Chapter 9: Enduring hunger is called being soft-hearted.
Yue Yining repeated what Fu Yao had just said.
She hesitated for a moment before admitting, "I foresaw the signs of this drought and food shortage three months ago. You don't need to worry too much. The divination said that there would be a heavy rain within 27 days, and the drought in the north would be alleviated after this rainfall."
Just now, Yue Yining realized that she had overlooked an extremely important issue.
She was used to using divination to predict the future, so she wasn't very perceptive of the variables in life. Unconsciously, she had developed a mindset that was hard to break, always feeling that everything was going according to her predetermined trajectory and that nothing unexpected would happen.
Three months ago, when she divined the signs of drought, Ayu had not yet come to her home.
Upon learning of the impending severe drought, Yue Yining carefully examined the divination results and deduced that heavy rain would fall in the last three days of August, followed by increased rainfall in the summer and autumn, and grain prices would gradually return to normal levels. This seemingly fierce drought would eventually pass smoothly.
Yue Yining called Fu Yao over and specifically asked about the family's food reserves. She also instructed Fu Yao to buy enough food the next day to last three months and store it at home. After confirming that the family had enough food, she felt relieved and completely put the matter out of her mind.
But ever since Ayu arrived, their food rations have been calculated for three people for almost a month. That's why they're already short of food a month before the drought ends.
Just a little carelessness has led them into their current awkward situation.
Yue Yining didn't say these words aloud, because if she explained in detail, it would inevitably make people feel that all the blame should be placed on Ayu. If she hadn't kindly taken him in, the two of them wouldn't have had to go hungry for a month.
But Yue Yining didn't expect that Ayu was so clever that she immediately understood the key points after Yue Yining explained the situation.
His voice was clear and sharp, directly addressing the core of her evasive question: "If I hadn't stayed behind, would the family's food have run out so quickly?"
The answer is self-evident.
This time, even Fu Yao, who was always quick to criticize him, remained silent. Silence, like a monstrous beast ready to devour its prey, swallowed the three of them whole, and even the surrounding air seemed to thin.
Yue Yining pursed her lips, trying to break down this invisible wall.
"It's alright. This matter should be..." It should be her fault, not A-Yu's. After all, she was the one who brought him back, and she was the one who promised him to stay. It's just that she was careless, too presumptuous, and lost her senses.
“I understand.” Ayu didn’t let her finish. He turned to Fu Yao, “Miss Fu, if it’s for two people, is the remaining food enough to last a month?”
Fu Yao was taken aback, seemingly not expecting him to ask such a question, but she still answered reflexively, "If it's just the two of us, it's still a tight squeeze, but with the cured meat and eggs we have at home, it should be enough..."
Yue Yining was somewhat taken aback: "Wait, what do you want to do?"
"Are you planning to go without food for the next month?"
Ayu laughed, and her subsequent answer confirmed her guess: "Rice and noodles are not necessities. Just eat other foods that can fill your stomach. It's only for a month."
Yue Yining: "Even if you say that..."
She wanted to say something, but after seeing Ayu's eyes, the words stopped on her lips.
His gaze was so gentle, yet she inexplicably felt that no matter what she said, he wouldn't budge an inch.
Ayu said slowly, "I just feel that since the problem started with me, it should be solved by me."
"Otherwise I would feel guilty, as I have already caused Miss a great deal of trouble."
Yue Yining felt a part of her chest being slightly tugged. Her heart, like a boulder sunk to the bottom of the sea, was being churned and licked by the surging tides. Though immovable and as hard as a rock, it was gradually being eroded by the seawater.
She moved her lips slightly: "...Really?"
Ayu gazed at Yue Yining, who was sitting by the bed. At that moment, her eyes were filled with her own reflection, and she leaned forward slightly, indicating her concern for him.
Realizing this, he suddenly felt a heat rise in his chest, which then burned all the way to his throat.
His smile became even more captivating, and a gentle light flickered in his eyes:
"Miss, trust me, there won't be any problems."
The situation was actually worse than they imagined.
The government's relief efforts were delayed, causing widespread public discontent, while wealthy merchants hoarded grain for speculation. Grain prices on the market skyrocketed to an astonishing level.
The townspeople living in Jiulian are mostly ordinary farmers and small vendors, with a few doing other businesses. Almost every household grows their own grains and vegetables, so the first half month was not greatly affected.
On the contrary, Yue Yining and his group had only arrived in Jiulian Town a year ago and did not have the habit of growing grains and vegetables in their yard. They bought all their food on weekdays, and now they were in dire straits.
Half a month later, the number of displaced people in Jiulian Town increased, and they frequently caused trouble, making everyone feel uneasy. Some villagers said that some people who roamed the streets all day long always stared at the respectable houses, like hungry wolves waiting for the sheepfold to open.
The weather is getting hotter every day, with the high temperatures baking the earth and making the world feel like a steam room.
Once the door is closed, Yue Yining's residence is filled with lush greenery, as serene as a painting.
That night, Yue Yining blew out the candle and was about to go to sleep when she noticed someone standing outside her door. Judging from the shadow, it seemed to be hesitating whether to knock on her door.
