Everyone remained silent. In their hearts, they naturally hoped that the Li family would use money to help them get through this crisis, but their conscience told them that they couldn't just empty their coffers and make such a selfless contribution.
At this moment, Li Lao Er finally spoke.
"A distinguished person did indeed present Fu Niu with a set of gold jewelry that day. The village chief and Uncle Zhao were both present. Why don't we ask the village chief to tell us what the jewelry was like?"
The village chief's face was as black as the bottom of a pot. He took his pipe and set it on fire, looking utterly disappointed in everyone.
“A bunch of idiots, what are you living for, just a waste of food. You were tempted by a few words from others? I was right there that day. The jewelry that the nobleman gave to Fu Niu weighed at most seven or eight taels. It would be worth seventy or eighty taels of silver, which would have been enough for the Li family to get through this.”
“That’s right,” Uncle Zhao and the others were also angry, and they shouted at the crowd, “You want the Li family to hand it over? Fine, then the Li family can go first, we’ll all wait here. Let’s see when those soldiers at the city gate will have a change of heart and let us through.”
Everyone's expression changed; they were all counting on the Li family to escape the famine and survive.
What will happen to them if the Li family really abandons them?
Immediately, someone started scolding the young woman, "If you can speak, then speak; if you can't, then shut your mouth. You're eyeing children's jewelry, but why haven't you offered up your daughter's bracelet?"
"She couldn't bear to part with it; she was hoping to eat and drink other people's food and drink their drinks while saving her own."
In an instant, the young wife became the target of everyone's criticism, and she cried even harder.
Jiayin rolled her eyes, wishing she could spit in her face.
If you dare covet her gold, be careful, a rain of stones will send your whole family to meet the King of Hell, and I guarantee they'll all be wiped out, not one of them will be left behind.
The young wife's husband was an honest and kind man; he pulled his wife back to the side.
The village chief snorted and turned to the Li family.
"Sister, second brother, third brother, fourth brother, don't take this to heart. Everyone knows how good your family is. I was just confused in my haste. This will never happen again, or I'll personally kill him with my pipe!"
After saying that, he glared fiercely at the villagers.
The villagers instinctively shrank back, their laughter both awkward and guilty.
Old Mrs. Li remained silent, but she was still angry.
Li Lao Er said, "Uncle, we definitely can't get through this city gate. We'll have to think of another way. Besides, I'm afraid other places will follow suit and every city will charge tolls. That would be troublesome."
The villagers, jolted awake, gasped in shock. "Really? Aren't they afraid of punishment from the imperial court?"
"At this point, who cares about the imperial court! Besides, as long as those officials don't accept money when they come, that's fine. In chaotic times, who wouldn't want to take advantage of the opportunity to make some money to protect themselves?"
Li Lao Er shook his head. Everyone wanted to say something, but suddenly it started to rain.
As it rapidly grew from a small size, the crowd scattered in droves, searching for tarpaulins to shelter from the rain.
The grain in this basket got wet, and the clothes in that house were left uncovered; everything was in chaos.
The Li family is slightly better off because they have a little girl named Jiayin. Every time they camp, Li Laosan never hesitates to set up a simple shed.
The shed was a bit small, and it was very crowded when the whole family, including Uncle Zhao and a few others, were suddenly crammed in.
But in the chill of the autumn rain, being huddled together actually made it a bit warmer.
The rain was pouring outside, and since there were no outsiders around, Li Lao Er asked.
"Mother, are we going to go south alone?"
What happened just now has chilled the hearts of the family members, and they are all looking at Old Lady Li now.
If you want to break up your partnership with the villagers, this is a good opportunity.
Grandma Li hugged her granddaughter, tugged at her little clothes, and sighed softly.
“No, not to mention the dangers along the way, it’s safer to travel in groups. Just consider that when the Liu family was robbing our grain, many villagers risked their lives to protect us. It wouldn’t be right for us to abandon them now and head south alone.”
Li Lao Er nodded; he thought so too.
It's not a critical moment, but to protect my family, I have to be a little selfish.
The problem is that we can't get through the city gate right now, so let's think of a solution.
In addition, just as he worried, what if a toll were required at every city gate in the future?
The Li family didn't have that much money, yet they always managed to get through.
It would have been better not to accept such a stranglehold threat in the first place...
At this moment, Li Laosi said, "Mother, Second Brother, I have an idea. Let's go over the mountains and bypass the county town!"
"Climb the mountain?" Everyone looked at him, their eyes lighting up.
They were so anxious and confused that they didn't even think of crossing the mountain.
Jin'an County is situated between two mountains, making it a strategically important and impregnable pass.
Since we can't get through, going over the mountain is definitely a good option.
"Are you familiar with the mountains and forests around here? How many mountains do we have to cross to get around the county town?" Uncle Zhao asked seriously, his expression somewhat grim.
Li Laosi was so excited that he didn't realize what was happening before he spoke.
“I’ve walked through here with Chief Escort Liu before, and I’ve heard him say a few words about it. There’s a slightly higher mountain behind us. Once we get past both, we can bypass the county town, and the official road is at the foot of the mountain.”
Everyone cheered, "That's great! Climbing the mountain is troublesome, but it's better than being stuck here."
Li Laosan frowned and said, "I'm afraid we can't bring mule carts or donkey carts when crossing the mountains."
Everyone was reluctant to see it go, especially Old Mrs. Li, whose possessions were all on the mule cart. Without the cart, most of their belongings would have to be carried by their children and grandchildren.
"Let's ask the village chief to come and talk to him," Li Lao Er suggested. Everyone nodded in agreement, and he went out in the light rain.
Soon, the village chief was invited over. He wasn't too reluctant to part with the donkey cart, but just sighed.
"That's the only way. If we delay any longer, more and more people will gather, and something bad might happen. It's better to get going sooner rather than later."
That matter is now settled.
The rain outside lessened a bit, so everyone dispersed to inform the villagers.
Li Laosan, along with Jiaren and Jiayi, cut down two small trees about the thickness of a wrist nearby, tied them together with rope, and quickly made two simple little sleds.
Although he was taciturn, he was very perceptive. He noticed that the old men, including Uncle Zhao, who had difficulty walking, looked unwell and guessed that they were worried about climbing the mountain, so he came up with this idea...
Jiayin sat in the shack watching the commotion, and couldn't help but like her third uncle even more. Such a quiet, kind, and gentle man—her third aunt really had good taste!
Zhao Yuru happened to come over, took out a handkerchief to wipe her husband's sweat, and was about to speak when she turned around and saw her little niece's bright eyes. For some reason, she suddenly blushed...
Soon, everyone knew that they would be climbing the mountain the next day.
Some were worried, some were afraid, but the fact that a hundred or so people of all ages from the village went together emboldened them.
It has to be said that everyone's burdens and packages will need to be streamlined again.
Traveling over mountains is much slower than traveling on flat ground; carrying a lot of stuff is a deadly burden...
After all that noise and commotion, it was already past midnight when everyone finally went to sleep.
I slept soundly through the night, and when I woke up early, the sky, washed clean by the autumn rain, was a dazzling blue.
Everyone gathered their belongings and assembled in one place.
The village chief gave the instructions again, and seeing that there were no unexpected events, he waved goodbye and set off.
At this moment, the young woman who had asked the Li family for money yesterday stepped forward with her husband and children.
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