The villagers didn't cook. They were too tired after traveling for a whole morning, so they boiled some hot water and mixed it with some dry food.

Grandma Gu and her mother were making brown sugar ginger tea, with steamed white flour buns and rice balls on top.

Grandpa Gu took Xuanxuan and Tingting to feed the animals, Brother Gu and Gu Xinran were picking up firewood nearby, and Xiao Ba was on guard.

Unexpectedly, Zheng Wen and Zheng Wu cut a lot of hay and gave it to the livestock to eat.

Grandpa Gu was very happy to express his gratitude to the Gu family for their care. The cows and mules were his treasures.

Gu Xinran thought to herself that he was a good person and she had not misjudged him. He knew how to be grateful and repay kindness.

After finishing their work, everyone gathered around the fire and leaned against the car, enjoying their meal.

After filling their stomachs, Uncle Zhang’s daughter Zhang Hong brought her niece Xiao Tiantian over to chat.

Gu Xinran liked this straightforward and generous girl very much. "Sister Honghong, are you tired on the way?"

"Fortunately, my mother, sister-in-law, and I took turns taking Tiantian on the ox cart. You are very capable. You are a good mule cart driver and you are also good at fighting bandits."

Zhang Hong's round eyes were sparkling and filled with admiration.

"Haha, it's okay. I also practiced with my elder brother and cousin after falling into the water. You can do it too if you practice."

Gu's mother was very happy that Honghong came over. After falling into the water, Gu Xinran rarely hung out with her friends, and Gu's mother was worried that she would have psychological trauma.

"Honghong, come and have some ginger and brown sugar water to warm yourself up." Mother Gu brought a big bowl to Zhang Hong.

"Thank you, Aunt Tao. I can't drink so much. Can you give some to my mother? She has caught a cold."

"What are you sharing? I'll serve you another bowl and you can take it back."

"Thank you, Auntie."

Honghong brought two bowls of ginger and brown sugar water and went back to share.

Tingting and Tiantian played house, exchanging delicious food while playing, and they were happier than at home.

Gu Xinran smiled and said, "Grandpa, look how happy they are. Fleeing from famine is not as hard as you might imagine. Living with a smile is sweet."

Grandpa Gu was not tired or cold, and he had a good meal. Compared with the misery he had experienced more than 30 years ago, this escape from famine was really enjoyable, and he couldn't help but smile.

"We were able to set off early and with so many vehicles thanks to Mingzhan and Yunchi. We must remember their kindness."

Xiao Mingzhan, who was being cared for by others, set out from the capital and was hunted all the way. He lived in dire straits and is now not far from Chengzhou Prefecture.

Doctor Ling bandaged him while muttering, "Luckily, we have Miss Ran's medicine. This hemostatic powder is really effective. You can't rely on your kung fu to recover anymore. Your injuries are harder to heal than others. You have to use the Spirit Gathering Water sparingly. Let's hide until we've detoxified the poison and let them suffer."

A smiling money-loving little face appeared in Xiao Mingzhan's mind, and the corners of his mouth curled up slightly, "Yes, it's good."

"I hope they have a safe journey. I miss that little girl a lot, especially the wine." Doctor Ling said, pursing his lips and savoring the taste.

"Well, after one sip, I feel refreshed all over." Xiao Mingzhan said as he pulled out the cork of the gourd and took a sip.

Doctor Ling stared at the gourd intently. "Alas, this girl is partial. She gave you six jars. Please share some with me."

Xiao Mingzhan asked Qi Da to bring a small gourd and handed it to Doctor Ling. "Two jars for big brother and one for big sister. I don't have much left, old man, please save some."

Doctor Ling took it happily, took a sip, and closed his eyes to savor it.

The villagers of Qingshan Village rested for half an hour and then continued their journey towards Chengzhou Prefecture.

Normally it would take three days for an oxcart to reach the provincial capital, but now it might take the entire village five days.

After walking for half an hour, there was a commotion ahead.

Gu Xinran asked Xiao Ba, "What happened?"

