Sold immediately after wearing it? I took my family and fled the famine.

Widow Sun walked in front, followed by two children, one big and one small. She was wearing a newly made cotton-padded coat, and the cuffs were still rolled up.

She walked up to Zhang Shi, nodded, and looked at Jiang Xing. "Aunt Zhang, Jiang girl, we lost too much stuff last night, only a pot is still usable. Given the current situation... I'd like to ask if we could share a meal with you." She quickly added, "We'll provide our own food, we just wanted to have more people to keep us company on the road... What do you think..."

Before she could finish speaking, Aunt Wang squeezed through the crowd, carrying her newly received grain sack, followed by Wang Laoshi and several teenagers. Aunt Wang's voice was as loud as ever: "I've been thinking about this too. None of our families have cooking utensils now. Instead of cooking separately, why not pool our resources and eat together? My family will also contribute our own rations."

Shen Dehou carried his family's iron pot over and put it on the ground. "My pot is fine. A few bowls are broken, but there are still three left. My wife and I will take our own food." He glanced at Jiang Xing after speaking, "Jiang girl, what do you think?"

Dr. Gu himself didn't have much equipment. He devoted his life to medicine, never married, and had no worries in his heart. Now that he had found someone who suited his taste, he naturally didn't want to travel alone anymore.

He neatly and readily put his grain bag into Jiang Xing's basket, the meaning of which was self-evident.

Granny Chen also came over with her family. When Zhang saw Granny Chen, a smile immediately appeared on her face. The two old women waved to each other across the crowd. Zhang moved aside to make room for Granny Chen to sit.

The Chen family stood next to Zhang. As soon as the eldest daughter-in-law, Hu, came over, her eyes darted around. She spotted the thick new cotton-padded coats in Jiang Xing's hands, then looked at the old coat in her husband's hands with its worn-out cuffs, and curled her lips down: "Oh, Jiang girl knows how to pick. These cotton-padded coats feel thicker than ours."

Granny Chen turned around and glared at her: "If you keep quiet, no one will think you're mute." Hu Shi was embarrassed by her mother-in-law in front of so many people, so she pouted, rolled her eyes, and became obedient.

Granny Chen walked up to Zhang and patted her hand: "Old sister, I just discussed it with my family. We haven't seen each other for so many years. You are my only family member in the world. It's fate that we can meet again. If our families can get together, we can take care of each other."

Zhang couldn't help but sigh. She had no relatives left in her family, but she always listened to Jiang Xing, so she turned to look at him.

Granny Chen has two sons, the elder son Chen Junsheng and the younger son Chen Shuisheng, both honest farmers. Chen Shuisheng is not yet married.

Chen Junsheng and Hu Shi had two daughters, Chen Sumei and Chen Xiaoxiao. The two daughters had completely different personalities. Chen Sumei stood behind her mother from the moment she arrived, glancing at Jiang Xing several times with a hint of disdain on her lips.

Chen Sumei was a well-known pretty girl in her hometown of Dapojiao. With her looks, she always felt that she would have to marry into a well-off family in town.

Although they suffered a lot while fleeing famine, they did not lose their spirit. The Jiang Xing in front of them was dressed in drab clothes, never smiled, and spoke in a harsh tone. She had no trace of a girl's gentleness.

Unfortunately, everyone along the way praised her for her abilities, even her grandmother joined in. Chen Sumei was unhappy, but she wasn't stupid. Given her current situation, she could eat her fill by following Jiang Xing, so she wouldn't voice her resentment.

Chen Xiaoxiao was unusually quiet. She wasn't as pretty as her older sister, and she didn't like to talk. At home, she would just keep her head down and do whatever she was told. Mrs. Hu didn't really like her youngest daughter.

Jiang Xing's gaze swept across Chen Sumei and Chen Xiaoxiao's faces, barely lingering, but she saw clearly what was hidden in Chen Sumei's eyes.

She'd seen plenty of people like that; eventually, someone would teach them a lesson. She didn't plan to say anything now. Granny Chen was a distant relative from her grandmother's maternal side. Although not a close relative, she wouldn't stop her if her grandmother was happy.

As long as the Chen family behaved themselves, she would reluctantly take them along; if they didn't, she had plenty of ways to make them leave on their own.

