After Uncle Wu had loaded all the herbs onto the carriage, he took out a list and handed it to Mr. Li.
"Mr. Li, these are the food and other items my family wants to buy. Please help take a look at them." Uncle Wu said.
Li Xiucai read out the items on the list to everyone. The village chief, the three elders, Zhang the hunter, Yun the butcher, and Zhang all went to help prepare. Everyone prepared the items one by one and put them aside. Li Xiucai checked with Uncle Wu again to make sure they were correct, and everyone helped put the items on the carriage.
Li Xiucai recounted the amount Uncle Wu had paid before entering the city, confirming it was correct. He also gave Uncle Wu the difference he needed to pay. The difference for the medicinal herbs was paid by the village chief. Uncle Wu paid the difference and drove off in his carriage, returning to his campsite.
As soon as Uncle Wu left, the villagers waiting nearby came over to give Li Xiucai the count. Having already collaborated once before, this time the pace was even faster. As before, everyone prepared everything and set it aside. Li Xiucai then checked the quantities and prices with the villagers. Once they were sure they were correct, everyone helped load the truck. Afterward, Li Xiucai collected the difference.
Everyone was busy and busy at a fast pace. Soon, most of the villagers' belongings were sorted and loaded onto the trucks.
"Village chief, you can choose from the remaining items first. After you have chosen, I will take them all. What do you think?" asked Yun the Butcher.
"I think it's okay, Brother Yun. We will divide the remaining food on the ground equally among our families, and for the rest, each family can take whatever they want." Li Xiucai said.
"Okay, let's do as you say. It's almost midnight now, let's hurry up and distribute it, then gather the villagers and set off." The village chief said in a low voice.
"Yes, everyone, please stop and make way for each other. Let's hurry up. Now, I hear that the noise in the square has become much quieter. Especially the noise made by those refugees you threw to the edge of the square, I can hardly hear them from here now. So, now is a good time to leave." The elder of the clan said in a low voice.
After hearing the elder's words, everyone's movements quickened. Once everyone had finished their purchases and loaded the carts, they realized that only the village's reserve grain and three pig's feet, specially left by Yun the butcher, remained on the ground. Everything else had been divided up.
"Let's put the food stored in the village into the cars of my family and the three clan elders first. We have many cars, so even if we load them with spare food, it will be enough." The village chief said as he arranged for everyone to put the spare food into the cars.
"Okay, I'll give you ten minutes to go back and pack your things, and we'll be ready to go," said the village chief.
After hearing the village chief's words, everyone hurried out in their cars. Soon, only Yun the Butcher and Zhang were left standing. The two glanced at each other, finally done. Now they could wake the children, pack up, and get ready to leave.
Zhang first woke the three Yun brothers and Yun Yiyi, having them dress and stay awake. She then worked with Yun the Butcher to gather all the sleeping supplies and load them onto the donkey cart. Yun the Butcher covered the cart with an oilcloth and handed Zhang a rope, and the two of them tied the cloth in place.
Next, the two men loaded the cooking pots, bowls, and other kitchen utensils into baskets and placed them on the cart. Finally, as usual, they covered the cart with a tarpaulin and tied it securely with ropes. Even though it hadn't rained, protective measures still needed to be taken. Otherwise, if it did rain, everything would get soaked before the tarpaulin was even on. Most importantly, covering the cart with the tarpaulin would obscure its contents. This would keep a low profile and reduce the attention the other refugees would draw from the villagers of Yunjia Village.
After Yun the Butcher and Zhang had put all the things into the car, the children nearby also woke up.
"Dad, let me push a cart for a while. You've been busy all night. You can go to the donkey cart and take a nap." Brother Yun said.
"Yes, Dad, you must be very tired now. You should get some sleep first." Second Brother Yun also said.
"No need, kids. It's the middle of the night, and the road is already hard to see. Besides, the village chief also said that we can't light torches when we leave. That way, it will be even more difficult to see the road while pushing the cart. So, I will push one cart. Your mother will push one cart, and you, the eldest, will help hold the cart beside your mother. The second and third children will still drive the donkey cart. If Yiyi is sleepy, go and sleep in the cart." said Yun the butcher.
"Okay, Dad, tell me when you feel tired. I'll push the cart." said Boss Yun.
"Dad, I just fell asleep and I'm not sleepy now. Let me walk beside you." Yun Yiyi said, hugging Yun the Butcher's arm.
"Okay, Yiyi. Then you must watch the road and don't fall." Zhang reminded from the side.
"I understand, Mom. Don't worry, I will watch the road." Yun Yiyi guaranteed while holding her chubby fist.
Yun the butcher, Zhang, and the three Yun brothers all laughed after hearing Yun Yiyi's words.
"Yiyi, here's your stick." Brother Yun said as he handed Yun Yiyi's stick to her.
"Dad, Mom, I'm afraid it won't be smooth when we leave soon. I'll carry this stick myself and put it under the donkey cart tomorrow." Yun Yiyi first looked at Yun the Butcher, then turned to look at Zhang.
"Wife, let Yiyi hold the stick. We're already at the back of the line, and if refugees really catch up, we'll be the first to face them. We can't be without weapons at this time." Yun the Butcher received Yun Yiyi's call for help and turned to discuss the matter with Zhang. It must be said that Yun the Butcher's skill in coaxing his wife was absolutely superb.
"Okay, then I'll listen to you and let Yiyi hold the stick. But let's make it clear first, Yiyi, you can't just keep rushing up, okay?" Zhang said while holding Yun Yiyi's fat ears.
"Mom, mom, please let go. I remember, I promise I won't rush up." Yun Yiyi said in a low voice.
"You have to promise me, Yiyi. If you don't listen, I will spank you again tomorrow." Zhang let go of Yun Yiyi's ear and said.
"Mom, don't worry, I keep my word." Yun Yiyi said with clenched fists.
"Boss, second brother, third brother, all of you keep your sticks at hand. If there are refugees coming up, don't be afraid, just beat them with the sticks. Wife, put your stick on the car as well." Yun the butcher looked at everyone and said seriously.
Everyone nodded after hearing what Yun the Butcher said.
At this moment, the village chief arrived and told everyone to line up on the road and set off. The line was the same as before, except that at the end of the line were more than twenty young men from Yunjia Village holding sticks.
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