, guarded by an unremarkable mute eunuch."If we hadn't investigated his secret contact with the Tong Shou Kang Palace, we wouldn't have discovered his identity. He was hiding too well.""Those outside...At this time, almost all the villagers knelt down.

"Mrs. Li, please have mercy and take us with you!"

"Yes, Mrs. Li, please, for old times' sake, save our lives! We don't know anything, if we go out there it's a death sentence!"

For a moment, the entire courtyard was filled with cries, their wails echoing through the sky.

Tao Hongying embraced her son Jia'an and held her daughter Jiayin.

Zhao Yuru was also tightly hugging her two sons, Jiahuan and Jixi.

They are all mothers, and at this time they can't help but feel soft-hearted.

But she didn't dare say much, she just quietly looked towards Old Madam Li.

Li Laotai wasn't made of stone, of course she felt bad, but leading the whole village to flee was just too difficult.

"Finally, the village head spoke, “Young lady, your family has escaped famine before and have some experience. But everyone has grown complacent during these peaceful times and doesn't know anything. Please help us. We’d like to set off together as a group. If something goes wrong on the road, we can disperse, or if it delays your family’s journey, you should go first. The rest of us will understand completely.”

"

With things having reached this point, Old Li could only nod in agreement.

"Alright, let me be blunt. This is a time to run for our lives. Anyone who dares to betray us, to become a white-eyed wolf, don't blame the Li family for not showing mercy."

Everyone quickly thanked him loudly, wiping away their tears, and finally smiles appeared on their faces.

Tao Hongying and Zhao Yuru quickly gathered the women and briefed them.

Remember not to bring unnecessary things. Bring a small iron pot, bowls, chopsticks, cooking oil, salt, rice, bedding and cotton clothes. You must also bring an oilcloth! On the road, you will sleep in the open air, so be prepared for rain and cold at night!

On the other side, Li La Er and his men were also instructing the men from each household.

"If there's a cart at home, you must use it. Don't use a flatbed truck, get a unicycle! If you don't have a unicycle, take a shoulder pole. When encountering mountain roads, a flatbed truck can't go up at all. Also, be sure to bring along your sickle, axe, and chopping knife! People are robbing food on the road!"

The villagers, because the Li family was taking them, were only happy for a short while before their faces turned bitter and fearful.

Fleeing was far more brutal than they imagined!

Soon, everyone went home to clean up.

Needless to say, chaos reigned. There was screaming and crying from both the old and young. It was utter pandemonium.

The village head and Li's family members were uneasy and scattered throughout the village to help.

Greed is human nature, especially when it comes to a fortune that has been painstakingly accumulated over many years.

Young people are okay, but the elderly can't handle it. They want to bring all the firewood from home.

The village head's eyes were bloodshot with anger, berating each household one by one.

"Zhang Laosan, put that wine jar down for me. If you don't, I'll smash it! What time is it You're still thinking about drinking Don't you want to live"

The old man was aggrieved, sobbing and putting down his hand, "I've been hiding it for two years, bought this good wine with two hundred wen!"

The village head was in pain, "Just put some things in a large gourd, and carry it with a small altar on the way. Are you trying to kill yourself! Even if you die, dragging everyone else down, I'll be the first to throw you off!"

Before he could finish speaking, he saw Old Mrs. Zhang putting a hen into the basket.

"We'll be lucky to survive the journey without starving, do you still need to bring a hen What are you going to feed it with Kill them all, and eat the meat on the road as rations!"

Li Jia's whole family was also in a state of distress. Here they agreed, there the villagers promised, but then turned around and secretly stuffed things into their baskets.

The Li family was so angry they could spit blood. Before even leaving, they regretted bringing these people along.

In just a short hour, it felt like a year had passed. Everyone was exhausted and speechless.

Jia Yin leaned against her grandmother's back, urging the old woman to take her for a walk all over the village.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, she added more things to her space.

Each household's unmovable earthenware pots, baskets, winnowing trays, hoes, shovels, and even soy sauce jars were taken away seven or eight.

Of course, some people noticed things were missing, but who has time to investigate when they're escaping for their lives

If you don't shout, then just drag the old and children along.

For food and warm clothing, each household has brought them along without needing to be urged.

The iron wok used for cooking was also brought, but it was filled with a lot of unnecessary things as well.

The man carries a burden on his shoulders, the woman has a pack on her back, and the old man drags a child.

When they gathered again at the village entrance, everyone looked at each other with reddened eyes.

Good days, although there were natural disasters, with the Li family's well and allocated grain, at least we didn't have to worry about starving.

Who would have thought, in the blink of an eye, everything was gone.

They no longer had a home, a house or land, and didn't even know where to go.

It's like I fell from heaven straight into hell. All I feel is despair, nothing but despair...

The village chief wiped his eyes secretly and was about to order them to set off.

"But then the Liu family, young and old, suddenly ran back. 'Village Head, help us! Woe is me! Wait for our family a moment, let's go together, all of us together!' "

Mrs. Guo howled, her voice strained and without tears.

The whole village frowned and dispersed, unwilling to let their families get close.

Liu Tiezhu and Liu Laifu were usually rough around the edges, but now they were complaining.

"Village head, you're truly heartless and cruel. The whole village fled for refuge, yet not a word to our family. If we run into trouble with bandits on the road, don't expect my two brothers to come to your aid!"

Liu Laifu also rolled his eyes and snorted coldly, "I know both black and white in the county town. I originally wanted to protect the village, but you guys... it really chills me to the bone."

Mrs. Guo also rushed to the Li family's face, glaring angrily.

"Older sister, you're too unkind! You fled with the villagers but didn't bring us along! In the whole village, we are your only relatives! Tiezhu and Laifu are your nephews! How could you care for outsiders but not us!"

Lao Li was thoroughly exasperated. If her younger brother were still alive, she would have felt a sliver of affection for him.

Now that the younger brother is dead, the Liu family are outsiders. What's more, this family is so despicable and hated by everyone.

"Get out of here! I've told you before, we're cutting ties with your family! You stole food from our house before and haven't even settled the score. Who gave you the face to come here and yell at us!"

"Yes, you were all driven out of the village. Why are you bringing yourselves along"

"Get lost! Don't waste our time!"

Li Lao Si even stepped forward, grabbed Guo Shi and threw her aside.

Liu Tiezhu and Liu Lai Fu wanted to fight back, but they were both kicked in the stomach by Li Lao Si, leaving them unable to move on the ground.

Su Niang and Chun Hong pulled the children away, crying as if the sky was falling.

But no one had any sympathy. This family was known as the village scoundrels, always getting into trouble and never doing anything good.

Now, if we flee, taking them with us will only bring us trouble.

Besides, this family didn't borrow grain from the Li family.

A family of seven, with seven mouths to feed, had nothing to eat.

This is obviously about clinging to life in the village!

The more they thought about it, the harder their hearts became, and they didn't care as much anymore.

Everyone pitched in and pulled the family apart, then they hurried off.

The Liu family was utterly panicked. They were just scraping by, relying on the village's food supply to survive, especially the Li family.

Even if they resort to using family connections and bringing up the name of their deceased father, it's unlikely that Old Madam Li would truly watch them starve.

They didn't expect that the entire village and the Li family wouldn't give them this chance at all.

Seeing the villagers walking away, the Liu family was completely dumbfounded.

Still, it was the 郭 family who started chasing after her, urging their daughter-in-law to quickly return home and gather some clothes and bedding.is a small matter, Master Li should not be so irresponsible. From now on, why don't you take the refugees in, Imperial Advisor"The minister was dumbfounded, his mouth agape as if one could fit an egg...