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

Chapter 166: The Fall of the City

Uncle Xu didn’t have to wait too long; after a little more than an hour, he received the small cloth bundle. He thanked the person and warned them to be careful before winding his way back to the small courtyard in the western part of the city.

When Shen Jin took the cloth bundle from Uncle Xu and realized what was inside, tears started streaming down his face. He kneeled down and gave Uncle Xu three solid kowtows, leaving red marks on his forehead.

During this time, Shen Tie was fed salt and sugar water once more and was still unconscious. Shen Yin had drunk two bowls of salt and sugar water and could now open his eyes and look around. When Shopkeeper Xu and the others carried him away, he still had some awareness and heard everything. Seeing his brother cry and kowtow to Uncle Xu, he guessed what had happened, and tears slid down his cheeks.

Wei Lingzhen felt a pang of sorrow, held back her tears, and went out to find a small jar. She handed it to Shen Jin, who cried for a while before placing the contents into the jar. She then asked Wei Lingzhen for a piece of cloth to wrap the jar before storing it in her bundle.

Thus ended Mrs. Li’s life. Compared to most people in this chaotic world, having someone to take care of the body and rescue the young children was an immense blessing.

Uncle Xu, who didn’t need to go to the city walls, joined Shopkeeper Xu and his son in digging the tunnel. Wei Lingzhen looked at Shen Yin and Shen Tie’s condition and, noticing it was close to noon, began to pack up.

There wasn’t much to pack. All their valuables were in the few small bundles they brought from Shezhou. Shopkeeper Xu and Uncle Xu had a few belongings, and there was only a little salt left.

As for rice, there was none. Wei Lingzhen shook the rice bag and managed to scrape out only a small handful, barely bigger than two copper coins when spread out.

She took a small clay pot, filled it halfway with water, and cooked the rice. Once it was ready, she scooped out the rice grains and added a bowl of rice water. She divided this among the three brothers, leaving the remaining rice water in the pot to cool before transferring it to a water pouch.

The family had three water pouches: one for cool boiled water, one for rice water, and one for the last bit of salt and sugar water.

The cool boiled water was for themselves, while the rice water and salt sugar water were for Shen Yin and Shen Tie since they might not be able to start a fire to cook once they left.

Shen Jin and Wei Lingzhen fed the two brothers the rice water. When Wei Lingzhen offered the remaining bit to Shen Jin, he noticed that the Xu family hadn’t eaten and asked why. He learned that this was the last bit of their rice, and they had saved half of it in the water pouch for Shen Yin and Shen Tie.

No one knew what Shen Jin had truly endured these past days. His father had starved to the point of wanting to eat them, but the nearly unfamiliar Xu family had rescued the three brothers and given them their last bit of food to sustain them.

A tear fell into the bowl, creating ripples in the remaining rice water.

Wei Lingzhen, seeing this, said, “Don’t think too much. We have some food hidden outside, and we should be able to escape tonight. We’ll find food then. We’re prioritizing you now because if we run out of food, even if we want to help, we won’t be able to. By then, you’ll have to stand on your own.”

Shen Jin wiped his tears and looked at Wei Lingzhen. “Aunt Xu, thank you for saving us. My brothers and I will remember your kindness for the rest of our lives. When we can, we will repay you!”

Feeling that saying “when we can” was too vague, he added quickly, “My brother taught me how to catch pheasants and rabbits, and I know a lot of wild vegetables. Once we’re out, I’ll find food so that you, Uncle Xu, Grandpa Xu, and the two brothers can also have meat and vegetables.”

Wei Lingzhen smiled and said, “Alright, grow up well. Survive, and you’ll have a future.”

Shen Jin couldn’t bring himself to drink more of the rice water. He gave Shen Tie, who was in the worst condition, two more spoonfuls before finishing the last two sips himself. Naturally, he wasn’t full. He rinsed the bowl with some cool boiled water and drank it to fill his stomach.

Wei Lingzhen didn’t stop him; if the younger one didn’t eat more, he would be in real danger.

The Xu family ran out of food. Shen Lie and Chen Dashan, hiding in the underground cave, had gradually lost hope over the past few days.

