amaotonovel Chapter 112 Settlement
Chapter 112 Settlement
Whether the government is good or bad is not Meng Fuqing's concern now. If they want to avoid attracting the government's attention, they will have to stop and find a suitable place to stay if they continue walking.
With a large number of people, there is also a need for a water source.
They sent people to scout the area, and eventually chose to settle near a deep pool a dozen miles outside Yezhou City.
Where there is water, there are many refugees. The convoy arrived in a grand procession, immediately attracting the attention of all the refugees, who all picked up the weapons at hand and stared intently at them.
After realizing that these people had stopped some distance from the pool, they relaxed a little.
Meng Bochang had thought he could reach Yezhou City before dark, but now he had traveled more than ten miles less. It was still daylight, though the sky was still overcast.
Several days have passed since the earth shook, and the weather has remained stagnant, as if something is brewing.
After the carts and horses were secured, the strong young men in the group busied themselves fetching and storing water at the pond. The others took a short rest while others gathered firewood or cut grass, each busy with their own tasks.
Seeing that it was still early and there was plenty of weeds around, Meng Bochang instructed people to start weaving straw mats, straw sandals, and raincoats.
There is only one person in the village who knows how to make these things, and he has only recently had some free time and made more because more people in the church have joined.
Straw sandals can be worn over shoes to prevent shoes from wearing out too quickly for people who walk a lot.
Straw mats can be placed on top of oilcloth while sleeping, or used to cover carts loaded with grain to prevent the grain from getting too damp.
Wearing a raincoat can keep you warm when it's too cold.
Meng Fuqing planned to cross the western hillside to explore the woods. She had just greeted Shan Qiyu when she heard someone calling her.
Turning my head, I saw Qi Liang.
"They said they would send someone to the city gate of Yezhou to inquire about information. You send me."
Hearing him say that, Meng Fuqing asked, "Your father won't let you go?"
Qi Liang had a sour face. "He can't control me. You're the one who has the final say."
"Go if you want, and you can also help me find out how much grain is in the city."
"The merchants in Yezhou City probably won't agree to let me go there to sell grain," Qi Liang warned.
"Who said I was going to go to the city to sell myself?"
Could he possibly sell the grain to the refugees? The thought flashed through his mind, and Qi Liang turned and left.
Cui Miao'er, who was not far away, couldn't help but purse her lips when she saw this scene.
She dared not speak to Meng Fuqing now, nor did she dare to grumble to her mother-in-law or husband, for fear that they would overhear and let it slip, and Meng Fuqing would kick her out as well.
But that doesn't mean she doesn't hold grudges.
She had previously had her family members follow behind the group, but since entering Qingzhou, she hadn't seen her brother and sister-in-law at the back of the group.
She didn't dare go back to find anyone, so she could only tell Ji Dalang, thinking that after all, they were her family, and her husband couldn't just stand by and watch her die.
To everyone's surprise, Ji Dalang immediately told his mother-in-law about it. His mother-in-law scolded him severely, basically saying that if he wanted to find her, he should go find her himself, and that her son shouldn't take the risk.
Cui Miao'er cried twice but still couldn't get through it.
She used to find fault with Meng Fuqing in every way, and now that she has pinned the blame for her family members going missing on Meng Fuqing, she finds herself even more displeased.
It wouldn't do to just let her keep it to herself, so after looking around, she could only say to Zhao'er, who was closest to her, "Look, look, look! Meng Fuqing is a young girl who hangs out with a bunch of men all day long. How has her reputation been ruined? You and Pan'er are both good girls, you can't follow her example!"
Zhao'er's injury has healed, and her ear is fine. She has even learned to weave straw sandals. She is quick and skillful, and can weave them fast and well.
Hearing this, she paused, opened her mouth, but couldn't help but say, "Aunt, people who care about their reputation on the road to escape should just give up and live."
Cui Miao'er was speechless at her words, but still felt unconvinced and rolled her eyes, "Among all these people, who is like her?"
"If Sister Qingqing can take in younger brothers, what other girl can? Compared to her, can anyone even compare?"
Cui Zhao'er's face darkened. She stood up abruptly, gathered the dry grass on the ground, and said as she did so, "Don't let me hear you say anything bad about Sister Qingqing again, or I'll tell Sister Qingqing."
After saying that, he took the hay and the half-woven straw mat and found a new place, far away from Cui Miao'er.
Cui Miao'er was stunned by what he said.
I thought this niece was a quiet person who wouldn't say a word for a while, but she opened her mouth and started talking like a firecracker as soon as she mentioned Meng Fuqing.
"You brat, she's your own sister, I'm just your fake aunt! If it weren't for me, you two girls wouldn't even be alive! You ungrateful wretch..."
She grumbled and cursed for a long time, but Cui Zhao'er pretended not to hear. Yao Shanyun, who had just returned from fetching water, was furious when she saw that she hadn't done any work and was still being so foul-mouthed.
"Who are you yelling at? Go boil some water for me!"
The little commotion caused by the Ji family went unnoticed by others. After watching Qi Liang and the others leave for the gate of Yezhou City, Meng Fuqing picked up a crossbow and an empty burlap sack and started walking up the hillside.
Even if she doesn't catch any prey, she can take out the prey she had previously stored in her space. The chickens in her space have laid a lot of eggs, so she can also take them out to improve her meals.
I had only taken a few steps when someone called me back.
"Qingqing, can we come with you too?"
Meng Wan'er led a few of her girlfriends to Meng Fuqing's side. As if worried that Meng Fuqing wouldn't take them, Meng Wan'er added, "Do whatever you want. We'll go into the woods and see if there's anything to eat."
Meng Fuqing's gaze passed over Meng Wan'er and landed on the timid Meng Linlang. "She stays."
Without waiting for anyone's reaction, she took the lead and started walking towards the hillside.
Meng Linlang lowered her head in embarrassment. "Sister Wan'er, since my cousin says so, I won't go. I didn't listen to what Miss Ling told you, and going would only be a burden to you."
Meng Wan'er hadn't expected that these two cousins would now seem to have no contact with each other at all, so she could only nod and say, "You're weak, it's good for you to stay here."
After saying that, she called the others to follow Meng Fuqing away.
Watching them leave, Meng Linlang couldn't help but feel disappointed and resentful. Meng Fuqing was truly hard to please.
They traveled on and off, and the Second Grandmother's family's food supplies were running low. With a few more mouths to feed, they didn't know if their food would last until they reached Jing'an Prefecture.
They weren't entitled to any of the grain in the public treasury, and when they tried to buy it from the bandits under Du Chong, those bandits knew that her family had a bad relationship with Meng Fuqing's family and refused to sell to them. Now they couldn't even enter the city, and they had no choice but to rely on themselves.
After much thought, Meng Linlang had no choice but to find her older brothers, who were trying to hunt, and follow them to see if they could find some food.
On the other side, Meng Fuqing had already climbed up the hillside.
In winter, the fields are all withered and yellow. The refugees have scavenged all the food that can be found outside the forest. Those who are not afraid of wild animals in the forest can only search deeper into the mountains.
Meng Fuqing didn't even think about it and started to walk inside, but Meng Wan'er stopped him.
"Qingqing, don't go too deep in. I just heard some refugees say they found strange claw marks in the woods."
Meng Wan'er knew that Meng Fuqing was powerful, but she was all alone at the moment, and she and her friends were not strong enough to help much. It would be bad if something happened to her.
Raising his crossbow, Meng Fuqing said, "Don't worry, I carry a weapon with me and won't go too deep inside."