“There’s someone in the front!” The person who walked ahead of the procession relayed the news back.

Lin Yuan’s expression changed. They had no weapons so in order to improve safety he had people with small and skinny physiques walk ahead to act as scouts. Once they noticed something out of the ordinary then they must relay the news back.

But this was after all the first time they had done scouting work so they didn’t know how to relay the news, just giving a vague ‘There’s someone’. Not even a description of what the people looked like.

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“Stop.” Lin Yuan ordered. Everyone stopped in their tracks, their faces looking confused, not knowing what had happened. 

Jiang Gui ilwas also scared, he asked: “Fourth brother, what should we do now?” 

“Let’s not panic.” Lin Yuan said, “wait for the news from the front.” 

There were too many of them so it was impossible to hide. Retreating was also not possible with this many foodstuff, they would not be able to move quickly. Unless absolutely necessary, Lin Yuan was unwilling to abandon the foodstuff. It represented the lives of so many people that depended on it before next year’s harvest. 

The front relayed news again.  

“It’s a group of beggars.” Lin Yuan sighed in relief. A beggar’s physical strength was not even as strong as the people he just bought. At least they had days that weren’t filled with hunger before they had no choice but to sell themselves. But most beggars did not have many good days.

Very soon, they encountered the group of beggars. 

A group of the elderly, sick and/or handicapped. They passed through the woods, eating anything they could get their hands on. Every one of them were stooped over and malnourished with no light in their eyes, as if the walking dead.  

They saw the carts ladened with foodstuff and every one of them took on the resemblance of wolves, their eyes gleaming. The people surrounding the carts tensed in wariness, they knew the foodstuff was also the source of their survival. Winter was coming but so long as they followed their new master to his farmstead then they would be able to continue living on. 

If these beggars stole away the foodstuff, injuring their new master, then they were basically finished. 

But the group of beggars did not rashly rush forward, only standing a distance away staring as if statues unaffected by the outside surroundings.

Lin Yuan also did not move. Both sides stood in a deadlock with the trees and grass between them and the wind blowing by. It had a sense of a confrontation between two expert martial artists.

After an hour or so, Lin Yuan hollered, not wanting to waste anymore time: “Do you have a leader? Come out and talk!” 

Only then did the beggars react. They seemed to discuss among themselves and after awhile a young man walked out. 

Lin Yuan also went forward. 

Jiang Gui tugged at Lin Yuan’s wrist: “Fourth brother, you…..” 

 LLin Yuan patted his shoulder in reassurance: “Third brother, don’t worry, I have my own considerations.” 

The young man was dressed in rags but did not stoop his back. His skin was slightly dark and body sturdy. His face had some freckles and could not be considered handsome but neither was he bad-looking. He stopped in front of Lin Yuan: “This gongzi…..”(TN: Gongzi is used to refer to the son of an official or nobility in ancient times, but now it is used as a polite reference to someone’s son) 

Lin Yuan interrupted: “My foodstuff has a limit and we are currently in a hurry to return. There is a limit to the foodstuff I can spare for you all.” 

His meaning was that he was willing to use foodstuff in return for them to move out of the way but they could not be too greedy. 

Lin Yuan’s side did not have any weapons and neither did he truly want to fight to the death with this group of beggars. He was unsure which side would win in the end. 

Only thinking of the stock of foodstuff in the granary back home made him feel a little better for parting with some foodstuff now.

The young man was rather tactful, saying suddenly: “We are planning to head towards Jiangnan.” 

Lin Yuan examined him again: “Why Jiangnan?” 

The man smiled: “To try our luck.” 

The recent years were full of drought, famine, and plague that resulted in many people abandoning their homes and with no way of getting by. Lin Yuan saw that the other had politeness, seeming as if he had recieved some education before, so he said: “Jiangnan is likely to have danger….” 

He said it out of good intentions. 

The young man: “The world now, is there even a place without danger?” 

“I would like to ask Gongzi’s name.” The young man said. 

Lin Yuan had his people carry over a bag of foodstuff. One bag was not a lot so he was able to afford giving it away. 

“My surname is Lin, Lin Yuan.” Lin Yuan also asked, “brother, what is your name?”

The young man smiled, showing white teeth: “Zhu Baba.” (Literally it translates to Zhu Eight Eight but the surname Zhu sounds the same as the Chinese word pig and the number eight in Chinese sounds like the word for dad. So it sounds like he said Pig Daddy which is what Lin Yuan hears) 

Lin Yuan: “……” Someone who named their son Pig Daddy actually existed in this world? Was this taking advantage of pigs or being taken advantage of by pigs? 

The man also said: “You can also call me Zhu Zhongba.”  

Lin Yuan’s knees weakened, suddening kneeling down. 

Zhu Zhongba, dressed in beggar rags, saw the action as a result of Lin Yuan’s legs being weak from walking too much, but he still laughed: “Lin Gongzi, of what reason are you performing such courtesy on our first meeting?”  

Lin Yuan: “……” If I say you are Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of Ming dynasty, would you believe it? (TN: the birth name of Zhu Yuanzhang, Ming’s founding emperor is Zhu Zhongba) 

Would you believe it if I said that you will defeat Chen Youliang and other warlords winning the empire in the end? 

Would you believe it if I said Empress Ma died and you executed all of the ministers who put you on the throne? 

Ai, knowing too much could be painful sometimes. 

Lin Yuan’s head was a bit jumbled up, but he still speedily weighed the pros and cons. 

Zhu Yuanzhang arrived at the nearby Huang Jue temple to become a monk in the fourth year of emperor Yuan Shun’s reign. Only staying for a few weeks before being dispatched out. He wandered as an errant monk for four years returning in the eighth reign of Yuan Shun. 

As a monk, he gained education and culture. 

On his wanderings he increased his knowledge and exprience.

Because he married Ma shi so he entered the landowning class, having the capital to raise an army. 

