Chapter 54 - 55: Lodging for the Night

Chapter 54: Chapter 55: Lodging for the Night

Li Cuicui couldn’t be bothered with that unfilial son. His heart and soul had already left with that Miss Lan.

"What about Seventh and his wife? Are they with Second Brother’s family?"

Gu Yuanjin shook his head. "I didn’t notice. They were standing pretty far away, and it was so crowded. It would be normal to get separated.

All we can do now is wait. The city isn’t allowing refugees to stay inside at all. They’re searching everywhere right now, and anyone they find will be forced to leave."

Gu Lehua gripped Liu Liu’s hand tightly. "Mother, we were so worried just now! We thought you were going to abandon us."

Liu Liu pursed her lips. "If I had known, I would have brought you two with me. Maybe our family could have found a way to survive. Now look at us, back here waiting to die."

Her words were filled with resentment. If it weren’t for these two children, things might have been completely different.

After a headcount, they realized more than half the people hadn’t returned. Faced with everyone’s expectant gazes, Gu Sanbu had no choice but to agree to move the entire group closer to the city gate. That way, they would be the first to see anyone who came out.

"Greetings, Old Sir," Ancient Wen Heng said, placing the bundle he was carrying—a prop for his story—on the ground. He bowed to the old man who had come out to open the door.

"What brings you to our village?" the old man asked, curiously sizing them up. Outsiders rarely came to their village, let alone a young couple.

"Old Sir, we’re here looking for relatives. Excuse me, is this Donggou Village?" Ancient Wen Heng said, using the excuse he had prepared earlier.

"Donggou Village? I’ve never heard of a village by that name around here. Are you sure you’re not mistaken?" The old man thought hard for a moment, then looked at them with sympathy. "There’s no such place in this area. You’ll have to look elsewhere.

As you must have seen on your way here, our village is already very remote. There are no other villages nearby."

Ancient Wen Heng curiously surveyed the seven or eight households. Each one was surrounded by high walls, presumably to keep out wild animals from the mountains.

’What should we do?’ Ancient Wen Heng thought. "The sky is getting dark, and we can’t make it back to the city now even if we wanted to. I was wondering, Old Sir, if it would be convenient... could we trouble you to let us stay here for one night?" He looked up at the sky. The sun was already setting. If they didn’t find a place to stay soon, they would have to hide in their space.

The old man looked at him, then at Jin Qianqian behind him. After a long moment, he called into the house, "Wife! We have guests. Come out and greet them."

Soon, a white-haired old woman with muddy hands came out from the backyard. "We have guests and you don’t even invite them in? What are you still standing at the door for?"

"Oh, and a young couple at that. How did you end up all the way out here?"

Jin Qianqian took half a step forward. "Hello, Granny. We came looking for relatives, but we must have gotten the place wrong and ended up here.

Seeing as it’s getting late, we were hoping to stay the night. We’re sorry to trouble you."

"It’s no trouble at all," the old woman said, her face beaming with a kind smile. "We hardly see any outsiders here all year round. As long as you don’t mind our humble home or feel we’ve neglected you."

Jin Qianqian replied, "You’re too kind. This place may be a bit remote, but I see you keep it so neat and tidy. You’re self-sufficient in so many ways. It seems much more peaceful and carefree than the outside world."

"I wouldn’t dare say that," the old woman said, warmly grabbing Jin Qianqian’s hand. "Let’s not just stand here. Come inside and sit down."

Stepping inside the walls, they saw four rooms split between two sides, with a courtyard in the middle that was half open space and half vegetable patch.

Seeing the lush green vegetables, Jin Qianqian’s eyes lit up. This meant there was no shortage of water nearby.

"I haven’t had the chance to ask your name, sir?" Ancient Wen Heng asked the old man as they followed the women, chatting along the way.

"You can just call me Zhu Da. I’m the eldest son, so everyone calls me that." Zhu Da brought out two stools once they were in the courtyard. "Wife, bring our guests two bowls of water."

Ancient Wen Heng quickly stood up to decline. "We have water with us from our journey, and we just had some. We’re not thirsty. Please, don’t go to any trouble for us."

Jin Qianqian asked curiously, "Granny, is it just the two of you at home?"

Granny Zhu replied, "Our two sons went into the mountains to hunt. They should be back soon."

Jin Qianqian and Ancient Wen Heng were both a little surprised. "So, your family are hunters?"

"Sigh," Zhu Da let out a breath. "We have no other choice. You live off the mountain when you live by the mountain. We can’t just sit here by Daqing Mountain and do nothing.

Our two sons have been hunting in the mountains with everyone else since they were little. Now they can finally hold their own, so we let them be.

Don’t be fooled by the fact that our village only has a few families. Every family here comes from a line of hunters. It’s been passed down from one generation to the next. We haven’t been able to find a new way of life."

Ancient Wen Heng said, "Actually, there are advantages to being deep in the mountains like this. It’s chaotic outside right now. Several provinces to the north have been in a drought for a long time, and there are waves upon waves of refugees. Everyone is just trying to find a way to survive.

Because this area is so remote, people don’t think to come this way, so life can remain peaceful."

"What? Is that true?" Zhu Da was surprised. "My eldest son just made a trip to the city to deliver some game a few days ago, and he didn’t hear anything about it."

Ancient Wen Heng paused for a moment. "The Prefect’s Office probably suppressed the news and sealed the city gates. Many people don’t know that a large number of refugees have gathered outside the walls."

"Then you two..." Zhu Da’s eyes locked onto them. "You’re not just looking for someone, are you?"

Jin Qianqian hadn’t expected this simple-looking old man to be so sharp and immediately grasp the key point.

Ancient Wen Heng didn’t hide it. "To be honest with you, we were refugees, too. We rushed in with everyone else when the city gates opened.

I hope you won’t worry, sir. My wife and I truly mean no harm. We’re just looking for a place to settle down."

Zhu Da shot to his feet. "Absolutely not! Our place is too small; we can’t take in outsiders. Besides, this area is crawling with wild beasts. Ordinary people can’t handle it. You should hurry up and find somewhere else!"

Granny Zhu hurried over and gently tugged on Zhu Da’s sleeve. "You old man, getting so worked up at your age.

Can’t you talk things over calmly? Be careful you don’t break one of your old bones."

Zhu Da retorted, "What do you know, woman? If the government officers from the city blame us for this, we won’t be able to bear the consequences."

"You old coot, you’re so timid about everything.

Do this young couple look like criminals to you? They’re just trying to find a way to live. It’s not like they said they were going to freeload off us forever."

Granny Zhu turned back to Jin Qianqian with a smile. "I won’t ask where you’re from. The fact that you were so honest about your intentions shows that you aren’t bad people. So, I’ll make the decision. You can stay here for one night, and then leave tomorrow."