Zhou Shi put down the shoe she was holding, "Are you telling the truth? The eldest branch is hiding grain?"
Jiang Yu, with a face mottled with red and green, said, "I saw it with my own eyes. They took it out of their luggage."
Zhou Shi became excited and quickly let go of Jiang Yu, putting the shoe back on her foot. "Good eldest branch, I knew they wouldn't dare to cause trouble like this without reason. So they've been hiding private stores! Now that they've fallen into my hands, I'll make you suffer!"
She rushed into the house and said to Jiang Lao Er, who was lying on the bed, "Husband, hurry up and go see mother. Tell her that the eldest branch has hidden a lot of grain!"
Jiang Lao Er sat up with a jolt. "What did you say?"
"The eldest branch has privately hidden a lot of grain! That all belongs to the common fund, which means it belongs to us!"
Thinking of that grain, Zhou Shi's heart fluttered with excitement. Grain was the most scarce commodity at the moment. The family only had two bags of coarse flour left. With that old shrew's character, she would definitely cut back on what she and Jiang Yu ate.
If she could seize the grain from the eldest branch, then she could eat a little more.
Jiang Lao Er jumped off the bed and hurried to Jiang Lao Tou'er's room to explain the situation. "Father, the eldest son's family is truly audacious to play such a trick right under your and mother's noses. They truly have no regard for the family's rules!"
Jiang Lao Tou'er raised his eyelids. "What do you mean?"
Jiang Lao Er rubbed his hands. "Father, that is common grain, for our entire family..."
Jiang Lao Tou'er glanced at him. "Stop that thought right now, unless you don't plan on leaving with them. Lao Er, if you want to make trouble, I won't stop you, but you'd better think carefully. Your two sons are only a few years old. You know how many dangers there are on the road south. If you truly offend them to death, have you thought about what you'll do along the way?"
Jiang Lao Er retorted, "He has already said he wants to sever ties with us. Do you still expect anything from him?"
Jiang Lao Tou'er snorted. "I know the eldest son. He is the most soft-hearted. If you hadn't wanted to sell that little idiot, and Jiang Yu hadn't pushed the eldest daughter-in-law down the mountain in front of so many people, he wouldn't have said such things. No matter when, relatives are still relatives. As long as you don't burn all your bridges, you can always count on them."
Jiang Lao Er wanted to say more, but when he met Jiang Lao Tou'er's eyes, he shrank his neck. "Alright, I understand."
After Jiang Lao Er left, Jiang Lao Tou'er shook his head helplessly. This second son, his vision and heart were just like his mother's, not fit for important matters.
Fortunately, he still had the third son.
The third son, Jiang Wen, was promising. He was the only scholar in their village in decades. He married the daughter of a wealthy family in the county and lived a very happy life.
Thinking of his third son, Jiang Wen, Jiang Lao Tou'er's expression became anxious.
The refugees were coming from the county town. He didn't know the situation in the county town. Had the city gates been closed properly? Had they been affected?
At the thought of this, Jiang Lao Tou'er scratched his head in worry.
When Jiang Lao Er came out of the main room, Zhou Shi immediately rushed to meet him. "Husband, how did it go? Did Father tell you to go and ask the eldest branch for grain? Wait, I'll go find a suitable tool!"
She was determined to use this opportunity to beat those rotten-hearted people from the eldest branch!
Seeing her so excited, Jiang Lao Er was furious. He raised his hand and slapped her. "You quiet down for me! Stop stirring up trouble all day, or I'll divorce you!"
Zhou Shi was inexplicably slapped and had no idea what was going on.
Jiang Yu, huddled in the corner, felt a bit of excitement seeing Zhou Shi being hit.
Jiang Wan's family knew nothing of these trivial matters. After roasting and sharing some sweet potatoes, they took out the mats and bedding from the cart and spread them by the campfire to sleep.
A neighbor saw their family lying on the ground and came over to say, "Da Pan, pack up your things and squeeze in with us. If you sleep out in the open like this, you'll catch a cold."
Jiang Pan smiled and declined, "It's alright. Starting tomorrow, we'll all have to sleep outdoors like this. It's good for us to adapt a day in advance."
The person was stunned. "These times, it's really unbearable."
Jiang Pan comforted him, "Think of the bright side. When we get to Jiangnan, life will be better than it is now, no matter what."
The person sighed, "Let's hope so."
After the person left, Jiang Pan said to Da Lang, "Although we are in the village, it's not peaceful now. Someone needs to stay on guard tonight. You take the first half, and I'll take the second half."
Er Lang quickly said, "Father, you sleep soundly. My elder brother and I will take turns guarding."
Jiang Pan thought about it and nodded. "That's fine. You should also learn to grow up and take responsibility from now on."
San Lang also wanted to step forward, but Jiang Pan pushed him back. "How old are you? Do you need to join the fun?"
San Lang retorted, "I'm already twelve."
Jiang Pan smiled and patted him. "Sleep well. When you need to take responsibility, you won't be able to run away."
San Lang reluctantly lay down.
Jiang Wan, sleeping between Chen Yuezhi and Su Shi, couldn't help but giggle when she saw San Lang being patted.
San Lang heard the laughter and made a face at her, making Jiang Wan laugh even louder.
With this laughter, the suppressed emotions and the confusion about the future in everyone's hearts dissipated.
What was there to suppress or be confused about?
As long as their family was together, no matter how difficult the road ahead was, it wouldn't scare them!
The next morning, before dawn, there was movement in the village.
Everyone had to quickly count their belongings and prepare to set off.
Jiang Wan's family also got up and repacked everything, loading it onto the cart.
Soon, the village chief's family came driving a牛车 (niúchē - ox cart).
Although the village chief's family had an ox cart, except for the village chief's seventy-odd-year-old mother sitting on the cart, everyone else had to walk.
There was no other way. When a whole family fled famine, they would bring everything useful.
With a large family, there were many things, so even with an ox cart, it couldn't carry people.
The situation was the same for other families in the village who had ox carts.
After waiting for half an hour, as the sky began to brighten, the villagers had all gathered.
The village chief looked at everyone. "Since everyone has decided to flee famine together, we must advance and retreat together on the road. If there is danger, we will all bear it together. If any family acts like a coward, we will expel them from the team!"
This decision was unanimously agreed upon.
"Alright, it's getting late. Let's set off!"
The entire village, pushing carts and dragging their families, walked towards the village entrance.
As they passed through the village, many women and children began to cry.
Once they left, they would never be able to return.
The men, hearing the crying, couldn't help but their eyes redden.
Jiang Pan's family had already experienced this once, so they didn't feel much.
After leaving the village, the village chief looked back at the village and suddenly knelt down, bowing three times to the village.
This was the homeland that had given him birth and raised him. Leaving now was probably a final farewell.
Seeing this, the others also knelt down.
After everyone kowtowed to the village, they pushed their carts and, without looking back, headed towards the unknown future.