For a moment, the villagers were all filled with righteous indignation.
Some were cursing, others were weeping and shouting, looking entirely as though they could no longer carry on with life.
Seeing this, the man named Sun Wu imperceptibly curled the corners of his mouth, helping everyone curse along.
Once the cursing subsided, only fear remained in everyone’s hearts.
Fleeing famine was originally done to save one’s life. Even if they couldn’t live comfortably, they ultimately wanted to preserve their lives.
If they were being sent to their deaths, who would still be willing to go?
“The Third, it seems we must change our path to find a way to survive.” Blacksmith Li’s palms turned cold from fright. “Black bears eat people; we cannot move forward anymore.”
Zhou the Third, however, knitted his brows. “Uncle Li, don’t panic just yet. Although this Sun Wu appears to be kind-hearted, one moment he says that place is completely barren, and the next he says the black bears harm people and the wheat straw is stained red with blood. If it’s completely barren, where did the wheat straw come from?”
Blacksmith Li was stunned. True enough, how did I not think of that?
“This area is desolate, yet this man suddenly appeared with so many brothers. No matter how you look at it, something is fishy,” Old Mrs. Zhou also murmured in a low voice.
This Sun Wu might not necessarily be trustworthy, so the Zhou family had to be extra cautious.
However, those who harbored suspicions like the Zhou family were only a minority.
Right now, the majority of the villagers were fully resolved and refused to head north anymore.
Seeing everyone in distress, Sun Wu stood up and chivalrously patted his chest.
“We are all miserable people. I, Sun Wu, cannot bear to see you suffer. It just so happens that I know a person of high status whose family has recently acquired great wealth and is short of workers. If you go there, you will definitely have no worries about food and clothing!”
Upon hearing this, the villagers breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly begged Sun Wu to take them there.
Sun Wu scanned the crowd. “The men can serve as guards and household servants, the women can do laundry and cleaning, and the children can be brought along. Whoever is willing, follow me.”
“I’m willing!”
“We beg Brother Sun to take our whole family.”
“We have truly met a good person. Heaven bless us!”
In an instant, the refugee convoy scattered into a chaotic mess.
Many refugees scrambled to follow Sun Wu to work for that wealthy family.
Despite being strangers met by chance, Sun Wu possessed an exceptionally good temperament.
Regardless of whether they were men, women, old, or young, as long as they were willing, he did not leave a single person behind.
Seeing that out of the entire group of refugees, only Zhou the Third’s family and Blacksmith Li’s family had not expressed their stance, several villagers from the same village kindly urged them to quickly join in.
“No need. We are going to clear the wasteland,” Zhou the Third said, looking at his family behind him, having made up his mind.
The other villagers wanted to persuade them further.
However, Sun Wu shook his head. “I am willing to take whoever wants to go, and I won’t stop whoever doesn’t want to. The road is wide open, and there are always those who refuse advice and wish to walk the path to their own destruction.”
With that, Sun Wu gave his brothers a look.
He was about to lead the villagers away from this place.
Zhou the Third watched them, his brow tightly furrowed.
He constantly felt that this Sun Wu was not a reliable person, but he did not know how to persuade everyone.
Right at this moment, little Mianmian woke up in Song Nianxi’s arms.
The little milk-pouch stretched a little, letting out a long, heavy breath.
Her soft little hands extended, just about to wrap around Song Nianxi’s neck.
Who would have thought that as she turned her head, she happened to spot the items on Sun Wu’s horse.
Zhou Mianmian’s large, watery eyes flew open, and a flash of alertness instantly crossed them.
“Wah! Wah!”
In the next moment, her little mouth puckered, and she burst into a loud sob.
For such a beautifully carved little doll to suddenly cry so hard she was losing her breath, her round little face flushing bright red as if she had seen something extremely terrifying, it startled all the villagers. They hurriedly looked over.
“What’s wrong, the Third? Is the child hungry?”
“If you ask me, even the little toddler knows the road ahead is dangerous. She is warning you, the Third, to make you seek refuge with Brother Sun along with us.”
Zhou Mianmian spat a little drool toward that person and whimpered; she was deliberately raising an alarm.
