Armed with a machete and a gun, armed with a system, they fled the famine.

Chapter 76 Excavation

"Okay, we'll all go."

With their minds made up, the group began packing their things and, led by Zhao Yan, headed towards the sweet potato grove.

Looking at the vast sweet potato field that stretched for an acre, Tian Xiu'e stared in astonishment for a moment, then sighed with undisguised worry, "There's so much, how long will it take us to dig it all up?"

Zhao Yan mentally counted the number of people and found that there were only three adults, plus two teenagers, Zhao Yunchen and Chen Qingjiao, who could work.

Zhao Yunjie and the others were still young, and Zhao Yan didn't intend to have them do any work.

Based on this calculation, they really can't dig up much.

"We'll dig as much as we can. The forest is so big, there must be other food available," Zhao Yan said calmly.

At worst, she can just secretly take things off the system shelves.

If we take it secretly, we can keep it until they reach the capital.

At this moment, Yang Sanlang walked over, his eyes fixed intently on Zhao Yan.

"Do you have any spare tools? I'll dig up some sweet potatoes."

"But you still have injuries..."

A smile appeared on Yang Sanlang's handsome face, his eyes gentle yet firm.

"It's alright, I can use my other hand. Besides, the injury on my back has long since healed."

They had been walking in the mountains for almost a month, and the knife wound on his back had long since scabbed over and fallen off. With the help of Yuanbo's unique scar-removing ointment, even the scar had faded.

Without a close look, you would never know that he had suffered a serious back injury.

The shoulder that was hit by the wolf king sometimes hurts, but he can just switch to the other arm.

Just as Zhao Yan was worrying, Chen An also limped over.

“Sister-in-law, there’s me too. I can dig while sitting down.”

"Brother Chen, your leg..."

Zhao Yan glanced at Chen An speechlessly, not knowing what to say.

Zhao Yunjie and the other little kids also rushed over to ask for help.

Zhao Yunjie: "Auntie, I want to dig sweet potatoes too. I know how to do it."

Back in the day, they took care of the crops in the fields with their parents.

Digging sweet potatoes is just like digging wild vegetables.

Yuan Tianbao had never worked in the fields before and didn't know how to dig sweet potatoes. He tugged at Zhao Yan's clothes and begged, "Auntie, teach me how to dig sweet potatoes. I'm very smart, I can learn it in no time."

The only thing to do is prevent him from recognizing the names of herbs.

Zhao Yunqi and Yang Xiaomi stood obediently beside Zhao Yan, their expressions filled with anticipation as they looked at her.

Zhao Yunqi: "Auntie, I can do it too."

Zhao Xiaomi: "Mom, I can help move the sweet potatoes."

Yuan Yutang and Yuan Gang stood aside, smiling as they waited for her to make a decision.

Zhao Yan glanced at Yang Sanlang with a reproachful look, then waved her hand and said boldly, "Then let's all go and dig sweet potatoes."

"Okay, okay."

"Time to dig sweet potatoes!"

Zhao Yunjie and the other children immediately beamed with joy and rushed into the sweet potato field.

When they actually faced the sweet potatoes covered in vines, they were all dumbfounded.

How do you dig this thing up?

Zhao Yan smiled and turned to instruct Tian Xiu'e, "Sister Tian, there are two more machetes in the basket. Give them to Sanlang and Uncle Yuan."

She had prepared the machete long ago, originally to defend against wild animals in the mountains and forests.

She did want to buy a few sweet potato digging tools from the system store, but they were too conspicuous, so she decided against it after thinking about it.

"Hey, I'll go get it right away."

Tian Xiu'e happily went to find the machete.

Zhao Yan glanced at Yang Sanlang, then quickly looked at Chen An.

Yang Sanlang's mouth, which had just opened, froze on his face, his eyes darkening.

Zhao Yan said to Chen An, "Brother Chen An, since your leg is inconvenient, you can take charge of digging sweet potatoes."

Chen An smiled and nodded, "Okay, I'll listen to my sister-in-law."

Tian Xiu'e quickly found two brand-new machetes, giving one to Yuan Gang and the other to Yang Sanlang.

Zhao Yan ignored Yang Sanlang and turned to Yuan Gang, instructing, "Uncle Yuan, let's use machetes to clear out the sweet potato vines first."

Yuan Gang picked up the machete and nodded calmly.

He walked to the far left, brandished his machete, and vigorously cut the sweet potato vines.

Zhao Yan then said to Zhao Yunjie and the others, "Yuanjie, Yuanqi, Tianbao, and Xiaomi, you guys will be responsible for picking the sweet potato stalks and leaves from the vines. Remember, we only want the freshest ones; don't pick the old ones or those with holes, understand?"

The children, including Zhao Yunjie, replied in unison, "Yes, Auntie."

"I know mother."

Seeing Yang Sanlang standing there dumbfounded, Zhao Yan glanced at him sideways and said in a dry, fierce tone, "What are you standing there for? Go get to work."

"…I'll go right away."

Yang Sanlang glanced at Zhao Yan with a mournful look, picked up his cleaver and stepped forward, feeling an unspeakable frustration in his heart.

Not angry, not angry.

You can't get angry with your own wife.

Zhao Yan caught the man's resentful gaze, and she immediately got goosebumps.

? ?

Is she possessed by a drama queen?

"Yan'er, what will we use to dig sweet potatoes? Will tree branches work?"

At this moment, Tian Xiu'e walked over carrying a tree branch as thick as an arm.

What tools are best for digging?

Zhao Yan frowned and thought for a moment. She noticed that Yuan Gang had already cleared a sweet potato patch. She stepped forward, bent down, and grasped a section of sweet potato vine protruding from the ground with both hands, gently lifting her arms upwards—

Hula la——

Suddenly, five or six plump sweet potatoes on a vine appeared before everyone's eyes, some soil was brought out, and Zhao Yan gently shook them, and they fell down in a rustling sound.

Is this sand or soil?

Zhao Yan's eyes lit up, and she immediately knew what to do.

I was busy digging sweet potatoes and didn't notice the difference in the soil.

She looked at Tian Xiue, then bent down and grasped a sweet potato vine that was right next to her, saying, "Sister Tian, watch my movements. Find a sweet potato vine, hold it tightly, and before pulling it up, shake it back and forth and side to side a few times. When you feel it's about right, you can pull it up with force."

"If you really can't pull it out, use a twig to loosen the soil around it, and you should be able to pull it out."

As soon as she finished speaking, four or five more chubby little sticks appeared in Zhao Yan's palm.

Tian Xiu'e watched with envy, and couldn't wait to go forward. She found a section of sweet potato vine, and with a sudden burst of strength, she pulled it up with both arms—

"oops--"

"Puff-"

Tian Xiu'e landed on her bottom with a thud, her expression momentarily surprised, but she was tightly clutching five or six freshly unearthed sweet potatoes in her hands.

"mother!"

Chen Qingjiao exclaimed in surprise and rushed over to pull the person up from the ground.

"Mom, are you alright? Where did you fall?"

Chen An nervously hopped over on one leg and pulled Tian Xiu'e to look her over from all angles.

"Are you alright? Did you fall and hurt yourself?"

Tian Xiu'e shook her head, the surprise on her face disappeared, and she revealed a hearty smile.

"Don't worry, I'm fine."

"It's so great that this sweet potato can be pulled out without much effort."

This saves them a lot of trouble.

It probably won't be long before they're able to dig up a huge pile of sweet potatoes.

Zhao Yan thought of the same thing and smiled with particular satisfaction.

"It's good."