Yue Yining immediately called someone in, then got up and lit the oil lamp by the bed: "What's wrong?"
Outside, the night was deep and the trees were quiet. Fu Yao, with her long hair loose and wearing only a thin shirt, stood by the door.
She didn't answer Yue Yining's question. Instead, she silently and slowly made her way to the bedside, lay down on Yue Yining's lap, and rested her fluffy head on his lap.
She looks just like a little girl who has had a nightmare and runs to find her mother.
Yue Yining looked at the top of Fu Yao's head and her heart softened. She stroked the little maid's shoulder and asked, "What's wrong? Can't you sleep?"
"Do you remember things from the past?"
Fu Yao said in a muffled voice, "...No."
"I... I was just too hot and couldn't sleep, that's why I suddenly came to find you, Miss."
"I'm fine, really."
Yue Yining understood Fu Yao's stubbornness, but she didn't want to expose her.
She patted gently, soothingly. She held the trembling little maid in her arms, smoothing away the unease that threatened to break free of her restraints, and calming the sharp anxiety that was rising within her.
Fu Yao's tense shoulders and back gradually relaxed.
She remained silent for a long time before whispering, "Miss, this drought will pass peacefully, won't it?"
Yue Yining hummed in agreement: "It will pass, it's alright, don't be afraid."
Metaphysics is unpredictable, so Yue Yining has never liked making promises about outcomes. But she knows that Fu Yao needs this promise to calm her mind at this moment.
The year she descended the mountain to travel the world was the twelfth year of the Jiahe era.
That year, the northern river basin suffered severe flooding, thousands of acres of fertile land were submerged, countless people were displaced, starving and destitute.
Fu Yao's mother died that year.
She left the last bit of food to young Fu Yao and starved to death.
This drought struck with devastating force, almost like a landslide, vaguely reminiscent of the great famine of four years ago. In truly disastrous years, the poorer the village, the more likely it is to become a living hell.
Yue Yining could understand Fu Yao's anxiety and fear—or rather, no one could empathize with this shadow and nightmare better than her.
Yue Yining wanted to distract Fu Yao, so she asked her something else: "Let's not talk about that. Yao Yao, for the past two weeks, you've been watching A Yu. Have you noticed anything unusual about him?"
From the first day that Ayu ran out of food, Yue Yining instructed Fu Yao to keep a close eye on Ayu's whereabouts and to inform her immediately if he made any unusual moves.
Fu Yao shook her head: "From the first day, he rarely went out. After finishing the work I assigned him, he would stay in his room and I don't know what he was doing. One day I was really curious, so I made an excuse to ask him a question. He opened the door quickly, and I glanced at the room and there was nothing unusual."
“He goes out every three days. I went with him twice. He went to the mountains over Nanshan to dig for wild vegetables and yams. He hardly had any contact with others. By now, the villagers have probably already eaten up all the beans, ferns and other food that can be eaten within a few miles of the village. I have observed the time he goes out, and he is indeed coming back earlier and earlier.”
“When I went to town to fetch water today, I heard them say that there are more and more refugees and that there are frequent incidents of violence. Boss Yang also said that she doesn’t want to do business anymore. Several villages nearby are in chaos. Refugees pass through Jiulian Town on their way to Jinling. It’s too dangerous. She simply closed her shop for a while. She told us to make sure to lock our doors and not to go out too often. But this means that Ayu can’t go out either.”
Upon hearing this, Yue Yining nodded without any particular reaction, simply saying, "Is that so?"
Fu Yao looked up, a hint of hesitation in her eyes: "...Miss, I think I can eat a little less. Perhaps I could share some of my food with him? If we can't go out these next few days and he has nothing to eat, I'm afraid he'll..."
Yue Yining smiled upon hearing this.
Yue Yining picked up a strand of Fu Yao's long hair: "I already had a feeling you would say that before you even opened your mouth."
To outsiders, this master and servant pair would seem like a difficult character to talk to, with the loud-voiced and fiery-tempered maidservant, while the female celestial master with the face of Guanyin would be compassionate, gentle, and kind.
Yue Yining sighed, "You are too soft-hearted."
Fu Yao leaned on Yue Yining's lap and tilted her head: "Isn't that just like you, Miss?"
Yue Yining burst out laughing: "Soft-hearted? Me? You're exaggerating my qualities too much."
Fu Yao: "How could it be an exaggeration? Miss is clearly a kind-hearted person, otherwise why would she have been willing to take me with her in the first place?"
Yue Yining chuckled, shook her head, and offered no further explanation.
The persona presented to others is always far removed from the true self; this may be a unique characteristic of the human species—saying one thing and meaning another.
Yue Yining: "As for the grain, let's not distribute it to him yet. We'll talk about it in a few days."
Fu Yao was a little surprised. She hesitated for a moment, then slowly nodded: "...I will listen to Miss. Miss must have your reasons for doing this."
The candlelight flickered, and tears fell like red moles.
The smile on Yue Yining's face slowly faded.
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