Famine and Chaos: Weaving Cloth in Exile to Escape the War

In Kyoto Spring, the group finally arrived at the place where they had fought the bear last time.

However, it was still about ten miles away from the bear's den.

Yang Dawang walked at the front. Looking at the sky, which was already completely dark, he felt it was about time to rest on the spot.

The main problem is that it's difficult to travel at night. Also, the forest is very dangerous at night. I'm afraid that a wild boar or wolf might suddenly jump out and catch them off guard in the dark.

Then, Yang Dawang leaned on a tree branch and panted for a while before looking at Jing Zhichun at the very end of the line.

"Madam Shen, I think that's enough. Let's rest here for the night and continue our journey when it's light."

As soon as he finished speaking, several pairs of eyes turned to Jing Zhichun.

This whole morning, dragging my belongings through the snow, was exhausting.

The Yang family felt that they had never been this tired from working in the fields during the busy farming season in previous years.

Yang Erniu stopped pulling the cart, took a breath and said, "Yes, let's stop and rest for tonight. We left in a hurry today and didn't have time to eat anything. We've been dragging this pile of belongings for most of the day, and the adults and children are all too hungry to move."

Kyoto Haru, holding a torch, turned her head and glanced back at the path they had taken.

In fact, they had only moved less than five miles in the entire afternoon.

The main problem was that our belongings were heavy and the snow was thick, so we couldn't walk fast at all.

However, given the short distance they were traveling, if the barbarians came on horseback, they would catch up with them in no time.

Kyoto Haru turned her face back and wiped her twitching right eyelid.

For some reason, ever since she escaped, her right eyelid has been twitching non-stop.

In her past life, whenever her right eyelid twitched, it was never a good thing.

It's either losing my phone, arguing with my parents, or getting complaints from patients...

In short, it works very well.

This time, with her eyelids twitching like this, she had a feeling that something bad was about to happen.

Therefore, we cannot stop; we must continue on our journey.

Looking at the exhausted Yang family members, Jing Zhichun said, "Uncle Yang, let's walk a little further. I'm feeling uneasy right now, I have a feeling that something bad is going to happen. So, for the sake of peace of mind, I think it would be better to get to the bear's den."

Upon hearing Jing Zhichun's words, Yang Dawang did not object and immediately agreed.

So many things have happened lately, and Jing Zhichun has been making all the decisions in every single one of them. So, he's gradually gotten used to it and now listens to what Madam Shen has to say before making any decisions.

Immediately, Yang Dawang turned around and waved to the Yang family members behind him: "Then let's listen to Madam Shen and walk forward a bit more."

As he spoke, he turned his gaze to his grandson, Yang Tiedan: "Tiedan, you hold the torch and lead the way. Keep your eyes open, don't just blindly walk, make sure you don't go astray!"

"Okay, Grandpa!"

Yang Tiedan quickly raised the torch in his hand, turned around and ran to the front to lead the way.

Following closely behind was the cart pulled by Yang Erniu, then the cart pulled by Yang Xiaoniu, and finally the cart pulled by Yang Sanniu.

As usual, Jingzhichun walked at the very end of the procession.

She held Xiaoman tightly in one hand and a pistol in the other, her eyes constantly scanning her surroundings, ready to raise her pistol in defense should any danger arise.

However, just in case they were discovered, they only carried a torch to lead the way, and they didn't go far.

So when you arrive at Kyoto Spring, everything around you is dark, so dark you can't see your hand in front of your face, and you can't even see the snow under your feet clearly.

Fortunately, they traveled a long way without any major mishaps.

Kyoto Haru's heart, which had been in her throat, finally eased a little.

Just then, Yang Erniu's voice came over.

"Madam Shen, I... I think I heard the sound of horses' hooves?"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone tensed up and stopped in their tracks.

Yang Dawang asked anxiously, "Erniu, did you really hear that?"

"Dad...I...I think I heard it." Yang Erniu said, touching his wildly beating chest. "Let me listen again."

