The Daily Life of Farming and Raising Children in Ancient Mountain Residences

Chapter 156: Strengthening Defenses and Clearing the Fields

The Dongfulou closed its doors.

Upon returning to the inn, Shopkeeper Xu quickly had the staff hang a temporary closure notice, gathered all the chefs and staff to inform them of the current situation, and distributed the supplies from the storage room, including food, meat, and vegetables, among everyone. He advised them to go home and find ways to store food to avoid trouble.

With the Dongfulou closed, several shops in the county, large and small, observing the situation, quickly followed suit, closing their doors and hurriedly packing up to seek a way out.

At this moment, the second batch of soldiers entered the county. Shopkeeper Xu had just finished distributing the available supplies from the storage room when he heard a mass of footsteps outside. He rushed to the front hall, looking out through the window to see the Shezhou stationed troops marching into the county. They were even more numerous than the first group, with the end of the line not in sight even after watching for a while.

Chef Yu murmured beside him, “So many stationed troops have been mobilized? Does this mean we’ll be safer?”

Shopkeeper Xu wasn’t sure. He shook his head and said, “Let’s hope so.”

In the county, people were on edge, and the villages outside the county were also not faring any better.

In Shili Village, when the gong sounded, the remaining dozen households were startled. What was happening now? Was it for conscription, supplies, or forced labor?

Their hearts were racing with fear.

It couldn’t be for supplies; there was no food left to gather. If it wasn’t for supplies, it would be for blood and lives.

However, just like domesticated animals obeying their human masters, despite the fear and anxiety, as soon as they heard the gong, everyone, whether willing or frightened, subconsciously responded to the sound and walked out of their homes towards the village square. Even if they moved very slowly, their feet didn’t deviate from the intended path.

Shen San, Mrs. Li, and the Shen siblings hesitated but eventually made their way to the village square.

This time, the arrival of the village head was different from any other time. Along with the town officials, there were ten soldiers in armor. The village head no longer held a proclamation but stood respectfully at the side, letting the officials speak. He appeared less imposing than before, with a look of uncertainty on his face.

The people of Shili Village listened to the town officials and realized they had not guessed correctly.

It wasn’t for conscription, supplies, or forced labor; they were being asked to move into the county. The officials explained that refugees from the north had gathered and turned into bandits, nearing Qiyang County. In the past few days, counties had been attacked or besieged, and where there were city walls, the situation was better, but the rural areas suffered greatly. Bandits demanded money and food, committed atrocities, and left nothing behind.

The villagers of Shili Village didn’t recognize the names of the counties mentioned by the officials. Most of them had only ever been to Qiyang County. However, they understood the concepts of refugees and bandits and could comprehend the string of words uttered by the officials.

With each word spoken by the officials, the villagers held their breath, imagining the horrors of being robbed and killed. The idea of moving into the county was momentarily forgotten as all they could think was, “It’s over!”

The sixty to seventy people were in a state of panic and confusion.

The town official saw that none of the villagers grasped the main points, so he took the gong from the village head and struck it once more.

“Listen up, the court has sent stationed troops to guard the county. If you want to survive, take your food, clothes, and bedding, and immediately seek refuge in the county. Bring all your food! When the bandits are defeated, you can return.”

Finally, everyone heard the key points.

Two main points stood out:

First, the court had sent troops to protect them.

Second, they had to move into the county, which had walls and stationed troops.

The people, who had moments ago been desperate and panicked, now seemed to have found a lifeline. Someone joyfully exclaimed, “With stationed troops from the court, we have nothing to fear!”

However, some more level-headed individuals frowned, realizing the implications. One person asked, “We don’t have much food left. In the village, we can still find wild vegetables on the mountain, but once we’re in the county, where will we find food?”

As the realization sank in, another person questioned, “Where will we stay in the county? There won’t be any wild vegetables for us to eat there.”

In the county, even entering required payment, let alone food and accommodation.

“And what about our crops? If we leave, who will tend to the fields? If the crops wither, it will be a matter of life and death. We won’t have any food left.”

Everyone was now focused on the crops, realizing that their lives depended on them, especially since their food supplies were running low. The crops were their lifeline.

Even Shen San, who feared death, suddenly thought about the care of the crops once they entered the county. Where would his sons go to hunt for game like mountain chickens and wild rabbits?

The people were all talking at once, but Shen San remained silent, observing the officials above to see how they would respond.

The town official couldn’t provide answers to these questions. He turned to the lead soldier among the group.

