Everyone gradually emerged from the house, checking themselves over. Fortunately, no one was injured.
Chen Shiyi stared at the rats crawling all over the ground, which had torn apart the straw mat she had neatly folded. The small fire in the middle, with its faint glowing embers, had been scattered everywhere.
She couldn’t help but feel a surge of despair.
Beside her, Wen Zhirou, who had been leaning against her shoulder, slowly crouched down, covering her eyes. Her shoulders trembled lightly, and suppressed sobs escaped from her lips.
Suddenly, she knelt on both knees, crawled over to Wen Zhiheng, and hugged his legs, choking back tears.
“Big brother, kill me. I don’t want to live anymore. I can’t go on like this…”
Madam Wen threw herself onto Wen Zhirou, weeping uncontrollably.
“What nonsense are you saying, child? Don’t think such thoughts. Things will get better in the future. We will be alright.”
Wen Zhirou shook her head.
“Mother, mother, it won’t get better. We are condemned people. We’ll never be able to turn our lives around in this lifetime. I don’t want to struggle every day just for a single meal. I don’t want to live without a safe place to sleep. I don’t want… on this exile journey, when my monthly cycle comes, to have no choice but to let the filthy blood soak my pants, exposed for everyone to see. In that moment, I felt as if I had been stripped naked, utterly humiliated. Mother, I don’t want to live like this. Let me die quickly!”
Madam Wen cried until she was breathless, holding Wen Zhirou tightly without saying a word.
Everyone fell silent, even four-year-old Rui’er made no sound.
What was there to say? They all knew what the days ahead would be like.
After Wen Zhirou had cried her fill, Wen Zhiheng, who had been standing as straight as a pine tree, bent slightly, helped Madam Wen up, and pulled Wen Zhirou into his embrace.
“Rou’er, be good. Trust your big brother. Give me some time, and I will make sure you live a life of luxury again, alright?”
Wen Zhirou, having calmed down, nodded slightly.
“From now on, you must never speak of seeking death again. We all must stay strong…”
It was destined to be a restless night. After the rats’ rampage, no one had the courage to return to the house they had occupied for half the night. Instead, they huddled together on the open ground outside, leaning against one another, and eventually fell asleep.
Wen Zhirou rested her head on Chen Shiyi’s shoulder, her breathing calm, but her eyes dull and lifeless.
Chen Shiyi pursed her lips and spoke softly.
“When I was eight years old, I once had a very high fever. Blisters formed around my mouth and lips, and my whole body felt like a piece of burning charcoal. There was no medicine. My father said, ‘Who doesn’t just endure and get through it?’ But I knew that if I didn’t take any medicine, I would die. At that time, just to survive, I stuffed any plant that looked like medicine into my mouth. Later, I don’t know which herb worked, but by sheer luck, I survived.
Do you know what kept me going then?”
“What?”
“Heh, you might laugh, but I just wanted to eat a full meal. I kept wondering what it felt like to be so full you could barely move. Miss, what about you? Is there any wish you want to fulfill?”
Wen Zhirou thought for a long time before whispering softly.
“Last year, at the Spring Banquet in the imperial court, I admired a young gentleman. He wore a blue robe and held a book in his hand. The golden light of the osmanthus blossoms shone on his fair face. I was afraid of disturbing him, so I passed by cautiously. But as I did, he looked up and glanced at me.”
She let out a long sigh and said self-mockingly.
"My wish now is the same as yours—to have a full bowl of rice and a good night's sleep."
Chen Shiyi quickly comforted her.
"Miss, don't worry. Shiyi can work hard and will surely raise you plump and fair."
Wen Zhirou scoffed.
"Hmm, I'll be waiting."
In the morning, Wen Zhiheng and Wen Zhiyuan went to Fengming Mine, leaving the womenfolk busy in the house.
Chen Shiyi had already tidied up the messy floor inside, but now, they still hadn't eaten anything.
Chen Shiyi glanced down the road, then turned to Madam Wen.
"Madam, I'll go ask around the area to see where we can get some food."
Madam Wen nodded.
"Be careful."
Hearing that Chen Shiyi was going out, Wen Zhirou quickly grabbed her arms, her face full of worry.
