The people holding the jars were in a really bad situation; they were either pushed to the ground or pinned down by several refugees.
The refugees were frantically grabbing for the cans.
Several cans were accidentally smashed. Seeing that there was no water inside, the refugees were still not convinced, thinking that they were being fooled and that some of the cans must have contained water.
The people in the group didn't care what the refugees thought; they helped their own people up and ran away as fast as they could.
After everyone ran back, they checked on the injured and found that twelve people had minor injuries, two had sprained ankles, and one had been trampled.
The village chief sighed, "When will this ever end?"
Village Chief: "Everyone, please be on patrol. We'll rest here tonight. The team will set off tomorrow at noon. While we have this time, each household should weave some straw mats to exchange for water."
The children were overjoyed to hear that they could stay for so long.
When the adults saw that they could really exchange their water for straw, they put all their effort into cutting thatch and weaving straw mats.
In the village chief's rest area, several children, some of whom were already grown up, were lining up to drink water while holding their babies.
Most of the households in the village have run out of water. Adults and children can still manage by chewing grass roots to keep warm, but it's not enough for the babies who haven't even grown teeth yet.
So the village chief brought out the public supplies, which were originally meant to be used when everyone ran out of food and water and ate together from the same pot, but these babies couldn't wait.
We can only take out the water and give it to them to drink.
After the Chen family received the water, they gave each of the children a sip.
Zhou looked at the remaining supplies and, apart from food, brought out everything that could be exchanged for water.
I don't know if they'll accept these bamboo baskets and crates.
Grandma Zhou brought over a stone mortar and pestle. "We've always kept this with us, we can't bear to throw it away. Let's see if we can exchange it for some water."
The Chen family also brought out a stone mortar. Zhou thought to herself, since we have extras, I might as well take one out and try it out to see if I can get water.
Then, Zhou reluctantly took out a jar of fermented bean curd.
The families of Chen's daughters-in-law came over carrying bundles.
"Take these clothes and use them to change the water."
Chen Xiaohua took the silver bracelet and hairpin that her husband had given her, saying, "Mother, take these to change the water too."
Mrs. Zhou glared at her daughter: "Keep it safe and don't take it out randomly."
Chen Xiaohua: "Mom~"
Zhou: "Are you going to listen to your mother or not?"
Chen Xiaohua whispered, "Listen."
While resting at night, everyone lit a fire and wove straw mats so that they could change the water more often the next day.
Chen Kai and the others were out of options. Even with the system and cheat codes, it was useless; they were too gimmicky. They decided to rely on their own hands and help out by weaving straw mats.
Around midnight, Chen Kai and his team finally couldn't stay awake any longer and started to feel sleepy.
Old Man Chen said with heartache, "Chen Nong, take them all back to sleep."
Little Bao had been busy for a long time, and his little head was starting to nod.
After being woken up, he mumbled, "I'm not sleeping, I want to help."
In the end, his older brother carried him back into the mule cart.
The children went to sleep, while the remaining adults continued weaving straw mats through the night.
When the adults woke up the next day, they all had dark circles under their eyes.
Before noon, the Chen family cooked a large pot of fern root rice noodles, which included dried bean curd sticks and salted tofu.
Because Chen Laoda and his group were going to take supplies up the mountain to exchange for water, and then deal with the refugees, and soon after they returned, the group would set off again, Liu Laotai wanted them to eat their fill before they went, because they would have the strength to do so.
After the team rested, they organized their supplies, which they would then take up to get water.
They have a lot of supplies this time; last time they were just testing the waters and didn't bring as much.
This time, almost everything except food, clothing, and livestock was taken out to exchange for water.
After the team was organized, they went up the mountain, while the rest of the people stayed at the rest area to wait.
Those who remained were growing impatient, and soon they heard bad news: a fight had broken out between refugees and displaced people.
Everyone tensed up and quickly packed their things and hitched up the donkey cart.
"Everyone, get your weapons ready!" the village chief of Lotus Village commanded.
The village chief's wife nervously grabbed a wood-chopping knife, while Zhou brought over a Molotov cocktail, saying, "Don't worry, we have a secret weapon!"
The village chief's wife said with a wry smile, "If only our ancestors could bestow a few more upon us."
Chen Kai and his group were ordered to stay inside the carriage and not get off.
Chen Nong and the others were in a panic, wondering what to do, as another fight might be brewing.
Chen Kai took out the last locked box and stood there in a daze.
Chen Kai said, "Chen Nong, could you help me put this box into your bag? You can't just take it out like that!"
Chen Nong readily agreed to his uncle's request, immediately taking some food out of the dog's egg and putting it into the box.
Chen Kai repeatedly warned, "You must not take it out without our permission. Even if your parents tell you to take it out, you are not allowed to take it out."
Chen Nong blinked. "Why?" His grandparents asked him for it, and he couldn't refuse.
Chen Kai threatened, "Because if you put something in there that you can't eat or drink, your parents will scold you if they find out."
Chen Nong whispered, "Then you mustn't tell anyone about this."
Chen Kai and the others nodded.
To avoid being discovered, they hid the food they had taken out and stuffed it back in when there was extra space in the buns.
The fighting over there eventually spread to this side, and many refugees joined the melee.
The village chief of Lotus Village directed, "Evacuate a distance first."
The team quickly withdrew and moved away from the battle. Everyone was so anxious they were about to explode. "Hurry up and bring back the water person!"
As they retreated for the second time, away from the battle, they finally heard the news that the water-changing team had come down the mountain and was on their way back.
The village chief of Lotus Village then dispatched two more teams to provide support.
As they waited, they were almost caught in the crossfire again and had no choice but to continue their retreat.
When the water-changing team returned, they were in a sorry state. A third of them had their clothes torn and were covered in blood. Three of them had to be carried back.
Although the water was brought back safely, it was another day of injury.
After the group returned, they set off and left without lingering.
Even the three people who were carried back were put on a donkey cart so that the doctor could treat them there.
This exchange of supplies freed up many donkey carts.
Families that owned donkey carts generally only had half a cartload of supplies left, and the items on that half cart were mostly inedible and unusable odds and ends.
The Chen family only had one donkey cart full of goods left, including some food, but not much.
Most of the vacant cattle, horses, mules and donkeys have been rented to Lotus Village. They have no water or food, but they can be paid with silver. Also, don't forget to feed the livestock grass roots every day.
With so many donkey carts available, everyone was able to travel light, and the team moved much faster.
On a donkey cart, a boy looked at the people from Dashan Village and Hehua Village who were riding in their donkey cart and said, "You have to help feed my donkey some grass roots, otherwise it won't be able to walk, and we won't have a donkey cart to ride in."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com