The villagers of the small mountain village outnumbered the other group by three to four times, and each of them was armed. Knowing they were outmatched, the other group dared not approach further, retreating with great reluctance.
As they retreated, someone in the opposing group suddenly fell to their knees with a thud. “Good people, please, spare us a mouthful of food. We are starving and have no other recourse. Please, show us mercy.”
Following suit, more people knelt down.
The villagers of the small mountain village were honest farmers at heart, and their hearts were naturally soft. Seeing so many people kneel, they found it hard to be ruthless, and lowered their weapons.
Seeing this, Jiang Pan quickly stepped forward. “Have we forgotten the lesson from a few days ago? Drive these people away, or we will be the ones to suffer!”
The villagers suddenly remembered the events of a few days prior, their expressions changed instantly, and they raised their weapons again. “Leave immediately!”
The strong men of the village stepped forward, brandishing their knives. “If you don’t leave now, don’t blame us for being heartless!”
Seeing their resolve, the other group scrambled to their feet and fled.
After the group had run far away, Jiang Pan turned to find the village chief. “Village Chief, we cannot continue cooking meals like this every day. The situation in Tongzhou is too dire. If we continue to cook and eat one meal at a time, we are easily targeted. In my opinion, we should try to make dry rations. We can eat them with hot water, and they won’t have too strong a smell.”
The village chief nodded. “You’re right. The weather has turned cold, and things will keep better.”
That evening, the village began preparing dry rations. While they were making them, the strong men stood guard with their knives at the edge of the group.
They worked until midnight before the people of the small mountain village finished preparing the dry rations.
Jiang Pan’s family also prepared a substantial amount. The dozens of pounds of chestnuts they had gathered were all roasted, along with over twenty pounds of dried snake meat. They also made some mixed-grain flatbreads, enough to last the family for several days.
For the next few days, the small mountain village’s group continued their journey without stopping. During this time, Jiang Wan found another water source, allowing the entire village to replenish their water supply.
In addition, Jiang Wan still accompanied her parents up the mountain every evening, bringing back wild fruits and vegetables each day.
The villagers, seeing their daily success in the mountains, began to feel envious.
One day, as Jiang Pan’s family of three was preparing to head into the mountains again, several strong men suddenly ran up. “Da Pan, are you going up the mountain? Let’s go together, it’ll be good to have company on the way.”
Jiang Pan couldn’t refuse, so he nodded.
Seeing his generosity, the strong men were in good spirits.
After ascending the mountain, Jiang Pan said, “Alright, let’s split up.”
A sharp-eyed strong man asked, “Da Pan, where are you planning to go?”
Jiang Pan pointed in a direction. “That way. And you?”
The man smiled. “What a coincidence, I was also planning to check that area. Let’s go together, it’ll be good to have each other’s support.”
The others chimed in, “Then let’s all go that way. Speaking of which, your family’s luck is truly good, always finding food in the mountains. We hope we can benefit from it today.”
Chen Yuezhi and Jiang Pan exchanged a look and smiled at the men. “We hope so.”
Jiang Wan, sitting on Jiang Pan’s shoulder, couldn’t help but roll her eyes at the sky.
These people were deliberately following them!
However, they couldn’t chase them away, as the mountain didn’t belong to them. If they could come, others could too.
But with these people tagging along, she wouldn’t be able to use her abilities to cheat anymore.
The group weaved through the forest. Chen Yuezhi would occasionally stop to rummage through the dead branches and fallen leaves, sometimes digging up a medicinal herb.
As dusk approached, and the group was still empty-handed, they began to grow anxious. “Da Pan, how do you usually find things? Why haven’t we found anything today?”
Jiang Pan shrugged. “We rely on luck when we enter the mountains. If nothing grows here, what can anyone do?”
The men couldn’t refute his words.
The group descended the mountain empty-handed. At the foot of the mountain, Jiang Pan chopped a bundle of firewood and carried it back.
Upon reaching their own territory, Chen Yuezhi said, “Will they follow us up the mountain every day from now on? If so, it will be too troublesome.”
Jiang Pan replied, “It’s alright. If they want to follow, let them. If they find nothing after a few days, they’ll naturally stop. The more we try to guard against them, the more persistent they’ll become.”
Chen Yuezhi sighed. “So annoying!”
Jiang Pan put down the firewood and noticed a bundle of wood nearby. He asked, “Did you go chop firewood?”
Su Shi’s head poked out from the carriage. “Zheng Cui’er sent it. She said her father chopped it specifically.”
Jiang Wan walked around the firewood several times. “It’s from her family again?”
San Lang came over and stroked his chin. “Unsolicited favors often hide malicious intent. I suspect the Zheng family is up to no good!”
Jiang Wan nodded. “I think so too. But why do they think sending a few bundles of firewood will make us get closer to their family? They think too highly of themselves. There’s firewood everywhere in the mountains; why do they need to meddle?”
Jiang Pan said, “Whatever their intentions, we just won’t play along. Er Lang, take this firewood back to them.”
Jiang Wan quickly said, “I’ll go too!”
Er Lang said, “Then you go ahead, I’ll watch you, so I’m not afraid you’ll fall behind or trip.”
The siblings, one in front and one behind, carried the firewood to the Zheng family’s house.
The Zheng family had already boiled water and were sitting around the fire, eating dry rations.
Seeing Er Lang carrying the firewood, Zheng Da You quickly stood up. “Er Lang, why did you bring the firewood back? We gave it to your family to burn, why did you bring it back?”
Zheng Cui’er quickly stood up, her demeanor娇娇俏俏, and went to Er Lang’s side. “Brother Er Lang, why are you here? Have you had dinner? Come and eat with us.”
Er Lang placed the firewood on the ground and waved his hand. “Don’t send firewood to our house anymore, it’s too much trouble.”
Jiang Wan nodded beside him. “Exactly. If you want to give something, give something valuable. What’s the use of giving firewood? It only takes a few steps to chop a large bundle. Do you want our family to be indebted to you?”
The Zheng Da You family: …
Zheng Cui’er gave a dry laugh and quickly stepped forward, taking Jiang Wan’s hand. “Wan Wan, have you had dinner?”
Jiang Wan actually didn’t intend to accept the Zheng family’s dinner invitation. But remembering that Zheng Cui’er and her brother had previously freeloaded meals at their house, she immediately said, “Not yet, I’m so hungry.”
The Zheng Da You family: … Why is this child so impolite?
But since the invitation had been extended, they had no choice but to brace themselves and say, “Then… please, have a little something with us.”
Jiang Wan looked at their forced and pained expressions, her face beaming with a smile. “Then I won’t stand on ceremony. Brother Er, come quickly and eat with us!”
Er Lang scratched his head. This… isn’t it a bit improper?
Food is so precious now, who would be willing to give their own food to outsiders?
Seeing Er Lang hesitate, Jiang Wan went over and pulled him, seating him by the Zheng family’s stove.
Although Er Lang had a temper, it was still a bit less than Jiang Wan’s, so he was thus forced to sit down.
The Zheng family’s grain was already scarce, and their meals were portioned out. Both Jiang Wan and Er Lang looked like they could eat a lot.
As Zheng Wu Shi handed over the dry rations, her hands were trembling.
Jiang Wan, however, was not polite at all. She took both pieces of dry rations handed over by Zheng Wu Shi and took a bite of one.
Zheng Wu Shi’s heart ached, and she twitched. She had given them two portions!