Lin Yuan thought for awhile but could not come up with anything, only saying: “Brother Zhu is physically strong and able-bodied, I am lacking in talents like you. If you like, you can come with us. I can’t guarantee on anything else but eating and drinking your fill will be guaranteed.”

How did it go…..if he could lend a hand then he would. He didn’t truly need to grasp the other’s thigh (TN: espression similar to riding on someone’s coattails). 

Besides, Zhu Yuanzhang might not even agree, after all there was a group of beggars behind him. He was probably not someone who would abandon the beggars and seek survival on his own. 

“Brother Lin actually has such a kind heart!” Zhu Zhongba’s eyes gleamed. It had been several days since he had ate fully. He might be young and strong but he could not win against the experienced beggars when it came to fighting for food. Zhu Zhongba, “Let’s go!” 

Lin Yuan…..wait….what happened to loving the common people as if they were his children and only executing corrupt officials? 

Love the common people as a father loves his children? 

He wondered when Liu Futong would rebel, he only remembered such a person but not the time. 

Neither did he remember the time Zhang Shicheng and Chen Youliang rebelled either. 

In any case, take the steps one at a time.

Zhu Zhongba suddenly asked Lin Yuan: “Brother Lin?” 

Lin Yuan pointed at the beggars behind him: “Then these people?”

Zhu Zhongba: “Strangers coming together by chance, meeting and separating are all fate.” 

Lin Yuan: “….…” 

Zhu Zhongba said quietly: “I haven’t eaten fully for a long time. Don’t look at their skinny frames, they are quite good at fighting for food.”

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Lin Yuan had a complicated look in his eyes, he must have met a fake Zhu Yuanzhang. 

Perhaps it was just a case of the same name? 

TN: One of the more important supporting characters showing up! They will all be entering the scene soon, including ML.

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Buying grains was easier than Lin Yuan had thought. Da niang‘s surname ws Zhao and her husband’s was Zhang. The people here called her Zhao da niang or old Zhang’s wife. She called her husband back from the fields and warned him: “Don’t be stubborn, even if the price is a bit low but at least it’s better than have it taking up space in the granary.” 

Her man said impatiently: “I know.” 

Zhao da niang: “Remember what I said!” 

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The price was easily agreed upon and Jiang Gui bought all of Zhao da niang‘s old grains as well as a few other families’ storage of old grains. In all it took ten carts to carry it all. 

They could not afford to buy more ox so the only choice left was to hire or buy people to manually pull it back to the farmstead. 

“How much money do we have left?” Jiang Gui handed a bowl of water to Lin Yuan who only just noticed his too dry throat. He calculated mentally before saying in a low voice, “Only 50 taels left.” 

They had brought along almost all of their money.

Jiang Gui: “Buy people.” 

Lin Yuan nodded. They must go to another town to buy people, the place here had no people to buy. The food could be left here and no one would steal it since the people here don’t care for the old grains. Zhao da niang agreed readily and promised to watch the foodstuff for them. 

50 taels did not look a lot but nowadays the price for a grown man was only 2 taels while women and children were all 1 tael. And this was according to better circumstances, but now the price woulf have probably dropped to 1 tael for a grown man and half a tael or less for women and children. 

Lin Yuan did not plan to follow the ethics of modern times. In the modern era, human trafficking was of course an evil sin but in this time, the people willing to sell themselves were poor people who had no means of livelihood so they wanted to be bought by a good master family so that they may have a chance at surviving. 

The motive and the era was different, therefore you could not use the same ethics and values to treat the same issue. 

On the way to the next town, Lin Yuan said to Jiang Gui: “Brother Jiang, what do you think this world will turn into? Even worse or slowly get better?” 

Jiang Gui looked into the distance, his expression complicated, in the end he sighed: “Even worse. While working in the city government I have heard how the current emperor does not bother with state affairs and the officials are all doing what they like. Before Wu City fell, the prisons were all filled with the common people.” 

“There is also a plague in the north and it will only spread south with the northern refugees flowing in.” 

Lin Yuan knew about the plague, it could be counted as a major reason for the collapse of the Yuan dynasty. Some scholars believed that the plague during Yuan dynasty was actually Europe’s black plague, but there was no proof, just a theory.

In this time, plagues were incurable, anyone who was infected could only wait for death, wallowing in despair. 

But Lin Yuan had not expected the plague to arrive this fast; it took him completely off guard. 

He had thought it would appear during the last couple years before Yuan dynasty officially ended. But there was a large discrepancy between reality and his expectations. 

“Fourth brother.” Jiang Gui said suddenly, he rubbed his chin as if embarrassed, “When disaster hit Wu City, your sister-in-law and I were both scared, scared that you would not take us in.” 

Lin Yuan was about to say something but Jiang Gui continued: “If you were not willing to take us in I would not blame you. It is all fate.” 

That kind of situation, if he was in Lin Yuan’s place, perhaps he would not have so readily agreed. 

Jiang Gui said: “Fourth brother, gege‘s life is saved by you. If you have any problems, let me know, gege I, can even give up my life.” 

Lin Yuan smiled: “Third brother, we must live to enjoy a good life, think positively.” 

“To be able to eat fully and dress warmly, that is a good life.” Jiang Gui smiled. 

Lin Yuan discovered, since the Wu City disaster, Jiang Gui had become more reticent and steady. He was likely under a lot of stress, a family of six, all relying on him to support. So he was filled with trepidation, not daring to even take a break.

Probably because he was afraid that once he fell, the rest of his family would not be able to continue to stay on. 

Sworn brothers might sound pretty, but just how reliable was the relationship? 

When they arrived at Baishan town Lin Yuan felt as if his strength had completely sapped away. It took three days of travel and when he saw the town’s sign he almost fainted in excitement. No wonder Liu town (the town they just left from) had hardly any outsiders, not only was the road mushy but also rocky. In the end they had to get off the cart to lead the ox. 

