Chapter 418: Empathy

After crying for a while, they finally accepted the reality.

"Sister Sanhua, what should we do next?" Chi Zhaodi held her one-year-old son in her arms, looking sad and uneasy.

Like her, Chi Sanhua was from Chijia Village and married to Xiaogang Village. They both became widows one after another and have been keeping each other company. She also has a three-year-old daughter, while Chi Sanhua has a one-and-a-half-year-old daughter and two sons. The oldest is five years old and the youngest is less than three years old.

The other two women were in a better situation than them. They each had a child, about eight or nine years old.

There was also a childless woman who was forced to remarry by her parents' family. They had almost finalized the betrothal gift with the man and were waiting for him to come and force her to marry once the money was in hand. Rather than being sold like an animal by her parents' family, she might as well take the risk and be the master herself.

Chi Sanhua looked at the unfamiliar environment outside the car window, tightened her arms around the child, and shook her head blankly, "Now that we're already on the carriage, don't think too much about it. No one knows what the future will be like, but I believe in the village chief. As long as we are obedient, our lives will not be as difficult as they are now."

She didn't tell anyone else that there had been men sneaking around the wall of her house several nights ago. Fortunately, she was alert and when she realized something was wrong, she screamed at the top of her lungs to wake up the children, which scared away the men with bad intentions.

But such things are hard to guard against, and she was afraid that one day the bad guys would succeed, and then she would really not be able to survive.

The other two women with children nodded, "Sanhua is right. Let's take a good look. The adults are willing to take in even the child, which shows that they have a kind heart."

They comfort and brainwash themselves.

The carriage fell silent again.

In the other carriage sat a woman and eight children.

Yu Xiaoyu and her two siblings were in this carriage.

Compared to Chi Zhaodi and the others' anxiety, Yu Xiaoyu seemed much calmer, and kept saying to his brothers, "Just obey whatever the adults and the Madam ask you to do, don't ask too many questions, don't say too much, just do the job well, then you won't get beaten and you can still have enough food, understand?"

The two brothers nodded heavily. The other three boys and two girls were about the same age as Yu Xiaoyu, and the five of them listened very carefully.

I felt a lot more at ease because of Yu Xiaoyu's words.

They actually started talking one after another.

The yamen runners following the carriage would report their situation to Chen Yi and Su Tai when they were resting.

"Sir, that little girl named Yu Xiaoyu is indeed quite courageous. She was able to calmly instruct her brother in this situation without panicking. She is someone who can accomplish great things."

The yamen runner's praise only made Su Tai sigh even more, "Children of poor families have to grow up early. The little girl lost her parents at a young age, and now her only grandfather has passed away. She has to grow up just for her two younger brothers. It's not easy!"

As they were talking, twenty people came over cautiously.

The oldest, Yu Dongmei, boldly asked, "Master and Madam, what are we servants going to do?"

Shen Yi pointed at the bonfire and asked, "Do you know how to make a fire and cook?"

"Yes! We will!"

"Then go collect firewood to cook. We'll be on our way soon. Remember, don't go too far. It's not safe here."

Twenty people nodded vigorously. With Shen Yi's reminder, they only picked up firewood nearby and did not dare to go out more than ten meters away.

Everyone knows how to make a fire, but when the runners gave them the food, the women were at a loss.

They only knew how to handle fish and shellfish, which could be eaten simply by boiling them in boiling water; they did not require any cooking skills at all. Now the runners gave them a simply processed wild rabbit, and they really had no idea where to start.

In the end, the yamen runners had to come and teach them.

Su Tai can see a lot of things from just one meal.

The team continued on their journey.

After entering the ice field, the twenty people saw the endless grassland for the first time. There was no sea and no smell of the sea. It was a wonderful feeling. Curiosity about the new environment diluted their panic.

The twins were going crazy.

"Mom and Dad, look, it's all grass. Lots of grass! It's different from when we got here!" Shen Yuean poked his head out excitedly.

Shen Yi simply carried her on the horse so that he could see more clearly.

Shen Congyu was so envious, "Dad, I want it too!"

A yamen runner who had a good relationship with Shen Yi took the initiative to speak, "Second Young Master, why don't you come over to my side?"

"Okay, okay!" Shen Congyu also followed him out.

Su Tai lifted the curtain and asked the yamen runners beside her about the situation in the back, "Are they okay?"

"Madam, after two days of settling down, their mood has obviously improved a lot, and they are much more cheerful. I think they have adjusted themselves."

Su Tai breathed a sigh of relief.

The carriage entered the town.

Shen Yi took the yamen runners to see the mayor, while Su Tai took the children and twenty purchased women and children to the Ke family.

When Ke Dasong's family learned that Su Tai had bought so many people, all women and children, they couldn't help but ask a few more questions. They found out that either their husbands had died or they had no parents or relatives. Su Nizi, Ye Chunhua and Ye Xiahua thought of their own tragic past and their eyes all turned red.

Turning around, he saw a pile of old clothes everywhere. He said to Chi Sanhua and the others, "We'll boil some water for you to wash and change into clean clothes later."

Everyone was flattered and declined the offer.

Ye Xiahua gave a few words of advice in a rare good-tempered manner.

"You are going to work in Langya State. See? Your master is the county magistrate, an official. You can't embarrass them, right?"

Chi Sanhua and the others really hadn't thought of this.

Yu Mei went to ask Su Tai for permission and only accepted the things given by Su Nizi after getting it.

While they were busy, Su Nizi said with red eyes: "Xiao Tai, they have it so hard! You have accumulated good karma by giving so many people a way to survive! I am proud of you!"

What her niece did made her stand up straight and she can brag about it for the rest of her life!

Su Tai didn't expect Sunizi to be so happy, and her heart was filled with emotion.

The herders on the glacier do not care much about bathing, and many of them only bathe once or twice a year.

It was a luxury for Yu Mei and her friends to take a hot shower here.

After putting on the old clothes that Suniko gave them, they all felt much better.

Su Tai's mood improved as she watched him, and she said amiably, "I'll make you some clothes when we get home, that's all for now."

Everyone was surprised and frightened, and hurried to thank him.

Su Tai frowned as she looked at their rules. It seemed that she would have to ask Wan and Su Yu for help in adjusting the rules when she returned to avoid making a fool of herself.

The group stayed on the ice field for one night and then set off again.

With the experience from the previous trip, everyone was much more cautious this time, and they ran non-stop as soon as they walked out of the pastoral area.

This speed made the twenty people confused and puzzled.

The yamen runners had to comfort and explain.

When the women and children heard that there were man-eating wolves, tigers and leopards on the ice field, they were all terrified and huddled together.