From Zhao Shiqiu, Tao Wanniang also learned that the village ahead was called Lijia Village. They originally wanted to go there to beg for food, but those who went to inquire learned that locusts came from the north and had ravaged many villages along the way.

The village of Lijia was also affected by the disaster, so it was impossible for them to take in refugees. Therefore, the group from Zhaojiagou had no choice but to leave.

“My parents are old and can’t travel such a long distance, so we fell behind.”

Zhao Shiqiu sighed, "Auntie, you're going to the provincial capital? That'll take at least two or three months. Why don't you just stay in the county?"

"The county seat is only a short distance from here, and the drought has lasted for a year and a half. Is it still possible to find work in the county seat?"

Tao Wan's mother replied, "If God could send down rain a few times, maybe we could still survive. Otherwise, I don't think the county town can hold on any longer!"

"That's true, but my parents definitely can't go that far. We'll settle down wherever we can!"

Zhao Shiqiu said with emotion, "Father, Mother, don't worry, there's always a way out. Look, we've met good people, haven't we?"

"Hey, you're such a kind person! This water is really delicious. You should keep it safe, because a single drop can last a long time."

If they knew she had some white rice, wouldn't these people be green with envy?

Tao Wan's mother thought to herself that after finishing the steamed buns she had, she should cook some white rice, and the children would also need to drink rice porridge.

"Yes, isn't it true that the more water you drink, the less there is?"

Ling Dahu and Ling Dapeng exchanged a glance. Their mother never told the truth, and their father always kept her kettle full of water.

"Auntie, thank you very much. It's getting dark. If you want to find a place to stay, go to Li Family Village. We'd like to spend the night there too."

Zhao Shiqiu suggested.

"You're not with the people from Zhao Family Village anymore?"

Tao Wanniang had already guessed it, but she still asked anyway.

"No, I want to stay with my parents. I have hands and feet, and as long as someone gives us food, we can survive."

Zhao Shiqiu said, his honest face revealing a pair of helpless yet worldly-wise eyes.

Tao Wanniang didn't say much. On the road of fleeing famine, everyone has their own path.

"Let's stay in the village ahead for the night. We don't need to bother anyone. We can just find a run-down house to make do!"

Tao Wan's mother said, and then called to her son to drive the cart.

The village was desolate; as darkness fell, only a few houses had light shining through their windows.

The group settled down in a dilapidated house by the roadside.

The next morning, before dawn, Tao Wan's mother woke up her eldest son and daughter-in-law.

"Let's make some porridge with this little bit of rice and share it with everyone. The children should have some rice water now!"

"Mother, what is this...?"

Ling Dahu stared in shock at the small bag of rice. If there hadn't been outsiders present, he would have thought that his father had appeared in his dream again.

Tao Wanniang nodded, then said in an annoyed tone:

"If it weren't for your deadbeat father saying that saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda, would I even care about these irrelevant people?"

Wang Hongyu thought about it and realized that her mother-in-law was such a mean and stingy person. If it weren't for her father-in-law's request, would she be so generous?

But she still happily accepted it. "Mother, that water..."

"Use this first, there's more!"

Tao Wanniang has convinced the Ling family that everything she takes out was given to her by her deceased husband.

Sigh, what an easy son and daughter-in-law to fool!

The pot was also carried with him, and soon the aroma of rice woke everyone up.

Looking at the pot of white rice porridge, Aunt Liang and her granddaughter were so tempted they wanted to cry, but the little girl was very determined; she wouldn't take it no matter how much she wanted it, as long as her grandmother didn't ask.

Zhao Shiqiu was called aside by his parents.

"My son, your parents are going to trouble you again. Just one more bite, let us have just one more bite of porridge. Even if we starve to death, it will have been worth it for us in this life!"

"Father, Mother, even if they're the ones feeding the child, I... I can't accept that!"

Zhao Shiqiu said with difficulty, "The world is so difficult. Those who can produce rice are probably the last of their kind."

"Come on, everyone, come here. My child has suffered so much. There was no breast milk after birth, so he could only drink rice porridge. And this rice porridge isn't available every meal. This is the last meal. It's fate that we've met. Let's eat together."

Tao Wan's mother called out to the Zhao family members to come over.

"There are no extra bowls, you have your own."

Tao Wan's mother took a spoon and scooped some for everyone. The porridge was cooked very thinly, so it was impossible for adults to get full, but it was enough for the children.

After finishing the porridge, Tao Wanniang parted ways with Zhao Shiqiu and the other two.

The people of Lijia Village could smell the lingering aroma of rice in the air; the dilapidated house was now empty.

“The refugees still have grain; we can’t let them escape. Let’s go after them.”

The two men from Lijia Village spoke face to face, their eyes gleaming with madness.

“There are still car wheel hubs on the ground. Chase after them. They're just refugees anyway, and no one will know if they die.”

Tao Wanniang and her group had already traveled some distance, but the thin porridge wasn't enough to keep them full, so they ate some steamed buns and dried meat at a place where they could rest.

"Sister Tao, your family has really prepared a lot of food!"

Grandma Liang and her granddaughter were fortunate enough to receive two strips of dried meat. Even though the dried meat didn't taste particularly good, they were both pleasantly surprised.

"Not many. We found these on the way. If we weren't running out of food at home, who would leave their hometown?"

Tao Wanniang explained, "The wolf was a lone wolf. It wanted to eat my little baby, but we killed it, so it's perfect for us to eat now."

"As for the locusts, you saw them too. We caught them on the road. As for the rice, that's the last bit we had. This famine has been going on for so long, so we've just been eating whatever we can catch."

Aunt Liang thought about it and agreed, but she still admired Tao Wan's confidence.

"Sister Tao, you're really something! With you leading your family, they'll definitely make it to the provincial capital."

"That's right, my two sons are all height and no brains; as for my two wives, they're just women after all. They don't know the hardships of managing a household until they're in charge themselves. They all have to rely on me!"

Tao Wanniang gave the four members of the Ling family a rude look.

The wives are all taking care of the baby, and the two sons only know how to eat and rest. It's really... Tao Wan's mother shook her head in disgust.

"It was you who stole our grain! Hand it over right now!"

Two men suddenly appeared, carrying sticks, and chased after them menacingly. The first ones they saw were Tao Wanniang, Aunt Liang, and Xiao Qiao'er.

These two elderly people and one child were like lambs to the slaughter for the two men of Lijia Village!

Tao Wanniang's face darkened, and she immediately pulled out a kitchen knife, pointing it at the man and cursing loudly.

"Where did this robber come from, yelling at me like that? Stealing your grain? Do you even have any grain?"

"Son, don't just stand there, grab your weapons, someone's trying to steal our grain!"

Tao Wanniang was not surprised at all by this kind of backstabbing, but was she an easy target?

If you try to be tough with her, she'll only get tougher!

The Ling brothers had already taken note when they heard the man's reprimand, and as soon as their mother spoke, they immediately picked up the carrying pole.

"Who, who said we stole grain?"

As soon as Ling Dahu and Ling Dapeng stood up, the two men from Lijia Village became somewhat discouraged!

Shouldn't refugees be emaciated and weak?

Those two tall guys don't look like they'll be easy to deal with!

"You accuse me of stealing your grain? Did I steal brown rice or wheat?"

"You're probably just trying to bully us old women. Come on, let's see if my kitchen knife is faster, or your sticks."