Compared to Liu town, Baishan town appeared more pitiful and depressing. The streets were filled with beggars in rags and poor people looking to sell themselves. There were no street vendors either and the tea shops and restaurants were all closed. It was just three days of travel, but on one side it was heaven while the other side was hell. 

Luckily, the inns were still open. Lin Yuan and Jiang Gui both checked in and saw that the inn had very little customers, the price was also very cheap. 

The waiter was a malnourished young man, he waited on them attentively with the hopes that the customers would give a small tip. 

Lin Yuan knew that before long, money would begin to lose their value. The most important thing was foodstuff. 

When the time came for the sound of rebellion, foodstuff would become even more important. 

Therefore, this time Lin Yuan planned to buy grown able-bodied men and women. Normally they would farm the land but if needed then they should also be able to take up their hoes and fight off bandits. 

An entire street was devoted to people selling themselves to potential buyers. Some had been befallen with bandits, their whole families dead, leaving them alone.

There were also entire families out on the streets together, hoping to meet a kindhearted buyer who would buy their entire family. 

Lin Yuan and Jiang Gui walked a few rounds to decide on their choices. Young men and women that had families, with children or elderly in tow would be even better. 

This kind of person was the least inclined to betrayal becuase their families were their weak points. They would not just think of their own survival but must also think of their family’s survival. 

But Lin Yuan had also informed them, if they wanted to bring their families along, then he would not pay more money, just the price of the young man or woman. But he could guarantee that their families would have food to eat. 

The group of people were all willing. 

They no longer needed to live a vagrant life and could now have food to eat. As for the money they get for selling themselves, it was not as important to them. 

These people would be accompanying Lin Yuan and Jiang Gui back to Liu town the next morning. They didn’t have any posessions to pack so they could leave anytime.

In total, Lin Yuan bought 40 people, with an additional 80 people who wrre family members.…. 

When they arrived it was just the two of them, but when they left it was quite a large procession. 

The entire way, almost everyone walked, even Lin Yuan and Jiang Gui——there was no helping it, the road was too rocky and tricky, if not careful they could fall off and be crushed or worse. 

The people were rather reverent of Lin Yuan, and dared not talk amongst themselves, only focusing on walking. The ox cart was packed with foodstuff, just some dry bean curd cakes. There was no water, but there was a river in the woods. No one bothered boiling it in their hurry to continue on, even Lin Yuan drank directly from the river.

 Lin Yuan could only comfort himself with the knowledge that the possibility of parasites and disease-causing bacteria in living water was relatively small.

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Ten carts of foodstuff in total, one and a half cart must require four grown men to pull.

Luckily, they had one ox with them, with only some difficulty it should be enough. 

It was about time to return, Lin Yuan’s heart was set on speeding home.

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On a rare sunny day, Li Da got up early to wash his clothes. He now lived in the employee dormitories——a name that Boss called it with. At first they felt awkward but after getting used to it, it became natural. He used a wooden basin to fill with water and brought it over to the balcony to wash his clothes. The balcony was hanged with a tough string that could hold a lot of clothes although it wasn’t as if they had many. Even the old cotton shirt they now wear was given by Boss. 

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

So what he was currently washing were under clothes, which were basically a couple of ragged pieces. 

“What are we eating this morning?” Next to him old Zhang asked. 

Li Da: “How do I know? I’ll go to the dining hall after I finish washing.” 

The dining hall was a grass shack but it was made sturdy. The women cooked the meals in the back where the stoves were. The food was cooked in large pots, the only good thing was that there was no lack of salt or oil. Just this was already extremely tasty for them. 

The women were all the female family members of Yang Zi’an’s friends. They were brought over after the autumn harvest and as a result escaped the disaster at Wu City. 

Old Zhang laughed at Li Da: “Look at how you wash, it is going to rip.” 

Li Da looked at the raggedy cloth in his hands and could not deny what old Zhang said. He looked at the forest not far away: “Boss is going out?”

He saw an ox cart. 

Old Zhang looked in the same direction and also discovered Lin Yuan getting into an ox cart. He thought a bit and said: “Maybe Boss is going to Wu City to have a look?”

Li Da startled: “Go to Wu City for what? To lose your life for nothing?” 

Old Zhang have Li Da a slap: “Quickly shut your crow’s beak (TN: expression for a person making unlucky remarks). Boss has boss’s own plans.”

Next to the forest Lin Yuan said to the others seeing him off: “You all go back, once I have finished I will come back.” 

The place where they would be heading was a bit far away. Wu City was affected by disaster and the nearby villages would not be much better off. He and Jiang Gui would be traveling lightly, bringing nothing else but money.

“No matter if it is of good or bad quality, as long as it is edible buy them all back.” Old father Lin advised repeatedly. 

Lin Yuan: “Dad, I know. This period that I am not here, if you have any problems ask big brother Li and second brother Yang.” 

Old father Lin also knew that Lin Yuan had three sworn brothers. He felt that his son was very smart, in a unfamiliar place having sworn brothers was a very good thing. His attitude toward Li, Yang and Jiang was therefore very warm, treating them as his sons. 

Li Congrong said: “Little brother, don’t worry about this side, as long as I am here I won’t let your heart’s blood (TN: expression for an expenditure or project that took a lot of effort) be wasted.” 

Lin Yuan: “Big brother, it is our heart’s blood.” 

Li Congrong laughed: “Yes, I said the wrong thing again.” 

Yang Zi’an on the other hand said: “Don’t take the main roads, make detours if you have to. Abandon the cart and hide if you sense something wrong.” 

Jiang Gui responded: “Second brother, don’t worry, we know the score.”

Lin Yuan knew that when the time came he must hire people or buy people in order to cart all of the food stuff back. Just relying on him and Jiang Gui, forget about carting the food back just walking on the road without being robbed or killed would be fortunate. 

The turbulent times would not easily end soon, at least there would be many years until then, in fact it would be about 10 years time.