Chen Dashan said, “The food we left for Wei Qinghe must be almost gone by now, right?”

“Are Shopkeeper Xu and the others really digging the tunnel?”

Even Chen Dashan and Shen Lie weren’t so sure anymore.

In the dark cave, Shen Lie paced back and forth several times and said, “Let’s wait until tonight. Even if they manage to dig through the tunnel now, they probably wouldn’t dare to come out in broad daylight. If they don’t come out by dawn…”

He gritted his teeth and said, “Then we head back.”

They had been out for too long. The people in the valley must be worried sick. After waiting for so long, they should have dug through by now. If they still haven’t come out, there can only be one explanation: Shopkeeper Xu didn’t dig the tunnel. If that’s the case, waiting any longer would be in vain.

Just as he was speaking, he suddenly looked up towards the ground. Chen Dashan also sensed something was wrong. The sounds of war drums and shouting were much more intense and excited compared to the occasional disturbances of the past few days.

Their expressions changed, and they both took a few steps up the dug-out steps, lifting the cover of their shelter slightly to listen more closely.

As soon as the cover was lifted, the noises became clearer. Shen Lie’s palms started to sweat.

Had the city fallen?

The sound was too much like the surge of morale and excitement that only came after a successful siege.

…

At the same time, inside the ruined Xu family residence, Xu Wenhong emerged from the tunnel, barely able to contain the excitement in his eyes despite trying to keep his voice down: “Mother, we hit the tree roots, and they’re very thick!”

Wei Lingzhen was just as excited and immediately stood up.

Hitting the tree roots meant they had found a natural cover for their escape tunnel.

She instructed Shen Jin to stay outside while she followed her son into the tunnel to inspect the situation.

Shopkeeper Xu was also very pleased. Together with Uncle Xu and Xu Wenqing, they had already dug around the tree roots and created a space large enough for a person to stand. They were now digging upwards, having already dug nearly two feet deep.

Shopkeeper Xu whispered to Wei Lingzhen, “We dug down half a foot deep back then. Now we’ll dig up three feet, leaving a foot-thick cover. We can break through it and leave tonight.”

The tunnel was too narrow for Wei Lingzhen to help inside, so she assisted by clearing the excavated soil into a dustpan.

In the main house, Shen Jin was equally excited.

They would be able to leave by nightfall.

He squeezed Shen Yin and Shen Tie’s hands and said, “Xiao Yin, Xiao Tie, did you hear? We’ll be able to leave tonight. Once we’re out of the county, I’ll catch pheasants and dig up wild vegetables for you to eat.”

Shen Tie’s eyelids fluttered as if he wanted to open his eyes but couldn’t.

Shen Yin, however, managed to slightly open his eyes and smile at Shen Jin.

Shen Jin felt Shen Tie’s hand, which was no longer as cold as it had been that morning. Although Shen Tie’s eyes only twitched, Shen Jin was very happy. He wanted to say a few more encouraging words to Shen Tie, but he seemed to hear something unusual. He tilted his head, let go of Shen Tie’s hand, and got up to go outside.

Once in the courtyard, the previously indistinct sound became a bit clearer.

Shouts of battle?

Many shouts of battle.

Shen Jin froze for a moment, then his face turned pale. He dashed back into the main house and into the tunnel.

Remembering Xu Wenhong’s warning about not speaking loudly here, he ran quickly to the end of the tunnel and grabbed Xu Wenhong, saying, “Brother Wenhong, Uncle Xu, something’s wrong. There are many shouts outside. Could the bandits have broken in?”

Shopkeeper Xu and the others’ faces immediately changed.

He handed the hoe to his youngest son and said, “You keep digging, dig faster!”

He then called to Uncle Xu and Wei Lingzhen, “Quick, block the courtyard gate, grab all our belongings, and bring the children into the tunnel.”

In an instant, the three adults were running outside. Xu Wenqing and Xu Wenhong began digging the exit faster. Shen Jin, worried about Shen Yin and Shen Tie still up there, grabbed the hoe Uncle Xu had left and began digging the fallen soil, forming a dirt step. He climbed up to help dig the exit.

The bandits had entered the city; time was life.

