong suddenly felt a tightness in her chest, making it hard to breathe.

"Grandmother, none of this is your fault."

"How could it not be? If I hadn't indulged your aunt's wrongdoings all these years, how would she have become like this?"

Third daughter, you're a good child. Grandma knows the road ahead will be difficult, but Grandma knows you'll be strong, right?

Lian Rongrong was slightly taken aback, then shook her head and said dejectedly:

"Grandmother, my ring is gone. I don't know how to lead you to Father and Second Brother."

I'm afraid too, afraid I won't make it to the day I can reunite with them.

"Silly child, no matter how magical that ring is, you must know that it was you who led everyone all this way!"

Grandma knows that without you, the Lian family might have been finished long ago. Every day now is earned by you for the Lian family.

The real treasure isn't the ring, it's you!

After saying this, the old lady disappeared into the light. Lian Rongrong suddenly woke up, only to find herself lying on a wooden bed.

[Mom, you're finally awake!]

Fu Bao's voice rang in her ears. Lian Rongrong looked around at the unfamiliar surroundings and asked Fu Bao:

"Where is this? How did we get here?"

This is Luancheng, a border town of the Shang Kingdom. The miasma in that forest was poisonous; a passing doctor saved us.

Lian Rongrong rubbed her head, which was throbbing with pain, when suddenly the dream she had just had resurfaced in her mind.

A sense of foreboding washed over her. Lian Rongrong shakily got up, pushed open the door, and went outside into the yard, only to hear her mother and sister-in-law crying out.