It turned out that last night, while under cover of darkness, Ye Lao’er had secretly hidden life-saving food and water for Ye Qing in the firewood shed. However, Wang Guihua had quietly taken it all away, leaving only an empty stone slab pit.
She intended to cut off Ye Qing’s last chance of survival—she wanted that annoying little wretch to die in that dark, windowless firewood shed!
【What a poisonous woman!】
“Village Chief, let’s rest for a while!”
Ye Ergou collapsed on the ground. His cracked lips moved weakly, unable even to swallow saliva.
“If we keep walking, we won’t even meet the bandits—we’ll die of thirst first!”
His words were like a stone thrown into a pond, instantly stirring a wave of wails among the group.
A woman holding a child cried, “It’s only been two days… and two people have already died… Village Chief, can we really make it out alive?”
The village chief, irritated by the crying, slammed his wooden staff into the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.
“Rest! Everyone rests for half an hour!”
“You, you, and you—come here!”
He pointed at Ye Dashan and several strong men, leading them toward a dirt slope by the roadside.
It looked like they were going to discuss matters again.
The rest of the group simply followed the order to stop. As soon as the break was announced, people immediately settled down, crawling under the shade of carts and pulling out dry rations and water.
“Have you heard? There really are bandits ahead?” Ye Ergou asked in a low voice, his eyes full of fear.
“How would we dare see them ourselves?” someone else said, voice trembling. “All we know is that the group from Liujiacun was scattered near Sihé Town three days ago. Very few survived!”
“We’ve been walking with our families for two days and haven’t even reached the edge of town. At this rate, I don’t think we’ll dare move forward today.”
Ye Ergou’s mother hugged her thirsty grandson and sighed endlessly.
“What else could it be?”
Tie Dan glanced toward the dirt slope and sneered. “Look at the village chief—he’s definitely sending Ye Dashan and the others to scout ahead. The closer we get to town, the more dangerous it gets. Who knows if it’s bandits or outlaws occupying it now?”
“Exactly!” everyone echoed. Faces were filled with relief at having survived so far. “Whatever, let’s rest these half an hour first and catch our breath.”
……
In Liuye Village, silence hung heavily.
Ye Qing finally managed to recover a little. No—she couldn’t just lie here waiting to die!
Suddenly, she remembered the clay jar that Wang Guihua had thrown into the weeds. Maybe… maybe there was still water left?
Supporting herself with her elbows, she slowly crawled toward the door. She pushed it—unlocked.
With effort, she forced it open. A wave of scorching heat rushed in from outside, the wind itself burning hot, mixed with dust that stung her face.
What kind of place was this?!
Ye Qing cursed inwardly a hundred times. Her lips were so cracked she could barely feel them anymore.
She searched the dry weeds and finally found it in a corner by the wall.
Thank heavens—there was still a shallow layer of water inside. The heat hadn’t completely evaporated it!
She drank it immediately. The muddy, slightly earthy water slid down her throat, finally soothing the burning pain.
After drinking, she hurried back into the firewood shed. Just standing outside for a moment made her feel like she was being roasted alive. If she stayed out any longer, she might be dried into a corpse.
Water truly was the source of life.
Her mind finally began to clear. Leaning against the firewood pile, she stared at the remaining two mouthfuls of water in the jar, her gaze gradually turning cold.
Liuye Village was now an empty settlement. Wang Guihua’s family had already left with the fleeing villagers—by now, they might have even reached the town.
A fourteen-year-old girl, penniless and unarmed—if she chased after them, she might not only fail to get justice but could be harmed again by that vicious woman.
Besides, with this three-year drought, the hardships on the road of migration were no easier than staying here.
With her current body, she probably couldn’t even make it out of the village.
Ye Qing slowly looked outside.
The courtyard well had long dried up, and half of the wall had collapsed, revealing the barren yellow mountains beyond.
In the original owner’s memory, Liuye Village was surrounded by mountains. Deep in those mountains, there were wild animals and edible plants that could survive drought.
But villagers said there were beasts in the mountains, and hunters sometimes got lost and died there. Ordinary people didn’t dare enter.
But now… did she even have a choice?
Starving to death was death. Being eaten by beasts was death. Fighting Wang Guihua’s family might also lead to death.
But she refused to die!
In her past life, she had already suffered for over a decade. Now that she had just transmigrated, she was going to starve to death? She wouldn’t accept it!
Even if the mountains were dangerous, they were still her only chance at survival.
Having made up her mind, she stood up and picked up the rusty hoe from the corner, weighing it in her hand.
Since she had taken over this body, she would also take responsibility for its suffering.
As for Wang Guihua’s family—this debt would be remembered. Once she survived and walked out of these mountains, she would settle it with interest!
For now, survival came first.
She needed water. She needed food.
And she needed anything usable.
The fleeing villagers had taken almost everything, but maybe… they had missed something?
She remembered there was a storage shed behind the house.
Taking a deep breath, she stepped outside. Hot wind mixed with sand slapped her face. She didn’t even bother spitting—it didn’t matter anymore; the water she had just drunk was already gone.
The Ye family compound had three earthen houses. The courtyard wall was broken, and everything inside looked empty.
All pots, clothes, and bedding were gone. Only large furniture remained, too heavy to take. A pile of junk lay in the corner.
Nothing useful in the main rooms.
She moved to the back shed and rummaged through debris—mostly rotten cloth, broken ropes, shattered tiles.
Just as she was about to give up, she found a short-handled cleaver. The wooden handle was rotten, but the blade remained, less rusted than the hoe, and still usable.
“This is it!”
She tucked it behind her waist.
Under an old basket, she found something else—a small bag.
Inside were grayish coarse salt grains mixed with sand. Probably left behind by Wang Guihua, who either didn’t care for it or missed it.
Salt!
A life-saving treasure right now.
Carefully wrapping it and tucking it into her chest, Ye Qing’s exhausted body finally gave out. Her vision darkened, and she fainted again.
When she woke once more, it was already deep night, and the temperature had dropped slightly.