"You won't leave and never come back, will you?"
Chen Shiyi shook her head.
"No, Miss. Wait for me to return."
Chen Shiyi walked straight along the broad main road.
All around, houses similar to the one they lived in were scattered haphazardly. After passing so many, it seemed no one lived in them. Finally, when she saw someone who did live there, they hurriedly shut the door tightly upon seeing Chen Shiyi.
It seemed the people living here were likely family members of those working at Fengming Mine.
After walking another mile or so ahead, a small path wound its way downward.
Chen Shiyi followed this path all the way. At the bottom of the slope, there were plots of paddy fields resembling blocks of tofu. In the middle, a stream cut across the fields, clear and sparkling. Above the stream stood an old arched bridge, and at its end was a small village with wisps of cooking smoke rising.
She quickened her steps and headed toward the village.
Along the way, not far from the stream, there was a spacious courtyard.
She approached, hoping to inquire about the nearby situation.
Only when she walked over did she realize this was another abandoned courtyard. The house was dilapidated, even worse than the one they rented, and had likely been uninhabited for at least five or six years. Still, the place was quite large.
Chen Shiyi wondered if they could move in since no one lived here. Their group was too large, with both men and women, and sharing one house was inconvenient.
Then, she laughed at herself mockingly.
They couldn't even manage to eat, yet here she was already thinking about living in a big house.
After crossing the arched bridge, she met an elderly woman on the road, hunched over, with a large bundle of firewood on her back that obscured her frail figure.
Chen Shiyi hurried forward and took the firewood from the old woman's back onto her own.
"Grandma, let me take you home."
The old woman's withered face twitched, and her voice trembled.
"No need, no need. This old woman can manage."
Without another word, Chen Shiyi walked ahead, and the elderly woman followed behind her.
Soon, Chen Shiyi followed the old woman to her home.
As soon as the door opened, a woman in her twenties came forward. Seeing Chen Shiyi, her expression turned unfriendly.
"Mother, didn't I tell you? Don't do things like chopping firewood, lighting the stove, or cooking. Just stay home and relax, so you don't bring shady people back from outside."
Chen Shiyi paused, set down the firewood on her back, and gave the woman an apologetic smile.
"I saw Grandma couldn't carry it anymore, so I helped. Don't blame her. I'll leave right away."
With that, she turned to leave but was suddenly stopped by a deep male voice.
"Little girl, wait a moment."
Chen Shiyi turned her head to see a man walking toward her.
He then handed her a warm package.
"My wife doesn't understand things. Thank you for bringing my mother back. Please don't look down on this small token of appreciation."
Chen Shiyi was utterly astonished.
The hot item in her hand was surely delicious food. She knew all too well how precious such fare was for farming families.
She hurriedly declined, saying, "I didn't do much. I can't accept such a generous gift."
The man laughed. "If it's given to you, just take it. We country folk are straightforward."
Chen Shiyi's eyes grew moist. She nodded and smiled.
As she turned to leave, she suddenly asked, "Brother, may I ask you something?"
"Go ahead."
"I saw an empty house across the river. If I wanted to live there, who would I need to get permission from?"
The man chuckled heartily. "Across the river, they're all exiled convicts. Many houses there are empty. There's no such thing as property deeds. Most people either leave or die after a few years—no one stays for long."
"Oh, may I ask where I can find drinkable water around here?"
The man laughed again, then took a bamboo tube from the wall. "On the mountain to the right across the river, there's a clear spring. They all fetch water there."
"What's your surname, brother?"
"My surname is Zheng."
Chen Shiyi bowed solemnly to Brother Zheng. After thanking him, she tucked away the warm food and headed back the way she came.
The woman rolled her eyes dramatically, pointing at the man and scolding, "Have you lost your mind? She's a convict. Why are you helping her?"
The man laughed. "You foolish woman, have you forgotten how our second uncle's family prospered? Those exiled to Fangling are all nobles and aristocrats. If they ever regain their status, even the smallest bit of wealth they let slip from their fingers would be enough for us to live comfortably for a lifetime. Losing such a small thing isn't a loss we can't bear—it's an investment with boundless returns."