However, the alarm was not for the Zhou family, but for these fellow villagers.
Zhou the Third naturally ignored the idle chatter of these people. His daughter never cried without reason; there must be a cause for her current state.
Thus, he hurriedly asked, “What’s wrong, Mianmian? Tell Father, what did you see?”
Song Nianxi was also extremely anxious, gently patting Zhou Mianmian’s back to soothe her breathing.
Old Mrs. Zhou was even more heartbroken. She grasped her granddaughter’s little hand.
“Precious darling, don’t be afraid. What exactly is wrong? Grandma is here.”
Zhou Mianmian sniffled, not daring to look at Sun Wu. “Grandma, there is a bad person… looks like a human trafficker…”
What? A human trafficker? Old Mrs. Zhou was shocked to her core.
“Where is there a human trafficker? The Zhou family girl must be confused from sleep,” Blacksmith Li murmured in puzzlement as he edged closer.
Everyone thought the Zhou family’s little daughter was talking nonsense.
But right then, Zhou Mianmian extended a fair little index finger, pointing angrily at the back of Sun Wu’s horse.
“Grandpa Li is blind… over there… there are big burlap sacks, and human trafficker ropes…” Zhou Mianmian rubbed her eyes reluctantly.
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone hurriedly looked in the direction Mianmian was pointing.
They saw that on Sun Wu’s horse, there were indeed burlap sacks larger than a human, and beside them was a bundle of extremely sturdy, thick hemp rope.
Not just Sun Wu, but all fourteen or fifteen of his brothers actually carried these tools on them.
Were these not precisely the two items that human traffickers always carried!
The villagers were completely stunned. What normal person would carry these things on their person?
Furthermore, these men were all young and strong. If they were engaged in a legitimate business, why on earth would they carry these…
“Wah! Wah! Wah!”
Fearing that everyone wouldn’t take it seriously, Zhou Mianmian deliberately increased the volume of her crying after a brief pause.
Her entire little face turned so red it looked exactly like a milk-sweet little apple.
Hearing this crying, the Zhou family felt immense heartbreak.
“Daughter, don’t be afraid. Father is here, no one can harm you!” Zhou the Third protected Mianmian, his eyes red.
Zhou the Fourth also drew out the long spear used for hunting, glaring heavily at Sun Wu’s group while breathing heavily.
The villagers grew incredibly uneasy upon hearing this.
At this moment, Zhou Mianmian hurriedly reminded them in her milky voice, “Father, look quickly! There is a worm growing on that person’s hand!”
Sun Wu was bewildered.
What worm? What was wrong with this little brat?
Quick-witted and agile, Zhou the Fourth rushed forward and grabbed Sun Wu’s arm.
He saw a deep red, lengthwise scar exposed on Sun Wu’s skin.
It stretched from his wrist all the way up to his upper arm, looking horrifying.
Was this not exactly the “worm” growing on his hand that Mianmian had mentioned?
“Third Brother, look!” Zhou the Fourth shouted, glaring. “A scar this long can only be inflicted by a large blade.”
Ordinary civilians wouldn’t bear such a long scar.
To have suffered such a major injury, he was highly likely someone accustomed to a life of violence and bloodshed.
“It seems our brother here does not usually engage in a peaceful trade,” Zhou the Third said after taking a clear look, unable to help letting out a cold laugh.
Sun Wu grew somewhat infuriated. “What absolute nonsense are you spouting? Hurry up and cover your child’s mouth, or else I won’t be polite with you!”
At this, the refugees instantly grew alert. They scattered one after another, distancing themselves far from Sun Wu.
“You all! What are you running for? Could it be that you truly want to go to the wasteland to seek your own deaths?!” Sun Wu’s eyes widened.
Protecting his family behind him, Zhou the Third called the villagers over.
“Whether clearing the wasteland is dangerous or not, we do not know, but you people are certainly not of a benevolent sort,” Old Mrs. Zhou said, narrowing her eyes.
Zhou the Third nodded, suddenly thinking of a strategy.
“By the way, Brother Sun Wu, may I ask you something? Since you just said you are also from Quan County, why don’t you tell us—what is the name of the moat protecting Quan County?!”