…

As soon as Shopkeeper Xu emerged from the tunnel, he heard the commotion. While they had heard the sounds of the siege every day, they had always been distant. Today, the sounds were different—too close, getting closer, and it was clear the city had descended into chaos.

Without saying a word, they and Uncle Xu started looking for things to barricade the courtyard gate. There wasn’t much left; the family had taken everything they could when they left, including firewood. The furniture they couldn’t take, Shopkeeper Xu had mostly chopped up for firewood. Now, all they could use were some planks to brace the gate.

After propping up the courtyard gate, they waited for Wei Lingzhen to gather everything. Uncle Xu grabbed an axe that was lying in the courtyard. The three of them retreated into the main house and moved the only remaining Eight Immortals table to block the door.

Wei Lingzhen first carried Shen Yin into the tunnel, then came back to carry Shen Tie. She also took Shen Jin’s bundle and a kitchen knife before returning to the tunnel, quickly taking over the digging from Shen Jin.

Shen Jin didn’t say much. He didn’t have much strength and was small, making it difficult to reach higher spots even when standing on the dirt and holding a hoe. He stepped aside, retrieved his small bow, grabbed a handful of stones to put in his pocket, and held the kitchen knife, standing guard over the lying Shen Yin and Shen Tie.

In the main house, after bolting the door, Shopkeeper Xu turned to the bed, retrieved a dagger from under the mattress, and took out a small bottle of medicine from his pocket—the one Shen Lie had given him for self-defense. He and Uncle Xu each took a side, guarding the Eight Immortals table, listening intently to the noises outside.

The sounds of shouting, crying, and fighting were now very clear.

“This house is ours!”

In the tunnel, Wei Lingzhen and her children were digging frantically, paying no heed to technique, getting dirt all over themselves, just trying to break through as quickly as possible.

The courtyard gate banged loudly, making Shopkeeper Xu’s breathing heavier. The veins in his hand holding the dagger stood out.

Shen Jin ran to the tunnel entrance to check the situation, then hurried back, “Hurry up, someone’s breaking down the courtyard gate.”

Xu Wenqing’s eyes turned red as he dug furiously.

In the dimly lit tunnel, he dug up a large clump of dirt with one shovel, and a small patch of daylight appeared!

It was through!

Even Shen Jin noticed the light and turned to look.

“I’ll go get Grandpa Xu and Uncle Xu.”

He dashed out.

The courtyard gate had been broken open as Shen Jin reached the tunnel entrance and yelled, “Hurry, hurry, it’s through!”

Shopkeeper Xu and Uncle Xu, hearing this, ignored the situation outside and followed Shen Jin into the tunnel. Xu Wenqing kept digging, quickly enlarging the hole to fit a person through.

Uncertain of what was happening outside, Xu Wenqing was the first to stick his head out. It was a forest; apparently, the bandits had all stormed into the city. Seeing no one around, he quickly pulled himself up.

Next were Xu Wenhong, Shen Yin, Shen Tie, and Shen Jin, all handed up by Wei Lingzhen and Shopkeeper Xu below, and pulled up by Xu Wenqing above.

The children were all up, and Shopkeeper Xu pushed Wei Lingzhen to go up as well. Once she was up, he handed up two hoes and a shovel, urging Uncle Xu to hurry.

Uncle Xu refused to go first.

“You go up quickly, Ah Lang.”

There was another loud noise outside the tunnel; the table had been moved. Shopkeeper Xu wasted no more words, swiftly climbing up with the help of Xu Wenqing and Wei Lingzhen.

From the tunnel, they could hear the excited shouts of the bandits: “There’s a tunnel! Chase them!”

Without further delay, Shopkeeper Xu told Xu Wenqing to quickly pull up Uncle Xu while Wei Lingzhen and Xu Wenhong took Shen Yin and Shen Tie. He hid his dagger and took out the small bottle of poison, dabbing the tips of the hoes with it.

By this time, Uncle Xu had already come up. Barely a few steps away from the tunnel, a burly man emerged from the hole.

Shopkeeper Xu was ready and swung his hoe at the man.

Though he wasn’t skilled in fighting, the hoe struck the man’s arm, drawing blood.

Seeing blood, Shopkeeper Xu’s eyes lit up with excitement.

