Jiang Zhi followed the sound and saw that the refugees had indeed been stopped by someone.
Beside Xu Youcai stood over a dozen others.
Jiang Zhi recognized them—they were all Xu Youcai’s brothers and nephews.
Though Xu Youcai and Xu Youmao were only two brothers, they had many sons, and their descendants flourished. In just three generations, they had over a dozen able-bodied men, making them a family in the village capable of challenging the Village Chief.
Especially since several of their nephews were seasoned farmers, familiar with the land. This small group of refugees was no match for them.
Xu Youcai, holding an axe, tapped the cart in the hands of the leader, "Second Elder": "You people have blood on your feet. If you want to rest in the village, you have to pay. Otherwise, you’ll taint the feng shui of our village."
"Second Elder" pleaded, "Sir, those rebel soldiers robbed and killed. We were forced to flee for our lives. We’ve walked over a hundred miles and are utterly exhausted. We only entered the village to find some water and stay for one night."
Seeing Xu Youcai and his group’s aggressive demeanor, he could only beg in desperation.
Xu Youcai’s eyes kept darting toward the refugees’ belongings. Spotting someone carrying a leather mattress, his eyes lit up, and he immediately said, "Enough of that useless talk. I’m not one to nitpick. You can choose to pay with money or grain—two jin of grain per person, or five hundred wen per person."
This caused an uproar among the refugees. With nearly ten people, big and small, two jin of grain per person would amount to twenty jin, enough to make porridge to feed everyone for over ten days.
On the road, not knowing when they could settle down, how could they afford to waste grain like this?
As for money, there was even less room for negotiation. Five hundred wen used to be enough to support a family for two months. Now, charging five hundred wen just to sleep on the floor in an empty house was no different from outright robbery.
One of the refugees gritted his teeth and shouted, "Everyone faces difficulties when away from home. Don’t go too far! We’re not easy to bully either."
Xu Youcai sneered, "So what if we rob you? You came out here just to hand over your money. If you have the guts, learn from me and guard your own village instead of running away. Spineless cowards!"
These words were like pouring cold water into hot oil—everything exploded instantly.
The two sides immediately began brawling, fists and feet flying, clubs swinging wildly. Belongings were scattered everywhere, and adults and children alike cried out in chaos.
Without a word, Jiang Zhi grabbed Xu Errui, who was stunned and wide-eyed, and pulled him back to retreat.
Chaotic times produce heroes, but not everyone can be a hero in such times.
Although Jiang Zhi had grown up with her herb-gathering grandfather and had been forced to learn a few self-defense moves, she had forgotten them all after starting school.
The original owner’s sharp-tongued, street-quarrel skills were also unsuitable for such a situation.
Xu Errui, pale-faced, followed closely as they retreated. He had been tense earlier, but seeing the refugees knocked down in just two rounds, he remarked with surprise, "The refugees… are like this? They’re not as terrifying as the rumors say, killing and burning."
Jiang Zhi curled her lip. "Did you think everyone was like this…"
It wasn’t that there were no tough ones—they just hadn’t arrived yet.
Ordinary farmers lacked combat skills, but let’s not forget there were men like the male lead, who killed their way through and rose to power by stepping on others’ heads.
These refugees were exhausted and burdened with children, which made them weak.
Looking at the fresh scar on Xu Youcai’s face, the burned houses in the village, and the bloodstains without bodies, it was clear they had encountered tough opponents before—beaten and their houses burned by others.
Before Jiang Zhi could figure out how to explain, Xu Errui thought of another problem: "Xiao Tian, uh… Village Chief and the others outside will also run into people trying to rob them…"
Jiang Zhi was speechless: With that ruthless male lead around, it's hard to say who would rob whom, but the Village Chief and his group of several dozen people would definitely face plenty of trouble.
The fight on their side ended quickly, with the people of Xu Family Village winning decisively!
Xu Youcai and the others cursed and grumbled as they stripped the refugees of all their belongings.
On the ground, injured men groaned, women knelt and kowtowed desperately, and nearby children wailed loudly.
