“Mother, I went to Sister Sisi’s place.”
The moment Li Shi heard Lin Sisi’s name, she felt a mix of anger and fear. “What were you doing with her? Don’t you have enough to eat at home?”
Lin Qingqing’s eyes lit up—she had an idea.
“Mother, you don’t know, Sister Sisi is living really well now. Today for lunch, they even had fried eggs. I tried one bite—it was so delicious!”
“Oh, great! While your father’s stuck at home gnawing on black bread, you run off to eat fried eggs? You heartless girl! I’ll beat you myself!”
“Mother!” Lin Qingqing quickly added, “I’m thinking of you, I was just going to tell you.”
“I know where their eggs are. Tonight, I’ll take you to get a few—one for sure if you reach in.”
Li Shi hesitated, lowering her hand. “Really? Don’t make me regret this.”
“Absolutely true! I’ll bring some eggs back for you, and you can let me have a taste of fried eggs too.”
Hearing this, Li Shi finally believed her and spat.
“You wish. Your father and brother will eat first. If there’s any left, you can have half an egg.”
Li Shi’s mouth watered at the thought of eggs, yet she didn’t notice Lin Qingqing’s disgusted glare.
For the next few hours, people from the two villages marched without slowing down.
Even so, as dusk fell, many called to rest.
The village chief had hoped to go ten more li to leave the county’s borders, but seeing this, he had no choice but to relent.
Lin Sisi eagerly sat on the donkey cart and let her awareness sink into her space to check on things.
Cabbages would have been ready to harvest in the afternoon, but with the rush to travel, she hadn’t had time. Now she needed to gather them before they overgrew.
She harvested twenty plump, crisp cabbages and, since she couldn’t carry them all, temporarily placed them in her space. She also sowed the remaining wheat seeds from home.
She wondered how many eggs the little hen had laid today.
Excited, she counted: one, two… ten!
One hen was enough for the whole family to have an unlimited supply of eggs.
If she brought a rooster into the space, maybe she could hatch chicks too.
Lost in thought, she snapped back and realized: the space could grow grass!
Grumbling at herself, she asked Aunt Yang to watch over Lin Nian Nian and rushed to find her brother.
“Brother!”
Lin Zheng had little in his basket, so he was surprised to see Lin Sisi.
“Finished your work? And Nian Nian?”
“I asked Aunt Yang to watch her. I’m done here. Brother, don’t worry about it.”
After briefly explaining the benefits of the space, Lin Zheng visibly relaxed.
“If that’s true, it will save a lot of trouble.”
Seeing an opportunity, Lin Sisi took all the cabbages and eggs from the space, hid them under the fresh grass Lin Zheng had collected, and returned.
A short distance from the caravan, Lin Zheng suddenly shouted, “Who’s there?!”
Lin Sisi, unburdened by a basket, swiftly leapt toward the direction of his gaze and pulled someone out from the tall grass.
A woman in her thirties, emaciated and trembling, immediately fell to her knees. “Spare me! I’m only trying to dig up some roots for my little one!”
Lin Sisi noticed her hands were muddy—she hadn’t taken anything from the space—and released her.
The woman collapsed weakly, unable to stand. Lin Sisi then noticed a tightly bound cloth bundle on her back.
Inside was a child, equally emaciated, with a disproportionately large head and tightly closed eyes.
The woman sobbed, “My poor little one… mother has failed you. If you die, I won’t live either. Open your eyes and look at me!”
Lin Zheng closed his eyes, feeling pity.
Lin Sisi felt conflicted, but sympathy won out. She used a stern voice: “Stop crying. I have questions for you!”
The woman froze and fell silent.
Lin Sisi pulled out a battered cabbage from her basket.
Though the leaves were torn by the chicken, the woman’s eyes lit up at the sight.
“Tell me, where are you from? What’s happening on the road?”
The woman swallowed. “I’m from the north, not far from here. My husband was conscripted, taxes were outrageous, only the elderly remained. The rest fled.”
“The court delayed disaster relief, and the enemy might attack anytime. We had no choice but to flee south.”
“The road is full of refugees, all heading toward your direction, hoping to reach Anzhou, which is said to be a safe place.”
She glanced around, uneasy, and added, “A group has been following your caravan—I overheard. Be careful when you camp at night.”
What had started as a way to save her child ended with unexpectedly valuable information.
Though not good news, it was still something they could use.
They left the cabbage for her and walked back in silence.
This was all they could do—more was beyond their ability.
Suppressing the helplessness, Lin Zheng broke the silence:
“It seems our original plan to take turns at night won’t work. I’ll speak with the village chief and arrange for guards around the caravan.”
Lin Sisi took the basket. “Go ahead. I’ll go back to cook.”
Back at their donkey cart, Aunt Yang returned Lin Nian Nian, looking grim.
“Sisi, Li Shi suddenly came over just now. I asked her what she wanted, but she wouldn’t say. Be careful—she’s known to be clingy.”
Lin Sisi, preoccupied, only nodded. “Got it, Auntie.”
“Things probably won’t be peaceful at night. Stay alert while sleeping.”