Just then, Lin Xiazhi caught sight of several dark figures passing outside the gate, accompanied by a flurry of anxious voices.
“I heard the county office was emptied out today. The magistrate already fled with his family. If we don’t leave now, when will we?”
“Exactly! If we don’t run now, it’ll be too late!”
“Who would’ve thought that after living here for most of our lives, we’d end up becoming refugees? Fate really loves playing tricks on people. Who knows what the future holds? I heard it’s already snowing in some northern regions. If we head there now, we’ll freeze to death!”
“The north is our only chance of survival. Even if we freeze, we still have to go. As long as we stick together and look out for one another, we’ll make it through. Maybe after the war ends, we can even come back.”
The others sighed heavily.
“Who knows what the future will bring…”
The helpless sighs mixed with the creaking of wagon wheels as the group gradually disappeared into the distance.
Judging by the number of people leaving, more than half the village had already departed overnight.
Plans could never keep up with reality.
Lin Xiazhi immediately decided they would leave at dawn.
“Miss Lin! Sister Shen! Are you home?”
It was Aunt Liu’s voice.
Lin Xiazhi quickly opened the gate.
Sure enough, Liu Juan and Zhao Xiaomei were standing outside, looking around cautiously as if they were trying to avoid being seen.
The moment the gate opened, they hurried inside, practically sneaking through.
Liu Juan grabbed Lin Xiazhi’s arm.
“Miss Lin, when are you leaving? How is Sister Shen’s injury? Can she travel?”
Zhao Xiaomei also looked worried.
She removed the bundle hanging from her arm and pushed it into Lin Xiazhi’s hands.
“I know things are difficult for your family. Sister Liu and I secretly prepared some dried food and a few copper coins. Take them. Use them carefully on the road.”
Holding the heavy bundle, Lin Xiazhi felt her chest tighten.
In times like these, survival itself was difficult.
Yet these two women were still willing to help others.
Even though she didn’t actually need it…
“Huh? Where did this carriage come from?”
The courtyard was dimly lit, and Liu Juan nearly walked face-first into the horse’s rear before quickly backing away.
Only then did she notice the horse poking its head out from the front.
“Miss Lin, did the village chief buy a carriage? Are they taking your family with them?”
Lin Xiazhi shook her head.
“They already left.”
“I bought the carriage.”
“You bought it?!”
Both women exclaimed at the same time.
Their disbelief was obvious.
They had assumed the mother and her two children would struggle to even begin the journey.
Who would’ve thought Lin Xiazhi had prepared everything in advance?
At last, Zhao Xiaomei relaxed.
“Since you can leave, then don’t delay any longer.”
“You need to set out as soon as possible.”
Liu Juan wiped the corner of her eye.
“We just wanted to see Sister Shen one more time before we go.”
“Our families are leaving too.”
“As for whether we’ll ever meet again…”
She forced a smile.
“That depends on fate.”
A bitter sigh escaped them both.
“Mother’s inside.”
“I’ll take you to her.”
A complicated feeling stirred within Lin Xiazhi.
“Mother, Aunt Liu and Aunt Zhao came to see you.”
“Yingzi…”
After leading the two women into Shen Ying’s room, Lin Xiazhi quietly stepped outside.
Thinking of the route map Mu Zheng had given her, she decided to make two copies for Liu Juan and Zhao Xiaomei.
Whether they followed the route or not would be their own choice.
After copying the map, she opened the bundle they had given her.
Inside were two large packs of corn cakes, coarse grain buns, and a pouch containing several hundred copper coins.
Mixed among the coins were a few pieces of silver.
Altogether, it was worth around three taels.
That silver was undoubtedly emergency money the two women had secretly saved for themselves.
Lin Xiazhi couldn’t accept it.
The friendship shared between the three women was like that of real sisters.
She couldn’t help but envy it.
After surviving seven years alone in the apocalypse, besides Naidou, she had never had anyone she could completely trust with her back.
Quickly, she divided the supplies into two equal bundles.
She split the food and route maps between them.
Then she took out twenty taels of silver, divided it into two portions, and tucked ten taels into each money pouch.
After tying everything back up, she waited.
Not long afterward, the two women emerged from the room with red, swollen eyes.