The scene was so pitiful that Xu Errui couldn't bear to watch: "Mother, Uncle Youcai and the others are going too far. They didn't leave those people anything at all. With no food or water and still having to travel, isn't that just sentencing them to death?"
Jiang Zhi frowned deeply, thinking of Second Elder's gaze earlier. Her heart remained completely unmoved.
She held onto the agitated Xu Errui and wouldn't let go: "If we were the ones fleeing on the road, our fate would be the same."
Chaotic times demanded survival methods suited to chaotic times. Even in a small village like this, the full spectrum of human nature was on display.
Some hid, like herself, retreating to the mountains to escape the world.
Some fled, like the Village Chief and his followers, drifting with the tide—robbing the weak, relying on the strong, and ultimately joining the rebel soldiers.
Others directly transformed into demons. Xu Youcai's family had long harbored wicked intentions; now they were simply given the opportunity.
Young man, playing the saint in chaotic times is futile. You can't save everyone—don't forget we can barely protect ourselves.
With one meal uncertain after the last, even if we go up the mountain, our food supplies won't last more than a few months.
Xu Errui grew restless and anxious, clearly stirred by sympathy. Jiang Zhi reached out, pinched his ear, and whispered harshly: "Don't you dare meddle in other people's business."
Just then, one of Xu Youcai's nephews suddenly shouted: "Who's back there? Come out!" He immediately rushed behind the nearby courtyard wall.
After some scuffling, he dragged a person out from behind the wall, hidden in a pile of straw.
Xiao Man, his face full of panic and carrying a strangely shaped frame on his shoulder, forced a dry smile at Xu Youcai: "Uncle Youcai, I just came home to fetch something!"
Jiang Zhi's face turned pale. Damn it! Why did Xiao Man have to come at this exact moment?
Xu Youcai and his men were no longer the farming uncles they used to be—they were now extortionists, robbers, and thugs.
And he certainly wouldn't want anyone from the village to know what he was doing.
Sure enough, Xu Youcai glared darkly at Xiao Man: "What did you see just now?"
Xiao Man stammered, unsure how to respond.
Jiang Zhi's heart sank: Xu Youcai was going to silence him.
Xiao Man's family only had him as a capable laborer. He couldn't afford to get hurt.
If anything happened to Xiao Man, that household of elderly, weak, sick, and disabled would be finished.
Weighing the pros and cons, Jiang Zhi stepped out from her hiding place: "Brother Youcai, this child came with me."
"Granny Jiang, what are you doing here?" The moment Xu Youcai saw Jiang Zhi, his face darkened even further.
Granny Jiang was notorious for being unreasonable and vicious—if she had no grounds, she would still make a scene; if she had grounds, she would thrash about until she dug a pit in the ground.
In terms of influence, she was a notable figure in the village.
On par with the powerful Village Chief and the formidable Xu Youcai himself, everyone avoided her.
The Xu family members also changed their expressions at the sight of Jiang Zhi. Although she was just a woman, her long-standing tyranny gave them all headaches. They really seemed to run into her everywhere.
Jiang Zhi strode over, yanked Xiao Man to her side, then mimicked the original body's usual cursing posture—hands on hips, mouth twisted as she spat on the ground. "Xu You Cai, you're the one who shits without covering your face, unafraid of others seeing.
And now you have the nerve to ask Xiao Man what she means? Whatever she means has nothing to do with us. Looking at you any longer just disgusts me.
Let me tell you, we are people of this village. We come and go as we please.
The Village Chief has only been gone two days, and you think with no tiger in the mountains, the monkey can be king? Dream on!"
Xu You Cai was once again cursed to the bone, his face flushing a liver-red. Rage surged within him. "Granny Jiang, believe it or not, I'll beat you to death!"
"Go ahead, hit me! If you don't, you're a turtle's grandson!
Hit me, and then Uncle Changgeng and the others will see what kind of person you are. The neighbors waiting for us up the mountain will know exactly what you are!"
Jiang Zhi charged right up to Xu You Cai, fearless and defiant.
She was gambling.
Gambling that Xu You Cai still retained the nature of a village farmer, that if he wanted to keep his standing in Xu Family Village in the future, he would still care somewhat about his reputation now.