"I have no objection," Jiang Xing said, his tone indifferent, his gaze sweeping over the faces of the families. "We'll all eat together, and our campsites will be next to each other so we can look after each other. But let me make this clear: the rations we share won't be enough. From now on, we'll eat together every day. Each family will contribute their own grain, those who cook will cook together, and those who chop wood will chop together. Two people will go to dig for wild vegetables, four will go to chop wood, and three will stay behind to cook. Everyone will take turns, including the elderly and children."

She didn't speak harshly, but every word she uttered was truly meaningful.

Widow Sun was the first to nod: "Of course, I can chop wood and dig vegetables." Aunt Wang followed up: "My husband is very good at chopping wood, and I'll cook." Shen Dehou also nodded: "That's only right, no one should take advantage of anyone else."

Granny Chen glanced back at her eldest daughter-in-law, Hu Shi, who shrank back under her mother-in-law's gaze and muttered, "I didn't say I wouldn't do it."

The other villagers who were still unemployed looked at these families and were somewhat envious.

But as much as I admire them, their family is large, and who can I trust, especially at this time? It's best to just stick to our own food.

Half an hour later, the documents and grain in each village had been distributed. Suddenly, the sound of hooves came from the center of the threshing ground. A troop of cavalry filed in from outside the city gate. They were well-armored and their horses were strong. The leader was wearing a dark blue official robe. He dismounted and walked straight to the high platform.

It was Yi Jiaxu, the magistrate of Chuancheng County.

His voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear and forceful: "Fellow villagers, Nanping County has suffered a great calamity. Magistrate Cheng and his family have unfortunately perished. As the magistrate of a neighboring county, I have been ordered to temporarily take over the aftermath of the disaster in Nanping County."

"Last night's battle wiped out all the bandits outside the city, and the remaining bandits inside the city have also been eliminated. Your safety is no longer threatened."

A low murmur arose in the crowd, and someone whispered, "Thank God."

After the murmurs subsided somewhat, Yi Jiaxu continued, "Your household registrations are under the jurisdiction of the Southwest Prefecture. According to the laws of the court, you must report to the prefecture before you can be settled. I have already communicated with the prefecture. Once you arrive in the prefecture with your new documents, someone will come to guide you, allocate land, and help you settle down."

He paused for a moment, his gaze sweeping across the crowd.

"The granaries in Nanping County have been burned down by the mountain bandits, and there is not much grain left. I have given you all that I can. Although there is not much grain, if you eat it sparingly, it will be enough to last until you reach the prefectural city."

"The official road from Nanping to the Southwest Prefecture is clear, and it will take about ten days to walk. I have ordered two squads of ten men each to escort you safely to your destination."

He turned to the side and raised his hand. Zhao Xingjian walked out from the side, clasped his hands in a fist salute to the crowd, said nothing, and then retreated.

Yi Jiaxu concluded with a more somber tone: "I have witnessed the hardships and separations along the way, but those who have survived to this point are all resilient. Resilient people have hope. The southwestern prefecture is sparsely populated with thousands of acres of fertile land. If you are willing to work hard there, you can make a living."

After saying this, he nodded slightly to the crowd, said nothing more, and turned to mount his horse.

The sound of horses' hooves gradually faded into the distance, and the dark blue official's robe disappeared outside the city gate. Several old farmers squatted on the ground, watching the backs of the cavalry, wiped their eyes with their sleeves, and without crying out loud, they just muttered, "That official was a good official."

Jiang Xing stood on the outer edge of the crowd, watching the dust raised by the cavalry slowly settle. The county magistrate was honest; he had given them food, clothing, and soldiers. For a refugee, this was the best possible outcome.

This is enough.

Just past noon, the group officially set off. Two teams of ten men each from Chuancheng County split into two groups, one in front and one behind. A sentry patrolled back and forth on the official road. The sound of horses' hooves came and went, neither too fast nor too slow. On both sides of the official road were rolling hills and vast fields of wasteland. The view was open, the wind was not strong, and the weather was not cold. With food to eat and soldiers protecting them, they walked with their heads down and quickened their pace. Few stopped to cry and shed tears.