A few days later, thirty li outside Tianyang Prefecture City, Lin Luoluo and her group encountered a crowd of ragged, poorly dressed people.
The way they looked at them was filled with longing. On the only two ox carts sat the elderly, the weak, women, and children. Slightly older children and young women walked beside the carts, while the able-bodied men stayed on the outermost side of the group.
As the aroma of meat drifted through the air, they all unconsciously swallowed their saliva.
“Grrr…”
An eight or nine-year-old boy rubbed his stomach and said,
“Father, I’m hungry. Can we stop here and eat? It’s been so long since I’ve had meat. If I eat my flatbread while smelling the meat, I can pretend I’m eating meat.”
His father gently stroked his head.
“Alright.”
He then turned to everyone and called out,
“Everyone, stop and find some shade to rest. We’re close to the river, so fetching water will be easy. A few of you come with me later to bring back more water. The rest of you start a fire and boil some water so we can prepare lunch.”
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone immediately went about their tasks. Even the children were no exception. No one was idle, and despite craving food, not a single person approached Lin Luoluo’s group to beg for anything.
Lin Luoluo felt that these people possessed admirable character. Even while fleeing famine and disaster, they had not lost their principles. Instead, they relied on their own labor to obtain food.
Seeing that they meant no harm, Lin Da took several of his brothers to the river to catch fish. Ever since practicing the cultivation technique Lin Luoluo had given them, their speed, Internal Energy, and strength had all increased tremendously.
In only a short while, they caught two large baskets full of fish.
Meanwhile, the refugee group had managed to catch only a handful.
The man awkwardly scratched his head before forcing himself to walk over to Lin Da.
“Brother, do you have some secret trick for catching fish?”
Lin Da glanced at him.
“Um… Brother, I’m sorry. I was too presumptuous.”
After all, this was a skill that helped people earn their food. How could someone casually reveal it?
Just as he assumed Lin Da would not answer and turned to leave, Lin Da spoke.
“When you spear a fish, don’t aim directly at where you see it. Its actual position in the water differs from what your eyes perceive. Your strike has to be fast, fierce, and accurate.”
“So that’s how it works!”
The man’s eyes lit up with realization as he cupped his fists toward Lin Da.
“Little brother, thank you.”
Then Lin Da asked,
“Big Brother, may I ask where you’re coming from?”
The man sighed deeply.
“In times like these, ordinary people simply have no way to survive. This year, the northwest suffered a severe drought, and the harvest was poor. We thought that if we endured a little longer, perhaps we’d get through it. But unexpectedly, the Xia Kingdom launched an invasion. The western border lacked military provisions, and the common people thought we couldn’t let our soldiers defend the border on empty stomachs, so everyone voluntarily donated part of their grain to the troops.
“But most of us were left with almost no food. We also feared that the western frontier might fall, so we brought our families and left to seek a way to survive.”
His face was filled with helplessness, yet also with a desperate desire to live.
Lin Da asked curiously,
“Then why didn’t you settle in Tianyang Prefecture ahead? Why continue north?”
The man replied,
“There are already over a hundred thousand refugees gathered in Tianyang Prefecture. They probably can’t accommodate everyone, so we decided to leave early and see whether the next prefecture city would be better.”
Lin Da nodded to show he understood.
“Little brother, where are you headed? If possible, it’s best for you to avoid Tianyang Prefecture. There are simply too many refugees there now, and it’s not safe.”
The man felt that Lin Da’s group were good people and couldn’t help offering the warning.
“Thank you for the reminder, Big Brother.”
Lin Da clasped his fists in gratitude.
After that, they each returned to their own groups.
When Lin Da came back, he told Lin Luoluo everything he had learned.
After listening, Lin Luoluo frowned slightly and thought for quite some time before calling,
“Uncle Zhong.”
“Coming!”
A moment later, Lin Zhong walked over.
“Miss, what are your orders?”
He held a bowl in one hand while eating and asking.
“Separate two sacks of grain later. Gather some dried vegetables and dried meat as well, and have Lin Da and the others deliver them.”
“Oh, and send one basket of fish too.”
After saying that, Lin Luoluo waved a hand in front of her nose with a look of disgust.
“Understood, Miss.”
Seeing his young mistress’s expression of disdain, Lin Da couldn’t help twitching the corner of his mouth.
“Uncle Zhong, after we’ve rested enough, we’ll continue toward Tianyang Prefecture.”
“Yes.”
Although Lin Zhong obeyed Lin Luoluo’s decision to head there, he still couldn’t suppress the worry in his heart.
