Lan Zhen and the others had just finished their meeting when Xue Bao, Han Mingjiang, and Han Zhaoxiong returned.
They saw that the people from Hanjiacun were sitting in a circle and knew that they must be having a meeting. Han Shunde's eldest son, Han Zhaoxiong, said, "Grandpa, the three of us looked closer to the official road and saw that there were people fleeing famine all along the way. They had almost no food left and their clothes were tattered."
The old village chief sighed deeply.
Alas, natural disasters and man-made calamities are making it impossible for ordinary people to live.
Xue Bao continued, "They all seem to be from the same village, traveling together. It's rare to see one or two people traveling together. I think they've run out of food long ago; they're all pale and thin, starving, and the children are crying loudly from hunger."
Han Mingjiang also said, "That's right. If anyone is boiling water or making porridge, they'll watch from afar with their eyes turning red. We should hide our food very well before we go down the mountain tomorrow."
Han Zhaoxiong continued, "Also, we absolutely cannot let them see us eating, otherwise they will swarm us and try to snatch it, and we won't be able to do anything about it."
Xue Bao said, "Village chief, I think we should organize something. Every day, we should find a few young men, each carrying a big knife or a stick, to walk on both sides, while the elderly and children walk in the middle. This way, we can protect them from being robbed."
Han Zhaoxiong nodded and said, "There's another thing, everyone should be careful, especially the older women. Don't be soft-hearted and kind-hearted. If you see someone's child starving to death, or a young woman or an older woman who has nothing to eat, don't give away your own things. That could kill someone."
Han Mingjiang nodded and said, "The three of us were lying on that hillside and saw it with our own eyes. It must have been a donkey cart belonging to a wealthy family. An old woman gave half a steamed bun to a child who was about to starve to death. As a result, the refugees from both sides of the road rushed up and dismantled the donkey cart. I don't know if the family was injured."
Therefore, everyone must be careful. First, safeguard your own food supplies; second, never be kind-hearted. If anyone does, our entire Han family village will suffer.
Li Lanzhen hadn't expected the situation down the mountain to be so dire. She frowned and nodded, saying, "We women must be careful. We must never be kind-hearted and think that others are starving to death and want to save them. They are so pitiful. If you pity others, once the refugees swarm you, they will trample you to death, take your children away, and steal all your food and clothes. Then you, your children, and the elderly in your family will starve to death."
As they recounted their story, everyone's faces gradually turned cold, and they felt a growing sense of panic and trembling.
Han Deshun stood up and said, “Everyone understands. First, there are many people fleeing famine below. Second, these people have run out of food and have been starving for a long time. Third, don’t be kind-hearted and try to save others just because they are about to die. If this triggers all the other famine refugees to come and plunder our Han Family Village, then you should leave Han Family Village and not follow us.”
Xue Bao will be in charge of the safety and night watch along the way. Xue Bao, you will select a few men to carry broadswords and wooden sticks later.
As you have instructed, walk along both sides of Hanjiacun Village. The elderly, children, and women will walk in the middle.
"Xue the hunter will lead the way, your donkey cart can go first, and Han Dazhong's donkey cart can go last, is that alright?"
Han Dazhong immediately said, "Yes, village chief, our family will cover their retreat."
Li Lanzhen was still surprised. Where did they get a donkey cart? She remembered that she had put the large mule cart and donkey cart from her family into her spatial storage. She turned her head to look to the side and saw that there were indeed a few carts, but they were very crude.
Li Lanzhen wanted to release the two cars, but it was difficult to explain, so she decided to just use this simple car.
After the meeting, Xue Bao went to organize the roadside guard team.
Li Lanzhen walked over to her family's two cars and saw that they were built by her father, Li Erhan, and his brother.
The wheels were made from cut sections of existing trees, rough and crude, not as big or refined as the originals, but still able to harness donkeys or mules to pull things.
Li Lanzhen looked at it and said to Li Erhan, "Dad, could you put up a canopy on these two carts? Use tree branches to build it up and cover it with some rags. That way, people sitting inside can be shaded from the sun, and people outside can't see what's in the other cart."
Li Erhan nodded, chuckled, and rubbed his hands together, saying, "My daughter is so smart. I'll help you two brothers with it, and we'll be done in no time."
Other villagers also came to take away their own vehicles. While Li Erhan and his son were making their two vehicles, other families came over and asked them to make theirs as well.
They didn't take on everything themselves; they let the children find and cut the wheels themselves. Even if they weren't perfectly round, they still cut them themselves, so some wheels were different sizes. Then they chiseled out grooves, attached the axles, and shaped the wheels into the form of a cart.
I don't know how far I can walk, but it's better than carrying things on my back.
Nothing was said that night.
Before dawn, the people of Hanjiacun got up and, without prior arrangement, cooked porridge to fill their families' stomachs.
Then we went down the mountain.
When they reached the foot of the mountain, it was already dawn. Their group of nearly a hundred people came out of the mountains and immediately alerted the refugees resting on both sides of the official road.
They stood up warily, protecting their families, and glared menacingly at the people of Hanjiacun.
“These people should have food, they also have donkey carts and mules, and that family also has cattle.”
"Yeah, look at them, they don't seem to want to sleep and they're starving."
“Come on, let’s go get some food. We’re all refugees, and we have absolutely nothing to eat at home. My mother and son haven’t eaten anything for two days. If we don’t eat something soon…”
These people were about to run over to beg for food when they stopped after taking a couple of steps.
"Look, they have knives!"
"Yeah, this knife, it looks like a soldier's broadsword to me."
"Did they kill the soldiers and steal their broadswords?"
"Let's wait and see. They don't look like someone to mess with."
Xue Bao and his dozen or so guards, with their large swords raised high and their clubs waving, successfully scared away the refugees who wanted to come forward to beg for or rob food.
As arranged yesterday, Xue Laohu himself drove the donkey cart, cracking his whip as he led everyone slowly toward the main road.
Li Lanzhen followed behind him, and she arranged for all the children to get into the big blue mule cart. She planned to let the children get off and walk after they had walked this part of the road.
The Han family village team walked slowly and nervously under the watchful eyes of the others.
Just then, Li Lanzhen heard the voice that had been worrying her, "Look, your child is starving to death. Here, have a wild vegetable pancake."
Immediately afterwards, a gasp was heard, "Ahhhhhh!"
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