“I bought clothes for everyone. I already changed at the shop earlier and wiped my face clean too,” Lin Zhiyue explained while touching her cheek.
When they returned to the carriage, Lin Dian and Lin Zhishu still had not come back.
Lin Yan lifted the rice sack onto the carriage while casually saying as he shoved it farther inside,
“There wasn’t any grain being sold on the streets. We just got lucky and exchanged with a family for some rice.”
His tone was deliberately light.
Madam Li accepted the cloth bundle, glanced at the clothes on top, and carefully placed them inside the carriage.
Then she noticed the rice peeking out beneath.
“This rice… it’s so white,” she exclaimed in surprise.
“Let me see.”
Old Madam Lin pulled the sack closer.
“Oh my, it really is white and plump. It must’ve been expensive, right?”
Listening to the conversation, Lin Yan immediately added,
“There wasn’t a single grain shop open. The rice and buns were bought at a high price from a wealthy family relocating elsewhere. They had too many belongings to take, so they sold us a little.”
“Daughter, bring over the meat buns so everyone can fill their stomachs.”
Lin Yan quickly changed the topic.
“You all said earlier that you wanted to learn martial arts from Guard Pei?” Lin Zhiyue asked while nibbling on a bun.
“Mhm!”
Lin Zhili answered with his mouth full of meat bun.
This bun was unbelievably delicious.
Even buns they used to eat before never had this much meat.
Lin Zhiyue glanced thoughtfully at Pei Guang, who had already finished one bun and awkwardly accepted another from her father.
At that moment, sounds came from the alley entrance.
Lin Dian and Lin Zhishu had returned.
To everyone’s surprise, they were driving a mule cart.
“Second Brother, we searched three whole streets and couldn’t find anyone selling grain. But there was a small marketplace nearby, and the mule cart wasn’t expensive, so we bought it.”
Lin Dian hopped down from the cart and added regretfully,
“It’s a pity though. Our old mule cart ended up sold to the Zeng family.”
“Big Brother, this is good. With a mule cart, everyone can ride now, and we’ll reach our destination faster too.”
“As for grain, don’t worry. We got lucky and managed to buy some from a wealthy household.”
“Ah! Uncle, you bought oilcloth!”
Lin Zhiyue touched the large sheets spread over the cart with delight.
Oilcloth was fantastic—waterproof, moisture-proof, and useful for shade.
Spread on the ground, it could even keep insects away.
“Your older cousin bought it,” Lin Dian said cheerfully.
“He insisted it would be useful and bought two sheets.”
At the time, Lin Dian had not approved.
The weather was so dry and drought-stricken that he thought buying oilcloth was pointless.
But his son had stubbornly insisted.
Now, seeing his niece’s delighted expression, it seemed the purchase had indeed been worthwhile.
Lin Zhishu watched his smiling younger cousin quietly.
Ever since emotions had returned to her face and her eyes no longer looked dull, she had become even more dazzlingly beautiful.
Ai…
There would be plenty to worry about in the future.
He rubbed her fluffy little head gently.
“Big Brother bought some other things too. We’ve almost spent all the money. Yueyue won’t blame me, right?”
“How could I? Money exists to be spent. The worst thing would be not being able to spend it at all.”
As Lin Zhiyue spoke, she watched Lin Zhishu unload another bundle from the mule cart.
Inside were several pairs of shoes, along with three water pouches.
“Big Brother thought of everything. I didn’t even consider this.”
She truly had overlooked it.
Ever since transmigrating here, she herself had not walked much farther than the others.
Most of the time, her father carried her.
Even her shoes had been handmade by her mother with thick soft soles.
But she had forgotten everyone else’s footwear entirely.
Then Lin Zhishu lifted another oilcloth covering.
Underneath lay several large chopping blades.
Lin Zhiyue’s eyes widened in excitement.
“Big Brother, this is wonderful! With these blades, we’ll be much safer.”
“Zhishu, eat a bun first. It’s almost time—we should get moving again.”
Lin Yan walked over, interrupting their conversation as he handed Lin Zhishu two large meat buns.
Pei Guang drove the carriage while Lin Yan sat beside him.
Aside from Lin Dian and Lin Zhishu riding the mule cart, everyone else squeezed into the carriage.