The soldier, who had remained stern-faced throughout, noticed the official’s gaze and the villagers’ expressions. He adjusted his sword and sternly said, “Entering the city is for your own safety. Military matters are not something you can ask about. If the bandits truly arrive, each and every one of you will be at their mercy. Your money, food, women – everything will belong to the bandits.”

“No more nonsense. You have one hour. Men, go home and pack up. Send one woman from each household to the fields. Take everything edible, including vegetables, and leave nothing for the bandits.”

As it was still early for the autumn harvest, even the young crops would have to be uprooted and destroyed.

The villagers were shocked by this directive, but the soldier only drew his sword slightly, and the scene fell silent.

The soldier, with a cold expression, urged, “Hurry up, everyone.”

Finally, the village head spoke, echoing the soldier’s command, “Yes, yes, hurry up. Listen, one woman from each household goes to the fields, while the rest pack up. Take all the food, clothing, and valuables.”

The villagers looked at the armed soldiers and the officials, then at each other. No one dared to speak up.

Having been conscripted several times and with many families having left, there were hardly any young, able-bodied individuals left in the village. Even if there were, they wouldn’t dare confront the armed soldiers.

And the bandits were on their way…

The villagers swallowed nervously and started to head back home.

They only made it to the courtyard before the soldier signaled his men to follow the villagers.

Before entering the hall, Shen San’s family turned towards the main house a bit further away. Mrs. Li whispered, “What should we do? Are we really going to the county?”

Shen San looked at her as if she were silly, “Why wouldn’t we? Do you want to wait here for the bandits to arrive? Do you think they’ll spare us? Once the refugees turn into bandits, you know what they’ll be like?”

Mrs. Li had experienced hardship, so she knew very well.

She trembled, unable to speak.

Shen San’s son, Xiao Jin, squeezed his mother’s hand, and Mrs. Li saw him mouth the words.

Underground.

Yes, the underground shelter.

But was the underground shelter truly safe? Could they hide there temporarily or even for a lifetime? If the bandits lingered in the area, they would have to flee to the deep mountains.

Fleeing to the mountains… Mrs. Li was a bit hesitant.

However, if they entered the county, there were city walls and stationed troops. The question remained – would the authorities truly provide food for them to eat once they entered the county?

“What to do next?”

Mrs. Li’s mind was in chaos.

Without hesitation, she blurted out her inner anxiety, “Once we enter the county town, if we run out of food, will the officials really take care of us?”

Shen San was already rummaging through chests and boxes, collecting silver, land deeds, and house deeds, all things that needed to be brought along.

Upon hearing Mrs. Li’s words, he didn’t even turn his head, “No matter what, people from every village will go. With so many people, do you think everyone will starve? Before starving to death, they will surround the county office and drag a few along with them.”

“Don’t worry, if only one person is starving, no one will care, but if hundreds or thousands are starving, the county office won’t be able to ignore it. Last year, didn’t they provide relief and food to the refugees? With more people, even the county office will be wary.”

Mrs. Li felt a bit relieved, “That makes sense.”

Thinking about the stored food and dried meat in the underground storage, she didn’t want to delay further. Even though she didn’t understand why men were supposed to tidy up at home while women were to dig vegetables in the fields, she realized that it would be more convenient for her to go and retrieve the food from the underground storage.

Mrs. Li turned around to search for an empty basket and a hoe in the kitchen. Shen Jin and Shen Yin seized the opportunity to follow her. The soldiers in the yard glanced at them but didn’t move.

Once inside the kitchen, Shen Jin whispered to Mrs. Li, “Mother, do we really have to go to the county town?”

He felt uneasy towards the soldiers, recalling past incidents where the officials extorted food and mistreated his mother. Shen Jin didn’t fully trust the authorities and was getting anxious.

Mrs. Li hesitated for a moment but still nodded, whispering, “The county town has high walls and soldiers guarding it, it’s safer than hiding in the underground storage. If we stay there, we will eventually have to come out for food and water. If bandits clash with the soldiers, it will be disastrous.”

Shen Jin was now unsure.

His elder brother had only warned him to beware of refugees, but he hadn’t been instructed on what to do if the officials wanted to take them to the county town to escape the refugees and bandits.

At just nine years old, Shen Jin didn’t fully understand the situation. Hearing his parents say that the county town was safer, he pushed aside his unease and focused on a more pressing matter.

“Mother, besides the hole I dug, my brother dug two other holes where he stored some food.”

His brother had taught him that in case of bandit attacks, he might not have the chance to choose which hole to hide in, so it was wise to dig multiple holes in different directions and place a bit of food in each one.

Mrs. Li knew about Shen Lie digging two holes, but she had only been inside one of them with the children and hadn’t seen the other two.

