Farming Family's Pocket Dimension: A Charmed Little Lady Comes to Farm

Chapter 70: Chapter 70: A Worrisome Road Ahead

Gu Zhang’s fists clenched tightly. ’My daughter was right about what she read in those history books,’ he thought. ’Drought in the north, floods in the south... I’m afraid the Da Ying Dynasty is truly finished.’

The village chief’s hands were shaking as he listened. ’Gu the Second was right,’ he thought. ’It really is a five-county drought. Only people who are always on the road would know this.’

The man in the lead pointed to the grain on his carts. "When I get this grain back home, it’ll sell for at least ten times last year’s price. There’s nothing to be done about it."

"All along the way, there are refugees fleeing disaster everywhere. Our West Qin County is still doing a little better. The situation in Hedong County isn’t good either. The worst is West Mountain County. They had little grain to begin with, and with this drought, most families have lost any hope of survival. The refugees are roaming all over the place, and some are even heading toward us here in West Qin County."

"Little do they know we’re suffering from a drought, too!"

"If I hadn’t hired these escorts, this little bit of grain would’ve been stolen long ago."

"Even so, I still had one of my carts robbed. I lost a whole cartful of grain!"

Gu Zhang fell silent as he listened.

In another ten days or so, they would be entering West Mountain County. ’With so many refugees, can we still pass through?’

The man in the lead asked, "Where are you all headed?"

The village chief sighed. "We were originally planning to go to East Sea County, but from the sound of it, the road isn’t safe."

The man in the lead glanced at the Gu Family’s mule carts from a distance. "You’re in better shape, since you don’t have much grain. The refugees are mainly after food. But you should also keep an eye on those mules."

He added meaningfully, "I see a few particularly large mules over there. One of them must weigh a thousand jin or so. Although the old saying goes that you’d rather starve than eat mule meat, you can’t be so sure these days."

After he finished speaking, the man saw the village chief’s face had turned pale, so he added a kind-hearted consolation, "You have a lot of people, and I see you have plenty of able-bodied young men. As long as you stick together and don’t run into a large horde of refugees, you shouldn’t worry too much."

The village chief’s face grew even paler.

Gu Zhang thanked the man and walked back with the village chief.

Both wore grave expressions.

As they walked, the village chief asked, "What do we do? Should we keep moving forward?"

Gu Zhang glanced at the village chief. "Let’s go back and discuss it with everyone."

The two men turned back and gathered all the men in charge of their respective families. The women and children, knowing they had returned with news, crowded around the edges to listen.

The village chief relayed what the merchant caravan leader had said. Shanzimama was the first to cry out, "Good heavens! What are we going to do? The price of grain has increased tenfold! What are we going to eat now?!"

The men were thinking about more than just that. Boss Zhang asked, "There are too many refugees in West Mountain County. Can we take a detour?"

Gu Zhang shook his head. A look at the map had made it clear. To get around West Mountain County, they would have to travel across most of West Qin County and then enter Hedong County.

Not only would the detour be much longer, but there was also no guarantee that West Qin County and Hedong County would be any safer.

The village chief sighed. "So, what does everyone think? Should we keep going forward? Or should we turn back?"

The eldest sister’s husband chuckled. "My family is following my second brother-in-law. Wherever he goes, we go."

’My second brother-in-law is the most knowledgeable and clear-headed person in this whole group,’ he thought. ’And he’s a good, honest man. We can’t go wrong following him.’

Shanzimama’s eyes darted about. "My family will follow Mr. Gu, too."

Gu Rong didn’t even need to be asked. "I’m following my second brother no matter what."

That left only Boss Zhang, the village chief, and Gu Zhong who hadn’t yet stated their position.

Gu Zhong saw that his sister and younger brother were both determined to follow their second brother. ’What choice do I have?’ he thought. ’Sticking together as brothers is better than my family trying to go back alone. I’m the only able-bodied man in my household; I have to rely on my siblings.’

Gu Zhong nodded. "My family will listen to him as well."