During my escape from famine, I survived by eavesdropping on the whispers of food.

Hearing the familiar voice, Qin Shuangshuang withdrew her fist, which was bent back, and asked, "How did you end up here?"

"I came with you." Lu Jun lightly flicked his fingertips, released his hands from Qin Shuangshuang's waist, and answered truthfully.

The people in the courtyard were busy moving things, unaware of their presence.

"Hurry up! Arrange all this grain for me."

"And you, the grain has been scattered, and you can't even move anything, so I'll cut off your hands and feet."

Amid the bustling crowd, an old man in a long gown gestured and ordered the people carrying grain around, occasionally kicking those who passed by, but no one dared to give him a hard time.

In no time, the yard was piled high with grain.

If they were willing to distribute this food to the refugees, the refugees stranded abroad wouldn't be starving every day.

Qin Shuangshuang stared at the yard full of grain, frowned and asked, "Is all their grain obtained from refugees? But there's far too much of it."

There were many refugees coming to Lushan County, but the amount of grain they could hand over was so small that it was impossible for it to fill the yard.

Lu Jun's eyes darkened slightly. "Most of them should have been obtained from refugees."

The officials in Lushan County were rolling in money, while the people outside were so poor they couldn't afford to eat. Qin Shuangshuang was furious. "What a corrupt official! He robs the people to make money for himself."

Qin Shuangshuang thought to herself.

Since it was stolen, she can steal it back too.

After a while, the old man in the courtyard took out some silver coins. "This is your wages for today. Old Zhang will come to check the grain in a little while. Take your wages and leave quickly."

After distributing all the silver in his hand, the old man walked out of the courtyard, leaning on his cane.

Upon reaching the gate, he scanned the yard several times with a wary look before locking the door and leaving.

Qin Shuangshuang and Lu Jun exchanged glances to make sure they wouldn't return before they went into the courtyard.

As soon as I stepped down from the eaves and steadied myself, I heard rustling sounds coming from the mound of earth.

"Didn't the people carrying the grain all leave? Where did these two come from?"

"Anyway, they're all bad people. They're probably here to take away the women from the woodshed. These poor souls who got caught this time are really unlucky."

Another pitiful voice said, "Who says otherwise? They are all young women, yet they were captured and given to that old official."

Qin Shuangshuang pulled back the step she had taken and stared blankly at the mound of earth.

Woodshed?

Could my mother also be locked up in the woodshed?

Now that they didn't know where to start looking for people, they figured it wouldn't hurt to give it a try. Qin Shuangshuang grabbed Lu Jun and immediately decided, "Let's start looking in the woodshed first."

Anxious to find someone, Qin Shuangshuang let go of Lu Jun's sleeve and headed straight for the woodshed after speaking.

Looking at her retreating figure, Lu Jun was somewhat surprised.

Qin Shuangshuang's tone was very confident just now, as if the person they were looking for was locked up in the woodshed.

"What are you standing there for? There are so many people in the woodshed, hurry up and carry them out."

Qin Shuangshuang was disappointed when she opened the door to the woodshed but couldn't find her mother.

She saw Lu Jun staring blankly in the yard, so she called his name and asked him to carry her.

Seeing Qin Shuangshuang bossing him around, Lu Jun walked over helplessly. It took him half an incense stick's time to carry the six women locked in the woodshed out.

"Old Zhang, you'd better make sure the grain is properly measured. I need to deliver it tomorrow. If it's a few pounds or ounces short, the master won't be able to accept it."

"Don't you trust me, Old Zhang, to handle things?"

Two voices came from outside the door. Qin Shuangshuang, who was still about to rummage around, nudged Lu Jun and said, "Someone's coming. Let's go quickly."

I heard the sound of a lock being opened right after I finished speaking.

Lu Jun frowned, and he quickly grabbed Qin Shuangshuang, trying to climb over the wall to leave.

But at the moment he jumped over the wall, he didn't notice that all the grain in the yard had disappeared, and Qin Shuangshuang's space was instead filled with grain.

Qin Shuangshuang was very satisfied with the large amount of grain she had harvested, but she didn't forget to find Zhou Shi as soon as possible.

She said to Lu Jun, who was walking ahead, "You go back and find Uncle Li first, and I'll inquire about Mother's whereabouts."

"No need to look anymore, I know where your mother is, I'll take you there." He grabbed Qin Shuangshuang, who was waving goodbye, and led her through a maze of turns to a large mansion.

Standing with her hands on her hips in front of the mansion, Qin Shuangshuang looked at Lu Jun speechlessly, "You mean you knew my mother was imprisoned here? Why didn't you say anything when we went to rescue the six girls not long ago?"

She felt he was doing it on purpose; if he had said so earlier, wouldn't they have found Zhou sooner?

Lu Jun sighed, "I learned where the person was being held from those six people." After saying that, he led her over the wall and into the courtyard.

Based on her experience, the moment Qin Shuangshuang jumped into the courtyard, she asked, "Are we going to the woodshed to find someone?"

Aside from the woodshed, she really couldn't think of anywhere else to imprison someone.

Lu Jun tapped her on the head and pointed at the passersby, saying, "Why don't you just ask someone?"

He went out from his hiding place, knocked out a young servant, and dragged him over.

Under Qin Shuangshuang's strange gaze, Lu Jun kicked the little servant who had just opened his eyes and said coldly, "Ask away."

"Who are you people?" The young servant shrank back in fear. "This is not a place for you to act recklessly. Release me at once."

The kidnapper was still putting on airs, so Qin Shuangshuang stomped on his leg in annoyance and asked bluntly, "Where have your officials locked up all the people they've arrested? Remember to tell the truth, or you'll lose this leg."

Staring at his leg, which was almost crushed, the little servant swallowed hard. Under Qin Shuangshuang's stern gaze, he gave in, "I'll talk, I'll talk, okay?"

"They're all in the master's room. The maids are helping them wash up so they can serve the master in the evening."

He blurted out the truth in one breath, then looked at Qin Shuangshuang pleadingly, "I've finished telling you, heroine, can you let go of my leg now?"

Hearing the truth only fueled Qin Shuangshuang's anger. She stuffed the unpurified poisonous mushrooms from her space into his mouth and kicked him a few times.

After everyone fainted, Qin Shuangshuang turned to look at Lu Jun and said, "Let's hurry and save them."

When they found the room, a group of women were sitting on the bed, crying and sobbing.

Qin Shuangshuang saw Zhou Shi standing outside the room. She said to Lu Jun, "There are women inside. It's not convenient for you to go in. Just stay outside and keep watch for me."

She ruthlessly left Lu Jun standing in the cold wind.

Upon entering the house, seeing Zhou Shi with tears streaming down her face, Qin Shuangshuang's eyes reddened before she could even utter the word "Mother."

Upon meeting Qin Shuangshuang here, Zhou Shi appeared slightly panicked. "Daughter, how did you get captured?"

It's all her fault. If she hadn't brought her daughter to Lushan County, Qin Shuangshuang wouldn't have been caught and brought here by those disgusting people.

Qin Shuangshuang looked at the other women on the bed and said in a low voice, "Mother, I'm here to save you."

Upon hearing this, everyone else turned to Qin Shuangshuang for help.

"Heroine, could you please take us with you?"