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

Not long after she finished working, Qin Shuangshuang heard what sounded like outside.

Then, Qin Shuangshuang looked outside and saw many refugees shouting outside.

"Qin Shuangshuang, come out! Why do you have food inside, but you won't give it to us?"

"That's right! We're all human beings, why do you have food while we don't!"

"The government officials have come to your aid; it seems you're in cahoots!"

"That's right! Since he became the magistrate of this area, why has he never given us any food to eat? We finally have some food, but it runs out after a day or two. Now we have to find our own way. Is it human to drink porridge with only a few grains of rice every day?"

"If you don't hand over the stuff, we're going to break in!"

Qin Shuangshuang quickly called out to Jin Danian, "Brother, go and see what's going on?"

Jin Danian hurried over, and when he reached the door, Lu Jun and Qin Shuangshuang followed behind them.

Jin Danian shouted and scolded them, saying, "What nonsense are you spouting so late at night? Miss Qin is currently researching something that will ensure everyone has enough to eat."

What are you all still doing here, shouting nonsense all day long!

One of the villagers stood up and said to the crowd, "You're all just protecting each other. Don't you have any idea why Qin Shuangshuang has so much grain in his hands?"

“You all have food to eat now, but we don’t have a single grain. Our children are crying from hunger. Why are you treating us like this!”

Qin Shuangshuang was instantly indignant and hurriedly tried to go up, but Lu Jun grabbed her arm and asked, "What are you doing?"

Lu Jun shielded Qin Shuangshuang behind him and said to her, "Tell me what you want to say or do, and I'll tell them."

Qin Shuangshuang then indicated that she could face it alone.

She said to Lu Jun, "Don't worry, I'm confident in my abilities."

Seeing her stubbornness, Lu Jun didn't say anything more and quickly made way. Qin Shuangshuang stepped forward and said to them, "I understand your intentions. You just think I took food from the government, but I didn't take it myself when I was fleeing all the way here."

I've collected some things myself, things I found myself, so I don't need to give them to you. Besides, you didn't eat the konjac powder I made before anyway.

What can I do? Some of you might want to eat that dark, murky porridge made with gold badges, but you wouldn't even try my konjac flour. If you don't want to eat it, what can I do?

The group looked at each other, unsure how to respond.

Jin Danian then said to them, "Qin Shuangshuang has already worked hard enough for everyone's livelihood. If anyone dares to disturb her like this again, I, as a member of the government, will certainly not let you off the hook."

Upon hearing that the government was backing Qin Shuangshuang, the refugees dared not say anything more and all wanted to flee.

Just then, someone else objected, saying, "You're just making excuses for her! What's growing inside must be something good, no doubt we have to go in and take a look!"

Lu Jun said directly to them, "Soybeans, do you want to eat them too? There are only a few beans, and they're so crunchy. Do you think your teeth can handle them?"

These days, you have to find everything yourself. Why would you ask a young girl what she needs?

Upon hearing this, those people dared not say anything more and left.

Jin Danian turned around and said to Qin Shuangshuang, "It's fortunate that you went to see Lord Lin tonight, and Lord Lin came to us. Otherwise, I really don't know how you would have gotten through the night. Those refugees are already very hungry. If they had discovered the grain,..."

I guessed they were going to make a big fuss, thank goodness we came.

Qin Shuangshuang frowned and said to them, "It's good that you came. Otherwise, I really wouldn't know what to do. After all, we're all human, and we certainly don't want to cause any deaths."

Lu Jun patted her shoulder and said, "Don't worry about it. With us here, we won't let anyone bully you. Let's go inside and get back to work."

Then the group went back inside together. Qin Shuangshuang and Lu Jun began to plant some seeds in the soil that had already been laid out. They watched as soybeans were covered with soil along the way.

The constables then piled all the chicken droppings on it again, and Qin Shuangshuang then had someone water it again before finally letting out a sigh of relief and sitting down at the doorway.

Jin Danian patted his shoulder and said to Qin Shuangshuang, "It's good that we came to do these tasks. Otherwise, with just you, a young girl, and these two others, it would have been really difficult to finish tonight's project."

Qin Shuangshuang smiled faintly, with gratitude, "It's good that you came. Now that everything is alright, you can rest first. If any more refugees come to attack later, I will definitely call you."

Jin Danian nodded, his gaze cautious as he said to her, "Everyone has worked hard tonight, so let's go and rest first. If you need anything, just come and find us."

After Qin Shuangshuang watched them go to the small wooden house, Lu Jun said to her, "So what do we do now?"

Qin Shuangshuang turned to look at Uncle Li, who was repairing the stove, and then turned to Lu Jun and said, "Uncle Li is still busy inside, let's go and help him."

The two went inside and saw Uncle Li busy repairing the stove, which was almost finished.

Uncle Li looked up and said to Qin Shuangshuang, "This place is almost finished now, you should go and rest. There's nowhere to rest here, so where do you want to stay tonight?"

It's still not too late to go back now, but it'll be very dark on the road, so you'll need to use a light.

Lu Jun nodded, "Indeed, it's getting late. Let's wait for you."

Uncle Li glanced at the thing in front of him and said, "This thing is almost done, so just wait for me."

After finishing, Uncle Li clapped his hands in satisfaction at how he had repaired the stove. Then he wiped his hands with his sleeve and said to Qin Shuangshuang, "By the way, what was the purpose of making this? What's its use?"

Qin Shuangshuang said, "This is my secret; I will tell your Uncle Li later."

Uncle Li didn't ask any more questions and went back to the courtyard with the two of them.

Uncle Li went back to his own courtyard, and Qin Shuangshuang followed Lu Jun past the small wooden house where Lu Jun lived.

Lu Jun looked at his little wooden house, and now the window seemed to have a hole in it.

Lu Jun stood at the window and poked the window with his hand. It looked like he'd have to find somewhere else to sleep tonight.

Lu Jun sighed. Qin Shuangshuang turned to look at the kitchen and said, "My room is fairly clean. How about you sleep on the floor?"

Lu Jun readily agreed, "If you don't mind, that's fine too."

The two then went back to Qin Shuangshuang's room.

Qin Shuangshuang lay on the bed, while the person on the floor was on a makeshift bed. Lu Jun looked at Qin Shuangshuang thoughtfully and said, "Have you thought it through? Are you really going to use soybean sprouts as a wager this time?"

Qin Shuangshuang laughed and said, "Are there any other options now? I think that Chairman Jin is not someone to be trifled with. I'm hoping to win, and if I can't, I'll just leave here."

At this moment, Qin Shuangshuang looked again at the undergarment that Lu Jun was wearing.

After some speculation, he said to Lu Jun in a calm yet suspicious tone, "I guess you come from a well-off family, right? So what exactly is your identity?"