Hearing these shameless words, the instructor didn't know how to respond. He looked up at the sky and wiped his face.

"I've already made it very clear to you before. There may not be any more subsidized grain in the future, but we will distribute some grain seeds to you. From now on, you will have to rely on yourselves."

"And what about you? You can take over everyone's food reserves."

Upon hearing this, the instructor was so angry that he laughed. He pulled over the soldier standing next to him, took off his hat, and rolled up his sleeves.

"Look at us, everyone. Our soldiers have become skin and bones these days. While you're all hiding indoors to keep warm, it's us soldiers patrolling outside and preparing meals for you. Look at their hands, aren't they all riddled with sores? As for what you're saying about them taking your rations, look at our soldiers. They're basically all skin and bones now. They've been eating the same food as you these days, and they've even had to shoulder many heavy responsibilities." Some people lowered their heads in shame at this point, but the instructor continued.

"They also have their own families, and the military has given them orders to be discharged at any time. They've been staying here all this time, is it because you think they're going to seize everyone's food reserves?"

Without waiting for their reaction, he put the hat back on the soldier's head and left.

"So, should we leave or not?"

"They should leave. I heard they've dispersed the soldiers to their hometowns, so there won't be anyone to maintain order like this anymore. If they don't leave, who knows what will happen in the future?"

Is this information accurate?

"I heard that from a relative of mine. Apparently, he had a relative serving in the army who revealed it unintentionally. It seems that after we are settled, they will also break up into smaller groups and go to the countryside to maintain order."

"That's really possible. Otherwise, what will happen to these people if no one pays taxes in the future?"

"If that's the case, then everyone can feel a little more at ease in the future, at least this way things won't get chaotic."

"What should we do now? Are we really going to go to the countryside and become farmers?" Many people are still not very willing to go to the countryside to farm.

"Don't talk about peasants now. This time next year, we'll all be peasants." An old man happened to pass by, said this, and walked away.

"Let's go! Let's go back and pack our things first, and try to bring everything we can." After saying this, some people slowly dispersed.

"I don't know where I'll be assigned yet. I don't know anyone here. I hope I'm not assigned to a remote place." Someone muttered as they walked back, secretly thinking about which acquaintances they could use to pull some strings and get a better assignment.

As Lian Qingfeng and his family walked, they talked. Gao Shuzhen and Gao Dongxing naturally wanted to go to Gaojia Village, but Lian Jianpeng and Zhang Xiaohan strongly opposed it. Zhang Xiaohan even persuaded her father-in-law not to choose Gaojia Village, giving a very compelling reason: if they went to Gaojia Village, Gao Dongxing and Gao Shuzhen would be in charge of all the family affairs.

However, Lian Qingfeng remained relatively rational, prioritizing Gaojia Village and Pinghe Village. In his view, his family had nothing but the grain they had received. If they could go to these two villages, out of respect for Gao Shuzhen, he hoped her elder brother or son would offer some assistance. However, his son and daughter-in-law strongly opposed the move, knowing it was because they feared he would have difficulty making a living under his stepmother's care.

Gao Shuzhen and her son never really considered moving to Pinghe Village. From their previous interactions, they knew that Si Cheng was not so easy to control, while their older brother was different; he was more easily swayed. Besides, there were so many of their elders in the village, so they weren't afraid of the Lian family father and son causing them trouble in the future.

Weighing the pros and cons, Lian Qingfeng still decided to go to Pinghe Village. In his opinion, Si Cheng, his stepson, had a rather lukewarm relationship with Gao Shuzhen and the others, and would definitely not care about his family's affairs. Moreover, with Gao Shuzhen as his mother, he couldn't appear to be indifferent. Under these circumstances, his family could benefit.

"Shuzhen, let's go to Pinghe Village instead. We've owed Sicheng so much over the years, and now that we have this opportunity to live together, we can help each other out in the future." Lian Qingfeng used this as a pretext to try and get information about his wife.

“No way. Do you think I don’t know what you’re up to? But let me tell you this: I asked them to let us stay in their city house for a while, but they refused. Do you think they’ll pay any attention to us if we just come here like this?” Gao Shuzhen shook her head and denied it.

"It's because we lived far apart before, and we didn't know each other well, so it's natural to be a little wary. Now that we're closer, if you visit each other more often and repair your relationship, won't you have another dutiful son in the future?"

“But he’s living in his father-in-law’s village now, so he probably doesn’t have much of a say.” Hearing Lian Qingfeng say this, Gao Shuzhen was actually tempted. Her brother was her own flesh and blood, but her sister-in-law wasn’t. Although Si Cheng didn’t pay much attention to her, if they lived nearby, the concept of filial piety would make him think twice. If he wasn’t even filial to his own mother, he wouldn’t have a good time in Pinghe Village either. Her heart immediately tipped towards Pinghe Village.

"We are, after all, in-laws. Even if we have no say in their village, we should still take care of each other."

Seeing that their father still decided to go to Pinghe Village, Lian Jianpeng and his wife became anxious.

When everyone was packing their luggage, Zhang Xiaohan gestured to her husband to call her father-in-law aside.

"What's going on? Hurry up and get ready, we'll go register in a bit."

"Dad, are we really going to Pinghe Village? Aunt Gao's son probably won't take good care of us. Let's choose another place."

“That’s right. If all else fails, we can find a nearby village. Besides, I’m not fit for a long journey right now,” Zhang Xiaohan said, rubbing his stomach.

“Why is it not suitable for a long journey? It’s not that far. We can get there in a few days. We can just walk a little slower.” Lian Qingfeng disapproved of his daughter-in-law’s pampered behavior at this time.

Seeing that neither her father-in-law nor her husband had considered the other point, she directly brought it up.

"I might be pregnant, and I don't know if my body can handle walking that far."

Both father and son were staring at Zhang Xiaohan's belly. Zhang Xiaohan proudly puffed out her belly, knowing that she was carrying the Lian family's grandson.