"I understand everything you're saying. I'm informing you now so you can make your own choice."

After the village chief finished speaking, he was silent for a moment.

"Well, I won't force you. Those who want to walk the mountain road with me stand on the right, and those who want to take the official road stand on the left."

The people in the crowd suddenly became panicked and chattered non-stop, making the village chief's ears hurt.

"Everyone, stop arguing, stop arguing, and stand in line."

The village chief kept talking in front of the crowd until his voice was almost hoarse.

The villagers lined up sparsely, most of them still chose to take the official road, and only a few chose to trust the village chief and follow him along the mountain road.

"Village chief, we all trust you and will follow you on the mountain path."

"Yes, we'll follow you."

The villagers who chose to take the official road looked embarrassed.

"Village Chief, it's not that we don't trust you. Look, our whole family, young and old, is here. We really can't afford to gamble."

"Yes, if you take the official road, you can at least see some soldiers. If you take the mountain road, you don't know when you will be eaten by wild beasts."

Liu Xiaohua curled her lips and spoke without thinking.

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

Lin Dongming tugged at Liu Xiaohua's sleeve. Liu Xiaohua looked up and saw that the villagers standing on the village chief's side were staring at her, as if they wanted to rush over and eat her up.

Liu Xiaohua swallowed her saliva and stepped back in fear, saying stubbornly.

"I, I'm not wrong. The mountain road is so dangerous..."

As she spoke, Liu Xiaohua's voice became lower and lower.

"Mom, stop it. Don't you think it's messy enough or what?"

Lin Jinlian frowned at Liu Xiaohua. Thinking it in her heart was one thing, but speaking it out loud would make her the first to speak out. Then she'd be targeted and wouldn't even have a place to cry. Didn't she see that none of the people around her had said anything?

Liu Xiaohua usually listens to Lin Jinlian at home, but when she heard Lin Jinlian say this, she shut up immediately.

"Liu is right. The mountain roads are dangerous. You might encounter wild animals or bandits. I can't guarantee your safety either. If you regret it now, it's not too late."

Some of the families who had originally planned to walk the mountain road with the village chief have begun to waver.

The mountain road was so dangerous, and the village chief couldn't guarantee the safety of himself and his companions. There was no need for them to take such a big risk and go into the mountains with the village chief.

Although you may be able to find some food in the mountains, life is more important than anything else.

The village chief looked at the crowd standing on his side. Some of them were beginning to waver. He sighed.

"We are all from the same hometown, and I hope to help everyone overcome the current difficulties, but I can't give you any guarantees."

"There are some things I need to make clear to everyone. Once you enter the mountains, everything depends on you. If anything goes wrong, don't blame me, the old man."

Although the village chief calls himself an old man, he is not very old, only in his forties.

People in this era live a hard life and their life expectancy is generally lower. People in their forties look like they are sixty. Even a village chief is considered lucky.

"Don't worry, Village Chief. We all understand these principles. We chose this path ourselves. Whether it's a blessing or a curse, we accept it."

"Yes, anyway, my family's food can't even reach the border of the capital, so we might as well go to the mountains, at least we can still have a chance."

The families who choose to walk the mountain road with the village chief basically have little food. Those families whose food can last until they reach the capital choose to take the official road.

The village chief nodded.

"In that case, let's go."

After the village chief finished speaking, he looked at the group of people who chose to take the official road.

"We are all from the same village. Although we have made different choices, I, the old man, still hope that everyone can reach the capital safely. Then we can all sit together and drink and chat."

After the village chief finished speaking, he walked into the woods without looking back.

Those who chose to follow the village chief also hurried to catch up.

Following Lin Jiuyue and the other two, the village chief led a group of villagers and walked into the woods along the route Lin Jiuyue and the other two had taken.

The other villagers of Lijia Village, including Lin Dongming's family, turned around and returned to the official road.

From then on, the villagers of one village were divided into three groups, heading towards the same destination.

Lin Jiuyue, armed with a dagger and a scimitar, led the way. Lin Qiye, the younger one, walked in the middle, while Ji Liangchuan pushed a wooden cart behind. The three of them stopped and started along the way. Whenever they came across any useful herbs, Lin Jiuyue would stop and dig some up. He would then drop one of each herb into the space for Bubble to plant.

After walking for two hours straight, I wasn't very tired.

"Brother Ji, are you tired? How about I push it?"

In Ji Liangchuan's heart, Lin Jiuyue was just a delicate little girl. He thought he would need to take care of her along the way, but he didn't expect that the brother and sister didn't say a word and walked as if they were sightseeing.

"Not tired, but could use a break."

Lin Jiuyue did not object.

Although there is no shortage of food in his own space, it is not easy to take it out to eat with Ji Liangchuan around. He can't tell Ji Liangchuan that he can create food for no reason, right?

"Okay, let's take a break. The mountain road is closer than the official road. I think the ground around here is still a little damp. Maybe there are some wild vegetables around. I'll go dig some."

Ji Liangchuan nodded.

"I'm going to go ahead and check if there's a place to rest. Qiye, just stay with your sister. Don't run around, just keep an eye on the things."

Lin Qiye said "hmm".

Brother Ji has been here the whole time, and I still have a lot of questions to ask my sister. It's just right, I can ask her after Brother Ji leaves.

"Brother Ji, you have to be careful. If anything goes wrong, you have to come back quickly."

When Ji Liangchuan heard this, his heart warmed.

"Don't worry, I hunt in the mountains all year round, nothing will happen to me."

After saying that, Ji Liangchuan took the dagger given by Lin Jiuyue and left.

After Ji Liangchuan left, Lin Qiye moved closer to Lin Jiuyue.

"Sister, Brother Ji was here before, so I didn't have time to ask you some questions. You must have spent a lot of money on these things, right? Where did you get all this money?"

Lin Jiuyue rolled her eyes at Lin Qiye.

"I thought you knew?"

Lin Qiye chuckled.

"Hey, let me guess. You must have earned this money by selling something in the space, right?"

Lin Jiuyue said "hmm".

"Well, I sold all the rice in the space and only kept enough for two days."

Lin Qiye: ...

So, I can only eat white rice for two days?

No, now there is Ji Liangchuan in the team of her and her brother. Even if she wants to eat plain rice, she can't, for fear of arousing Ji Liangchuan's suspicion.