Seeing the undisguised concern on his face, Lin Luoluo helplessly added another sentence.
“Uncle Zhong, I have my reasons for going to Tianyang Prefecture.”
“I understand. Lin Zhong will follow Master’s orders.”
Lin Luoluo raised an eyebrow.
It seemed he no longer regarded her merely as the eldest daughter of the General’s Manor—he truly considered her his master now.
After receiving Lin Luoluo’s instructions, Lin Da led several men carrying sacks of grain over to the refugees.
Seeing them approaching with supplies, the man stepped forward.
“Little brother, what is this?”
“Our master is kind-hearted and asked us to bring you some food. It should help you endure for a while longer.”
As he spoke, he placed everything on the ground.
Earlier that day, Uncle Zhong had reminded them that the General’s Manor no longer existed. For convenience while traveling, they were to address the eldest miss as “Master” from now on.
“This… this won’t do. We can’t simply accept your things for nothing. Besides, you also have so many people to feed on your journey. Little brother, please take them back.”
The man looked extremely ashamed.
“Big Brother, don’t worry. Our master isn’t lacking this amount of grain, but for you, it could save lives. Even if you don’t think about yourself, think about those elderly people and children. They’re weak and can’t endure hunger. Please accept it.”
After saying that, he led his brothers away without looking back.
“Little brother! Thank you! And thank your master!”
The man hurriedly shouted after them.
With his back still turned, Lin Da simply waved his hand.
The man watched their departing figures as his eyes reddened. Only after they returned to Lin Luoluo’s group did he wipe the corners of his eyes with his sleeve before turning to instruct his companions to carry the grain back.
When the children saw so much food, they burst into cheers.
The women and elderly people were moved to tears.
The men all had red-rimmed eyes.
“Elder Sister!”
“Elder Sister!”
Lin Zirui and Lin Wanwan came running over, their faces smeared with dirt like little tabby cats. Behind them followed Lin Jiu, Lin Shi, and Gu Changqing.
“Slow down!”
Lin Luoluo had been playing with Lin Ziyu when she heard the siblings calling her. She turned around just in time to see them nearly stumble from running too fast. Although she knew they had been practicing martial arts and wouldn’t fall easily, she still couldn’t help reminding them.
“Elder Sister, look! These are the wild vegetables I dug up. Can we eat wild vegetables tonight?”
Lin Zirui said excitedly.
“Elder Sister, look! I dug up these medicinal herbs with Brother Changqing.”
Lin Wanwan added.
The moment they reached Lin Luoluo, the siblings eagerly showed off the fruits of today’s efforts.
“Very good! Our Zirui and Wanwan are amazing. You can already recognize wild vegetables and medicinal herbs.”
Lin Luoluo generously gave them both a thumbs-up.
“Elder Sister, you have no idea! Those children over there are incredible. Every one of them knows wild vegetables. They taught me how to find these. Whenever they stop to rest, they go digging for wild vegetables and gathering firewood. Even four- and five-year-old children work. They’re all so capable.”
“Our Zirui is very capable too.”
Seeing his cheeks puff up as he talked, Lin Luoluo couldn’t resist leaning over and kissing him on the cheek.
“Oh! Elder Sister!”
Lin Zirui immediately covered the spot.
“I’m already a real man. Men and women shouldn’t have physical contact. You can’t kiss me.”
As he wiped the place she had kissed, he lowered his head shyly.
“You little rascal. I’m going to kiss you anyway, especially since you’re rejecting me.”
After saying that, she planted another kiss on his cheek.
“Oh! I’m not talking to you anymore!”
With that, he ran away, though it was impossible to tell whether he was angry or simply embarrassed.
“Elder Sister…”
Lin Wanwan hesitated.
“Can… can I study medicine? Brother Changqing says I’m very quick at recognizing herbs. It’s just a pity that I’m a girl. Elder Sister, I want to try. I want to be like the women from your world.”
“Of course you can. As long as it’s what you want, I’ll support you. But studying medicine is very difficult. Can you persevere?”
Lin Luoluo looked directly into her eyes.
“I can.”
Lin Wanwan’s gaze was unwavering.
“Good. Take this medical book and read it first. If there are any characters you don’t recognize, come ask me.”
As she spoke, she took a medical text out of her Space and handed it to her.
Holding the book, Lin Wanwan treasured it as though she had obtained a priceless jewel. Hugging it tightly to her chest, she climbed straight into the carriage to begin reading.