If the man power was too little then it would be very difficult to be self-sufficient. Farming the land might be possible but other necessities would continue to be used up. Once the positive cycle he set up was broken and a vicious cycle took its place, then his small base would easily disintegrate from the inside.

Compared to hiring, Lin Yuan preferred buying people. Most of the ones not willing to become slaves or servants haf already fallen into becoming bandits.

And the ones willing to become slaves or servants, they had already brainwashed themselves and would not easily betray their master. 

He would have liked to bring people from the farmstead with him but the problem was that they only had one ox and one donkey. And because they wrre afraid the donkey would die on the way, they could only use the ox cart. 

Jiang Gui however had a lot of confidence. He had gone to the village that was their destination before. The people there were quite valiant and stalwart but also hospitable. Most of them were farmers but a few were hunters. 

He had heard that in the earlier days the entire village were experienced hunters, learning how to set traps and use the bow and arrow from a young age. They even knew how to blow poison arrows which were made from using the poison secreted from a toad specie common to the area. Only using just a bit and it could paralyze a full grown ox. 

Jiang Gui said: “The area on that side is fertile with few people and a lot of land so their old grains stock will definitely be abundant.” 

Lin Yuan did not know how to drive a cart, so the task was given to Jiang Gui. Lin Yuan sat on the cart and took a sip of water. He looked at the trees and bushes, if he was here to tread the green (TN: phrase that describes going for a walk in the spring when the grass has turned green especially during spring hike season around Qingming festival 清明, 4th-6th April), perhaps he would praise the scenery and the fresh air. But unfortunately he was not so instead he only felt fidgety. 

They traveled for five days on the road. During the time they only ate dried cake with water to wash it down and slept on the cart at night. They had the ox cart stop deep in the forest and set up a fire next to it. They dared not sleep too deeply and took turns keeping watch. 

After all, while with the fire wild animals would not come close but it could not scare away people. 

Only 5 days but Lin Yuan felt like he lived a month.  Jiang Gui’s beard even grew out a lot, looking more weather beaten than five days ago. Lin Yuan was much better off since his body was only 15 and had yet to secrete as much hormones as Jiang Gui. Only a few hairs popped up——which he pulled out. 

Growing a few whiskers on his chin…..was that any proper?! 

“Almost there!” Jiang Gui became excited, shaking Lin Yuan at his side. Lin Yuan rubbed at his sore behind, widening his eyes at the road which became open spaced and wide. 

On the side of the road he even saw a tea shop set up by the locals for passing travelers and merchants to use, of course, for a fee. 

It was as if the place had not been affected by refugees at all. They wrre living their self-sufficient days. No matter if they were men or women they all jad the ability to protect themselves, even young children who had yet to learn to walk must learn to hold a bow first. 

Lin Yuan also asked Jiang Gui in detail and found out that most of the people here were Han Chinese, only a small portion were Mongolian.

The Mongolians here were not officials, just common people who had intermarried with the Han Chinese, completely assimilating into the area. 

“Da niang!” (TN: a friendly way to refer to an older lady) Jiang Gui stopped the cart just outside the tea shop on the side of the road. 

Da niang looked to be in her forties but her physique was strong and sturdy. Without looking at her face it would even be believable to say she was in her early thirties. 

“Feed it bean mash or hay?” Da niang looked at their ox.  

Jiang Gui looked towards Lin Yuan, Lin Yuan said: “Feed it some bean mash.” 

The beans here were actually used to feed cows, Lin Yuan felt as if he had discovered a treasure chest. 

Da niang served them tea, a dish of appetizers and two bowls of porridge. At this time there were no other customers so da niang held her grandson and sat on one side singing to him the local lullabies. 

Lin Yuan finished his porridge and finally felt alive again. He then asked: “Da niang, we are from another region, and want to buy some grains back.” 

He was not afraid that this was a black shop (TN: literally means an inn that kills and robs guests esp. in traditional fiction), no black shop proprietor was a woman, and not only was she a woman but she also had her grandson with her. 

Besides, the shop could even afford to use bean mash for cows and even provide white rice porridge, so they would not take risks for money. 

Da niang turned her head, her face with an expression of delight: “Are old grains alright?” 

Her family just harvested new grains and the granery could no longer fit. But old grains were unable to be sold without it being too cheap. Her husband in a fit of pique decided not to sell. Now they were stuck with grains no one wanted to eat. Old grains had a moldy taste so both adults and children disliked eating it. Their village was also remote, with the nearest village taking three days of travel by ox cart. There was no main road so it was difficult to cart the food elsewhere and there was the possibilty of bandits. Da niang had for quite a while a headache on what to do about that stock of old grains. 

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Almost every family in the area has the same headache. 

Outside people wrre dying from hunger, but here they wdre fretting about having too much foodstuff. When Lin Yuan found out he didn’t know what kind of expression to put on. 

In a sense, this place could be considered a hidden utopia.

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It was close to entering winter before the employee dormitories were finally finished building. Artisans had stayed for half a year and it was time for them to leave. 

Lin Yuan stood in front of the dormitory, quite satisfied. Compared with modern apartment buildings this building was not bad at all. Besides it had three floors which ws considered rather difficult to build in these times. 

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Apart from the artisans, the refugees that had built the entire half year had expressions on their faces that looked like they were attending a funeral. The refugees who worked here, although they did not receive ant wages, they could eat well and dress warmly however. Every few days they could even eat some meat, this kind of life was too rare during these times. 

“Boss, I can farm the land.” The refugee saw Lin Yuan and immediately threw himself on his knees, his eyes tearing, “I don’t need any wages.” 

Once he kneeled down the refugees behind him also followed his lead. They were all grown people in their prime, both men and women were all young but they already had the appearance of someone older. 

Lin Yuan originally did not plan to have them leave. Currently the only people farming the land were Yang Zi’an and his friends. And even among them only 40 farmed while 20 extracted oil. Only 40 people farming the land and yet they handled it well. Aside from them being experienced farmers, the most important reason was because they were all physically strong. 

