A Jiu’s heart skipped a beat, and she quickly stroked Tie Chui’s head.
"Sister A Jiu said, we can’t enter the city, but we can settle in the countryside," A Jiu said to the two children in her usual gentle tone.
"Mhm, mhm, Sister A Jiu, Tie Chui hasn’t eaten watermelon in a long time."
As soon as she said that, Mrs. Li pulled her over.
"If you have it, eat it. If not, drink some water. This is already very good. Don't forget we almost starved to death before."
A Jiu’s heart ached at the sight. For now, all she could do was stay in Willow County, which was filled with refugees.
However, there were many patrolling soldiers here, and A Jiu was afraid Xiao Yan Yan would be discovered.
There were a total of six villages under Willow County, and A Jiu had inquired about them all along the way.
Moreover, the King of Nanming had opened the granaries years ago, and any resident of Nanming City could receive some staple food annually.
Even if it wasn't enough to be full, they wouldn't starve to death.
Therefore, very few people from the villages under Willow County in Nanming City had fled.
They were all feudal territories of princes, but why was the policy so different?
During the three years of severe drought, King Qi Ming of Menghua City had never opened the granaries, only organizing a few porridge distribution events by local officials as a show.
And they from Apricot Blossom Village couldn't even get a mouthful of food.
A Jiu felt that the King of Nanming truly loved his people like his own children.
As dusk approached, the adults were alright, but the two children were crying from hunger.
Drinking only water for the past two days of travel was useless. A Jiu needed to find a place to stay temporarily.
"Esteemed elder, is the village ahead Heba Village?"
A Jiu climbed out of the carriage and sat on the crossbar beside Zhao Kun. It was dark along the way, and they had only encountered an old man leading an old ox.
The old man sized up A Jiu from head to toe, recognizing her attire as that of the detestable refugees.
Perhaps it was because she was just a young girl, otherwise, the old man would not have paid her any mind.
"Why are you refugees from the north coming to our village?"
The old man stopped, his face devoid of any goodwill.
"I'm sorry, elder. We have nowhere else to go and hoped to find a place to stay in the village. We have two children and an elder in the carriage, and we are truly desperate."
A Jiu absolutely couldn't mention that her parents were arrested on suspicion of kidnapping.
The old man craned his neck to look into the carriage. The two children were clutching their stomachs and crying from hunger. An elder woman sat there with her eyes half-closed, unsure if she was dead from hunger.
"Your female companions and children can stay at my place, but these two cannot enter the village."
This old man was also a kind-hearted person. But A Jiu didn't understand why Xiao Yan Yan and Zhao Kun couldn't enter the village together.
"Why?" Tuoba Yan was anxious upon hearing this. He felt empty if he was even half a step away from A Jiu.
"Elder, they are both my brothers, and we are all one family. How about… how about this?"
A Jiu took out the water pouch she had filled earlier.
"I have water. Please, elder, do us a favor."
The old man's eyes lit up. Although they received some staple food every year, water was still a rare commodity, as precious as gold.
"This… is all for this old man?" The old man was astonished, almost disbelieving.
"It's all for you, elder." A Jiu smiled innocently, her large eyes full of purity.
"Then… I'll accept it." The old man quickly took out his bamboo tube, poured the water into it, and returned the empty water pouch to A Jiu.
"Let's go. My house is quite spacious, and I live alone."
The old man led the way, his ox walking slowly. The carriage followed at a leisurely pace.
A Jiu wanted to learn more about the situation from the old man, so she got down and walked alongside him.
"Elder, Jiu'er has something she'd like to ask you. Why didn't you let my two brothers enter the village at first?"
A Jiu started the conversation this way.
"Hmph." The old man snorted and spat to the side when this was mentioned.
"It’s because you northern refugees suddenly arrived in our county. Lately, our village has been plagued by thieves. They come during the day pretending to beg for food, but they are actually casing the place, and then they come to steal at night."
"Ah?" A Jiu was unaware that such a situation had occurred.