Chapter 33: We’re Fleeing Famine!

Yan Yu watched her mother fuss over packing this and that.

She couldn’t help but facepalm. “Mom, the cart won’t fit everything. Just leave it.”

“How could it not fit? You and your father already turned it into a double-decker bed, and you’re telling me there’s no space? We’ll bring these things. Even if we don’t use them now, we can sell them later.” Li Xuemei didn’t even look up as she spoke.

Their house was already emptied, but that didn’t matter—there was still the kitchen.

Once she started packing the kitchen, there really was no shortage of stuff. All those jars and crocks—they were all useful.

At Li Xuemei’s insistence, the Yan Family’s double-decker bus of a cart made use of the space under the chassis too, tying up several bundles securely with hemp rope.

…

Yan Lao’er eyed his brother’s room, wondering if there was anything worth grabbing before they left.

Seeing his brother’s constantly darting gaze, Yan Huaiwen felt a headache coming on.

“Where did you even learn this from? making things out of nothing, and…”

Was that fall of yours just now… intentional or not?!

“We could’ve left tomorrow morning, but thanks to you, we’re forced to rush overnight.”

Yan Lao’er wasn’t having it. “Leaving early is good, right? Wasn’t it you who said we needed to leave as soon as possible? What’s wrong with traveling at night? It’s cooler.”

“All your twisted reasoning… Night roads are hard to travel. The villagers, leaving their homes, are already anxious. This just adds to their worry.”

“Big brother, given what happened today, if we hadn’t taught Guo Lizheng a lesson, do you think he wouldn’t have really dragged Daya away?” Yan Lao’er asked.

Thinking of how overbearing Guo Lizheng’s family had been in his previous life, Yan Huaiwen spoke softly, “He probably would’ve.”

“Then there you have it. We couldn’t just let them take Daya. If we let them off lightly, what if Guo Lizheng goes back, gathers more people, and comes back for another grab? By then, with more men, who can guarantee our villagers won’t get hurt? Better they get beaten than us.”

The villagers were kind—they hadn’t struck to cause serious injury. Only San Tie had really stood out with that flying kick—too cool! If only someone had coordinated with him, Guo Lizheng wouldn’t have gotten away so easily.

Yan Huaiwen knew the stakes, but he didn’t want his brother getting addicted to stirring up trouble.

“The villagers’ help in protecting the Yan Family is something we must remember. Just because we helped buy livestock for the village doesn’t mean we should take their help for granted.”

Yan Lao’er nodded quickly. “Got it, bro. It’s getting late. Let me help load things onto the cart.”

His brother nodded, and Yan Lao’er immediately sprang into action.

Yan Huaiwen watched his busy back.

Ox cart… the ox cart!

His mouth twitched, heart full of shock.

A perfectly good ox cart, and his brother had turned it into this monstrosity!

He couldn’t help but worry: could the ox even pull this thing?

Yan Huaiwen hurried over for a closer look.

All four wheels were bound with hemp rope. The trailing cart was half the size of the front one. He shook it lightly—the support beams were tightly joined. Thick layers of straw covered the upper and lower decks, with the family quilts pressed down on the lower straw layer. His little niece was rolling around on top…

The upper rack was piled with all sorts of things: food, luggage, an iron pot, a cutting board… various jars and containers.

Daya was handing up books and writing materials belonging to him and Heng’er, while Heng’er crouched nervously on the upper rack, gingerly placing them inside a large wooden box.

A very familiar straw mat was tied atop the second layer of the rack. After finishing with the luggage, his brother eyed the thin mat with dissatisfaction and tied up the mat from Heng’er’s room as well.

His sister-in-law hung the not-yet-dried meat.

His brother grabbed a sickle, hoe, and rake, securing them to both sides of the cart.

His little niece began chasing chickens again…

In the end, it was Daya who carried over each laying hen, and together with her aunt, they tied their legs and tossed them onto the smaller trailing cart.

His brother began sighing over the water jar, lamenting that they couldn’t bring it.

His sister-in-law called him into Heng’er and Daya’s room, and the two carried out another huge pile of stuff.

His son and daughter were mortified, rushing to explain that those were old, unusable things, really not worth taking. But their aunt and uncle insisted, and the kids had no choice but to help tie everything up at the back of the cart.

When Tian You entered his room again, Yan Huaiwen had a bad feeling.

Sure enough, Tian You came out beaming, carrying out his writing desk and strapping it sideways onto the ox cart…

Yan Huaiwen: …

What were they supposed to be doing again? Right—they were fleeing famine.

Though he’d given early warning to prepare, wasn’t this a bit… overprepared?

“Big brother, I’m off to the Qi Family first.” Yan Lao’er called out, ready to go.

Yan Huaiwen glanced at the sky. “Let’s go together.”

They’d head straight from the Qi Family to the wheat field to meet up.

He worried that if they stayed any longer, his brother and sister-in-law would start dismantling the beds and cabinets.

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

Er Ya picked her angle, took a running start, and launched herself onto the cart.

Then she scrambled to make room and called out happily, “Uncle, Mom, Big Brother, Daya-jie, come on up!”

Yan Huaiwen, holding himself back, said, “You all sit. I’ll walk a bit.”

Li Xuemei climbed aboard with a long sigh. It felt so good to be comfortable again.

Daya sat next to her aunt, Yan Xiangheng facing them from across.

Yan Lao’er gave a shout, “Sanbao, let’s go!”

The ox cart rolled out, moving far more easily than expected.

Yan Huaiwen watched the ox stride off with light and steady steps.

He couldn’t help quickening his pace.

…

By the time they reached the Qi Family, the Qi brothers were already sawing down the legs of his desk.

The tabletop was cut in half, and after just a few passes, it became a small low table, fitting perfectly on the cart.

The cut-off pieces weren’t wasted either—his brother fashioned four small bench stools.

Once again, Yan Huaiwen’s view of his younger brother was refreshed.

But when both families arrived at the wheat field, Yan Huaiwen realized—his brother’s antics were nothing compared to the others.

If he hadn’t personally stopped them, the village elders would’ve carted off the stone mill from the wheat field…

Just past dusk, everyone gathered.

All eyes turned to Yan Huaiwen.

He felt the heavy weight of trust.

He wanted to say something uplifting, but words stuck in his throat.

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

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

Yan Yu nudged her father, glancing at her uncle.

Yan Lao’er got the hint and called out:

“Village Chief, our family will go first! Folks, stick close! If anything happens, just come up front and shout!”

Village Chief Luo nodded. He and a few elders were sharing a mule cart with some belongings, but looking at the Yan Family’s ox cart now—there was just no comparison.

Unlike what Yan Huaiwen had feared, the villagers’ sorrow about leaving home was completely shaken away by the sight of the Yan Family’s ox cart.

With the Yan Family’s ox leading the way…

The crowd buzzed with discussion behind.

“No wonder that ox was expensive. Just look how much it can pull!”

“Sister-in-law Yan really knows how to run a household! Look at all that stuff, she packed it all! Ah, why didn’t I bring the sauce jar…”

“When we stop, let’s spread out that straw and lay down some bedding for the elders. That quilt’s heavy to carry—might as well sit on it, softer too.”

“Told you bringing the chickens wasn’t wrong. They barely eat, just tie them up and let them peck for food. Maybe we’ll even get an egg or two along the way. When they stop laying, we can eat them.”

“Why didn’t we think of rigging a canopy for the cart? Under this blazing sun, we’ll be roasted. Good thing I brought our mat. Let’s look for some poles on the road and set one up.”

(End of Chapter)