These people were already preparing to bring over their families and settle down here. 

Lin Yuan helped up the first person to kneel and patted his shoulder: “I never said to have you all leave. As long as anyone wants to stay they can. As long as you work diligently then you will be able to eat your fill.” 

“Boss! Boss! I will give you kowtow!” It was unclear who shouted it but this crowd of people pressed their foreheads to the ground, none of them were feigning it, the kowtows were true and honest. 

Lin Yuan did not say anything. He didn’t know what to say, it was too stunning. 

When he still lived in the modern times, no one even bowed at him, let alone kowtow. 

In the evening, the artisans left in an ox cart. Their families were all in Wu City. They earned a half a year worth of wages and it was time to reunite with their families. 

Speaking of, during the period between early autumn and start of winter, Wu City’s refugees and residents unexpectedly did not have any conflicts. 

Jiang Gui sent a message, and it turned out several of Wu City’s wealthy families provided flatcakes everyday outside the city. Likely because there were too many refugees, they could not afford to hand out porridge so it was replaced with bean curd cakes. The refugees weren’t picky, being able to eat was enough so Wu City’s tense atmosphere eased up a bit.

It was not easy for Jiang Gui during this period either. The government became increasingly busy. Originally as a minor official he did not need to manage too many affairs but there was not enough staff on hand. At the start of winter, Jiang Gui put on a cotton coat and was about to leave when he heard someone yell from outside his courtyard: “The refugees have charged in! The refugees have entered the city!” 

The refugees had starved for this long and should not have any strength but when people were in desperate straits they would be able to burst out unimaginable potential. 

Wu City’s military strength had a limit. This group of refugees did not have any weapons only using whatever they picked up on the streets. 

When the first person died in a fight, the struggle could no longer stop easily. 

One side must be completely defeated before it ended. 

And before it ended there would be others who would die one after another. 

Jiang Gui immediately bolted the doors and returned inside in large steps, telling his family to not leave the house. He then opened a crack in the window to check out the situation outside. Jiang Gui’s wife Chen shi covered her mouth, almost having cried out at the scene outside.

They saw a refugee clad in rags and appearing like a skeleton, throw himself on a passerby. Opening his mouth he bit down fiercely on the person’s throat. The passerby struggled but their struggle became less and less. The refugee tore at the passerby’s skin and flesh, blood trickling down his mouth. 

He no longer looked like a person. 

But his motive was not to cannibalize. When the passerby died, the refugee began to search the body for money and valuables.

Chen shi‘s face paled, grasping at Jiang Gui’s arm in terror, screams echoing in her ears. 

From the refugees, and from the soldiers and passerbys. 

If the soldiers were killed, then the refugees would break into the house. 

Jiang Gui decisively made a decision: “Let’s go, you go call mom and dad and Da Wa, I will get the cart ready. Let’s leave now.” 

Chen shi ran into the house in a panic. 

When entering, she heard a scream coming from the next door neighbor’s place. This almost had her fall down trembling.

But still, with a pale face she called her parents and parents-in-law out. 

The Jiangs’ house had two entrances, and at the back with a small path was where the donkey was tied. A donkey cart could not be compared to a horse carriage or a ox cart but they had four elderly and one child, using a donkey cart was much faster than walking. 

Jiang Gui lead the donkey in the front, Chen shi walking at his side. In the back was Wu City, their home. Chen shi walked some steps and then turned her head to take a look, with every look a tear fell down. When they left, they did not bring anything, it was all left in the house. They fled with nothing, although their life was guaranteed but Chen shi knew that with no money or food, in such a large world where could they go? 

“We go to my sworn brother’s place.” Jiang Gui saw his wife’s worries and said, “My sworn brother has land in the countryside.” 

Chen shi was a bit hesitant: “We suddenly show up, I’m afraid……” 

Jiang Gui knew what his wife was afraid of, afraid that Lin Yuan would be unwilling to take them in, after all in these times, taking in more people would mean more mouths to feed. Besides, they were sworn brothers and not blood brothers. And anyways, even with blood brothers there was possibilty of strife. 

“Still……we must try.” Jiang Gui was also unsure.

They dared not walk the main roads, only the small paths. Once they heard the sounds of people, they would hide in the trees. 

Nobody knew how Wu City had turned out, Jiang Gui also dared not think of it. “A fire has started.” Chen shi looked at the direction of Wu City where billowing smoke was filling the sky.

Jiang Gui: “Don’t look, let’s go.” 

Wu City was finished, Jiang Gui thought privately. 

Lin Yuan was surprised when he saw Jiang Gui. He knew Wu City would be in an upheaval, but he did not think it would be this serious. Jiang Gui practically described the place as hell on earth. Lin Yuan immediately consoled: “Third brother, you just stay with no worries.”

The Jiang family was settled in the employee dormitories. The beds were all made by the artisans and had upper and lower bunks. Six people could live in one room and there were chairs and stools. But they could not cook or boil water which must be done outside. 

“Brother Jiang.” Lin Yuan visited Jiang Gui in the evening, “in a few days come with me to the nearest village, we must buy some storage grains back.” 

Jiang Gui sat on the floor. He had already recovered his spirit and nodded in agreement.  

Jiang Gui was clear that even if he and Lin Yuan were sworn brothers he could not take advantage and must do some things to prove he was not a rice bucket. 

Currently, Li Congrong and Yang Zi’an must farm and the oil plant was still extracting oil. But the oil would no longer be used to sell but used by themselves. They would stop when they stocked up enough and the 20 people doing the extracting would then take up hoes and farm the land. 

Yang Zi’an and Li Congrong did not say anything when they heard about Wu City. 

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The news could not be kept under wraps so very soon everyone also knew what happened in Wu City. 

When working, everyone was silent and more strength was used. No one slacked off.

Sometimes, one extra grain might mean a bit more chance to survive.