"There was a gentleman-looking man sitting on the side of the road crying. It was so miserable. His cotton coat and trousers were stripped off." Xiao Ba was riding a horse to keep track of the surrounding situation. He had just come back from watching the excitement.

"Tsk tsk tsk, he must have done something stupid. The refugees probably wouldn't dare to rob openly."

"I heard that he was a gentleman from the prefecture. He was passing by here on his way back to the prefecture. He saw some refugees begging for alms and showed his kindness to them. However, they robbed him of all his money and the driver ran away."

The surrounding villagers couldn't help but sigh. It's hard to be a good person in this world, so we should take this as a warning.

I couldn't help but take a few more glances at the unlucky guy when I passed by him.

"Stop!" Suddenly, Mother Gu spoke up and turned to Grandpa Gu: "Dad, look, is that Mr. Fan, Yuchen's father's good friend?"

Grandpa Gu looked at it carefully for a while and said, "It really looks like it. I'll go ask."

Gu Yuchen also recalled his father's friend, and this person was indeed Mr. Fan who sent his father back.

After his father passed away, he came home several times and brought a lot of things each time.

Gu Xinran also had this impression in her memory, but she didn't think about it in this way. Mr. Fan used to be an enlightenment teacher in Dafeng County.

Several people immediately stopped the car and walked towards the unlucky guy. Grandma Gu even took out a set of Grandpa Gu's half-new cotton jacket and trousers and gave them to him.

Walking up to him, Grandpa Gu called out tentatively, "Mr. Fan?"

The miserable gentleman raised his head, "Uncle Gu, Yuchen, why are you here?"

Grandpa Gu saw that Mr. Fan's face was purple from the cold, so he quickly put his cotton jacket on him and said, "Let's go to the car and warm up first before we talk."

Gu Yuchen helped Mr. Fan onto the mule cart.

Seeing that the matter had been settled, the village chief called out to the villagers and continued on his journey.

Everyone in the mule cart got out and walked. Grandpa Gu drove the car while Mr. Fan put on his clothes and tidied himself up inside.

Mother Gu also thoughtfully prepared a small basin of warm water and tore off a piece of new cotton cloth.

When Mr. Fan came out after getting dressed, he looked like a gentleman again, although his clothes didn't fit him well.

Everyone returned to the mule cart and Gu Xinran took over driving, occasionally listening to the conversation.

Xiaokang was temporarily recruited as an ox cart driver.

Here's what happened. A few days ago, Mr. Fan was invited to give lectures in Dafeng County. The number of refugees has increased dramatically in the past two days, and the college is suffering from a serious water shortage. The situation is not good, so classes will be suspended from today.

So he hired a carriage to return to the provincial capital. After leaving the city, he saw these poor refugees and felt that he had read the books of sages in vain and could not help them at all.

While she was feeling sorry for herself, a skinny woman knelt in front of the carriage, holding her dying child, begging for a bite of food to save her child.

The driver tried to spur the horse and try to go around, but Mr. Fan couldn't bear it and took out his own dry food.

This stirred up a hornet's nest, and refugees from all directions came to him, stole his luggage, and stripped off his cotton jacket.

The driver was so frightened that he ran for his life.

Wow, what a kind-hearted man who has never been beaten by life.

Grandpa Gu also talked about fleeing famine in the south.

Later they talked about Gu's father.

Three years ago, after the Fucheng Township Examination, when Mr. Fan found Gu Junyuan in the clinic, he was seriously injured and was on his last breath.

The clinic said that Mr. Gu was brought in by a kind-hearted person and was injured by a mad horse on the street. His internal injuries were too severe and there was no way to save him.

Father Gu wanted to go home to see his family, but he couldn't hold on and died on the way.

Mr. Fan passed the imperial examination with the lowest score. He was introduced by his classmates to be a teacher at Hongzhi College in the provincial capital. Later, his whole family moved to the provincial capital, and he never visited the Gu family again.

The Gu family cried as they recalled the past.

Gu Xinran felt that he had something left to say, so he avoided talking about what happened before the provincial examination.

Although those who can provide food to refugees are pedantic, they are kind and should not have any intention of harming others. They may have hidden reasons.