After breakfast, the villagers of the small mountain village packed their belongings and prepared to set out.
Jiang Lao Er, being particularly obnoxious, deliberately ran over to Jiang Pan and his group, saying, "As we're all neighbors, and I genuinely care about your well-being, there are wolf packs ahead. Are you really sure you don't want to travel with us?"
No one bothered to respond, treating him as if he were invisible.
Everyone knew the road ahead was fraught with peril, but they weren't fools. They knew exactly what kind of person Jiang Lao Er was. Traveling with him would be no better than being devoured by wolves.
Jiang Lao Er, having gotten nowhere, grumbled, "Ungrateful wretches, biting the hand that feeds them. You'll regret it when you're surrounded by wolves."
Just as he was about to return to prepare to depart with the twelve households, Jiang Lao Tai came running in a hurry, "Lao Er, have you seen Liu Shi?"
Jiang Lao Er looked utterly bewildered, "She's not my wife, why would I be watching her?"
Jiang Lao Tai stamped her foot anxiously, "I haven't seen her all morning, nor her two children and the maid. We're about to leave, why haven't they returned yet?"
She hadn't seen them at breakfast, and she'd thought it was for the best, saving food. But now, with departure imminent, they were still nowhere to be seen.
Jiang Lao Er indifferently replied, "Perhaps she went into the woods to relieve herself? Do you want to ask Lao San to look for her?"
Jiang Lao Tai said, "The woods are so dangerous, what if there are wolves? Lao San is just a scholar, how could he outrun wolves? Why don't you take some people to look for them?"
Jiang Lao Er was somewhat reluctant, but he still called a few people to head into the woods.
Jiang Pan and his group, however, paid them no mind. After packing their belongings, they began to move in their intended direction.
Some who were friendly with the twelve households waved to them, "Take care, we'll see you in Jiangnan."
With Madam Cheng and her son added to their group, and having lent out a carriage the previous night, their own carriages were a bit cramped.
Da Lang and Jiang Pan had stayed up all night devising ways to modify the carriages.
But time was short, and supplies were limited. No matter how they modified them, they couldn't take all their belongings. After much thought, Jiang Pan decided to abandon some less essential items, keeping only their family's clothes, bedding, pots and pans, the large water skins, and other necessities.
Madam Cheng looked at the discarded items with great unease. She took Chen Yue Zhi's hand and said, "Sister-in-law Jiang, when we reach Jiangnan, I will compensate you double for these things."
Chen Yue Zhi smiled and said, "Alright, I won't be polite with you."
Jiang Wan sat on the carriage shaft, letting Xiao Ma Zai scout ahead to check for any signs of wolves in the vicinity.
Xiao Ma Zai flew out and returned, reporting no sign of wolves.
Jiang Wan thought that perhaps the wolves had had a hearty meal of Madam Cheng's guards and servants yesterday, so they weren't interested in them for the moment.
Cheng Si Nian looked at Xiao Ma Zai with curiosity. It seemed to understand human speech, so he reached out to pet it.
Xiao Ma Zai, without hesitation, nipped him and flapped its wings threateningly.
Jiang Wan gently rubbed Xiao Ma Zai's head with a chubby finger, then placed it on her shoulder. She said to Cheng Si Nian, "Xiao Ma Zai doesn't like others touching him randomly, and neither do I!"
This little brat was like a clingy puppy, sticking to her ever since last night. She was getting really annoyed.
Cheng Si Nian, however, thought Jiang Wan only meant he shouldn't touch Xiao Ma Zai, and nodded, "Okay, I won't touch it randomly anymore."
After saying that, he reached out and grabbed one of Jiang Wan's chubby little hands.
Just as Jiang Wan was about to refuse, Cheng Si Nian put on that pitiful expression again.
Fine, Jiang Wan had to concede and let him hold her hand.
During their midday rest, Jiang Pan, the old village chief, and Yang the hunter discussed the matter. They decided to lure the wolves out and eliminate them, so everyone could travel with peace of mind.
After all, the wolves were elusive, and they were just ordinary people. Preventing them from suddenly appearing and harming someone was extremely difficult.
Yang the hunter said, "There are no easily defensible terrains nearby, so we'll need to put a lot of thought into eliminating this pack of wolves."
Jiang Pan and the old village chief were also at a loss. They were just ordinary farmers, how could they have any experience dealing with wolves?
Jiang Wan popped out from the side, "Dad, Grandpa Zhao, Grandpa Yang, if there's no place, we can create a place!"
The three looked at her in confusion, "Create a place?"
Jiang Wan nodded, "Yes, create a place. Wolves' attacks are nothing more than pouncing and biting, but they fear fire, can't jump high, and can't climb. So, as long as we find a place they can't reach, like trees, they can't do anything to us, right?"
"We prepare weapons, lure them over, and then fight and kill them, wouldn't that work?"
The three were stunned. They hadn't expected the method to be so simple!
They had all been focused on finding a place with good terrain, completely forgetting the simplest solution.
Seeing that they were willing to listen to her opinion, Jiang Wan put her hands behind her back and said seriously, "Our village consists of ordinary people. Climbing trees might make them unstable, so we can consider building a platform between several trees. This will ensure that the elderly and children won't fall."
"As for weapons, stones would work, as would sharpened branches. Everyone can practice their aim when they have free time, aiming for a hundred percent accuracy!"
Er Lang suddenly chimed in, "What Wan Wan mentioned is suitable for ranged attacks. For close combat, it's best to use long-handled knives or spears to stab downwards."
Jiang Wan clapped her hands and said, "Right! And dig some traps on the ground, burying sharp wooden stakes inside. If they fall in, they'll be dead."
The adults' eyes lit up the more they listened. "This method is indeed feasible. Why don't we stop moving forward and find a place nearby to prepare? After all, we don't know when those beasts will emerge and attack. Making plans early will prevent casualties."
The old village chief said, "Yes, I think the trees nearby are quite suitable. Let's do it here."
As they were discussing matters, Chen Yue Zhi was startled by several people who suddenly appeared.
"My heavens! What are you doing here?!"
The ones who startled Chen Yue Zhi were none other than Liu Shi, her children, and her maid, whom Jiang Lao Tai had been searching for all morning.
Liu Shi, holding her child, knelt down before Chen Yue Zhi with a thud. The maid quickly followed suit with Liu Shi's daughter, Jiang Yue.
"Sister-in-law, I secretly brought the children to escape. I beg you to take us in."
Chen Yue Zhi hurried forward to help her up, "What are you doing? Get up quickly. You're not going with your husband, why are you coming to seek refuge with us?"
Liu Shi refused to get up, crying, "Sister-in-law, to be honest, I've long wanted to divorce Jiang Wen. I spent all my efforts and money to save him, but how did he treat me and my children in return? He was injured and needed care, but any food available, he stuffed into his own mouth, completely disregarding the lives of his two children. Why should I stay with such a man? I'm also afraid that if we encounter trouble on the road, he'll push us, the mother and children, out to take the blame for him."