After leaving the forest and walking a few miles, they found that there were more refugees on both sides of the official road.

Chen Li was riding on a horse. Why were these people staying here? Was there something happening ahead?

Thinking of this, Chen Li released his mental power and probed forward, only to see a roadblock blocking the official road ahead.

There are also many people on both sides of the road holding knives, guns, sticks and clubs. Is this highway robbery?

No, what are these people thinking? How much can they gain by robbing the fleeing people?

Moreover, with so many refugees, they are not afraid that they will fight back. By then, they may not even have any bones left.

Just then, Shen Li noticed the knives in the men's hands and the exposed boots.

These boots are well-made, and the most important thing is that they are embroidered with official patterns.

Haha, it’s really rotten from the root!

In this situation, how can these lower-class people still have hope in the court?

At this time, Shen Zhenyuan also noticed this situation and asked Shen Yanshan to find a few people to inquire.

After a while, Shen Yanshan came back running. Because he ran a little anxiously, there were many beads of sweat on his forehead.

"Dad, they said there's a checkpoint ahead. If you want to get through, each family has to pay five taels of silver."

"What?"

Shen Zhenyuan found a spacious place on both sides of the official road to stop, and at the same time called the heads of each family over.

As soon as Shen Zhenyuan explained the situation, everyone fell silent.

They could indeed afford five taels of silver, and it wouldn't cost them much, but they were a little reluctant to give it away just like that.

Although the price of grain has increased now, five taels of silver can still buy a lot of grain.

"Chief, tell me, what should we do about this?"

"Yes, Chief, we all listen to you."

"Yes, Village Chief, if all else fails, let's all rush over and see if they can hold on."

Shen Changshan was also listening here. He didn't know what to do for a moment. Although his family was not short of money now, it didn't mean that other families in the team were not short of money.

There are also not-so-rich families in Sanli Village.

Moreover, silver is very important to them now. What they consume on the road is food, and silver is the capital for their future livelihood.

Shen Zhenyuan didn't know what to do for a moment. "It's getting late now. Let's rest here for a while and see what other families are doing."

The sun will set in another half hour, so it’s okay to rest early.

Most people shared the same idea as them, and those refugees who had no money or food chose to walk back into the mountains, where at least they could find something to fill their stomachs.

"Also, there are too many refugees in this area, so please take care of your belongings."

"Yes, village chief."

When the news spread within the team, the already depressed atmosphere became tense.

The sound of discussion immediately spread around the team. Some people thought that if they could get through safely, they could give the money.

But some people with less financial resources do not agree with this. If there are more levels like this in the future, they will have no point in living.

Shen Changshan came back and said something, then took Lin Hu and Shen Erhe to the front to check the situation.

Here, the Shen family was not very worried, but Li Qiaolan next to them was different, with her brows tightly furrowed.

There are only 15 taels of silver in the house. If I give out 5 taels at once, what will I do in the future?

Almost no one wanted to go there, and over time a large number of refugees gathered here.

Chen Li frowned slightly after seeing this. It seemed that tonight was destined to be a turbulent night.

"Mom, cook breakfast early. Let my brothers and I rest first after we eat."

Lin Cuicui and Li Qiaolan were stunned. Lin Cuicui reacted quickly, and Li Qiaolan's face turned pale.

Does Ali mean that something might happen tonight?

"good."

Lin Cuicui originally wanted to cook this meal better, but when she saw the refugees gathered nearby, she immediately gave up the idea. No, the smell was too strong.

So, Lin Cuicui cooked a pot of brown rice and a pot of wild vegetable soup, quietly beat two eggs given by Chen Li in them, and scooped a little lard in them when serving.

While cooking, I baked more than twenty white flour pancakes and kept them to fill their stomachs in case of any accident.

While they were cooking, several families nearby also cooked together.

After the meal was cooked, Shen Changshan and his family came back. The family ate quietly, with a few pieces of dried meat in their bowls.

The Sanli Village team was momentarily targeted by the gazes of many refugees, who stared at them with eager, numb, and malicious eyes, making everyone feel uneasy.

Especially the naked gazes of the refugees lingering on cattle, mules and other livestock made families with livestock secretly alert.

In this strange atmosphere, it soon became dark. Under the illumination of the orange-yellow firelight, the only sound in this area was the whispering of conversations.

"Just now, a group of more than a hundred people passed by. After paying silver, they also had a bag of grain taken away from them. They almost got into a fight."

Shen Qi'an: "These people are too greedy, I don't know what they rely on."

"Dad, you guys go to sleep first, I'll watch over you."

"good."

The Lin family and the Xu family have always lived next to Shen Changshan's family, so they have always followed them.

Seeing this scene, Shen Zhenyuan, who was standing next to him, also urged his son and grandson to rest early.

The open space soon became quiet, with only the crackling sound of sparks.

Shen Changshan and his men took advantage of the night and kept their weapons at hand. The Lu brothers and sisters felt the urgency of the atmosphere and each held a sharp stone in their hands.

Chen Li leaned against the mule cart with her eyes closed to rest, but she was not asleep. Xu Taohua was in the mule cart, and Lin Cuicui and Li Qiaolan were sleeping in the back of the mule cart.

Time passed little by little, a full moon hung high in the sky, and soon it was midnight. Rustling sounds began to be heard all around.

At the very edge of the open space, there was a group of ragged men with thin cheeks. In the moonlight, there was a look of madness in their eyes.

They all held weapons in their hands, most of which were wooden sticks as thick as arms, and some of them held sickles and rakes.

There were about 600 people in the group, mostly men, but also some short women.

At this moment, they were barefoot, divided into several teams, and quietly headed towards the team they had chosen long ago.

Their movements were very light, and since it was the middle of the night, people who had worked hard all day had fallen into a deep sleep. Soon, many lives were lost in their hands.

When Chen Li opened her eyes, the refugees started to move. As soon as she jumped off the mule cart, Shen Changshan and his two sons woke up.

"Ali, what's wrong?"