From Hoarding to Time-Travel: My Supplies Saved Him

Hong Daya touched the sticky liquid on the yam, then held it to her nose and sniffed. "Can this stuff really be eaten?"

Jin Qianqian had no way of showing her right now. "It is. Once we get back, it’s delicious whether you roast it or boil it. Besides, it’s a medicinal herb, so it’s only good for you. There are no downsides."

"How do you know that?" Hong Daya asked, her voice full of curiosity.

"My husband read about it in a book. I think it’s recorded in medical texts that it can be used as both medicine and food." Seeing that Hong Daya still hadn’t made a move, Jin Qianqian added, "Don’t you trust us, Sister-in-law?"

Hong Daya quickly waved her hands. "That’s not what I meant. It’s just that I’ve never seen this stuff before, so I can’t help but be a little wary. But if Yuan Yu is the one who read about it in a book, then it must be fine.

"Sister-in-law, thank you both so much. Thanks to you, I’m lucking out again."

Jin Qianqian helped her pluck the yam berries from the vine. "You can steam these and eat them when we get back, too. Look, I’ve already gathered so many."

Hong Daya’s hands started moving faster. Even though the patch of yams seemed to stretch on endlessly, she knew not to underestimate people’s desperation for food. This might be their only chance to gather some.

Jin Qianqian kept busy as well. While helping her pick the berries, she also traced the vines back to the main tubers. They worked well together, making quick progress. By the time Gu Wenheng came back with the others, Hong Daya’s basket was nearly overflowing.

"Are you sure this stuff is edible?" Unsurprisingly, someone else voiced the same doubt.

Hong Daya straightened up and said with a smile, "My younger brother-in-law read about it in a book. It can be used as both medicine and food. If it couldn’t, it wouldn’t have been left here for us to find."

Hearing that the information came from a book put everyone at ease. After a brief explanation from Gu Wenheng and Jin Qianqian, the women, all accustomed to farm work, moved quickly, busily stuffing their baskets.

Jin Qianqian and Gu Wenheng didn’t stand around either. They had only filled one basket, and the other one Gu Wenheng had brought was still empty. "I thought you were just going to get a few of the other women," Qianqian said. "Why did everyone come?"

"Those three were too far off, and I didn’t know their exact location. All I could do was shout at the top of my lungs." Gu Wenheng said helplessly.

Picturing the scene, Jin Qianqian said with a hint of regret, "I should have gone with you to see it. I never knew my dear Senior’s ’Lion’s Roar’ was powerful enough to summon such a crowd."

Recalling what had happened, Gu Wenheng couldn’t hold it in and burst out laughing. "We always thought ’The Boy Who Cried Wolf’ was just a fable. I never expected to run into a real-life version."

Jin Qianqian’s interest was piqued. "Quick, tell me what happened."

Gu Wenheng explained, "Everyone was scattered, and I couldn’t find the sister-in-law you sent me for. So I had to run around shouting. I guess that caused a misunderstanding. They thought I was in trouble, so they grabbed whatever weapons they could—kitchen knives, cleavers, hoes—and came running. And... well, this is the result."

Jin Qianqian was speechless.

"You’re stunned too, right? Luckily, I reacted quickly. I had to confess everything just to keep from getting beaten up." As he spoke, Gu Wenheng clutched his head in a parody of a terrified scholar.

Jin Qianqian was still speechless. ’As if I’d believe you. People aren’t stupid. How could they not tell from your shouts that you weren’t really in danger?’

’Besides, to deceive others, you have to first deceive yourself. You can’t even hide the laughter in your eyes. Who do you think you’re kidding? It seems my dear Senior has learned some bad habits.’

Gu Wenheng asked, "Wasn’t it funny?"

"Hilarious," Jin Qianqian said dryly. "Why don’t you go shout some more? See if you can call Big Brother and the others back."

Gu Wenheng was speechless.

&

Gu Yuanfeng had the luggage for both her own family and her in-laws strapped to her back. On top of that, she carried a shoulder pole laden with grain. All of this weight, once pulled by their old ox, now pressed down on her alone.

"Mama, I can’t walk anymore," He Chuncao said, her shoulders slumped. She tugged at the hem of her mother’s clothes, her eyes welling with tears.

"There, there. Just hold on a little longer. We can rest soon."

He Chuncao’s voice was thick with misery. "But I really can’t carry it anymore! Mama, didn’t you say you’d help me take it off when I got too tired?"

Gu Yuanfeng gritted her teeth, struggling to endure. "But Mama doesn’t have any strength left to help you now. Why don’t you go ask your grandmother?"

He Chuncao pressed her lips together and stubbornly lowered her head.

Seeing her eldest sister-in-law and mother-in-law walking up ahead, Gu Yuanfeng finally worked up the courage to call out, "Mother! Chuncao can’t carry her pack anymore. Can you help?"

Mrs. He Zhou didn’t even turn her head, just started cursing. "Help? How am I supposed to help? I can barely walk myself! That worthless girl wants *me* to work for *her*? Does she have no shame?"

As for Mrs. He Yang, she neither turned her head nor uttered a word. She simply grabbed He Dapeng, who was walking empty-handed, and quickened her pace.

Gu Yuanfeng held no such hopes for He Tiping. He was carrying his own older brother on his back and didn’t spare his wife and daughter a single glance.

"Let’s rest for a moment, then," Gu Yuanfeng said, her heart aching for her daughter. She set down her own heavy load and was about to help He Chuncao with her pack when Mrs. He Zhou’s enraged voice rained down on them.

"You lazy hag, slacking off again! If you fall behind and get dragged away by wolves, don’t think you can blame us!

"Let me tell you, even if you work yourself to death, you better keep that grain safe! Stop lazing around and get moving!"

Gu Yuanfeng’s hands froze. "Mother, just for a moment. We’ll walk faster afterward."

"I don’t have time for your excuses! I couldn’t care less if that worthless girl rests, but this grain cannot leave my sight! If you don’t get moving this instant, believe me, I’ll have my second son divorce you!"

A flicker of fear crossed Gu Yuanfeng’s eyes, and she pulled her hands away from He Chuncao. "Chuncao, let’s just hold on a bit longer. When we stop to rest, Mama will rub your shoulders for you."

He Chuncao lowered her head, silent, as her tears splashed onto the ground.

&

Village Chief Shi pressed his aching temples. "Look, we were all strangers to begin with. You’ve followed us this whole way, and we haven’t made an issue of it. But don’t make things difficult for us now. Let us pass."

"No! You still haven’t told us exactly where you’re headed! Can you guarantee that we’ll be able to survive?"

Standing to the side, Shi Dayong let out an exasperated laugh. "Village Chief, why are you still wasting your breath on them? I’ll get some men and force them out of the way."

Village Chief Shi grabbed his arm, then turned back to the troublemakers. "If you don’t trust us, then why have you been following us for so long?"

Wu Changping pointed at Lan Yun, who was being carried in a litter. "He’s the one who told us! He said you people often receive gifts from the gods, that you haven’t lacked for water this entire journey. He said if we followed you, we’d find water and be able to survive."