The straight-line distance from Dingshui Village to the border town is more than 200 li, but the official road was built around it to facilitate the relay of messages by the post stations, so the total distance exceeded 300 li.

However, because the border town was a strategic outpost, it was very important for both transporting supplies and transmitting information, so the official road was built to be very wide.

Jiang Qinyu and her group naturally took the official road this time, with a post station every fifty li along the way.

After reaching the official road, the carriage sped up, and the two children pressed their faces against the window, asking questions one after another.

"Auntie, what place is that?"

"Auntie, where are those people going?"

"Auntie, why are they all looking at us?"

"aunt……"

Jiang Qinyu answered their questions one by one, and then moved closer to the bedside to look outside.

But after just one glance, she didn't want to look anymore.

On both sides of the official road were long lines of refugees, all with their families in tow, walking with lifeless eyes.

Some people who heard the sound of the carriage would look over, but when they saw Lu Yanzheng's obviously intimidating figure inside, they would turn their heads away.

"Aunt, they..." Shu Fan looked at Jiang Qinyu with some hesitation.

Jiang Qinyu looked up at him and said, "Shufan, do you think they're pitiful?"

“Yes,” Shufan nodded, “I just saw several children who couldn’t walk anymore and were crying for food, but their parents were pulling dry grass from the ground to give to them.”

Jiang Qinyu stroked his head and sighed, "If we had fled the famine back then, we might have faced the same fate as them."

However, these people outside are probably not fleeing famine, but returning from famine.

These days she has heard many rumors that many of the villages that had fled to escape the famine have returned.

However, when they went out, the whole village went out, but only a few people came back.

Those who live near Dingshui Village will come to "pay their respects," hoping that Dingshui Village will lend them a hand.

But Village Chief Li was well aware of the current situation and never readily agreed, only granting the right to fetch water to villages that were truly in dire need.

"Auntie, can I give them food?" Pan'er asked innocently. The little girl's eyes reddened when she saw those people outside who had no food or clothes and were walking around numbly.

Jiang Qinyu shook her head seriously, and then said to the two of them, "Auntie knows that you are both kind and good children, but kindness is a virtue that can only be possessed when one's own safety can be guaranteed."

The two nodded blankly, staring at her expectantly.

Jiang Qinyu knew they might not understand, so she prompted them, "Are there more people outside than we are?"

"Yes!" The two nodded in unison.

Jiang Qinyu then asked, "Is the food we brought not enough for all of them?"

The two nodded again.

Jiang Qinyu continued, "If we give food to some of them, such as the seemingly most pitiful elderly and children, do you think those elderly and children will be able to protect the food they receive?"

The two shook their heads hesitantly.

Jiang Qinyu was relieved and continued, "Yes, even if we give some of them food, those who don't will try to steal it. They might have been able to hold on for three days, but after we give them food, they might face death immediately. Do you understand?"

Shufan nodded vigorously, "I understand, Aunt! If we don't have enough food for all of them, then we can't give it to anyone, just like when the people from Xiahe Village came to rob us!"

Hearing what he said, Pan'er understood. "I get it too. We have food, and if we don't share it, no one will know. If we give it to others, they might try to steal it from us! So we can't give it to them!"

"Shufan and Pan'er are so clever, just like that." Jiang Qinyu patted their little hands, but couldn't bring herself to smile.

Is it a blessing or a curse for such young children to be exposed to such ideas?

Lu Yanzheng had excellent hearing and heard the conversation between the three women in the carriage clearly. After listening, he fell silent.

He knew better than anyone the cruelty of war, but those were real weapons. Now, natural disasters are forcing such young children to experience the cruelty of the world. How tragic!

That evening, Jiang Qinyu and her group arrived at the first post station.

Lu Yanzheng was dressed in ordinary clothes and did not intend to disturb the people at the post station, so he went to stay as an ordinary merchant.

"Sigh, you can only stay here, you have to take care of your own food and drink. If you accept this, stay; otherwise, leave!" The post station worker glanced at them and sighed.

In ancient times, post stations were all government-run, and the people in charge of managing them were also government officials, though they were called postmen or post station attendants.

Jiang Qinyu and Lu Yanzheng exchanged a glance, and Lu Yanzheng stepped forward and said, "Give us a superior room, and we'll take care of our own food and drink."

"Alright, please wait a moment, sir." The courier was immediately pleased to see that they did not need food or drink.

Their post station usually doesn't accept ordinary people for lodging, but in recent years, due to bad weather, these post station workers haven't been able to earn enough to make a living, so they've gradually opened it up to the public.

Of course, this excludes the few days when the imperial court announces that someone will be passing through the area.

Upon hearing that he only wanted one room, Jiang Qinyu quickly tugged at his sleeve, "Don't you have any money? Otherwise, we can have two medium-sized rooms."

When there are no outsiders around, the two of them don't live in the same room. What's wrong with Lu Yanzheng today?

“I’m worried about you two staying in a room alone. The situation outside isn’t good, as you saw today. If anything happens, it’s better if I’m with you so we can take care of each other,” Lu Yanzheng explained in her ear.

Jiang Qinyu's ears felt tingly and numb. Although she kept her composure and didn't blush, her heart skipped a beat. She had to admit that Lu Yanzheng's reason convinced her.

Seeing that she didn't say anything, Lu Yanzheng followed the postman to the backyard.

Jiang Qinyu quickly pulled the child along to catch up.

After settling them into their rooms, Lu Yanzheng went to drive the carriage to the livestock shed at the post station.

Seeing this, Jiang Qinyu quickly said, "I'll go with you, there's a lot of stuff."

To make herself more comfortable in the carriage, she had stored some of her luggage in her spatial storage. Therefore, she couldn't let Lu Yanzheng board first; she needed to quickly "smuggle" her things out.

Lu Yanzheng remembered the bundle she had received yesterday, so he didn't refuse. He gave the two children a few instructions and then took Jiang Qinyu out.

Jiang Qinyu only went once, and then Lu Yanzheng kept her in the room.

“I’ll go. You can only carry two bundles at a time, it’s too slow,” Lu Yanzheng blurted out honestly.

Jiang Qinyu: "..." Bro, that hurts!

However, since the deception wouldn't be exposed now, Jiang Qinyu was happy to have some free time and simply handed everything over to him to handle.

Lu Yanzheng thought he would get a good night's sleep, but in the middle of the night, he suddenly opened his eyes, nimbly turned over and got up, walked to the bedside and gently patted Jiang Qinyu's face.

"Qinqin, wake up, there's noise outside..." [Dear readers, please take a moment to click the "remind me to update" button at the end of the chapter. If you have any votes, please support me as well. Thank you!]