Martial Arts: I Have a Wilderness World-Chapter 36: When Disaster Strikes, Each Has Their Own Agenda
Golden Bridge Village was a small village, with a total of fifty-six households and two hundred thirty-one people.
The Jin Family were the original villagers, numbering twenty-six households. The outsiders included thirteen households from the Li Family, sixteen from the Chen Family, and the Cheng Family, which consisted of just one household of five.
As the village head and the current Clan Leader, Jin Fumin held considerable prestige and power.
He had his people notify the Jin clansmen of the village to discuss and arrange some new decisions.
As for the outsiders from the Li and Chen families, he didn’t notify any of them. He especially wouldn’t notify Cheng Guanghai, the sole member of his family line, after what had happened that morning.
As everyone was murmuring amongst themselves, Jin Fumin watched them and cleared his throat with a cough. Only when everyone fell silent and looked at him did he begin to speak slowly:
"Everyone, you should all be aware of the village’s situation. The refugees’ attack on our village today is a very bad sign.
This means our village has begun to face external threats. In my opinion, incidents like this will only become more and more frequent.
I estimate that none of you have much grain left at home. Meanwhile, a large number of refugees have gathered outside the County Town, making travel in and out extremely restricted. Moreover, the prices of rice, flour, and meat are skyrocketing, changing daily.
Therefore, we must save ourselves. We must ensure that our Jin clansmen can continue to survive!"
Hearing this, a Jin clansman below raised his hand and asked, "Clan Leader, what should we do then? Aren’t we going to notify the Li and Chen families? After all, we’re all from the same village."
Before Jin Fumin could speak, his son Jin Detai, who was beside him, spoke up first.
"Not for now. The reason we’ve gathered everyone today is a matter of life and death. I’m sure none of you are willing to entrust your own safety to outsiders, are you?"
Jin Detai had never liked outsiders. He always felt that after these outsiders came to Golden Bridge Village, they had taken a share of the resources and wealth that should have belonged exclusively to them.
He also didn’t understand why his father had agreed to accept these people back then.
However, as the future village head and successor to the Clan Leader, he maintained a passable facade with these outsiders in the village.
But in these special times, he didn’t trust that the outsiders would cooperate fully with the Jin Family.
Jin Fumin nodded. Seeing that no one objected, he continued:
"Although we’ve all lived together for ten or twenty years, special times call for special measures. The goal is to ensure the continuation of the Jin family’s bloodline!
From now on, our objective is to protect our own families. Tomorrow, I will take a count of all the able-bodied men in the village and assign duties.
The Jin clansmen will go into the mountains to hunt. The other outsiders will patrol and protect the village."
Jin Deshui, on his right, was a little puzzled. "Father, why not the other way around?
In the past two days in the Inner Mountain, three people died and five were injured. It’s truly dangerous."
Seeing that the others were looking at him with the same questioning gaze, Jin Fumin said slowly:
"That’s right, the mountains are more dangerous. But our goal isn’t just the hunt—it’s the meat!
When you go hunting in the mountains, you can hide some of the meat somewhere in the Outer Mountain. Wait until night to retrieve it, and then distribute it among our own families. The meat you bring back during the day will be divided among all the households in the village. This way, we’ll get more for ourselves.
We must now use every means necessary to store up food and ensure our Jin clansmen can survive. Understand?"
As he finished, Jin Fumin glanced at his two sons.
His two sons immediately agreed.
Hearing a plan that benefited them all, none of the Jin clansmen had any objections.
"One more thing. What was discussed tonight must absolutely not be revealed. Whoever lets it slip will be expelled from the family registry!"
At this, everyone’s expression turned grim.
Being expelled from the family registry was the most severe punishment possible.
"Don’t worry, Clan Leader! If anyone dares to leak this and let my family go hungry, I’ll kill them!"
With his family’s survival at stake, the man who spoke first had a murderous glint in his eyes.
After that, the others all voiced their agreement.
...
In the southern part of the village, in the Li Family’s area, a few people were also gathered in one of the homes.
"Brother Ming, a lot of the Jin Family members went to the village head’s house tonight. We didn’t get a notice. It looks like they’re hiding something from us."
