Chapter 117: What About Shen Jin?

With everyone busy transporting grain, the tofu and sauce-dried goods businesses were inevitably halted, including the vegetarian tripe. Considering the influx of refugees outside the county, Sang Luo had decided to pause operations.

Today, due to the early gathering, the tofu Sang Luo usually supplied to a few taverns wasn’t even prepared; only the sauce-dried goods and vegetarian tripe were available.

Originally, Chen Lao Han, Chen You Tian, Lu Lao Han, and Shi Da Lang would have gone together to make deliveries. Now, with everyone in the mountains, it falls to Sang Luo and Shen Lie to make the trip to town. They had to keep up the pretense, sell some fur goods, and stock up on medicinal herbs. Now, they would also take the sauce-dried goods to the taverns, refund the deposits for tofu, and inform them of the discontinuation of future supplies. Shen Lie also wanted to personally assess the situation outside the city gates.

"With everything agreed upon and dawn approaching, it wasn’t wise to draw the villagers’ attention, so everyone quickly said their goodbyes and dispersed through various small paths."

Back in the house, Shen An hesitantly asked, "Big brother, sister-in-law, what happened to Tiger’s mom?"

The siblings, who had fallen asleep confusedly, were half-awake and only caught bits and pieces of the conversation outside. They noticed everyone’s grim expressions and saw Shuanzhu and Tiezhu looking dejected in the corner of the courtyard, as if their mother had done something wrong.

Sang Luo patted his head, "She accidentally let slip about our families’ grain storage, so now we need to hide our grain as soon as possible. Remember, An, Anning, don’t mention a word about our families’ matters outside, or it could bring huge trouble, even endangering our lives."

The siblings nodded, understanding yet not fully grasping the gravity of the situation. They were aware of some family matters as their sister-in-law never kept them in the dark, even though they couldn’t yet connect how leaking information could lead to life-threatening consequences.

After a simple breakfast of soy milk and egg pancakes, Sang Luo locked the door and instructed Shen An and Shen Ning to stay with Chen Dashan’s family, before hastily setting off to the county with Shen Lian.

"It wasn't that they didn't want to bring the younger siblings, but the village was much safer than the outskirts of the county town at this time. Shen Lian and Sang Luo were fully prepared for a quick trip there and back."

"By the time they reached the county gate, it was already broad daylight. About twenty to thirty makeshift straw sheds had been set up outside the gate. Many refugees, seemingly clothed by wealthy county households, sat or stood near the sheds, looking numbly towards the gate, waiting for today's porridge distribution. Some, however, had their gaze fixed on the passersby entering the town."

"With grain sales restricted, villagers who could buy grain still traveled to town every day, but usually in groups of several sturdy men."

"Shen Lian and Sang Luo hadn't even reached the gate when they were locked in by a dozen aggressive, greedy stares."

"The stares were particularly drawn to the burden Shen Lian was carrying. Instead of a normal carrying pole, he used a hoe, which everyone knew could double as a weapon. On one side of the load was a wooden frame covered with an axe, and on the other, a basket overflowing with a large bundle of animal skins, including bear and wolf pelts."

"A hunter?"

"Someone shuddered, 'Did he hunt down an entire pack of wolves?'"

"When they met Shen Lie's piercing and discerning gaze, they instantly recoiled and behaved."

"This young man was not to be trifled with."

"Indeed, who would dare to enter the county with a young woman at this time unless he had real skills?"

"Shen Lie surveyed the area outside the city gate. There were about a hundred refugees, maybe less than two hundred, around Qiyang County."

"Some looked malicious, clearly with ill intentions, but most were numb, waiting for the porridge distribution, hoping for some aid from the officials."

"Shen Lie was familiar with such a scene; Qiyang County's chaos was like an undercurrent beneath calm waters, not yet erupted, but simmering and ready."

"The city gate guards, increased five to six times than usual, included many temporarily drafted men. Shen Lie's hoe and axe attracted several scrutinizing glances, but given the situation outside, a couple coming in with defensive tools was deemed normal, and they were waved through."

"Sang Luo needed to deliver goods and headed to Dongfu Pavilion first. The proprietor, Xu, wasn’t there, but Chef Yu received them. Seeing the pile of animal pelts Shen Lie carried, Chef Yu was amazed: 'Did you hunt a bear?'"

"His first reaction: 'Where's the bear paw?'"

"Since they used poison, the meat wasn’t edible, but that was a detail Shen Lie preferred not to elaborate on. He simply shook his head: 'Couldn’t keep it.'"

"Chef Yu assumed Shen Lie had shared the hunt with others and missed out on his share, feeling it was a pity."

"Many in the kitchen gathered around, curious about the hunt. Shen Lie didn’t elaborate much, keeping his answers vague."

"After delivering their goods and settling the payment, they informed the shopkeeper about not delivering goods to the county anymore."

"Chef Yu and the accountant sighed, 'It's better not to deliver these days. It’s unsafe outside the town, and even we who live in the town are frightened. We wonder how the county magistrate plans to handle this situation. It’s not right to just leave it be at the town gate.'"

"They just grumbled a bit, for these minor citizens had no say in government matters."

