Transmigrated Family C33

Chapter 33: We’re Fleeing from Famine!

Yan Yu watched as her mother kept wanting to take this and that.

She couldn’t help but hold her forehead. “Mom, our cart won’t fit everything. Stop taking more.”

“Why not? You and your dad even turned it into a double-decker bed. There’s still space! We’ll take these—if we don’t use them, we can sell them later,” Li Xuemei said without even looking up.

Their house had been emptied and sold, but that was fine—there was still the kitchen.

Once they started packing up the kitchen, they realized there was a lot of stuff: jars and pots, all useful things.

Under Li Xuemei’s insistence, the Yan family’s large double-decker cart made use of the space beneath it too. They tied a few more bundles tightly underneath with hemp ropes.

…

Yan Lao’er was eyeing his elder brother’s house, thinking about what good things he could grab before they left.

Yan Huaiwen saw him sneaking around, and his head started to ache.

“Where did you even learn to bluff, exaggerate, and make things up out of thin air…?”

And that fall of yours—was that really an accident?!

“We could’ve left tomorrow morning, but because of you, we have to rush out tonight.”

Yan Lao’er was unconvinced. “Leaving early is a good thing, isn’t it? Didn’t you say we should leave as soon as possible?”

“What’s good about it? Traveling at night is dangerous. The villagers are already anxious about leaving home—this will only add to their worries.”

“Brother, in today’s situation, if we hadn’t taught that village chief Guo a lesson, do you think he really would’ve taken Da Ya away?” Yan Lao’er asked.

Thinking of how arrogant Guo Lizheng’s family was in their past lives, Yan Huaiwen said softly, “He most likely would have.”

“Exactly! We couldn’t just let them take Da Ya. If we let them go so easily, what if Guo Lizheng gathers more people and comes back to snatch her? If they bring more men next time, who’s to say our villagers wouldn’t get hurt?

“It’s better that they took the beating instead of us,” Yan Lao’er said confidently.

The villagers were kindhearted and didn’t aim for fatal blows. The only one who really stood out was San Tie, whose flying kick was truly impressive! If only someone had coordinated with him better, Guo Lizheng wouldn’t have gotten away so easily.

Yan Huaiwen understood the stakes but didn’t want his younger brother to get addicted to stirring trouble.

“The villagers helped us; we must remember their kindness. Just because our family is providing livestock for the village doesn’t mean we should take it for granted.”

Yan Lao’er quickly nodded. “Brother, I remember. Anyway, it’s getting late. Let me help you load your things onto the cart.”

His older brother gave a slight nod, and Yan Lao’er immediately got to work.

Yan Huaiwen followed his brother with his eyes, and then—

The ox cart… The ox cart!

His mouth twitched in shock.

His good ox cart—what had his brother done to it?!

A wave of worry hit him. Could the ox even pull this thing anymore?

Yan Huaiwen hurried forward to inspect it carefully.

The four wheels were tied up with hemp rope, and there was a smaller cart hitched to the back, about half the size of the front one. He gave it a shake—the wooden beams were tightly fastened.

The lower deck of the cart was layered with thick wheat straw, with all their quilts stacked on top, and his little niece was rolling around happily on it…

The upper deck was loaded with supplies: grain, luggage, an iron pot, a chopping board… Jars and containers of all sizes.

Da Ya carefully handed up books and stationery one by one, while Heng’er squatted on the top deck, too afraid to stand up as he cautiously placed them into a large wooden box.

A familiar straw mat was tied to the top of the second level. Unsatisfied with just one, his younger brother also tied on the mat from Heng’er’s room.

His sister-in-law was hanging up meat that hadn’t fully dried yet.

Yan Lao’er grabbed a sickle, hoe, and rake, securing them to the sides of the cart.

Meanwhile, his little niece was chasing chickens again…

In the end, Da Ya had to carry the egg-laying hens over one by one. She and her aunt tied their legs and tossed them onto the small cart in the back.

Yan Lao’er sighed over the water jar, clearly disappointed that they couldn’t take it along.

His sister-in-law called him inside, and they came out carrying another big pile of things.

His son and daughter were completely embarrassed, rushing to explain that those were old, broken items not worth keeping.

But their uncle and aunt insisted, and the children couldn’t argue back, so they reluctantly helped tie the bundle to the back of the cart.

When Tianyou went back into his room, Yan Huaiwen had a bad feeling.

Sure enough, Tianyou came out grinning, carrying his desk—placing it sideways onto the ox cart…

Yan Huaiwen: …

What were they doing again? Oh right, they were fleeing famine.

Sure, he had told them to prepare in advance, but wasn’t this a bit too thorough?!

“Brother, I’ll go to the Qi family first.” Yan Lao’er prepared to leave with the cart.

Yan Huaiwen looked at the sky and said, “Let’s go together.”

They would go straight to the wheat field gathering point from there.

If they stayed any longer, his brother and sister-in-law might dismantle the entire house and take it with them.

“Alright! Kids, hop on!” Yan Lao’er called out.

Er Ya aimed carefully, took a running start, and leaped onto the cart.

Then she climbed up quickly, made space, and cheerfully called out, “Uncle, Mom, Brother, Da Ya, hurry up!”

Yan Huaiwen maintained his composure. “You all sit; I’ll walk for a bit.”

Li Xuemei settled in, sighing in satisfaction at the long-lost comfort. “This feels great.”

Da Ya sat beside her aunt, while Yan Xiangheng sat across from them.

Yan Lao’er called out, “Sanbao, let’s go!”

The ox cart moved forward—not as heavy and sluggish as expected, but smoothly and easily.

Yan Huaiwen watched as the ox trotted briskly away, quickening his own pace to follow.

…

By the time they reached the Qi family, the Qi brothers had already modified his desk.

They sawed off the legs, cut the tabletop in half, and within moments, it had been turned into a low table—just the right size for the cart.

His brother still couldn’t bear to waste anything, so they used the leftover wood to make four small stools.

Once again, Yan Huaiwen’s understanding of his brother deepened.

But when they reached the wheat field, he realized—his brother’s actions were nothing compared to what the village elders were planning.

If he hadn’t stopped them, they would’ve tried to take the village’s stone mill with them…

Shortly after dusk, everyone had gathered.

All eyes turned to Yan Huaiwen.

He felt the weight of their trust.

He wanted to say something inspiring, but no words came.

The journey would be long and hard. He couldn’t make any promises.

He didn’t even dare to think about whether everyone would make it to Guanzhou alive.

Yan Yu nudged her father and gestured toward her uncle.

Yan Lao’er caught on and shouted, “Village chief, let our family take the lead! Everyone, follow closely, and if anything happens, just call out!”

The village chief nodded.

Though the villagers were sad to leave, they were too busy staring at the Yan family’s ox cart to dwell on it.

Yan Lao’er led the way.

The people behind whispered among themselves.

“So that’s why oxen are expensive—they’re strong!”

“Yan Er Sao really knows how to prepare. Look at all that stuff! Ah, I should’ve brought my sauce jar…”

“When we stop, let’s spread out the straw like the Yan family did. And put the quilts underneath us—it’ll be softer!”

“See? I told you bringing chickens was a good idea! They don’t eat much, and every few days, we’ll get an egg. When they stop laying, we can eat them!”

“Why didn’t we think to put a canopy over our cart? Good thing I brought our mats. We’ll find some poles and set it up on the way.”

And so, the journey began.