Jing Zhichun immediately stopped and pricked up her ears, scanning her surroundings.

After scanning the area, it seemed that apart from the breathing of the crowd, there was only the howling wind and snow; nothing else could be heard.

Jing Zhichun looked at Yang Erniu and asked softly, "Brother Erniu, are you sure you didn't hear wrong? I didn't hear any hoofbeats."

Yang Erniu listened intently for a moment, then his face turned even paler. He pressed his hand to his chest and said, "Madam Shen, when I was a child, I was hit by a horse from a young man in the city. Ever since then, whenever I hear the sound of a horse's hooves, my heart starts pounding."

I really did hear the sound of hooves just now, and now it's started hopping around incessantly.

Jing Zhichun understood immediately; Yang Erniu's reaction was a result of fright. A person's intuition about danger is more accurate than their ears.

This matter cannot be taken lightly.

Immediately, Jing Zhichun whispered to the Yang family, "Shh! Everyone be quiet and hold your breath! I'm listening carefully."

After saying that, she immediately squatted down, lay down on the snow, pressed her ear tightly to the snow, and began to listen.

After listening for a while, she indeed heard a very faint vibration through the snow.

And it's very rhythmic.

Tap tap, stop for a moment, then tap tap again, stop again, then tap tap again.

The horse's hooves moved at a steady pace, heading straight towards them.

Moreover, the sound was so faint that it was almost inaudible if one wasn't paying attention, and it was definitely not just the sound of one horse; there must have been several.

Upon hearing this, Kyoto Haru's heart tightened instantly; the voice was no longer very close to them.

In the dead of night, the sound of horses' hooves suddenly came from the desolate forest; it couldn't be anything good.

It wasn't barbarians who sneaked in; it was either people fleeing into the mountains as well.

But whoever they are, the grain that this group of people currently has on their three carts is enough to make others envious.

Immediately, Jing Zhichun hurriedly addressed the Yang family members, "There is indeed the sound of horses' hooves. Tiedan, quickly put out your torch, or you'll expose our position! Also, everyone else, grab your weapons, take the children, and move closer to me. Keep your voices down, don't shout!"

The Yang family members put into action after hearing Jing Zhichun's arrangements.

Yang Tiedan, who was walking at the front, didn't dare to delay for a moment. He quickly pressed the torch into the snow, and with a hiss, the sparks went out after a couple of seconds.

The surroundings instantly turned pitch black, with no visibility whatsoever, only the howling wind and snow and the sound of everyone's footsteps.

Before long, the group, armed with weapons, quietly approached Kyoto Haru.

There happened to be the last cart parked there, and Jingzhichun immediately signaled everyone to crouch down close to the cart. This way, with the cart blocking their backs, they wouldn't have to worry about wild animals attacking from behind; they could just keep an eye on the front and left and right, saving them half the trouble.

Kyoto Haru looked around and saw that, apart from her, the remaining women and children were all in the middle, while the people on the outside were all men.

However, this is still not safe.

Because there were two babies in their group who were still nursing.

If those two kids make a sound later, their group will be immediately exposed.

After thinking it over, Kyoto Haru immediately made up her mind.

It's safest to put these two dolls in her space for now.

But she couldn't say that outright; she had to find a safe excuse.

Then, she whispered to Yang Ersao in the middle of the crowd, "Yang Ersao, give me the child, I'll hold him. My baby carrier is wide enough to fit your child in too."

Yang Ersao hesitated for a moment: "Shen family lady, my baby is heavy, and with your own baby on top of that, how can you possibly handle it?"

"It's alright, it won't bother you at all. With the baby in your arms, you can push the stroller properly and even help Erniu pull the stroller, so we can all walk faster."

Yang Ersao thought about it and realized that it made sense. With a baby in her arms, she couldn't move her arms and legs freely, and she couldn't exert any strength to do her work.

"Then... I'll have to trouble you, Madam Shen."

"Oh, don't be so polite."