Upon hearing that there was also food in the other holes, she asked anxiously, “Is there a lot of food?”

Shen Jin whispered, “There’s jerky that my brother gave us and a bit of soybeans.”

Mrs. Li clenched her teeth and said, “Then grab a basket and come with me.”

Mother and son, one carrying the basket, the other with a backpack, were stopped at the door by a soldier.

“I said only one person can go out.”

With a pained expression, Mrs. Li coughed twice, “Sir, I was seriously ill before, still weak, and there are several vegetable fields in the mountains. I’m afraid I can’t finish them alone in an hour. Let me bring a child to help.”

The soldier glanced at Li’s emaciated face and then at Shen Jin, who was not even ten years old.

Seeing three other children eagerly looking outside, he relented, “Go, but stay put. Don’t run around. People from all the surrounding counties have entered the city. There’s no food or vegetables left outside the county. What do you think those refugees and bandits will eat when they come?”

Once everyone entered the county town, the military would sweep through all the villages, leaving nothing for the bandits. The county was heavily guarded, and in such situations, young children like Shen Jin would be the most vulnerable.

From the soldier’s smirk, Li inexplicably understood the implications behind his words. She shuddered and nodded vigorously, bowing respectfully, “Understood, understood. We are really just going to pick vegetables. You see, I have several children at home.”

The soldier smiled, unfazed.

Their mission was to ensure all able-bodied men entered the city, leaving no food behind. As for women and children, if they could be taken along, that was good; if they encountered troublemakers, there was little they could do. They had already given their warning.

Shen Jin carried the basket as he followed Mrs. Li outside. Looking back, he saw soldiers stationed outside every household in the village.

He whispered, “Mother, if they are here to protect us, why are they watching us pack up?”

Thinking about the soldier’s words, Li’s legs felt weak.

Entering the city didn’t guarantee starvation, but staying outside meant risking being eaten by wild beasts. Those who couldn’t venture into the deep mountains would become prey…

Being eaten by people was something she had actually witnessed.

The memories of the severe drought year flooded back, and imagining herself and her children in such a situation, Mrs. Li’s hands trembled as she spoke after a long pause, “Don’t ask, don’t ask. Let’s hurry and gather things to take to the city.”

During the mealtime, when smoke should have been rising from every household, there was a deathly silence in the villages outside the county. However, on the official road leading to Qiyang County, there was an endless line of people carrying burdens, baskets, and bundles, resembling a refugee exodus. From every village, groups were being half-led and half-driven by bailiffs and soldiers towards Qiyang County.

Not far inside the city gate, many county residents gathered to witness the scene. Among them were commoners and wealthy families who had moved into the county when chaos first erupted in the south.

Originally from two different social classes, witnessing the endless line of people outside the city confirmed the rumors, causing a shift in everyone’s expressions.

The timid ones started to retreat back towards their homes, knowing they would have to be extra cautious in the county from now on.

The wealthy families had servants accompanying them, not in a rush to leave but with equally grim expressions.

Some who couldn’t contain their anxiety gritted their teeth and whispered to those nearby, “With so many people coming to the county, where will the food come from? For our households… should we start peeling off layers for that Wei family again?”

The composed one turned his head to glance at the person who spoke earlier and said, “Our crops don’t just grow with the wind. Aren’t they all withering in the fields? Where would there be any surplus food left? Could it be that Brother Chen still has extra grain at home?”

The man surnamed Chen hesitated for a moment, then his eyes flashed, and his expression relaxed, “Brother Wang, you jest. In such times, who would still have surplus food at home?”

…

Shopkeeper Xu and his old servant blended in with the crowd, watching as more and more people entered the city. After a group of people passed by, the old servant, Uncle Xu, suddenly whispered, “Ah Lang, look over there, the two adults and four children who just arrived…”

Shopkeeper Xu looked in the direction mentioned. With so many people around, it was hard to distinguish the group of two adults and four children. However, as they approached closer, Uncle Xu whispered again, “They’re here.”

He then saw the group of six people and asked Uncle Xu, “Are those the children?”

The old servant nodded.

Shopkeeper Xu sighed with closed eyes.

Entering the city, he couldn’t confidently say if it was a good or bad decision.

Without saying much more, he waited for the group from Shili Village to move further away before saying, “Let’s go and see where they will be settled.”

The old servant hesitated, unsure of what to say.

They didn’t have much food left in the city, especially after their family arrived. They were preoccupied with their own worries and might not be able to take care of others.

Shopkeeper Xu understood his thoughts and said, “Let’s first make sure they have a place to stay, we can consider the rest later.”

The assistance Shen Lie sought from him that day was just to do what was feasible.