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Old father Lin and the rest did not arrive with any money or valaubles as they were either lost or used to buy food when passing by villages. The only things remaining were some pieces of Yang shi‘s dowry jewelry which she carried on her person, the rest being lost. 

Their group was quite large but they had to avoid the bandits as well as refugees in their travel south. It was impossible to bring too many things. It was old father Lin who bit his teeth and decided to throw the rest away. After all, life was more important than money. 

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Si Niang went to make dough drop soup in the kitchen. The dish was quite easy to make, just add water to white noodles, stir it for awhile before pouring it into boiling water slowly. Put some soy sauce and vinegar in a bowl, add some sesame oil and the dough lumps, and then a spoonful of the white noodle soup. Si Niang also added some vegetable leaves into the broth, in all it could be considered rather savory. 

Old father Lin in the past would never eat this kind of food. But now just seeing the white noodles, he would unconciously start salivating. 

Lin Yuan also dared not speak with him at this time, afraid that he would bite his tongue the way he ate so fast and fiercely. 

Yang shi however, ate in small bites. On the way south she came down with an ailment from starving for too long. Now even if she saw food she would still not have much of an appetite. 

The little girl was called Guo’er. She was born in the autumn when the trees were hanging fruits so she was given this nickname. It had quite a good meaning. 

Other than the three of them, the servants ate out in the yard. They did not have white dough drops and noodles instead they had mixed grain buns made in large sizes with a bowl of porridge. Though the porridge was slightly thin but at least there was white rice which was very filling. 

“We have finally made it alive.” The servants could finally feel they had left the gates of hell intact, feeling more relaxed. After eating two big buns they finally began to smile and chat with each other. 

“I thought I would die on the way here.” Another person said, “I’ve never seen so many dead people before.” 

“Thank goodness master has the foresight.” A servant said, “predicting what will happen, fortunately, having young master go south, otherwise…..we would be like the refugees outside Wu City.” 

“This winter will definitely see the death of many people.” 

“I just looked at the rooms, the bed has a hay mattress and cotton blanket.” A servant said excitedly. 

Their treatment back at the Lin family farmstead was similar. They had thought taking shelter with young master the conditions would become inferior. 

Old father Lin was currently complaining to Lin Yuan, exaggerating the hardships they went through. It was already quite terrible but with old father Lin’s exaggeration it became even worse. The death of his two daughters had been a blow to him. In total he had four children but the current times believed in the more children the more fortune one had. Old father Lin also spoiled his daughters, but now he lost two of them. Only he knew how painful it was. 

Er Liang carried hot water in. Seeing him, old father Lin called him over. 

“Where is Niu Dan?” Old father Lin asked about the driver that left with Lin Yuan and Er Liang.

Er Liang sniffed, answering honestly: “On the way here, we encountered refugees and they stole our carriage and the things in them. Brother Chen had us run first while he stayed behind. We haven’t seen him again.” 

Old father Lin paused, after awhile he let out a sigh. 

“Then where do you have the money to buy property?” Old father Lin asked suddenly. 

Lin Yuan responded: “Mama hid 200 taels underneath the soles of my shoes.” 

Yang shi takes a sip of soup, expression indifferent: “Preparedness averts peril.” 

Old father Lin took a white bun to chew on. On the side there were pickled vegetables made from soaking cowpeas and white radish in saltwater, very appropriate as a side dish. 

Yang shi lost quite a lot of weight. She originally was not as plump as old father Lin so once she lost weight she appeared as skinny as a skeleton. Her neck was especially thin and made people worry that it could not hold the weight of her head, maybe breaking in the next moment. 

Lin Yuan recalled how original owner treated Yang shi then said to her: “Mama, rest well, leave everything else to me.” 

Hearing this, Yang shi‘s eyes reddened and moistened. She immediately closed them, saying softly: “Yuan’er, set up a headstone for your sisters so on holidays they can also eat some incense.”

Old father Lin: “That’s not possible, their ages are too young, considered to be dying prematurely. They cannot have a headstone or a memorial tablet.” 

Yang shi sat there without saying anything. 

This couple would never understand each other their whole lives. 

Old father Lin was an uneducated person, a roughneck of the landowning class. As a result he didn’t mind Yang shi‘s age and insisted on marrying her due to her scholarly family background. 

But after marriage, old father Lin discovered that he could not understand anything Yang shi said. 

As for Yang shi, she discovered that she married a man she could not even have a decent conversation with. 

The early days of marriage still had a bit of newlywed honeymoon feel. 

But once that phase passed, the both of them discovered the other to not be suitable. 

But what could they do? In the end they just had to make do and spend the rest of their lives together. Yang shi no longer desired to share the same room with old father Lin and was indifferent towards old father Lin sleeping with servant girls. Although the children would be living with her but she did not stop their birth mothers from coming to see them. 

These days, although masters could not beat and kill servants according to the law, but selling them away was very simple. Just one word and they could be sold far away to never come back. 

Yang shi was an extremely kind female master, otherwise she would not have treated Lin Yuan that well. 

The three daughters all had birth mothers still living, only Lin Yuan’s birth mother died at childbirth. It could be said that Lin Yuan and Yang shi, though they were not blood related, were truly mother and son.

Lin Yuan agreed immediately: “Fine, I will set up a memorial tablet.” 

Yang shi nodded: “I am tired.” 

Er Liang immediately moved forward: “Lady, the servant girls are still setting things up, I will serve you in cleaning up.” 

Er Liang was still young so it was still acceptable that he served in place of servant girls. 

Yang shi nodded and walked into the inner chamber. 

Old father Lin, seeing that Yang shi had left, said quietly: “Dad also brought some money with me, most are ample weight.” 

Lin Yuan: “……Where do you hide them?” 

Old father Lin: “In the undetgarments. I had the servant girls sew a pouch, when leaving I filled it with quite a lot, now only 300 taels remain.” 

“Take them all.” Old father Lin dug the money out and put it on the table.

Lin Yuan said: “Dad, you keep it.” 

