The moon shone sparsely through the night, cicadas chirping in the warm air.
Most of Little River Village had fallen asleep, but Lin Sisi couldn’t close her eyes.
The words of the woman from earlier that day kept echoing in her mind, leaving her uneasy.
Her brother had gone to speak with the village chief, suggesting that both villages take turns keeping watch at night while traveling.
Those refugees had been following their caravan. For now, they might just be seeking safety, but once their food ran out, there was no telling what they might do.
As she pondered, Lin Sisi heard some noises.
It seemed to be… near the donkey cart!
Eyes snapping open, she grabbed a wooden stick beside her and struck toward the shadow by the cart with all her strength.
She assumed it was a food-stealing refugee and knocked the figure unconscious in one blow.
When Lin Zheng came running with his fire fan, he discovered that the person near their donkey cart at midnight was… Li Shi.
Lin Sisi recalled Aunt Yang’s warning from earlier and rolled her eyes.
Li Shi—was she bold, or just foolish?
Without wasting time, Lin Sisi had the villagers on watch call for the village chief and Lin Lao’er.
When the village chief arrived and saw Li Shi unconscious beside someone else’s donkey cart, he was furious. Pointing at Lin Lao’er, he scolded,
“Lin Lao’er! Your wife is rotten to the core! If this weren’t the middle of a famine, I’d make you divorce her on the spot!”
On the road during a famine, people had to help each other—or at the very least, not cause trouble.
Li Shi, waking up, immediately spat and shouted,
“You old fool! Our man hasn’t said anything yet—who are you to decide divorce?”
“Even if you’re the village chief, you can’t force someone’s marriage. What kind of nonsense is this?”
The village chief was furious but couldn’t match wits with a woman, so he turned to scold Lin Lao’er instead:
“Don’t you want to follow the village like everyone else?”
Lin Lao’er, already frustrated, felt humiliated by Li Shi’s outburst. Clenching his teeth, he slapped her.
“Smack—”
The sound rang sharply. Even the village chief hadn’t expected Lin Lao’er to publicly discipline Li Shi like that.
Being both a mother and wife, she couldn’t hold her head high after this slap.
Li Shi clutched her face in shock.
Lin Lao’er ignored her, saying gravely,
“Village Chief, I didn’t manage her properly. This slap serves as a lesson for Li Shi, and also…”
He glanced at Lin Sisi, arms crossed, and added darkly, “Consider it an apology to the two younger members of the Lin family.”
Lin Sisi, unfazed, remarked with a faint smile,
“According to the law, thieves should have their hands cut off. One slap to cover it? Too light.”
Lin Lao’er’s jaw twitched. “What more do you want? She’s your elder!”
“Alright, alright,” Lin Sisi gestured to pause. “Our families are no longer connected. Save the familial talk.”
“But, since we’re from the same village, if your family offers compensation, I won’t press the matter.”
“Impossible!”
Before Lin Lao’er could reply, Li Shi, her face half-swollen, shouted,
“Daydreaming again? You’re just trying to cheat my family!”
“You claim I stole, yet where’s the evidence?”
Lin Sisi smiled, “Then tell me, why are you wandering by our donkey cart in the dead of night?”
“Bored, perhaps? Digging through our food and making a mess?”
Li Shi blushed furiously, trying to argue.
Lin Lao’er, reluctant as he was, saw the village chief’s worsening expression and scolded,
“Shut up!”
“Lin Sisi, though this is Li Shi’s fault, your family hasn’t suffered a loss. Name your compensation, but the food is out of the question.”
Lin Sisi chuckled, “Now that’s proper. Admitting fault early saves trouble. Our family isn’t unreasonable like some people.”
“I don’t want your food either, but surely you have seeds? Give me your seeds and we’ll call it settled.”
She had wanted seeds for planting in her space—this was perfect timing.
“Seeds cost money! They’ll be useful in Anzhou! You little brat, you…”
Li Shi, unwilling to give up, struggled against Lin Lao’er.
Lin Sisi ignored her, turning to the village chief with a smile,
“Village Chief, on a famine road, they won’t need their seeds. My request isn’t unreasonable, right?”
“Or do some people insist on strict formalities?”
The village chief nodded approvingly. “I can tell you’re not aggressive, young lady. Lin Lao’er’s family indeed took advantage.”
Then, warning Lin Lao’er, he said,
“Lin Cang, tell your wife to shut up. It’s not safe on the road. If she causes trouble again, I’ll have her removed from the caravan.”
“And don’t meddle in these children’s affairs. Don’t forget who allowed your family to stay in Little River Village in the first place.”
The village chief left with that cryptic remark.
Lin Sisi touched her chin, considering. The village chief clearly favored her family.
During the recent escape, he often consulted her brother, adopting his suggestions readily. Even previous disputes with Lin Lao’er’s family, the chief ensured her family didn’t suffer.
Though her brother brought news of conscription, its weight was limited. The reason her family remained in Little River Village all these years? The chief’s special favor.
Curious but focused, Lin Sisi said,
“Let’s go. Time to get the seeds.”
Accompanied by a simmering Lin Lao’er, they collected the seeds. Lin Sisi weighed them, pleased.
Though the quantity wasn’t large, the variety suited her needs perfectly.
Just as she picked up the seeds to return, Lin Lao’er called out,
“Lin Sisi…”