The old village head’s face went pale.
Forgetting to speak with Shen Yongzhi’s family, he immediately ordered Shen Yong to beat the gong and gather the villagers at the large stone mill at the village entrance.
Zhang Yuanshan and a few of his brothers had just returned from buying grain. They had carefully hidden it, not wanting other villagers to see.
Barely having moved the grain inside, they heard the gong again and hurried to the stone mill.
Shenjiacun had thirty-nine households, roughly two hundred villagers. By the large stone mill at the village entrance, many had already gathered. Most sent one representative per household, though some families came entirely. Curious faces looked at the village head, who was wearing a long, serious expression, waiting as more villagers rushed in.
“That one, can’t you be faster? We’re in a hurry, don’t dawdle!” the old village head called out impatiently to a latecomer.
“What’s the big deal? Why all the fuss? Just say it, old village head!”
“Yes, hurry up, village head. It’s not dark yet; we still have time to work in the fields,” the villagers chimed in, teasing.
The old village head raised his hand to quiet them. “Everyone, be mentally prepared. Something serious has happened!”
Instantly, the crowd fell silent.
“My son, Shen Yong, heard a message in town this afternoon. The barbarians will attack in three days. Several wealthy families have already left town today,” the village head said, careful not to mention that Shen Yu had originally passed along the news. The situation was serious, and he didn’t want her implicated.
The villagers erupted like a stirred-up river. The village head raised his hand to calm them and continued:
“Our family plans to leave for safety early tomorrow. Anyone who wants to join us, come along. Those who don’t want to can stay with relatives, or hide in the mountains. Since there’s no official notice from the county office, it’s voluntary. Those leaving, pack your food and supplies tonight.”
“Damn! We haven’t even finished harvesting yet! How are we supposed to eat on the road?”
“I’m not leaving! Without food, we’d starve on the way. There’s no way out!”
“Village head, could you give us just one morning? We need to rush to harvest some grain. Our families survive on this one crop; otherwise, what do we eat on the road?”
“Yes, village head, or maybe we leave the day after tomorrow. We need time to buy food in town first,” the villagers pleaded, crying and arguing in a jumble.
The village head thought for a moment. A family’s survival depends on the autumn harvest; without food, they couldn’t survive the journey. He nodded, agreeing to postpone the departure by one day. The new plan: assemble at the stone mill at dawn the day after tomorrow.
“Hide anything you can’t carry. Bring only light loads. Kill chickens, ducks, or geese if necessary. Don’t be greedy and delay the group, or you’ll bear the consequences,” he warned, hoarse from shouting, then hurried home.
At the village head’s home, his eldest son Shen Zhi and second son Shen Yong discussed rushing to the fields to harvest. When the village head returned, the entire family—himself, Shen Zhi, Shen Yong, and their spouses—headed to the fields, leaving Shen Zhi’s wife and mother-in-law at home to prepare travel food and pack belongings. Other villagers did the same.
..
When Shen Yong’an returned home, he relayed the village head’s decision to postpone the departure by one day. Shen Yu knew waiting another day carried risks, but harvesting grain was essential. A journey without food would be fatal for the villagers; the more people traveling together, the safer it would be.
Shen Yu and her mother spent the afternoon baking over two hundred oil-fried cakes, which Shen Yu wrapped in oilpaper while still warm and stored in the space.
Lin Shuyuan watched, astonished, as her daughter neatly stacked the cakes in a large wooden basin and then vanished them into thin air. She didn’t ask questions.
Shen Yu appreciated her family’s trust and silence, all thanks to her “miraculous master.”
She then went to the yard to check if her father had modified the donkey cart as instructed.
Unexpectedly, the usually taciturn Shen Yong’an had impressive foresight. He had added a hidden compartment beneath the cart’s floor: a double-layered sliding space. Pull it down, and a grown adult could lie flat inside, with space for little Shen Xiaohao beside them.
When not in use, the compartment could be slid up and locked, nearly invisible from the outside. Shen Yong’an even made small ventilation holes. Once inside, a person could lock the wooden panel, staying safe and warm. Perfect for storing goods or sleeping—one of the most practical home-travel features.
On top of the cart, Shen Yong’an had laid two layers of oilcloth from the flat cart to prevent rain from reaching the lower compartment. He also built two narrow wooden boxes on each side, suitable for storage or seating.
On the outer edge of the boxes, he created slots to hold a foldable, detachable canopy made from bamboo and oilcloth. Opened, the canopy fit perfectly and securely—rainproof and sturdy.
Shen Yu silently admired her father’s ingenuity; he had built this elaborate modification just from her simple description. She praised him enthusiastically, leaving Shen Yong’an beaming with pride.
Next, invoking the “miraculous master” as her authority, Shen Yu brought out self-adhesive thermal cotton from the space. She instructed Shen Yong’an to attach it firmly to the canopy and the lower compartment. She also measured the compartment for her mother to make mattresses to fit.
Ignoring her father’s curious expression, Shen Yu brought out several pieces of oilcloth and directed both parents to make foldable tents. While the space contained tents, using them openly could attract unnecessary attention.
Returning inside, Shen Yu spread the bedding on the kang (heated brick bed) and meticulously cleaned it three times. Finally, she had a proper sleeping place and would not have to settle for the haystack at night.
She then brought out two mattresses for the night. Lin Shuyuan, concerned, said, “Daughter, it’s just two nights. Don’t bring out such new bedding.”
“Mom, the master gave us plenty. Besides, we’ll need it on the road. I also have some cotton and fabric. You can make another mattress and quilt with these, not too thick,” Shen Yu said.
She pulled out a large bundle of cotton and fine and coarse cloth. Lin Shuyuan, now fully accustomed to her daughter producing items from nowhere, accepted it without question.
Never having seen new fabric, Lin Shuyuan happily explored the soft cotton, delighted with this unusual gift.