Old father Lin shook his head however: “I only just arrived, even if I have money there is no place for me to spend it. You use this money to buy some more food, just buy old grain is fine, it’s cheap and cannot kill people.”

Lin Yuan did not refuse: “Alright.” 

It was not that he wanted to be a blackhearted master but because when the food was not enough, the larger amount of old grains will be more useful than the fewer amount of new grains. Between staying alive and taste, no one would choose taste. 

This year’s early harvest was not bad but that was only when compared to other farm fields. But if compared with modern rice paddies it would definitely look meager. But crops that had high output was too little. Lin Yuan even especially asked Yang Zi’an who said soy beans were easy to plant and the harveat was not bad either. 

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As a result, Lin Yuan had them open up all the surrounding lands that could be opened and used it to plant soy beans. 

In any case, Wu City would not send anyone to come and check. 

Lin Yuan thought, if by the time the first cannon of rebellion sounded and his foodstuffs had not been stocked up enough, then that was basically game over. 

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The melting of the snow revealed the shambles that had once been the Lin family farmstead. The deep winter froze to death many people. The ones still living gathered together and relied on breaking into homes and committing robberies to make a living. Lin family, the region’s well-known wealthy family, obviously became a target, regarded as a piece of fat meat. The once busy and lively Lin family farmstead had become an abandoned residence, not a person to be seen inside. 

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Old father Lin lay down in the bushes, ears to the ground, hearing the footsteps moving farther away. Only then did he sigh in relief and returned into the forest. 

“Master.” An old family servant came running from another direction. 

“They have left.” Old father Lin said to the old servant, who also said, “that side has gone too.”

The both of them went deeper into the forest, the women and children were all hiding in comparably safe places. Mother Lin’s hand held onto Buddhist prayer beads as she sat on the ground and prayed. At her side sat a couple of young girls. They were still at the zong jiao age (TN: a period of time in ancient China to refer to girls from the ages 8-14 and had their hair tied into two knots on the head that look like sheep horns, therefore known as zong jiao), looking at old father Lin, still unknowing of what had occurred. 

They only remembered being awakened on one night by servants and running with the adults, their home going up in flames as they looked back. 

After leaving home, they kept walking. The food they took with them was not enough so they must rely on wild herbs and berries to stave off hunger. But wild herbs and berries were also not enough, there were too many refugees who did not bring enough food with them either. 

The servants were also at a loss of what to do, they had stayed at Lin family this many years and had never seen such situations. 

Old father Lin sat to the side and said to his wife: “The snow has melted, we will continue walking to the south and find Yuan’er (TN: Adding ‘er’ to the end of names is an expression of familiarity and affection, same as adding ‘xiao’ in the front of names).”

Yang shi‘s (TN: Adding ‘shi’ to end of surnames is used to refer to women’s maiden names. In ancient times women do not change their last names to their husband’s but add their husbands names to the front of their own like ‘Lin Yang shi’. But mostly it is shorten to just ‘Yang shi’.) tone was cold, always had been, treating her husband indifferently: “En.” 

Last year Lin Yuan already sent a message telling his family he was at Wu city. Old father Lin was glad his son still remembered to send the family a letter, and also glad the messenger came in time. 

“Mama.” The young girl moved closer, she was afraid, only feeling safe at the side of her parents. Yang shi did not have any children of her own. Including Lin Yuan, all the children were born from servant girls. Village people did not practice taking concubines. Even if servant girls gave birth to the master’s children they were still servants and must still work. Only their food and clothes would be better. 

The young girl’s birth mother was Yang shi’s personal servant girl and was currently boiling water. 

Old father Lin still had the mood to tell a joke: “It’s a good thing I have the foresight to have Yuan’er leave for the north. Otherwise we would be one of the refugees and have no place to settle down once we are there.” 

Yang shi spared him a glance: “Yuan’er was only 14 when he left.”

Because of this, she had yet to give old father Lin a good attitude.

Old father Lin: “The children of farming families can start their own families at 12. Besides, the message says our Yuan’er has land and a farmstead. That’s my boy!” 

His voice was filled with pride. 

He only had one son, but this son was worth ten of other people’s sons. 

At that time the Zhang family also had their son go south but they had yet to receive any messages. Up until the bandits came they could only flee and most likely became one of the refugees now. Only knowing to go south, but with no specific place in mind. 

Yang shi continued to chant her Buddhist scriptures and didn’t bother anymore with old father Lin.

She was born in a scholarly family, her father a literati, their home filled with books. Her mother died early but her father hadn’t married again. 

As a result, it was not until 24 before she married, and only because they no longer had any rice left to eat. 

In these times, an 18 year old girl who had not married was considered a spinster let alone a 24 year old woman. 

But Yang shi did not feel ashamed. She did not love her husband, neither did she love her husband’s home. She rather practice calligraphy the whole day then speak one word to her husband. 

Old father Lin: “We will sleep during the day and travel at night so that others will not discover us.” 

The servants all nod. 

Although having just experienced a frightening nightmare, the servants were still quite obedient and did not take the chance to run away,  instead staying by the Lin family’s side. They were very clear that once they left they would also become refugees. At that time they would be worse off than now. 

But following after the master and lady, they could take shelter with young master. 

It would be like before, there would be food to eat as long as they worked. 

They did not know how long they have walked, sleeping in hidden places during the day and walking by the moonlight at night. Sometimes they would stunble across the corpses of people who starved to death, mangled and ripped apart by wild animals. 

Extreme fear had them being even more careful and alert. 

Everyone only dared to dress in rags, the woman even rubbing mud and dirt onto their faces and putting hay in their hair. They wore rough and ragged clothes that they had never worn before and walked barefoot on the road. 

They looked more and more like one of the refugees. 

When they arrived at Wu City it was aleady autumn. 

They spent half a year on the road in order to come here. 

Old father Lin lost two daughters on the way, both from eating the wrong things which caused them to fall into fever. They could only bury them on the side of the road.  

