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

Chapter 78: Chapter 78: Must Keep Watch

Lian’er didn’t go to Ms. Qian. Instead, she walked over to her mother, handed her the half of a cornbread bun she couldn’t bring herself to eat, then covered her face and ran off.

The woman clutched the half-eaten cornbread bun, tears falling like beads from a broken string.

She kept muttering, "Don’t blame me, child. I was just trying to find a way for you to live. I had no other choice, I had no other choice—SOB SOB SOB."

"That’s a good girl," Mrs. Chen sighed to Gu Fei. "Her devotion alone made that cornbread bun worthwhile."

"If your third brother hadn’t turned her down, I really would have bought her to be his wife."

After they finished their dry rations, Uncle Ma discussed the night watch arrangements with Gu Zhang.

Out here in the wilds, there were two main fears: wandering refugees and wolves.

Uncle Ma said, "Each family will provide one able-bodied man. We’ll split into two shifts to watch the first and second halves of the night."

Gu Zhong frowned upon hearing this. "I have to drive the cart during the day. If I’m on watch all night, where will I find the strength to drive tomorrow?"

Uncle Ma shot him a sidelong glance. "Who here doesn’t have a cart to drive? What makes you so special? I’m doing this for everyone’s safety. If you don’t want to stand watch, you can travel on your own starting tomorrow."

Gu Zhong quickly said, "That’s not what I meant. Women can stand watch, too. Look, how about my Lian’er takes the watch?"

Uncle Ma snorted. "Absolutely not. What good is a woman for this? Someone could sneak right up on her and she might not even notice."

Gu Zhong fell awkwardly silent.

Uncle Ma wasn’t fond of Gu Zhong. After observing him for the past few days, he could see the man was selfish and always scheming.

Besides, if he made an exception for him, every other family would want their women to stand watch, and what damn use would that be?

Gu Qing would stand watch for Gu Fei’s family. The families of Boss Zhang, Gu Zhong, and Gu Rong each had only one adult male, so they had to participate whether they liked it or not.

The families began laying down straw around the bonfire, spreading their bedrolls on top.

Gu Fei had tents and sleeping bags in her dimensional space, but she didn’t dare use them.

The village chief’s family had even brought a door panel along. They laid it on the ground and spread their bedrolls on top, making for a wonderfully comfortable bed.

Gu Fei shared a bedroll with Lan Zhi, while Mrs. Chen and Li Chunhua slept with Little Cao. Their makeshift beds were close to the fire, with the men of their family sleeping behind them.

Ms. Qian went to sleep with Lian’er; the two of them would be warmer together.

Before going to sleep, the village chief gave a bronze gong to Gu Qing, who was on the first watch. "If refugees show up, or if there’s any danger you can’t handle on your own, bang this gong. Everyone will wake up and lend a hand."

Gu Qing gave it a test. "CLANG—" The sound was loud enough to shatter eardrums.

Gu Qing laughed. "Village Chief, you guys really brought everything with you."

The village chief shot him a glare. "What else were we supposed to do? We have no idea when we’ll be able to go back. It’s not safe to leave things at home."

Gu Qing nodded. "No wonder your family is the most well-off in the village. You really know how to manage things."

Uncle Ma glanced at the gong. "This is a good idea. From now on, we’ll keep it on the last cart in the line. If anything happens, one bang on this thing and everyone will know immediately."

As the night deepened, everyone gradually fell asleep.

On the first watch were Gu Qing, Gu Rong, and Boss Zhang.

Gu Qing was getting sleepy, but he sat on the cart shafts, forcing his eyes open to scan the surroundings.

Beside him, Boss Zhang was nodding off, his head bobbing, but Gu Qing didn’t wake him.

Just then, Gu Qing heard a HISSING sound from below. He lifted his lantern to shine it on the ground and saw a huge, red-banded snake!

It was slithering toward the cartwheel.

Gu Qing started. ’That snake is venomous!’

He quickly poked Gu Rong beside him, tightened his grip on his machete, and whispered, "Uncle, there’s a snake. What should we do?"

Gu Rong jumped. "Aren’t snakes afraid of fire? Why is it coming this way? Don’t move. I’ll find a rock and kill it. That’s good meat right there!"