Jiang Tou'er shaded his eyes, glancing at the faint eastern sun and the lingering grimaces on the faces of the Meng clan members. Impatiently, he called out, "Alright, everyone, come back. It's time to set off."
Although the Meng clan members were reluctant to leave the taste of the dog meat behind, they saw the bare trees they had stripped and dejectedly shuffled back onto the official road.
Qi He, along with Yu'er and the Meng siblings, pouted as they returned. They hadn't managed to snatch as much as those ravenous Meng clan members. Qi Ren had even been knocked over by one of them, but the little fellow was tough and didn't cry.
Seeing that the children were unharmed, Meng Qingping smiled at them, then turned and led them onward.
The mountain path grew narrower as they proceeded, barely wide enough for a single cart. Meng Qingping held Yu'er's hand tightly and repeatedly warned the other children to be extremely careful and watch their footing.
The children responded obediently. Even the usually boisterous Qi He followed Grandpa Meng closely without looking around.
Indeed, with the sustenance of dog meat, the Meng clan members were noticeably faster than before, not needing the guards to crack their whips.
However, their eyes darted about like acrobats, not looking in one direction but simultaneously scanning the sides of the mountain path. As soon as they spotted edible wild vegetables or fruits, they would invariably rush to pick them and quickly stuff them into their mouths.
The guards escorting them didn't pay much mind to their ravenous consumption, turning a blind eye as long as there were no signs of escape.
Yesterday, Jiang Tou'er had quietly reminded them that even though these prisoners had committed grave offenses, they had already been punished by the Emperor and accepted their fate. They were not to let anyone starve to death under their watch, for each life was precious, and they all had families and descendants. They should try not to commit further wickedness.
The guards found Jiang Tou'er's words reasonable and had been slightly more lenient with the Meng clan members today.
Fu Xin Ci, unaware of the change in the guards' demeanor, continuously surveyed the surrounding terrain, looking for any opportunity to obtain food for her grandfather and Yu'er.
However, as they ventured deeper into the mountains, she realized that the mountains weren't high, but the forest was dense, blocking out the sunlight.
The Meng clan members secretly rejoiced. The mountains were good; it felt like the sun was always hiding behind the clouds.
Jiang Tou'er, experienced and knowledgeable, also had an understanding of the weather.
At that moment, he habitually looked up at the sky, his sparse eyebrows furrowing.
"What's wrong, boss?" The dark-faced burly man, despite his rough appearance, was more observant than others. Seeing Jiang Tou'er's troubled expression, he asked.
"Zhu Zi, look at the sky. I have a feeling it's going to rain."
"Rain would be good! We've been out for over a month, and haven't seen a single drop," Wang Zhu Zi said. He knew the north suffered from drought every year, but he hadn't expected this year's drought to reach new heights. It was said that it hadn't rained since spring, and the ground was parched. Hearing Jiang Tou'er predict rain, he was naturally pleased.
Others nearby also showed signs of joy, hoping for a timely shower.
"Good for what? Look where we are. If it really rains, and we're stuck in these mountains, we'll be wolf fodder by nightfall."
Upon hearing Jiang Tou'er mention being fed to wolves, several people nearby shivered. The journey of exile was miserable, but being devoured by wolves was infinitely worse – a death without a complete body.
The thought of becoming a meal for hungry wolves overwhelmed some timid women, and they couldn't suppress their fear, weeping in despair.
The men of the Meng clan had little patience. They would have erupted long ago if not for the guards' whips. Seeing a woman cry, they could no longer hold back, and her husband immediately began to curse.
"You ill-omened wretch, all you do is cry. You're sucking the life out of me with your whimpering!"
The man's outburst seemed to jolt the woman back to reality. She wiped her red-rimmed eyes, stopping her tears. A hint of hatred gradually surfaced on her dazed, numb face, and mocking words poured out: "How ridiculous. A piece of mud that can't be plastered on a wall, yet you still think you're a Duke's esteemed lord, living a life of debauchery every day?"
"You!" Hearing the woman's words, the man clenched his fists. If Jiang Tou'er hadn't been watching, his fist would have already landed on her.
However, the woman didn't press the verbal argument. As if making a decision, she nudged a frightened boy of about seven or eight years old beside her and whispered, "Luo'er, go find your second great-uncle ahead."
"Mother," the young boy called Luo'er said, looking at his mother with surprise.
"Good Luo'er, obey your mother. If you go to your second great-uncle, you'll have a chance to live. We'll be able to reach Liaodong alive."
"Mother, Luo'er doesn't want to leave you," the young boy clutched his mother's sleeve, unwilling to let go.
"Good boy. Luo'er isn't leaving Mother. Mother can see Luo'er, and Luo'er can see Mother later."
"Mother," the young boy still refused to leave.
"Good Luo'er, hurry up and go. Be sure to listen to your second great-uncle." The woman, fearing the guards would prevent the child from going, urged him with increased urgency.
The young boy named Luo'er, pushed by his mother's urgency, began to think. He was not young and had been studying in the clan school before the Duke's mansion fell.
"Mother, when Luo'er thinks of his unreliable father, he worries about your situation."
"Luo'er, listen to your mother and quickly go to your second great-uncle." The woman, afraid her son would be stubborn, kept giving him meaningful glances.
The boy finally understood his mother's deep intentions and, with a backward glance at his mother at every step, walked forward.
A young woman beside them was also inspired by this woman. She crouched down, smoothed her daughter's bangs, and whispered, "Ke'er, quickly go with your cousin Luo'er to find your second great-uncle."
"Mother," the little girl said timidly. She looked about five or six years old, her originally plump body now thin and gaunt from frequent hunger during the exile.
"Ke'er, hurry and catch up to your cousin Luo'er..." The young woman, afraid her daughter would be too late to catch up to their second great-uncle, couldn't hide the anxiety on her face, but tried to say things her daughter could understand.
"Mother," the little girl was very sharp. She tried to decipher her mother's words. The hardships of the exile had made her understand human suffering at such a young age. Although she didn't want to be separated from her mother now, she understood what her mother was saying. Only by following her second great-uncle could she survive, and if she survived, her mother would survive.