Feng Li-zheng had already sent his son Feng Daquan and a few strong men like Li Dazhao to scout the area around the cave. Only after confirming it was safe did he allow the villagers who needed to relieve themselves to go out.
Grandma Zhou had already recovered a bit. Feng Li-zheng told everyone to rest briefly before setting off again.
Li Dazhao found horseshoe prints left by the barbarians. He had once escorted goods through Ling Mountain before, so he was fairly familiar with the terrain.
After discussing with Feng Li-zheng, they concluded that the barbarians had taken a small western path. That route had almost no obstacles, since it was often used by travelers. The barbarians likely chose it to reach the next village.
Their group, however, would head northeast instead, which would eventually lead them back to the official road. It would be a bit longer—one or two extra days—but safer.
Feng Li-zheng and the clan elders agreed on the northeast route. Even if it meant extra travel, avoiding the brutal enemy soldiers was the priority.
Once everyone had recovered enough, Feng Li-zheng led them out of the cave and formed a line to continue their journey.
By then it was already past noon. The sun was still scorching in the afternoon heat. Even though trees occasionally blocked the sunlight in the mountains, the moment it hit their skin it felt as if it were burning.
They had changed direction toward the northeast and had walked for nearly half an hour, already putting some distance between themselves and the cave.
Under the intense heat, the entire group was drenched in sweat. The men, with their stronger sweat glands, were so soaked their clothes could practically be wrung out.
“I can’t take it anymore! I’m so thirsty!” Li Fugui ran to the front of the group to complain to Feng Li-zheng, pulling up his shirt and fanning his stomach for relief.
Feng Li-zheng was just as aware of everyone’s thirst. He himself hadn’t had a single sip of water since leaving the cave, and his throat was already dry and painful.
“Brother Dazhao said that there’s a river after we cross that hill ahead. That should be our water source. Hurry up and put your clothes back on—what kind of look is that!”
“What? We still have to cross another hill? That’s too far! Uncle Feng, I’m about to die from the heat!” Li Fugui panted like a dog, sticking out his tongue to cool down.
“Fugui boy, endure it even if it’s hot! If you want water, keep walking! Otherwise you’ll just get dried out here in the sun!” Feng Li-zheng scolded him, then sent him back into line. He walked toward the rear with his son to make sure no one fell behind.
Gu Jiu had been leading her younger siblings at the front of the group. Since Feng Li-zheng didn’t allow a midday stop, everyone could only eat dry rations while walking, swallowing them down without water.
Gu Jiu reached into her basket and pulled out four cabbage buns from a cloth bag, handing them to her second and third sisters.
“Rong’er, Xiao Man, eat this.”
Grandma Zhou, having suffered heatstroke, was too weak to walk on her own and had been carried by Li Dazhao. Her luggage had also been taken care of by Gu Jiu, while her empty basket was carried by Gu Rong, with little Gu Changle sitting inside.
Gu Jiu then took out three flower rolls, giving one to Gu Changle so he could nibble on it himself, while she ate two.
Li Dazhao, carrying Grandma Zhou, was walking not far behind them. Gu Jiu then took out four soft white steamed buns and gave two to Zhou Jinhua.
“Grandma Zhou, please eat something to fill your stomach. Grandpa Feng probably won’t let us stop on the road. We’ll have to keep going until we find a place to rest tonight.”
Zhou Jinhua, still lying on Li Dazhao’s back, stared at the white steamed buns in disbelief. It had been so long since she last saw fine white flour!
“Jiu girl, such good food—you’re wasting it. You children should keep it for yourselves.”
“We all have some to eat, Grandma Zhou. Please, just eat.” Gu Jiu then gave the remaining two buns to Li Dazhao.
“Uncle Dazhao, I’ll trouble you to carry my grandma this afternoon. Please eat these buns to regain some strength. We still need your help before we find a place to rest. If you don’t accept them, I’ll feel too guilty to keep asking you for help.”
Li Dazhao originally wanted to refuse, but he knew the girl was firm-minded. If he truly refused, these children wouldn’t be able to carry Grandma Zhou at all.
“Alright then, Uncle won’t be polite. Once we hunt some meat later, I’ll share it with you!”
The others in the group watched Gu Jiu casually take out several white steamed buns and silently thought she was wasting food. In times like these, everyone ate coarse grain—white flour was something only wealthy households could afford.
However, the children in the group were already tempted. White flour food was sweeter and more fragrant than coarse grain.
Seeing Li Dazhao happily accept the buns and wolf them down in a few bites, Gu Jiu felt even more willing to deal with straightforward people like him.
In truth, asking Li Dazhao to help carry Grandma Zhou for a short distance was fine, but Gu Jiu knew he had a wife, children, and heavy luggage of his own. It wasn’t a long-term solution.
She began thinking of a simple transportation tool: a wooden flat cart. It could carry Grandma Zhou and the younger child, and also hold their luggage.
She had been drinking spiritual spring water, so her physical strength was already strong—lifting a hundred jin was no problem for her.
Once they left Ling Mountain and reached the official road, the cart would be even easier to push.
Gu Jiu made up her mind to find wood and build the cart when they stopped for the night.
After crossing the hill Feng Li-zheng mentioned, they finally saw a river. After checking the surrounding terrain, Feng Li-zheng and Feng Daquan decided the group would camp there for the night.
The villagers, especially the men, excitedly jumped into the river to wash up, while the women took the children to gather firewood and cook.
Gu Jiu chose a spot a bit away from the others, leaning against a large tree with her basket and luggage placed on the ground.
“I’ll go gather firewood first!” Gu Rong said eagerly, seeing others already heading into the woods.
Gu Jiu saw many people going into the nearby forest and wasn’t worried about her sister.
She first found two stones of similar height and started setting up a stove, then began plucking the feathers from three pigeons—a delicate and time-consuming task.
Little Gu Man was so tired she sat down with her back against the tree to rest, while Grandma Zhou also leaned against it with her eyes closed, still weak from heatstroke.
Gu Man nervously stared at a caterpillar crawling slowly on the ground, curling up in fear, while little Gu Changle looked fascinated, crawling after it as it moved.
After cleaning the pigeons, Gu Jiu washed them in the river, fetched a bucket of water back to their belongings, and took out two handfuls of white rice to cook.
Gu Man watched as the three pigeons were “stripped” clean and neatly laid on the ground, immediately losing interest in the caterpillar.
“Sister, how are you going to cook the pigeons?”
Gu Jiu smiled, already guessing what she wanted. “What do you want?”
“Roast pigeon!” Gu Man said excitedly.
“Alright, I’ll roast one for you.”
Gu Jiu agreed without hesitation.
Her younger sisters had never enjoyed good food or parental love before. From now on, she would spoil all of them herself.