The original notice stated that Youzhou City had already accommodated 1,500 households of refugees, and there was simply no more room for them.
In the past month, there has been heavy rainfall in various places, which has alleviated the food shortage caused by the drought. Therefore, we urge the refugees who have fled here to return to their hometowns and be resettled.
The porridge distribution in Youzhou City lasted for a month, but after that month it stopped, and the refugees were advised to leave as soon as possible.
Han Mingjiang lowered his head and asked Xue Laohu, "Father, does this mean that Youzhou City won't accommodate us? What are we going to do? Do we have to walk back?"
Han Zhaoxiong said, "I am determined not to go back. The journey back is still so long. First, we will run out of food. Second, I simply can't run anymore."
Xue Laohu said, "Going back is not very realistic. Jin Wang's soldiers are still looking for our Han Family Village everywhere, and there's another one. They are still constantly conscripting men."
The fact that Prince Rong of Youzhou City didn't arrest these refugees to serve in the army is already quite merciful. Moreover, we cannot stay here any longer and must leave quickly.
Once the princes start fighting among themselves, we refugees will be the first soldiers they fight over.
And you all take a look.
Xue Laohu pointed to the people on both sides of the official road and said to the two men, "Do you see them? There are hundreds of strong and healthy men here. I feel there must be something wrong here."
Han Mingjiang said, "Father, do you mean they want to create chaos here and storm into Youzhou City?"
Xue Laohu didn't respond to him and continued walking forward in silence.
They didn't stop along the official road, but went all the way to the mountainside, where they found a less crowded spot and the three of them sat down to rest.
Xue Laohu said to the two of them, "Later we'll find a few people to ask about the situation, see how long they've been here, and whether they know anything about the situation in Youzhou City."
After saying that, Han Mingjiang and Han Zhaoxiong stood up and each went to ask the refugees.
Xue Laohu frowned, looking in the direction of Youzhou City's gate. He had just noticed that there were many burly men on both sides of the city gate, carrying knives. They didn't look like refugees, but rather like soldiers from a military camp. The fact that hundreds of burly men were gathered there was illogical.
He felt that these people were trying to stir up trouble among the refugees and take the opportunity to attack Youzhou City.
He looked around and chose a group of people who seemed to be fleeing from another village, intending to ask them about their situation.
In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the three of them returned to where they had been sitting. After summarizing what they had learned, the information was largely consistent with their guesses.
These people have been fleeing here over the past two weeks, and they have been given porridge every three days until now.
Moreover, they knew the contents of the notice in Youzhou City, but no one wanted to return to their hometown. They all said they had no food, were too tired to run any further, and had no energy to run back.
Han Mingjiang brought out wild vegetable cakes and water. Everyone ate some and rested quickly, as they needed to hurry back to the other side of the mountain before dawn the next day.
This side of the mountain.
"Old village chief, this is my bottom line!"
Li Lanzhen expressed her thoughts, looking firmly at the old village chief and Han Shunde sitting opposite her.
The old village chief was in a dilemma. He was thinking that since they all came from the same place, not to mention that Zhou was his second daughter-in-law's mother, he felt quite friendly towards the people from the surrounding villages after escaping his hometown. He thought it would be good to live together as a community.
However, he also loathed Zhou Shi. Looking at Li Lanzhen's determined eyes, the old village chief sighed sincerely.
“Alright, Lanzhen, I promise you, if we continue to flee the famine, we will go our own way. But if Youzhou City accepts us as refugees and puts us in the same village, then there’s nothing I can do.”
Li Lanzhen thought to herself, "Youzhou City won't accept us. It seems we still need to continue searching for a place where we can live."
At this moment, she suddenly remembered what the young master of Jinfulai Jewelry Store had told her: "Go east and hide in the mountains. You'll have to stay there for at least three years."
Suddenly, an idea popped into her head: Yes, there are mountains upon mountains here, there must be a place where we can live for three years, or even longer.
She turned to Han Shunde and said, "Village chief, please send people to keep a close watch on Zhoujia Village. Those dozen or so big men came looking for them just now. They look like they've eaten human flesh."
Han Shunde stood up in surprise. "Ah, is that so? I have to go and see." He stood up, called a few people, and headed towards the thatched hut where Zhoujia Village was temporarily staying.
Li Lanzhen also stood up, turned around and went back to her own thatched hut. Let them do whatever they want, as long as they don't bother her family.
Li Lanzhen's thatched hut was at the very top, and the closest one to their house was about twenty or thirty meters away, so for dinner she invited Xue Nizi and the others to cook a pot of porridge.
After finishing the porridge and eating a wild vegetable pancake, Li Lanzhen gave everyone another instruction. "Starting tomorrow, all women and children must stay at home and are not allowed to leave. Except for those who are part of the guard team, no one else should leave either. The donkeys and mules at home are being watched over."
Moreover, everyone carries weapons during the day; if anyone from Zhoujia Village or a stranger gets close, beat them severely.
Perhaps it was her expression that frightened the children, because Linglong and Miaomiao immediately rushed into her arms, hugging her on either side.
Han Yinan looked at Gou Dan with a serious expression, "Tomorrow is my shift, Gou Dan, so you'll be keeping an eye on my younger brothers and sisters."
Xue Bao glanced at Han Yuemei and said, "I'm on duty tomorrow too. Something's come up at home. Gou Dan, just keep blowing the whistle."
When Xue Bao mentioned whistles, Li Lanzhen suddenly remembered that she should hang whistles around the necks of all the children in the family so they could blow them whenever there was danger.
So she took out a dozen or so plastic whistles and gave one to each child to put around their necks, saying, "Put them inside your clothes, don't let them show, and don't let anyone see your whistles."
The obedient children all tucked the whistles into their clothes along their necks and patted them with their hands.
Despite Li Lanzhen's meticulous planning, something still happened that left her feeling frightened and angry.
That night, Li Lanzhen lay on a straw mat. The first thing she needed to do was check the online store to see if she had redeemed the items she had listed for exchange.
This sight almost made Li Lanzhen jump up.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com