In late February, all things revived, and a layer of new green sprouted on the trees at the edges of fields.
At the border between the two provinces, the carriage stopped. Madam Cheng emerged from the carriage and stood on the shafts, gazing into the distance, her eyes suddenly reddening.
"Ahead, is Huainan Prefecture, is Jiangnan!"
The villagers crowded forward, and as they looked, they saw fertile fields like large squares of various shapes, with many farmers planting rice seedlings. Between the green waters and mountains, white walls and black tiles appeared, and colorful spring flowers bloomed at the edges of fields and by the houses, as beautiful as a painting.
Many could not help but shed tears.
From the time they set out until now, they had traveled for nearly half a year.
From late autumn to spring, in these more than five months, they had experienced many unforgettable things, and even worried from time to time that they might die on the road.
Now, they had finally arrived in Jiangnan!
Jiang Wan looked at the scenery ahead and liked it very much.
This was merely the border of Jiangnan, and it was already very prosperous. The further they went, the more prosperous it would surely be.
She was greatly looking forward to the new life that awaited her.
Madam Cheng waited for everyone to admire the scenery for a while before saying, "It's still more than ten days' journey to Yao County. Everyone, don't delay, let's go."
When everyone fled famine, their initial goal was only Jiangnan.
But later, they learned from Madam Cheng that the Jiangnan region was vast, and it would be difficult for refugees like them to find a place to survive in Jiangnan without the government's help.
And along the way, Madam Cheng had received much care from the small mountain village. She could ask her husband to find a way to settle them in Yao County.
Upon hearing this, everyone was naturally overjoyed and decided to follow Madam Cheng.
Now that Madam Cheng asked everyone to continue on their way, everyone cooperated with excitement.
The procession moved forward again.
Jiang Wan leaned on the carriage window, sticking her head out, and carefully looking at the scenery outside.
In her previous life, the place where she lived no longer had any normal natural scenery. There were mutated plants everywhere, ruins, and the air was filled with the stench of rotting plants and animals.
And the scenery before her, she had only seen in those circulated films.
No, this scenery was more beautiful than in those films, and it intoxicated her.
Little Pony had already gone mad, flapping its wings, sometimes soaring straight into the sky, and sometimes folding its wings and diving down. Its excited cries attracted a flock of local birds.
Nourished by its abilities, it was no longer as thin as before, with dull and lusterless feathers. Now, its body was plump, and every feather shone with luster, looking particularly spirited and beautiful, causing the little birds to circle around it. However, it pretended to be proud and flew back to Jiang Wan's shoulder, disdainfully turning its head aside.
Jiang Wan couldn't help but smile and tap its little head, "So boastful!"
At this moment, Cheng Sinian poked his head out of his carriage, took out a small porcelain bowl, and gently tapped it.
Upon hearing the sound, Little Pony uncontrollably changed direction, its eyes shining as it looked at what Cheng Sinian held.
These were small insects that Cheng Sinian had specifically dug up, with the intention of pleasing Little Pony.
Jiang Wan looked at Little Pony's unpromising appearance and flicked its little head with annoyance, "Greedy creature, go eat."
With the command, Little Pony happily pounced towards Cheng Sinian.
Cheng Sinian quickly raised his left hand, letting Little Pony land on it, and then used chopsticks to feed it the insects.
Madam Cheng in the same carriage got goosebumps. "Cheng Sinian, get out and feed it outside!"
She really couldn't stand those wriggling insects, and she feared she might kick Cheng Sinian off the carriage later.
Cheng Sinian perfunctorily replied, "Its appetite is small, it will be full after eating two."
As a result, Little Pony ate all the insects Cheng Sinian had prepared in one go before flapping its wings and flying back to Jiang Wan's side.
Cheng Sinian, however, was willing to bear it, and even said with anticipation, "Little Pony, I'll catch insects to feed you tomorrow too."
Jiang Wan tutted, "What a sucker."
Zhang Qiaoxiu, whose injuries had healed about seventy to eighty percent, couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh. Su Shi, whose belly had already begun to show, also laughed happily.
The procession traveled for more than ten days and finally arrived at Yao County.
"This is Yao County. It looks very prosperous."
"It's wonderful to think that we can settle down here in the future."
After entering Yao County, the villagers were in a state of great excitement.
Madam Cheng was equally excited.
"Nian'er, we'll see your father in a little while. Do you miss him?"
Upon hearing this, Cheng Sinian's eyes turned red.
The procession soon reached the city gate of Yao County.
Entry into the city required a pass, and most of the villagers from the small mountain village did not have one.
Madam Cheng had Erlang stop the carriage. She lifted the curtain and looked outside, her gaze quickly locking onto someone sitting at the city gate.
"Granny Tang!"
The woman called Granny Tang heard the voice, shivered violently, leaped up from the stool, and rushed over, "Madam! Your old servant has seen Madam! Madam, you're back..."
As she spoke, Granny Tang began to cry.
"After hearing that the official road in Tongzhou City was washed away by a mountain flood, the master sent many people to look for you and the young master. By the way, Madam, where is the young master? Is he alright?"
Cheng Sinian poked his head out of the carriage, "Granny, I'm fine."
Granny Tang's heart, which had been hanging for several months, finally relaxed.
When she noticed that the carriage Madam Cheng was in, and the people accompanying her, were all strangers, she couldn't help but ask, "Madam, where are the people around you? Where have they all gone?"
Madam Cheng's expression quickly turned sad, "They... they are all gone."
Granny Tang's face turned pale with fright, "What happened? Madam, what exactly did you encounter?"
Cheng Sinian knew his mother didn't want to talk about those loyal servants, so he said, "Granny Tang, let's go back to the manor quickly. I'm so hungry and tired."
Granny Tang then reacted, patting her forehead, "Oh, yes, yes, look at my memory."
Saying this, Granny Tang called out towards the city gate, "Quickly go to the county office and inform the master that Madam and the young master are back!"
A guard at the city gate immediately ran towards the city.
Madam Cheng leaned out and said to Jiang Pan, "Brother Jiang, tell everyone to follow. I'll take you into the city."
Jiang Pan nodded and called out to the villagers.
Granny Tang looked at the group of dust-covered villagers with great surprise and asked in a low voice, "Madam, these people..."
Madam Cheng smiled and said, "My friends."
With Madam Cheng leading the way, the villagers from the small mountain village smoothly entered the city.
They were dressed in typical refugee attire, and as they walked through the prosperous and bustling city, they appeared very conspicuous.
Many citizens looked at them and quickly retreated to the sides, afraid of bumping into them and dirtying their clothes.
"How did these refugees get into the city? Who let them in?"
"Where did these people come from? They look so dirty."
Pedestrians on the street murmured, but the people from the small mountain village were indifferent.
They had heard and seen too much along the way. These words meant nothing to them. Besides, they were indeed not clean, and what people said was the truth.