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

Chapter 83: Chapter 83: Almost Discovered

The Gu family’s mule was brought to the riverbank to drink. Gu Dalang, Er Lang, and Sanlang hastily grabbed various containers from the cart to fetch water.

Those who were impatient and dying of thirst added a little alum to the water, gave it a quick stir, and drank it down.

Mrs. Chen was busy by the riverbank, building a makeshift stove and lighting a fire to boil water.

It wasn’t much trouble. With plenty of firewood, the fire grew large, and a big pot of water was boiling in less than fifteen minutes.

Shanzimama followed suit and started boiling water. After all, she figured she couldn’t go wrong just by doing whatever Gu Fei’s family did.

Gu Fei stood by the roadside, watching refugees pass them by from time to time.

They all had numb expressions, their faces sallow and gaunt.

Some who passed by sized up their convoy. Uncle Ma, with a large saber hanging at his waist, would glare fiercely back at anyone who looked their way.

Gu Fei felt a pang of sorrow, yet also found it a little amusing. She lowered her voice and asked, "Uncle Ma, were you ever on the battlefield when you were younger?"

Uncle Ma raised an eyebrow. "What makes you say that?"

"You seem to have a killer’s aura," Gu Fei said, tilting her head to look at him.

Uncle Ma chuckled. "I’ve killed a few men in my time. Aren’t you afraid of me, little girl?"

Gu Fei smiled. "What’s there to be afraid of? I’ve also—"

She trailed off, clamping her mouth shut.

’In the apocalypse, she hadn’t just killed zombies; she’d also been forced to kill people who tried to steal her supplies. In that world, you couldn’t survive if you didn’t kill.’

Uncle Ma lowered his gaze. ’What was that little girl about to say?’

’I’ve also—’

’I’ve also killed people?’

’Perhaps. A place like the Marquis Mansion is full of schemes and backstabbing. It wouldn’t be surprising if a person or two ended up dead.’

While the two were lost in their own thoughts, an old woman leading a five- or six-year-old child staggered over. She bowed repeatedly to Gu Fei. "Miss, do you have any food? Please, give my little grandson something to eat. We’ve had nothing but grass roots for three days straight."

The child was so thin that his face seemed to be nothing but a pair of enormous eyes.

Gu Fei’s face filled with pity, but Uncle Ma at her side barked, "Get going! We barely have enough food for ourselves. How could we have any to spare for you!"

But the old woman and the child didn’t leave. They just stood there, looking at Gu Fei with pleading eyes.

Uncle Ma, fearing Gu Fei’s resolve was weakening, said in a low, serious voice, "Lass, you don’t understand the danger. Have you seen how many refugees are on this road?"

"If you give them even the smallest scrap, they’ll latch onto you. They’ll follow you, watch your every move, and you’ll never be able to shake them. It might even bring disaster upon us."

Gu Fei sighed. She knew she couldn’t save everyone, and she hadn’t planned on doing anything, but it was still painful to see. She nodded, then turned and walked up the dirt slope. "Uncle Ma, I’m going to get water."

Once over the slope, she saw Mrs. Chen, Shanzimama, and the village chief’s family, all boiling water by the riverbank.

When Mrs. Chen saw her approaching, she quickly pulled her aside. "Don’t you have the family’s water tank? This mule drinks so much. I was thinking we need to fill that tank to the brim. After we leave this place, who knows when we’ll find water again."

Gu Fei nodded and whispered, "Let’s wait a bit. After the others have gone, you can stand on the slope and keep watch for us, Mom. Have my brothers use the buckets to fill up the water tank."

Mrs. Chen nodded emphatically.

Before long, Shanzi’s family and the village chief’s family finished boiling their water, packed up, and left.

Mrs. Chen hurried to the top of the slope. Gu Fei moved the water tank out of her storage space and set it by the river. Her three brothers grabbed buckets and frantically began to fill it.

Just as the tank was nearly full, Mrs. Chen, who was up on the slope, suddenly started coughing loudly.

Gu Fei quickly placed a hand on the tank, and with a single thought, it vanished back into her storage.

Uncle Ma came down from the slope. Seeing the siblings all standing by the river looking at him, he felt something was off but couldn’t quite put his finger on it. With a flicker of suspicion in his eyes, he smiled and said, "What are you kids still doing here?" He tossed a waterskin to them. "Fill this up for me."