The moment she saw Lin Xiazhi, Liu Juan stepped forward and hugged her tightly.
“Miss Lin.”
“With your mother’s condition, the journey ahead will depend entirely on you and Qingbei.”
Zhao Xiaomei held her hand and spoke earnestly.
“The roads are dangerous.”
“People become frightening when they’re desperate.”
“Be careful.”
“Don’t trust strangers.”
“And no matter what anyone says, don’t follow them.”
“Head north.”
“The north is safer.”
“I know.”
Lin Xiazhi handed them the bundles.
“I prepared a few things for you.”
“Please keep them.”
“Miss Lin, what are you doing?”
Liu Juan immediately tried to push the bundle back.
“Your family already has it so hard. How could I possibly take your things?”
Zhao Xiaomei burst into tears.
“You can’t give us this.”
“Take it back.”
“Listen to me.”
Lin Xiazhi raised her voice slightly.
The two women immediately fell silent, wiping their tears.
“I’m not unprepared.”
“I secretly saved some money.”
“And I sold the Lin family house.”
“We aren’t lacking these supplies.”
She looked at them seriously.
“But you both have children and families.”
“You need them more than I do.”
“I placed something important inside.”
“Make sure you keep it safe.”
“Don’t lose it.”
Her voice softened.
“The mountains are high, and the roads are long.”
“Take care of yourselves.”
“If fate allows us to meet again someday, then you and Mother can continue your sisterhood.”
“Waaah…”
At those words, Liu Juan and Zhao Xiaomei finally broke down.
Clutching the bundles tightly, they cried openly.
Even from inside the room came the sound of Shen Ying quietly sobbing.
For a while, both the house and courtyard were filled with sorrow.
Lin Xiazhi sighed.
As touching as the moment was, she had to interrupt it.
“It’s getting late.”
“You should go.”
“Remember what I said.”
“Take care.”
“Miss Lin!”
Liu Juan hugged her once more.
“Take care of your mother.”
“And take care of yourself.”
Compared to her, Zhao Xiaomei remained more rational.
Sniffling, she pulled Liu Juan away.
“Let’s go.”
“If our families discover we sneaked out, we might bring trouble to Sister Shen and Xiazhi.”
“Right, right!”
“We should go.”
Liu Juan took one last look toward the room before turning away.
The two women left together.
Outside the gate came Zhao Xiaomei’s final words.
“Xiazhi, thank you!”
“Take care of your mother!”
Their departure carried away the lingering sadness of farewell.
Several days later, after traveling a considerable distance, Liu Juan and Zhao Xiaomei finally opened the bundles.
The moment they saw the route maps and the ten taels of silver inside, their eyes instantly reddened.
Realizing what Lin Xiazhi had done, they quickly hid the silver and hugged the bundles tightly as silent tears streamed down their faces.
…
After calming herself, Lin Xiazhi entered the room and comforted Shen Ying, who was still quietly crying.
“Mother, you can’t keep crying.”
“It’ll affect your recovery.”
“Dawn is almost here.”
“We’ll eat and leave afterward.”
Shen Ying’s voice was hoarse.
“You’ve worked so hard, Xiazhi.”
At that moment, Lin Qingbei walked in carrying a large basin of rabbit stew.
“Mother, Sister, dinner is ready.”
“We’re coming.”
Lin Xiazhi took the basin and filled a bowl for Shen Ying.
“Mother, I’ll feed you.”
Shen Ying seemed troubled.
After hesitating for a long while, she finally spoke.
“Xiazhi…”
“Can we go pick up your grandfather and bring him with us?”
Lin Xiazhi paused.
A slight frown appeared on her face.
“Mother, have you considered the possibility that they’ve already left?”
It wasn’t that she didn’t believe in family ties.
Human nature was simply too unpredictable.
Who knew whether they would be willing to travel with three extra burdens?
Their family consisted of a wounded woman and two children.
They had nothing.
Why would anyone willingly share their food with outsiders?
Just as disappointment appeared on Shen Ying’s face, an elderly, powerful voice suddenly rang out from outside the courtyard.
“Is anyone home?”
Shen Ying’s entire body trembled.
An overwhelming look of joy instantly spread across her face.
“Xiazhi!”
“Your grandfather has come to take us with him!”