Jiang Chan stood at the corner of the wall, watching the village chief and Weng Laojiu talking from afar.
The distance was too far, and I couldn't hear what was being said.
She could only see the village chief's expression, which gradually changed from solemn to relaxed, and finally he even laughed.
Old Man Weng, Old Man Li, Liu Dazhuang, and others nearby also laughed, creating a harmonious atmosphere.
Jiang Chan frowned.
Does this mean the alarm is off?
Just then, the crowd dispersed.
Old Man Weng led a few people away.
Li Laosan, Liu Dazhuang, and the others also returned to their respective rooms.
The village chief walked towards Jiang Chan alone, his steps light and his face bearing a relieved smile.
When he approached Jiang Chan, she went to greet him.
"village head……"
When the village chief saw her, his smile deepened, carrying a hint of elder's comfort. "Little Jiang, come here, let me tell you something."
He recounted his conversation with Weng Laojiu to Jiang Chan in detail.
"Girl, you're overthinking it!" the village chief said lightly. "Manager Weng explained it very clearly! Those spikes on the wall are to keep out the big wolves in the mountains. Those wolves are very fierce! The windows are nailed shut? Well, it's because wolves used to gnaw through the windows and scare the children and women. Everyone's been worried about it, and they only feel at ease when the windows are nailed shut! They had no other choice!"
"And what about those clothes and jewelry?" The village chief waved his hand. "Sigh, so many people have fled famine along the way! Those who had no money would exchange their meager possessions for water or food! The people of Wengjia Village are kind-hearted and accepted them! That's how all those miscellaneous items came about! They were all exchanged by pitiful people!"
With each explanation he gave, Jiang Chan's tense nerves relaxed a little.
It all sounds... perfectly reasonable, and there's nothing wrong with it.
Those things she considered "suspicious" all had reasonable, even humane, explanations.
"As for the child calling us 'fat sheep'?" the village chief laughed. "What does the child know? Look at us, all dusty and gray, we really do look like wild sheep in the mountains! Don't take it to heart!"
Seeing Jiang Chan's still somewhat dazed face, the village chief softened his tone, "Girl, I know you've been worried sick the whole way. It's good to be careful. But you can't assume everyone is a bad person! Luckily, the steward didn't take my questions to heart, otherwise I really would have... sigh..."
He patted Jiang Chan's thin shoulder with a hint of relief, "But... you are indeed different from before. You've become more sensible and thoughtful. You've grown up!"
The village chief's words, like lukewarm water, gradually extinguished the flame of vigilance in Jiang Chan's heart.
Looking at the village chief's sincere smile, listening to his impeccable explanations, and then considering the food, lodging, and conveniences the village offered...
Could it be... that I'm just being too sensitive?
Having lived in the apocalypse for so long, I've become accustomed to darkness and betrayal, and I see everyone through tinted glasses.
The previous assessment that the disaster victims' rush to buy food was correct does not mean that it will be correct this time as well.
Perhaps... there really is such a paradise in this world, where kindness is still maintained even in chaotic times!
The thorn in my heart seemed to have been softened by the village chief's words.
That intense unease gradually subsided, replaced by a complex weariness tinged with self-doubt.
"Hmm... the village chief is right," Jiang Chan replied softly, a slight smile playing on her lips. "Maybe... I'm just overthinking it."
"That's right!" The village chief breathed a sigh of relief. "Go and rest! You've had a long day! We still have to travel tomorrow morning!" He waved and walked toward his resting place.
Jiang Chan stood there stunned for a moment, then turned around and dragged her heavy steps toward the room she and Xiao Tao had been assigned to.
Jiang Chan pushed open the door and entered the women's quarters where they were staying.
The room was filled with the smell of sweat and exhaustion.
Several women were already asleep on the haystacks.
In the corner, Xiao Tao was curled up, her small body sunk into the dry grass, her eyes half-closed, clearly exhausted.
Next to Xiao Tao, a woman in her forties was lying on her side, her face turned toward Xiao Tao, and she kept asking something.
"Little girl, what's your name?"
"...Xiao Tao..."
How old are you?
"Eight years old..."
"Where are your family members? Are they with that older sister?"
"Um...Grandma can't walk anymore...I'm asking Sister Jiang to take care of me..."
"Oh...how pitiful...what about your parents?"
"...It's long gone..."
Xiao Tao's voice was faint and weak, filled with deep drowsiness.
The woman kept asking questions, her face beaming with an overly enthusiastic smile.
"Xiao Tao," Jiang Chan called out, her voice soft.
Xiao Tao immediately opened her eyes as if grasping at a straw, looked towards the door, and struggled to sit up, calling out, "Sister Jiang!" But she was too weak, swayed for a moment, and lay back down.
The woman then turned around and saw Jiang Chan at the door. Her smile widened immediately, and she waved enthusiastically, "Oh, where have you been? You must be Sister Jiang, right? Come on over! Come and rest!"
Jiang Chan walked over and sat down next to Xiao Tao, who immediately closed her eyes in relief.
The woman moved closer, her eyes scanning Jiang Chan, and bombarded her with questions like a machine gun:
"Hey girl, what's your name?"
"...Jiang Chan."
"Oh, Jiang Meizi! How old are you this year?"
"……sixteen."
Sixteen? That's a good age! Are you engaged yet?
"……without."
"Oh dear, you haven't promised anyone yet? What chores do you usually do at home? Can you cook? How's your sewing?"
Jiang Chan was already exhausted, and the machine-gun-like questioning made her even more irritable.
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