A total of three daughters but only one was left. The last one Yang shi took by her side. When gathering wild herbs and berries, Yang shi always tried them first and seeing no problem after awhile had passed before giving it to the child. Although the child was practically a bag of bones, but at least she survived. 

Some of the servants also died while some became separated. 

Looking at the city gates, old father Lin could no longer hold it in. His knees weakened and he kneeled on the ground, tears and snot covering his face.

Behind him the servants were no better, following his lead as they broke into sobs. 

“Move away!” The soldiers that guard the gates shooed at the refugee arrivals, they would not let them into the city, “Move along!” 

Old father Lin quickly said: “Soldier ye, we are not refugees, my son is in Wu City, I am here to take shelter with him.” 

Saying so he even took out a gold hairpin which originally belonged to Yang shi. On the way here only some jewelry remained, anything else of value was lost or used. He smiled ingratiatingly: “Soldier ye, please accomodate us.” 

The soldier examined the hairpin and even bit at it, only when making sure it was real gold did he ask: “What is your son’s name?” 

Old father Lin: “Lin Yuan! My son is named Lin Yuan!” 

The soldier paused, then smiled: “What a coincidence.” 

Saying so he hollered in the direction behind him: “Brother Jiang! Your brother’s father has arrived!” 

Old father Lin listened in bewilderment and saw a man coming out from the gates, in his twenties and wearing a thin cotton shirt. His hand was holding a white bun that he was currently eating. Old father Lin swallowed profusely when he saw the white bun. In his whole life he had never craved this much for a plain white bun then he did at that moment. 

Jiang Gui looked at the refugees in front of him, all wearing rags. It was a good thing that the autumn weather had yet to cool. He recognized none of them. 

“This uncle?” Jiang Gui only just started to say something. 

Old father Lin quickly said: “Big nephew, I am Lin Yuan’s dad!” 

Jiang Gui: “Do you have any proof?” 

Old father Lin said immediately: “Yes, yes, my son has a beauty mark behind his ear.” 

Jiang Gui: “…..” I never looked behind Lin Yuan’s ear, how would I know? 

“Do you have anything else as proof?” Jiang Gui asked again.

Old father Lin then gabe the address of his hometown and described clearly the situation of all Lin family members. 

This Jiang Gui knew so he said quietly: “At night I will drive an ox cart out. How many of you in total?” 

Old father Lin was confused: “My son is not in the city?” 

Jiang Gui: “He is in the farmsetad outside the city, I will bring you to him tonight.” 

Old father Lin was not afraid of being lied to after all, the only valuables they had left are just some jewelry. It wouldn’t be a big deal to give all of it away. So long as he could find his son everything would be worth it. 

Therefore, the next day at noon, Lin Yuan who was standing in the fields looking at the harvest, saw his third brother bringing over a group of refugees. 

Even Er Liang did not recognize the Lin family members. 

Could it be that Jiang Gui felt they still lacked people so he sent another group over? 

“Third brother.” Lin Yuan went over. Dressed in a tight sleeve shirt so as to move easier because the past half-year he often walked around the fields. His physique also improved due to being more active. In fact, when the harvest came earlier he even helped for a few days. 

The crop planted was rice, and because the soil was fertile the tenant farmers all said that the output was more than they had been seeing in the past.

But before Jiang Gui responded, a figure threw themself on Lin Yuan. The person looked rather plump but Lin Yuan did not feel the weight to be too heavy. He was about to push him away when the person started crying: “Son ah! My son ah! Dad has come!” 

Old father Lin? 

Old father Lin! 

Lin Yuan was slightly shocked, after all in the original owner’s memory old father Lin was an extremely obese middle aged man who was always wearing silk and practically the epitome of a rich landlord. But the man in front of him was dressed in rags with a face covered in dirt. 

Er Liang also came over, he examined carefully before yelling out: “Master!” 

“Er Liang!” Old father Lin also yelled out in reply. 

Er Liang sobbed: “Master, master, you have suffered! Lady! Lady!” 

Er Liang ran towards Yang shi, his parents were also at Yang shi’s side. Seeing Er Liang their eyes also filled with tears. 

Lin Yuan was after all not the original owner. He might have the memory but he did not inherit the feelings as well. He couldn’t cry real tears but only lower his head pretending to cry.

The small group was full of crying and sobbing. It took a while before everyone calmed down. 

Lin Yuan lead them over to the house. Old father Lin did not despise it for being simple or crude, instead thinking his son rather smart. This way it wouldn’t stand out and besides, it was big enough for this many people to live in without feeling cramped. 

“Dad and mama’s room is here.” Lin Yuan lead them to the largest and best room. 

Old father Lin looked at Lin Yuan with gratification. 

His son matured faster than he imagined. He felt that the most correct thing he ever did in his life was to have his son travel south.

“Si Niang!” Lin Yuan hollered: “Make some dough drop soup!”

Si Niang responded and went in the direction of the stove. 

Er Liang dug through the clothes chest looking for clean clothing that old father Lin and Yang shi could change into.

“Big brother!” A small and skinny young girl threw herself into Lin Yuan’s embrace. She hugged Lin Yuan tightly, not letting go no matter what. 

Old father Lin quietly said: “Your oldest and second little sister passed away on the way here.” 

Lin Yuan’s body was a bit stiff. 

Old father Lin said: “Just buried on the spot, did not set up a headstone.” 

Children who died young or prematurely could not have a headstone. 

The little girl tightly held onto Lin Yuan, she knew that as long as she found big brother then she would be able to eat her fill.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Lin Yuan patted the little girl’s head, his voice gentler than he thought: “Quickly wash your hands, it will soon be time to eat.” 

Only then did the little girl reluctantly follow the servant to wash up. 

Lin Yuan thought, the family was all together now. His ability had limits so he didn’t know whether he could protect them all. 

He hoped original owner would guide them from heaven.

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