In the days that followed, the people on duty at the village entrance would see people loitering around there every few days.

Along the main road leading to Xin San Village, some people have built a simple thatched hut and started living there by the lake, showing signs of settling down there for a long time.

Heiwa Village also discussed whether or not to drive these people away.

"Actually, letting them stay there won't affect us." The more soft-hearted people felt that they were just staying outside the village and wouldn't bother them.

"Right now they don't seem to have any impact, but if more and more of them gather, it's hard to guarantee they won't have other ideas."

“What can we do? I see there are elderly people and children there. We can’t just leave them no way to survive.”

"This isn't about giving them a way out. Do you think they're safe just by staying by the water? Don't forget there are many mountains outside. What if they encounter wild animals coming down from the mountains? Should we rescue them or not? And what will we do after we rescue them? This will be endless trouble." Some of the more clear-headed people thought further ahead.

"There's another point. Once they gather in large numbers, do you think they'll just watch us live better than them? Do you think they'll let go of these nearby villages after a while?"

"Then what should we do? Should we expel them now?" After their analysis, even those who were soft-hearted began to waver.

Everyone looked at Si Cheng, waiting for him to give them a suggestion.

"Let's send some people over to talk to them in a bit. Let's see what's really going on. We know we can't ban this kind of thing in the future, and the number of refugees will only keep increasing."

Si Cheng knew that the north was currently experiencing severe drought, while the south was still experiencing constant aftershocks. The provinces and cities near their location were considered among the most habitable areas on this blue planet.

"If they just want a place to stay, then we don't need to chase them away. But there are some things we need to tell them upfront: we are not responsible for their safety, but if there is any conflict in the future, don't blame us for being ruthless." My second grandfather and the other old folks have been discussing this matter for the past few days. In places like theirs, which are close to the lake, things are bound to remain peaceful in the future.

Since the outcome is already predetermined, it's better to take the initiative early on.

After everyone had dispersed, several old men specifically called out to Si Cheng and the others.

"When you go and try to understand the situation from them, try to be more gentle in your attitude. We should value harmony and try not to have conflicts with them, after all, everyone has their own difficulties."

Si Cheng replied, "I understand. If it weren't for this disaster, they might not have even considered our small place. If they're not the kind of people who would try to cheat us, it wouldn't be a big problem to let them settle down here first."

"But in some places, we also need to make it clear to them that there is no way to cultivate that area and they can only look for food everywhere. We should also remind them that wild animals may come down from the nearby mountains."

My second grandfather and his family also went to the village entrance a few days ago. They saw elderly people who were the same age as them, and some who were even older, searching for food. They felt sorry for them and, although they couldn't offer much help, they could still offer some reminders.

Through their observations over the past few days, they learned that most of the people would go out during the day to look for wild vegetables or mushrooms, but would return to the lakeside in the evening.

"Hello, are you preparing dinner?" When Si Cheng and his group arrived, most people were already preparing a meal using the food they had collected during the day.

Upon seeing Si Cheng and his group arrive, everyone quickly stood up and stood together, watching them warily.

"Don't be nervous. We are villagers from Pinghe Village. My surname is Yun. We saw that you have been staying here for the past few days, so we came to find out what's going on." Yun Mingwu was also called out by Si Cheng this time. Sometimes it's easier to talk to an older person.

“We just thought this place was close to the water source, we didn’t have any other intentions. Besides, we’re all going into the mountains to look for unclaimed items, you can see for yourselves if you don’t believe me.” Old Zhao was clearly the representative of their group, and was the first to stand up and respond to Yun Mingwu.

They knew that people like them were disliked by the locals, especially since they knew there were those who thought about getting something for nothing and even destroyed local crops. Conflicts had been constant lately, and they themselves were constantly subjected to disdain and contempt.

They finally found a place near a water source to settle down, but they didn't expect people to come looking for them so quickly.

Everyone present felt uneasy, thinking that they would have to find a new place to stay again.

Seeing the despair on their faces, Yun Mingwu knew they had misunderstood and quickly explained, "We really just came to understand the situation. Can we talk?"

"What can we, who are in distress, talk about? As long as you don't want to drive us away and can give us a place to stay, we will be very grateful."

Yun Mingwu noticed that it was always the elderly man in front who was answering their questions. "You're the person in charge here, right?"

The old man quickly shook his head, "What kind of person am I? It's just that everyone respects me and wants to discuss everything with me."

"What should I call the old man?"

"Just call me Old Zhao. What's the point of calling me that now? When you're alive, your name is just a label." Old Zhao waved his hand dismissively. He believed that if he continued living like this, he might only remember his surname.

"Uncle Zhao, is it convenient for us to talk now?"

"Of course you can, but I don't have a place for you to rest. Let's just sit wherever we can."

Old Zhao pointed to a cleared area where they had placed several relatively flat cement blocks.

Si Cheng and the others didn't mind, and some even sat down anywhere.

The others didn't disperse; instead, they surrounded them, all wanting to hear the purpose of their trip.

"Uncle Zhao, where did you come from?" As soon as Yun Mingwu sat down, he pulled Old Zhao aside to start a casual conversation.

“We came from the north, where the drought started earliest. We barely made it here, and now we’re facing such a difficult time. We don’t even know when this wretched life will end.”

Old Zhao became somewhat pessimistic when talking about this. He had witnessed too many partings and deaths along the way, and if it weren't for the children at home, he might not have been able to hold on for so long.