“Xiaochun, it’s not that I’m heartless. It’s that in times like these, I can’t afford to be softhearted. Do you understand?” Bai Nianqing said.
“Why, miss?” Xiaochun still didn’t really understand.
Seeing that Xiaochun was still confused—and even Shen Wenhe was looking over curiously—Bai Nianqing had no choice but to explain more clearly.
“Ah… it’s not that I don’t want to help them. It’s that in times like these, there are too many people in need. If I help one, there will be ten more lining up behind. This is only the beginning. In the future there will be more and more cases like this. The worst of it… there will even be people who eat their own children. Tell me, how many can we save? In a time like this, we’re already doing well just to take care of ourselves. Besides, one is seven years old and the other is nine—what can they do if we take them in? Especially during a famine escape. If we’re unlucky, we’ll have to look after them too. The days ahead will only become harder. Children are weak to begin with and easily fall sick. In normal times, the child mortality rate is already high—let alone on the road while fleeing a disaster. When that time comes, we’ll already be exhausted just taking care of Nianchen. We definitely won’t have the energy to look after others. And another thing—don’t give to beggars casually in the future. You need to remember, sometimes misplaced kindness brings trouble. If you’re unlucky, you may even invite a fatal disaster.” Bai Nianqing said seriously.
“How could it cause a fatal disaster?” Xiaochun was stunned by her words.
Shen Wenhe didn’t speak, but his face showed deep thought.
“How could it not? Think about it—every household is starving, everyone is on the verge of death, yet you are full and can still give food away. Don’t you think that will make people keep an eye on you? And if you give to the first person—what about the second? The third? The fourth? No matter how much you have, it will never be enough. And if you give to the people in front but refuse the ones behind, won’t those behind complain? And complaints are nothing—the scary thing is when someone gets evil ideas. Do you understand now?” Bai Nianqing explained slowly and clearly, step by step.
“I understand now, wife. You’re really smart. If you hadn’t said it, I wouldn’t have thought of any of this.” Shen Wenhe thought of how frightening it would be if he gave food to one poor person and was then surrounded by a crowd begging. Just imagining it scared him.
“Miss, I understand too. I won’t do foolishly kind things again.” Xiaochun promised.
Bai Nianqing didn’t yet know that because she warned Shen Wenhe and Xiaochun ahead of time, they would avoid a future disaster big enough to destroy both their small family and their household.
Of course, they didn’t know it now.
When they returned to the room, Xiaochun busied herself pouring tea.
“Miss, young master, please have some tea first. I’ll go cook.”
“No need to trouble yourself. Just boil two bowls of noodles to fill our stomachs first.” Bai Nianqing didn’t crave meat or fish—she just wanted something to eat quickly so she could rest.
“Yes, I’ll go right away.” Xiaochun said and left.
“Wife, I think it’s not safe here anymore. Should we move into the mountains as soon as possible?” Shen Wenhe’s heart felt heavy after what he saw on the way home.
“Let’s stay a few more days and see. If it really doesn’t work, we’ll go up the mountain. Tomorrow, the two of us will also go into town to see the current grain prices. I’m sure everything has gotten more expensive. I think we still don’t have enough salt—we should buy some more. And oilcloth—we need more of that too. There’s nothing now during the drought, but I heard that after a drought comes flooding, and there will also be cold waves. Don’t laugh—our wooden house needs to be covered with oilcloth. As for the mountain cave’s wooden door, we should make a cotton curtain with oilcloth—it will block both wind and rain. And we need to buy several sets of bamboo hats and rain capes. Otherwise, if it rains, we won’t be able to go outside.” Bai Nianqing listed the things they still lacked.
“All right. We’ll go into town tomorrow. And also check if they’ve left.” Shen Wenhe said.
Old Master Shen was his father after all; it was normal to worry.
“Should we go back to take a look tomorrow?” Bai Nianqing asked tentatively.
It wasn’t the people she cared about—it was the things in the Shen household.
All the valuable things must have been taken, but the big furniture couldn’t be carried away. They were made of good wood.
Since the family had left, she worried the house would later be ransacked by refugees.
“All right. Let’s go tomorrow. In these times… who knows if we’ll ever meet again.” Shen Wenhe said, feeling low.
Bai Nianqing understood. No matter the conflicts, they had lived together as a family for many years.
And in ancient times, people valued their clans above all else.
Now, with Shen Wenhe’s father taking the family to the capital to survive—in an era where traveling was slow—this parting might truly last a lifetime.
While they were talking, Xiaochun brought the noodles in. Besides the noodles, she mixed two small side dishes.
As they were eating, Chang’an returned from town.
“Xiaochun! Xiaochun! Come out quickly!” He yelled as soon as he entered the yard.
“Brother Chang’an, don’t shout! Miss and young master are back. Brother Chang’an, what happened? Why are you hurt?” Only now did Xiaochun notice that Chang’an was limping.
“Young master is back? Where? I need to see him.” Chang’an barely heard the rest of her words.
“They’re inside eating. They just got back too.” Xiaochun said.
Chang’an didn’t listen further—he just wanted to report the situation in town.
“Young master! Young master!”
“I hear you! What are you making such a fuss for? What happened to your leg?” Shen Wenhe came out after quickly finishing his noodles.
“Young master, you’re back. My leg is fine. I just twisted it while avoiding refugees. They were chasing people… to eat them. Especially those traveling alone—a group would surround and drag them off. I sprained my ankle while running away from them.” Chang’an explained.
“What’s the situation in town? Are there many refugees? Has the yamen said anything?” Shen Wenhe frowned.
“No one without local household registration can enter the city now. A lot of refugees have gathered outside the walls. Many have also scattered to the countryside to beg.” Chang’an said.
“Is there still water in the town wells? And the Shen household?” Shen Wenhe asked.
“They’re running out too. Only three or four wells still have water. There have already been several fights and brawls over water. Starting yesterday, officials have stationed guards by the wells. Each household is only allowed one bucket of water per day. If you want more, you have to pay. Food is also more expensive now. Rough grain used to be three coins a jin—now it’s more than ten. Some families are already running out of food.” Chang’an reported.