The leader, a middle-aged man of about forty named Li Ming, said with a calm expression:
"There’s not much to say. These past two years have been hard, and everyone’s patience has worn thin. When disaster strikes, it’s every man for himself. No matter what they’re plotting, we have to be prepared."
"What should we do?" another person asked.
Li Ming was silent for a moment before he said in a low voice:
"I suspect the Chen Family is also discussing today’s refugee incident. The Jin Family has more people; we can’t match them. In this situation, we can try to contact the Chen Family first and see if we can cooperate.
If we join forces, the Jin Family won’t dare to throw their weight around, no matter what they’re planning.
The people who died in the mountains these past two days were all from our Li and Chen families. Not only did the Jin Family show no concern, but they’re also secretly scheming. Using this as a pretext, our chances of cooperating are high."
Someone asked, "What about Cheng Guanghai? Even though they’re only one family, both father and son are expert hunters. His son, in particular, is incredibly skilled."
Li Ming thought for a moment and said, "Include them! Anyone with Power is worth winning over. If he’s unwilling, then so be it. I’ll go ask him myself later."
...
In the eastern part of the village, in the Chen Family’s area, it was just as Li Ming had guessed. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚
Some people, having seen the Jin clansmen heading to the village head’s house, grew suspicious and gathered at the home of the Chen Family’s most respected elder.
Invasions from other villages and the shock of the refugees had caused the various families to develop their own agendas.
It seemed the village’s original unity was just an illusion.
「Half an hour later.」
In a corner of the village’s eastern section, Cheng Guanghai, who was cleaning the dirt from his clothes at home, heard a knock on the door.
In the main hall, a worried Mrs. Zhou of the Cheng Family heard the knock and immediately stood up. She hurried into the courtyard, just in time to see her husband coming out of the storeroom.
"Who is it?" Cheng Guanghai gestured to his wife.
Mrs. Zhou of the Cheng Family understood immediately. She nodded and took the two children into the inner room.
Cheng Guanghai knew it wasn’t his son knocking.
"Younger Brother Cheng, it’s me, Li Ming."
Upon hearing the slightly deep voice, Cheng Guanghai’s expression froze.
He knew Li Ming, of course, but he didn’t know what he was doing at his house at this hour.
But since he had come, there was no reason to turn him away at the door.
He quickly brushed the dirt off his clothes and went to open the door.
"Brother Ming, what a surprise! Quick, come in and sit down."
Li Ming had never come looking for him at night before, which made Cheng Guanghai a little suspicious. But he figured it had something to do with what happened today.
Li Ming didn’t linger outside and walked right in.
Cheng Guanghai glanced outside before closing the door behind him.
"Are your wife and the boys asleep?"
Cheng Guanghai casually rinsed the dirt from his hands in a wooden bucket in the courtyard and replied:
"Yeah. Just sitting around burns energy. Better to sleep early so we don’t get hungry as fast."
Li Ming nodded noncommittally and said:
"That makes sense. It’s the same with my wife. With nothing much to eat, all we can do is conserve energy."
Entering the main hall, Cheng Guanghai poured Li Ming a cup of guava leaf tea, sat down, and asked:
"Brother Ming, you came at this hour. Is it something urgent?"
Li Ming took a sip of tea and glanced at the cup in his hand with some surprise. "What kind of tea is this? It’s quite good."
Cheng Guanghai smiled. "They’re leaves my son found in the mountains. We dried them and used them to make tea. It is pretty good, and it quenches your thirst."
Li Ming put down his cup, laughed heartily, and praised, "Zongyang is a fine lad. Not only did he learn all your skills at such a young age, he’s even surpassed you. You’re a lucky father to have raised such a good son. Who wouldn’t be envious that the Cheng Family has such a fine son?"
Hearing this, Cheng Guanghai grinned from ear to ear and waved his hand dismissively. "Not at all. Yang’Er is just driven. As his father, I didn’t have much to teach him. Besides, isn’t it the same with your Kunhe? He can already stand on his own two feet. By the way, I heard he’s getting married soon? When’s the day..."
