The village chief arrived with several villagers.

"Anan, what happened?"

Lin Yinan recounted what had just happened to them.

"Uncle Village Chief, there are too many people around here. Please tell everyone to keep an eye on their children and not let them wander off."

The village chief broke out in a cold sweat. They thought they would be safe if they stopped to rest near the city gate, but it seemed that the danger lurking in the shadows was much greater.

He quickly went door-to-door to issue warnings, while also having Lin Fu lead several villagers to patrol back and forth in the procession.

Lin Yinan wiped the sword clean, leaned against the cart, and closed her eyes to rest.

The noise had barely subsided when Old Mrs. Zhao's loud and furious cursing rang out again.

"Get out! Are you blind? This old woman would rather eat chaff and dirt than sell her granddaughter."

I just can't get any sleep at all!

Lin Yinan reluctantly opened her eyes and saw a fat man with big ears who had appeared in her camp at some point, followed by two servants.

The man was short and stout, dressed in fine silk and satin. When he saw her stand up, his eyes, which were barely slits, suddenly gleamed with a sharp light.

This woman was different from ordinary refugees; she had fair and delicate skin, and a tall and well-proportioned figure, making her an absolute beauty.

If he could bring this woman back, he would surely amaze everyone and make countless young masters in the prefecture flock to him.

Seeing that he was staring at his niece with such unbridled gaze, Lin Shuo stepped forward to block his view.

Lin Fu and Lin Yizhang also came closer, staring at the fat man in front of them.

"Sir, please leave. We don't sell children."

The man seemed unwilling to give up, and called out to Lin Yinan behind Lin Shuo, "Girl, would you be willing to come back with me to enjoy wealth and luxury?"

Lin Yinan flashed forward, her sword, emanating a chilling aura, pressed against his neck. Her eyes were slightly cold as she gave him a contemptuous smile.

"Are you willing to go and meet the King of Hell?"

Seeing the murderous intent in her eyes, the man realized he had bitten off more than he could chew. His fat jiggled, and he raised his hands, saying in a trembling voice, "Miss, you flatter me. I'm just trying to make a living. I'm sorry for offending you! I hope you'll be lenient."

"Are you from the city?"

"The junior is the manager of the Drunken Red Mansion in the city."

Judging from the fat man's appearance, this Drunken Red Pavilion was probably not a brothel. Lin Yinan's eyes flickered slightly, and she began to inquire about the situation in the city.

"Are migrants allowed to enter the city to buy grain?"

"Of course not."

"Why? Tell me what you know, and I might consider sparing your ear."

The manager just heard from his subordinates that Sanmazi, who often sells goods to them, had his ear cut off, and it seems that this young girl did it.

He's a real living devil!

The more he thought about it, the more alarmed he became, and the manager dared not hide anything from him.

"When Yanmen Pass was breached and the first batch of refugees arrived, the prefectural government ordered the city gates to be closed, and no one was allowed to enter the city without a travel permit issued by the prefectural government."

Lin Yinan, "How can I obtain a travel permit?"

"A guarantor must be someone registered in the prefecture. Even with a travel permit, you still need to pay three taels of silver to enter the city, and you can't stay overnight inside."

"If a road is built into the city, will it be possible to buy grain?"

"This year's drought has resulted in a complete crop failure, and grain prices remain high. Urban residents are required to purchase grain based on their household registration, and are limited to buying only five jin (2.5 kg) of grain per day."

"Some time ago, as the number of refugees gathered, the prefectural magistrates, fearing that trouble would arise, joined forces with wealthy households in the city to build five porridge distribution sheds, providing the refugees with a bowl of porridge every day."

Having obtained the information she wanted, Lin Yinan released the man.

It seems that Lin Yiheng and his team are destined to return empty-handed.

The villagers had already found out where the water was, so Lin Shuo led the Lin brothers, Lin Yizhang and Lin Yizhang, to fetch water by carrying buckets.

Besides the porridge distribution stalls at the city gate, the other side was equally bustling and lively.

"Father, why don't we go and identify ourselves? The governor will surely let us into the city."

Huang Yinyin patted the dust off her clothes, then looked at the family, who were covered in dirt, and said somewhat impatiently.

The concubine, Yao, glanced up at her in astonishment, then quickly lowered her head, curling her lip in disdain.

Has the young lady lost her mind? What kind of outrageous things is she saying?

Ge scolded in a low voice, "What nonsense are you talking about? Entering the city is like walking into a trap."

"But doesn't Father have a relationship with the prefectural governor?"

Huang Guichang was so angry that the veins on his forehead bulged. "Your father abandoned the city and fled with his whole family. Now you're coming to the prefectural government to deliver yourself to their doorstep, so that the prefectural governor will hand your father over and let the emperor behead him?"

After saying that, he turned his head away to avoid getting so angry that he would die.

Suddenly, Madam Ge remembered something. "Master, Yangcheng is next to Gudao County. My cousins ​​are stationed in Qingdao County, which is not far from Gudao County. Why don't we go and seek refuge there?"

Huang Guichang's eyes lit up upon hearing this, and he turned to look at Madam Ge, "Why didn't you say so earlier?"

Ge said, "I only received the news a while ago, and before I could tell you, the Hu people attacked."

"Good! Good! Good!" Huang Guichang said three times.

Huang Yinyin seized the opportunity to act innocent, "Dad, it's all thanks to Mom's uncles."

Huang Qingqing quietly pulled Yao away.

After Lin Shuo and the others returned, Lin Yinan gave them some instructions and then headed towards the bustling area near the city gate.

Grandma Zhao was worried, so she asked Lin Yizhang to accompany her.

After walking for a while, Lin Yishu told Lin Yinan about the information he had gathered.

"Anan, I inquired about that place when I was fetching water. It's a slave trading area. What are you doing there?"

Lin Yinan suddenly realized, "Let's go take a look."

In this feudal society where people preyed on each other, slaves were the lowest class of people.

It's called buying and selling slaves, but in reality, it's like a group of men looking for attractive people who can't make a living at home, so they can sell their children here.

Several human traffickers were there, with a string of kidnapped people tied behind them with ropes. The men and women were separated, and each of them had a handsome appearance.

Wealthy families from the city also come here to select people.

Their clothes were tattered, and some were even barely clothed.

They were observed up close like livestock, their mouths pried open to look at their teeth, their eyelids lifted to look at their eyes, their hair, and every part of their bodies examined.

Women might even be touched all over their bodies to estimate their value.

Once enslaved, a woman's personal freedom and dignity will be severely violated.

There are also good-looking boys.

Seeing so many women having their clothes lifted and being touched like this, Lin Yizhang turned her head away in embarrassment, unable to bear watching such a scene.

Lin Yinan noticed a man dressed in a royal blue silk robe circling around a pair of pretty twin sisters, occasionally reaching out to touch them, only to be blocked by one of the girls.

The man said to the trafficker, "Too thin! You're all skin and bones. Our master prefers someone with a fuller figure."

"Sir, don't you know what time it is? Her parents couldn't support her, so they sold her. Otherwise, given her age, she could have found a good husband in a couple of years, and the dowry would have been quite substantial."

The human trafficker smiled ingratiatingly.

The man was making comments and criticisms while also trying to lift up the girl's clothes.

The girl was strong and had a tough and fierce personality. When the man reached out his hand several times, she grabbed his hand, twisted it, and pushed him to the ground.