My whole family time-traveled! I became a god during my exile in a famine.

Chapter 187 Difficult Choices
"As you can see."

"As far as the eye can see, the area of ​​Binzhou, spanning tens of thousands of miles, is likely to be nothing but scorched earth and ruins. We left for no other reason than to find a way to survive."

"What should we do then?" The crowd gathered around, chattering and shouting.

Everyone was on high alert, surrounding the women and children, protecting the stored grain, and secretly gripping their weapons.

Lu Xiangying was highly respected among the people, and as soon as he spoke, the other voices fell silent.

"Everyone can follow us." They didn't stop these people from following, since everyone could go their own way.

"No, we won't leave. Where can we go if we leave here?" Many people squatted down and burst into tears as they spoke.

Those with young children and elderly family members are especially reluctant to move.

Can they really find a new way to make a living by traveling with their families?

Most people would actually prefer to stay here.

Although... Binzhou is now a ruin.

At least for now, there is water at several underground water intake points.

They could also dig around in the surrounding ruins and always find some food and drink.

Lu Xiangying looked grave, sighed, and honestly advised everyone, "We understand everyone's desire to stay."

"However, there is one thing I... as the prefect of Binzhou, I still want to inform everyone in advance."

“Many of you don’t want to leave right now because you know there are several water collection points below the basement. But if—and I mean if—as you all know, several water collection points inexplicably dried up a couple of days ago, and many of you saw it with your own eyes, right?”

"If the remaining water collection points stop producing water, what will you do then?"

"Sir, sir, can't you stay and help us?"

Xin Wenyuan pushed Lord Lu behind him and retorted rudely, "What are you going to do here? Stay and wait to die with you? Or are you going to stay and fight with you for water and food?"

"Look at all of us, tall, strong, and plenty of young men. If we really tried to take it from you, could you possibly beat us?"

The words were crude but the reasoning was sound, and the attitude was quite rude.

Some of the chattering crowd were so frightened by Xin Wenyuan that they took a few steps back.

Xin Wenyuan said irritably, "In this world, relying on anyone is useless. People have to rely on themselves to survive!"

"Don't blame me for being harsh. Prefect Lu's words are from the bottom of his heart. If you stay here and don't move, you should consider the consequences."

"Water and food, even if they can last for a year or two, what about the future?" Xin Wenyuan was already earnestly trying to persuade him. "You all witnessed the devastation caused by the heavenly fire."
"To be honest, you won't be able to grow anything in this scorched earth for at least a year or two."

"The scorched earth has altered the geology. Have you considered that the water quality in this area may gradually change? Whether it will still be drinkable then will depend entirely on fate!"

"Staying here for six months, a year, two years—if you simply wait, what will you ultimately get? Have you thought about that? Have you thought it through?"

Amidst the ruins, apart from some faint cries, the only other sound was Old Xin's furious roar.

Some people listened and started asking all at once, "Sir, is it really possible to find a way to survive if we leave here?"

"Sir, may we...follow behind you and walk together? Will you protect us?"

Most people were like ants on a hot plate, panicked and at a loss. "At a time like this, you still expect someone to protect you?"

"Don't you have any relatives or children? Who are you to offer to protect you?" Xin Wenyuan retorted rudely.

"I suggest that you, who are not thinking clearly, go and have your brains cleaned up! Think things through before you speak!"

"Whether you leave or not is your own decision. We completely understand those of you who are staying here today! Everyone has their own difficulties. We have also left some food reserves in the basement for you, to provide you with as much help as possible."

"Staying here doesn't necessarily mean waiting to die; it might just bring hope."

"Leaving here doesn't necessarily mean you'll find a way to survive. You might find yourself in a world ravaged by war, a wasteland everywhere!"

"Everyone has their own destiny and makes their own choices. Afterwards, don't blame others or complain about fate."

"Alright, now that you've finished speaking, get out of the way and don't block our group's progress." Xin Wenyuan shouted crisply and waved his hand to signal the surrounding crowd to make way for them.

What time is it? Still thinking about good things.

Who isn't someone's parent? Who can spoil someone else?
Think carefully about how you're going to live from now on. Don't live like a parasite, always hoping someone will come to your rescue.

Xin Nian linked arms with her mother, tilted her head back, and gave a thumbs-up to Old Xin, who was at the front.

"Old Xin is mighty."

Xie Ninglan nodded, "Your dad has a loud voice, which is a good thing, he doesn't even need a loudspeaker."

"What's wrong? What should we do? Should we go with them?"

The group looked at each other, unsure of what to do.

At this moment, an old farmer, along with his family, caught up with Xin Wenyuan's team, saying, "Let's go, let's leave with the adults."

The old farmer's family quickly followed in his footsteps. The eldest son hesitated before asking, "Dad, are we really leaving?"

"Yes, the adults have made it so clear. Staying here will only lead to our deaths."

"No, that gentleman said that keeping it might bring hope?"

The old man glared at his son. "You believe all that nonsense they're spouting? If there really was hope, why did that gentleman lead all the adults away? Look at that group of so many people, who's clamoring to stay?"

"That's true." The silly son scratched the back of his head and nodded sheepishly.

“Carry your mother on your back and tell everyone in the village. If they want to come, we can go together; if not… we can’t do much about it. What that gentleman said is true. At times like this, each family can only take care of its own affairs; there’s no other way.”

"Old Zhou, are you really going to take your whole family away from Binzhou?" When the villagers heard that Old Zhou's family was leaving, they came over with the village chief to inquire about the situation.

“Village Chief,” Old Man Zhou nodded emphatically, “We have to go, Village Chief. I feel that going with the adults is definitely the safest option.”

"Think about it, the adults are all so capable. With them clearing the way ahead, the danger for those of us following behind will be reduced by more than half!"

"If we don't migrate with the main group now, it will be difficult to leave when we run out of food and water in a few days!"

"As the old saying goes, a single tree cannot make a forest. If we wait until we run out of food and water before leaving, firstly, our physical strength will definitely be far inferior to what it is now. Secondly, with fewer people, the chances of encountering danger will be much greater."

"By then, when we're so hungry we're seeing stars, it'll be difficult to leave!"