Heavenly Blessed Baby: Fleeing Famine, Busy to Prosper!-Chapter 66: If You Don’t Leave Now, Don’t Blame Us for Showing No Mercy
The Qi Family, due to the number of carts they had, arranged them all around when resting.
Although this method couldn’t really block the wind, at least it provided the family with a relatively concealed space.
Sitting by the fire, whether resting or talking, they wouldn’t be entirely exposed to others’ view.
Moreover, at this time, many families were gathered together discussing Er Laizi’s encounter with the "dead person" and Doctor Qin’s discovery of ginseng, so no one noticed the Qi Family’s unusual behavior.
That night, everyone in the Qi Family was in a cheerful mood.
The children at home could learn medicine with Yin Cheng, whether any of them turned out to be talented or not, at least they would learn to recognize some herbs, which, once settled, could help supplement the family income by gathering herbs.
So, whether or not Yin Cheng could successfully take on apprentices, it would only benefit and not harm the Qi Family.
Qi Dalang, being the eldest grandson in the Qi Family, naturally took the role of serving the master on the first day.
Qi Dalang brought along Qi Balang and Qi Jiulang.
The next day, it would be Qi Erlang with Qi Qilang.
Then Qi Sanlang and Qi Liulang.
Qi Silang with Qi Wulang.
The older ones led the younger ones, and the younger ones learned from the older ones; the role model effect among the brothers was actually no less effective than adults personally teaching them.
Qi Balang and Qi Jiulang were only six years old; they could walk steadily, but it was absolutely impossible to expect them to do any heavy work.
Fortunately, the two little ones were well-behaved and sensible.
Qi Dalang brought warm water for Yin Cheng to wash his hands and face.
When it came time to wash feet, Qi Balang and Qi Jiulang each took care of one of the master’s feet.
Washing feet in the wilderness was quite a challenge.
But seeing the two little ones seriously scrubbing his feet, Yin Cheng’s heart couldn’t help but soften.
With a melted heart, Yin Cheng made a decision.
Regardless of whether he could eventually pick a talented apprentice from the Qi family’s boys, he decided to take in these two kids from Qi the Fourth’s household.
Not only did they look identical, but they were also particularly well-behaved and sensible, making it hard not to like them.
With these two little ones around, his later years might not be too miserable.
...
No matter how chaotic the previous night was, the next morning at dawn, the people of Yongping Village started moving again.
The person in black, drugged with a sedative, was placed on a large nearby tree.
The dense foliage concealed him completely from external view.
This was the last bit of kindness Yongping Village could offer to him.
The group quickly disappeared at a fork not far ahead.
The black-clad person, whom they had rescued but not fully saved, was soon forgotten by everyone.
In such turbulent times, it was sometimes beneficial to quickly forget certain things.
They set their course northward, so their chosen path was also heading north.
After three days, the village chief, following the map’s guidance, finally announced that they had entered the vicinity of the neighboring Prefecture City.
To the north stood a tower, named He Guan Tower. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂
Legend has it that beneath the tower was sealed an ancient demon.
Not far outside stood He Guang Temple.
The temple’s area was not large, yet it was very popular with worshippers.
With He Guan Tower and He Guang Temple forming a line, they divided the south and north regions.
The south belonged to Tanan Prefecture, while the north was Tabei Prefecture.
Their destination was a Prefecture City at the furthest north, passing through both Tanan and Tabei Prefectures.
Entering the surroundings of Tanan Prefecture, not much changed initially, until they encountered the first village on the road, noticing that most houses were made of stone, with even the courtyard walls being stone, a stark difference from Yongping Village.
The arrival of over two hundred people immediately alerted the villagers.
Before Yongping’s people could get close, fifty to sixty robust men burst forth from the village, holding various tools, vigilantly observing the people of Yongping Village.
A middle-aged man, about forty, led them, loudly asking, "Who are you? What are you doing here?"
Leading the group was the village chief’s family, and hearing this, the chief quickly walked forward a few steps, stopping about twenty meters from the other group, loudly responding, "Brave men, we’re from Yongping Village in the neighboring Prefecture City. Hardship forced our entire village to flee."
Upon hearing this, the speaking man immediately reprimanded, "If you’re fleeing, keep away from our village!"
"Brave men, we don’t wish to disturb; we’re just running low on water after our journey. Could you spare us some clean water to drink on the road?"
The chief had no intention to rashly enter someone else’s village.
Considering it from their perspective, if their village faced an influx of many strangers, he too would be nervous.
The reply was a firm wave of refusal, "No! Leave immediately, or don’t blame us for being ruthless!"
Following these words, the men behind raised their axes, sickles, hoes, and even kitchen knives.
Their posture indeed seemed to suggest they were ready for a confrontation.
The chief was startled.
These people were indeed...
Taking a deep breath, the chief clasped his hands in respect: "Please, brave men, have mercy. We just need some clean water and nothing more..."
"Go! Leave now, or we’ll take action!"
The leader’s voice grew louder, showing no signs of sympathy.
Simultaneously, three young men, carrying bows and arrows, rushed forward.
Their bows drawn fully, the sharp arrowheads gleamed menacingly in the sunlight.
Now, the village chief couldn’t bring himself to plead further.
Upon spying those people at the village entrance, Qi Zheng had already sent Qi Dafu and Qi Quanjin ahead for a look.
By now, they had reached the chief’s side, each supporting one of his arms, turning to retreat.
The chief, a little weak-kneed from fear, was in a precarious state and would have collapsed without the support of the Qi Brothers.
Seeing this, the Qi Family boys quickly approached to help.
Qi Dafu and Qi Quanjin handed the chief over to their family.
Glancing towards the village, Qi Quanjin coldly said, "Chief, we can’t continue here; let’s find another route!"
"Ugh, taking a different path is easier said than done, but finding water is the real challenge!"
The chief, carried by his second son, had tears in his eyes and choked up, "We haven’t seen any water sources all along, and each family’s water reserves are nearly depleted. If we don’t find water by tonight, we’ll face a dire shortage tomorrow."
Without food, they could still share, hunt game, or even gather wild vegetables, but without water, it would be catastrophic.
Speaking of water, Qi Quanjin was also puzzled.
Even though the forests along the way weren’t lush, they still had some greenery, and they shouldn’t be so scarce in water that they hadn’t spotted any.
Yet, since entering Tanan Prefecture, they had been unable to find any water sources.