Many supplies had already been moved into the mule cart; otherwise, the carriage would have been unbearably crowded.
Slowly, the carriage rolled toward the eastern city gate.
They exited smoothly.
Even outside the eastern gate, many refugees still lingered nearby.
After scanning the crowd and spotting no familiar faces, the family quickly continued onward.
Inside the carriage, everyone gradually dozed off from the rocking motion.
Lin Zhili had completely sprawled across the rice sack, sleeping soundly.
Lin Zhiyue wriggled her small body toward the carriage entrance and sat behind Lin Yan and Pei Guang.
“Dad, have you noticed your strength increasing lately?”
“Hm?”
Lin Yan turned around in confusion toward his daughter, whose bright eyes blinked expectantly at him.
“…Now that you mention it, maybe.”
“I think it’s because of the spiritual spring water. Guard Pei, if someone becomes physically stronger, wouldn’t martial arts training improve faster too?”
Lin Zhiyue turned toward Pei Guang curiously.
“Of course,” Pei Guang answered immediately.
“Didn’t Guard Pei promise to teach my second brother martial arts? Then why not teach everyone together? We can share some spiritual spring water with you in return. What do you think?”
“No problem.”
Pei Guang smacked his lips unconsciously, remembering the taste of the spiritual spring water and the instant recovery of strength it had brought.
His throat bobbed involuntarily.
“If you’re drinking my water, then you have to teach properly. No slacking.”
“Hah, Little Miss Lin, do I look like that kind of person?”
Pei Guang flicked the riding whip casually as he replied.
Lin Yan listened quietly before finally understanding his daughter’s intentions.
The spiritual spring water was already no secret before Pei Guang and his master.
Meanwhile, there was still plenty more within her space.
To them, it was no longer something impossibly rare.
And on this road of fleeing famine, learning some martial arts for self-defense truly was necessary.
Though Pei Guang would escort them to Jiangzhou, what then?
What if Jiangzhou refused refugees—or could only accept a limited number?
Then they would have to continue onward again.
Besides, along the journey, if riots or danger arose, Pei Guang alone could not possibly protect everyone at once.
“Then from now on, once the sun starts setting, we’ll stop early and rest. That’ll leave extra time for martial arts practice. Since we now have carts, there’s no need to rush our travels so desperately.”
Lin Yan concluded.
The sun gradually tilted westward.
It was already around the Hour of the Rooster.
Pei Guang slowed the carriage while searching for a suitable resting place.
About fifteen minutes later, they finally discovered a relatively flat, spacious patch of dirt ahead.
The carriage rolled over, with Lin Dian following closely behind on the mule cart.
The moment they stopped, Lin Dian immediately jumped down.
“Walking hurts the feet, but sitting on this mule cart half the day destroys the backside. When will this suffering ever end?”
“Then should I drive while you walk instead?”
Old Master Lin had climbed down from the carriage at some point.
“Ai, Dad, I was just complaining! How could I trouble you to drive?”
“Hmph. You’re just too idle. Should we hire two people to carry you around before you’ll finally feel comfortable?”
Old Master Lin slapped away his eldest son’s attempt to support him.
“Grandpa, Uncle’s mule cart really is bumpier than the carriage. Even my butt went numb riding in the carriage.”
Lin Zhiyue quickly stepped forward to smooth things over.
Old Master Lin glanced sideways at Lin Dian.
“Can he compare to our Yueyue? Your uncle’s rough-skinned and thick-fleshed—a complete brute.”
“Exactly! Dad should feel ashamed. Yueyue’s our family’s delicate little flower, and even she hasn’t complained!”
Lin Zhixing hopped off the carriage too, criticizing her father while immediately taking Lin Zhiyue’s hand.
“Yeah, yeah! Dad’s embarrassing!”
With Madam Li’s help, Lin Zhili also climbed down and skipped over happily.
“Dad, come help spread the oilcloth!”
Over there, Lin Zhili had already pulled down one sheet of oilcloth and was loudly calling for his father.
Their dad was being collectively bullied—someone had to rescue him.
Lin Zhiyue could not help laughing helplessly.
Watching the adults bustling about and her cousins constantly circling around her—
She suddenly realized something clearly.
These were her family in this life.
Family who loved and protected her.