"Good-hearted fellow villagers, please help. I'm fleeing famine from Jianzhou. I haven't eaten for days. Please, be kind and give me something to eat."
The beggar rushed forward and knelt before everyone, grabbing onto Madam Cheng's hem. Madam Cheng screamed in fright.
Jiang Wan, closest to Madam Cheng, kicked out without a second thought.
She had held back her strength, only intending to push him away.
Unexpectedly, the man stumbled backward with the force and began rolling on the ground.
The snow hadn't fully melted yet, and the city gate was a muddy mess. As he rolled, mud splattered all over him.
"Help! They're beating me to death! Someone, come quickly..."
Some passersby stopped to watch the spectacle.
Jiang Wan chuckled, "I'm just a five-year-old girl. How could I possibly kick you to death?"
The onlookers looked at Jiang Wan's small stature and then at the beggar, and couldn't help but laugh, "You beggar are faking it too obviously. How much strength can such a small child have? Begging is one thing, but extorting people is wrong."
The beggar felt wronged. He wasn't entirely faking it; it genuinely hurt.
He also wanted to know how such a small girl could have so much strength!
Jiang Wan, too lazy to bother with the beggar, was about to call her family into the city when Jiang Pan suddenly walked towards the beggar.
Seeing Jiang Pan's tall and sturdy figure, the beggar retreated in fear, afraid of being beaten. "Brother, brother, let's talk. I just want something to eat. If you won't give it, fine, but please don't hit me."
Jiang Pan stepped forward and grabbed the beggar. The beggar was so scared he almost wet himself. He quickly covered his head with his hands, trying to protect himself as much as possible. But the expected fist did not fall.
Jiang Pan reached out and pulled away the beggar's messy hair, looking closely. He asked, "Is your surname Tang?"
The beggar was startled. He opened his cloudy eyes and looked at Jiang Pan, then his eyes widened in surprise. "You... you're Zhang Shu's father-in-law! I recognize you!"
Jiang Pan nodded excitedly, "Yes, I am Zhang Shu's father-in-law. Where is Zhang Shu and his family? You all fled from the same village. If you're here, where are his family members?"
Upon hearing this, Chen Yuezhi immediately realized that this beggar was from the village where Jiang Xiao's in-laws lived!
She quickly stepped forward and asked, "Where is my daughter and her family? Are they here too?"
The beggar surnamed Tang, however, clutched his stomach and said, "Um, I'm so hungry right now, my mind is not working properly."
Jiang Pan immediately said, "Let's go, I'll take you to eat first."
The beggar nimbly got up from the ground. "That would be wonderful."
So, the group walked towards the city gate, paid the entrance fee, and entered the city together.
The beggar smiled obsequiously, "Brother Jiang, have you struck it rich?"
His eyes were sharp. Although the Jiang family was dressed ordinarily, they were all clean and their complexions were rosy. They looked like they lived a comfortable life.
Jiang Pan did not answer his question and led him to a steamed bun stall.
The beggar quickly said, "I want meat-filled ones, ten of them! No, no, twenty!"
Jiang Wan couldn't help but remind him, "Are you sure you can eat that many, and that they will all end up in your stomach?"
There were many beggars fleeing famine outside this town. The Jiang family could afford twenty meat buns, but could this beggar protect them?
The beggar bared his dirty teeth and said, "It's not just me in my family. I can't just ignore their plight." httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
After asking the price of the buns, Jiang Pan paid for twenty meat buns. The stall owner quickly picked out the buns and packed them in a large bamboo basket.
The beggar was so hungry he couldn't stand it. He didn't care if they were hot and grabbed one, devouring it greedily.
As he ate, the grown man couldn't help but shed tears. "I never thought I'd be able to eat meat buns again. I'd be content even if I died right now."
Chen Yuezhi, Madam Cheng, and Su Shi all felt a pang of sympathy.
After swallowing one bun, the beggar felt a bit choked. Jiang Pan gave him a bowl of noodle soup to help him down.
When he had recovered, he quickly opened his clothes and stuffed the remaining buns into his chest.
His clothes were so dirty that a foul smell could be detected from afar. He had also rolled on the ground earlier. After stuffing the snow-white buns into his chest, they looked rather unappetizing.
Madam Cheng and Su Shi felt a bit queasy and turned their heads away.
Jiang Wan, however, was unaffected and asked, "The buns are bought. What do you have to say?"
The beggar pulled his clothes together and then said, "Our village did flee together to escape famine, but we encountered a group of refugees on the road, so many of us were scattered."
Chen Yuezhi's face turned pale. "What about the Zhang family?"
The beggar said, "The Zhang family was also scattered. However, I saw their family before the New Year. They were living in this city. I heard that Zhang Shu's mother was ill, and they were here for treatment. But whether they are still here now is hard to say. I haven't seen them these past few days."
The family became excited upon hearing this.
Chen Yuezhi's voice trembled with urgency. "Da Niang's family might still be in this city. Let's go find them!"
Jiang Wan quickly reminded her, "Mother, ask at the medical clinics!"
Since they were here for treatment, they would definitely go to a medical clinic. This was the fastest way to find them.
So, they put aside their original plans and hurried to inquire about the various medical clinics in the city, asking from one to another.
By nightfall, they finally got news of Jiang Xiao's family at a small medical clinic.
"Their family left some days ago. The old lady's illness was a bit complicated, and we couldn't treat it here. Their son is very filial. The snow hadn't even melted, and he was already rushing to take his family to Jiangnan."
Chen Yuezhi anxiously asked, "Did they say which place in Jiangnan they were going to?"
The doctor at the clinic shook his head. "They didn't say."
The hope that had been burning in the family's hearts all afternoon was extinguished.
Chen Yuezhi's eyes turned red. "In this vast world, where can we find her?"
Jiang Pan also felt a bit sad. "If I had known they were in this city, I would have searched the entire city thoroughly a few days ago."
After all, they had bought grain in this town several times.
The thought of having missed his daughter made him regret it so much he wanted to hit himself.
Jiang Wan quickly consoled them, "Father, Mother, don't worry. Although we haven't found Eldest Sister yet, we know for sure that she is fine. She and Xiao Bao are both well, and that's good news."
Da Lang and the others also quickly chimed in, "Yes, Father, Mother. They definitely haven't gone far. Since the snow just melted, we might still catch up to them."
The couple knew that if they had left so many days earlier, no matter how fast they traveled, they wouldn't be able to catch up.
Jiangnan was so vast that finding someone was like searching for a needle in a haystack.
The more Chen Yuezhi thought about it, the sadder she became, covering her face and weeping.
Madam Cheng said, "Sister-in-law Jiang, Brother Jiang, don't worry. Jiangnan isn't that big. Various prefectures and counties communicate with each other. When you get there, let Si Nian's father send a message to his colleagues, asking them to keep an eye out. They'll notify you immediately if they get any news."