The burly man, unaware of his fate, screamed in pain and angrily grabbed the hoe, trying to climb up.

Shopkeeper Xu wasn’t as strong and couldn’t retrieve the hoe from the man’s grip. Xu Wenqing and Uncle Xu rushed to help with another hoe and a shovel. Before they could strike, the man’s movements slowed down, and he paused halfway up the tunnel.

Shopkeeper Xu easily retrieved his hoe.

“Go! Hurry!” he urged Wei Lingzhen and the others to move while he guarded the tunnel entrance. He knew that if there was any chance of killing the bandits, it would be by using the narrow tunnel entrance and the poisoned hoe.

Three bandits had entered the tunnel. Seeing their comrade scream and slow down, they realized he had been attacked. One shouted, “What’s happening, second brother?”

The second brother was dragged down, his lips turning blue.

The three bandits were brothers. Seeing their sibling poisoned and struggling, they were furious. They had noticed the fine silk bedding in the rundown house, indicating wealthy occupants escaping through a secret tunnel.

Even though bandits had their own rules and usually targeted smaller households, this discovery of wealthy escapees was too tempting.

But the brothers weren’t foolish. Realizing their second brother was poisoned, they knew charging in blindly would be fatal.

The eldest brother shouted up, “If you have the guts, stay by that tunnel entrance.”

He then turned to the youngest, “Go call for reinforcements!”

The third brother responded but didn’t actually leave; he was merely trying to pressure those above. Any plunder from the wealthy should naturally be divided among their own brothers.

Shopkeeper Xu knew he couldn’t hold his ground. There were too many bandits, and even ten of him wouldn’t be enough to fend them off. He signaled Uncle Xu to leave, but Uncle Xu stubbornly gripped his hoe, saying, “I’ll hold them off, you go!”

Even a moment’s delay would be beneficial.

But Shopkeeper Xu couldn’t let Uncle Xu stay behind to face certain death. He grabbed Uncle Xu, saying, “Let’s go together!”

Xu Wenqing was about to rush over to help when Shen Jin suddenly called out excitedly in a low voice, “Big brother!”

Following his gaze, they saw a tall young man, around twenty years old, standing behind the bushes.

Shen Lie had revealed himself to Shen Jin intentionally, only allowing the young boy to call out once before he pressed his finger to his lips.

Shen Jin quickly covered his mouth.

That single shout was enough for Shopkeeper Xu to hear. When he saw who was standing behind the bushes, he was so relieved he almost thanked the heavens.

Shen Lie!

Looking further, he saw Chen Dashan too!

Heaven was truly watching over them!

Shopkeeper Xu’s throat tightened. He felt he must have done immense good deeds in his past life.

Shen Lie and Chen Dashan had already drawn their bows. They signaled Shopkeeper Xu and Uncle Xu to run, then drew arrows from their quivers and nocked them.

Shopkeeper Xu immediately understood. He raised two fingers, indicating the number of bandits. Once Shen Lie and Chen Dashan nodded, he turned to Uncle Xu and said, “Let’s go! Anyone who stays will die; we can’t hold them off for long. We can’t outlast them. Run.”

Uncle Xu also saw Shen Lie and Chen Dashan and understood that Shopkeeper Xu’s words were meant for the bandits below. The bandits would think the child was calling for a family member rather than an outsider.

Cooperating, Uncle Xu sighed and stomped his foot before running with Shopkeeper Xu.

The two sprinted towards Wei Lingzhen and the others, the family fleeing frantically while shouting for everyone to run, their voices clearly giving away their position.

The bandits below felt reassured. The two brothers took turns climbing up. The first one to emerge only had eyes for the fleeing family and didn’t notice the hidden figures in the bushes.

When the second bandit emerged and took a few steps, Shen Lie and Chen Dashan, who had a seamless understanding from years of cooperation, released their arrows simultaneously without needing further discussion.

The two bandits, who had just started their pursuit, heard the sound of arrows slicing through the air. Their instincts screamed danger, but before they could even locate the source, they felt a sharp pain in their chests. Their bodies stiffened, and they stood there in disbelief, looking down to see the arrow feathers quivering in their chests.