"Busy with their tasks, Shen Lian and Sang Luo briefly spoke and then left for the other taverns. After all the deliveries, Sang Luo asked Shen Lian, 'Where should we sell these animal skins?'"

"Shen Lian didn't have much experience with this either. Before joining the army, he and Chen Dashan mainly hunted small game. The biggest catch was a wild boar, most of which they gave to Dongfu Tavern, with the boar meat sold to the butcher. He had never really sold skins before."

"'How about trying a clothing store?'"

"They headed to the largest clothing store in the county, which indeed bought skins. The shopkeeper examined the skins and said, 'The quality is good, but the processing is terrible. If I take them, I'll have to reprocess them. Besides, with the chaos up north, who knows what will happen next. We're reluctant to spend money on goods now. If you really want to sell, wolf skin for one and a half taels per piece, bear skin for five taels. Take it or leave it. You might try other shops, but I doubt anyone else would dare to buy.'"

"One and a half taels."

"According to Chen Popo, if their family hunted a wolf before, a good quality skin could fetch seven or eight taels of silver. This price is like being rubbed in the mud."

"However, Shen Lian was aware that he and Chen Dashan were not skilled at processing skins. They were in a hurry then, resulting in a crude method. It's true that the skins were spoiled, and even without the current situation, they would have been forced to accept a price around four taels."

"Now, with the news of the war spreading, everyone's anxious. Apart from the very wealthy, who would hold onto grain and silver to buy such things?"

"The merchant’s willingness to buy was only because they'd heard rumors of rebellion and hadn't seen the real situation in the north. The Daiqian Dynasty has impressed its military strength in the hearts of the people over decades. They're betting the government will quell the rebellion, hence their willingness to buy at such low prices, no loss if they can’t sell, but a huge profit margin if they do."

"But Shen Lian knew all too well what was actually happening outside. Forget one and a half taels, even one tael he had to sell today."

"Holding onto the skins was pointless; it was money that the Chen family desperately needed for buying salt and medicine. This was Chen Dashan's entrustment before he left."

"Preoccupied with the village's welfare, Shen Lian had no intention to haggle and nodded, 'Okay, sell them all.'"

"This surprised the shopkeeper, who then regretted not pressing the price down further. However, he knew it was too late for that. Nevertheless, one and a half taels was still acceptable. With some processing, the skins could be sold for much more, and they wouldn’t spoil anytime soon."

"Thinking this over, he felt more at ease and paid Shen Lian."

"The two large bundles of skins only exchanged for seventeen taels of silver. In better times, or in the north, each skin would have fetched more than this price."

"Shen Lian and Sang Luo didn't say anything. After receiving the money, they hurriedly went to the medical clinic."

"Given the amount of medicine Sang Luo had bought previously and her private word to the senior doctor, it had been a fortnight, yet the clinic's shopkeeper and the senior doctor recognized them immediately."

"Hearing that they wanted to buy another batch of the same prescriptions, including the ingredients for making arrow poison, both the shopkeeper and the doctor sighed."

"‘Come with me,’ said the doctor."

"The senior doctor then turned to start writing prescriptions."

Sang Luo and Shen Lian followed behind the senior doctor, who picked up his brush and asked, "How many copies of the prescription do you need today?"

"Just one."

The doctor nodded, began drafting the prescription, and meticulously wrote down the neat characters and applicable symptoms.

Once he had written several prescriptions and was waiting for the ink on the last one to dry, he glanced at Sang Luo and Shen Lian, "You're stocking up on so much medicine, not for a long journey, but for retreating deep into the mountains to avoid disaster, right?"

Inside the clinic, besides the shopkeeper and the apprentice pharmacist, there was no one else. The doctor spoke in a low voice, but Shen Lian and Sang Luo still showed a momentary alertness before quickly relaxing, "You're joking."

The doctor waved his hand, "I'm not prying. I just want to tell you, if you're living in the mountains and use this medicine for hunting, the game is edible. Just cut off the poisoned portion, and the rest is safe to eat once cooked."

"Initially hesitant to share his advice, the old doctor didn't want them to misuse the medicine for profit, fearing for their lives: 'If survival's at stake, who would care for the harm to flora and fauna?'"

"Shen Lie and Sang Luo, momentarily stunned, then joyous, began to express gratitude, but the doctor interrupted: 'No need for thanks. If you want to repay me, avoid hunting with this method once peace returns. That way, I accrue less negative karma in my old age.'"

"The doctor clearly believed in karma and reincarnation."

"Shen Lie, deeply respectful, bowed: 'Thank you for the guidance, sir. I'll bear it in mind.'"

"Once the medicines were prepared, Shen Lie packed them away and, with another bow to the doctor, he and Sang Luo left the clinic."

"Watching them depart, the clinic owner and the doctor exchanged looks, the latter musing: 'We should also prepare for the worst.'"

"Even the young pharmacy assistant was perturbed: 'Could chaos really ensue? Da Qian has always been strong, despite recent military defeats.'"

……

"After purchasing two large bags of salt and considering their stock of flour and glutinous rice at home, Sang Luo and Shen Lie headed back."

"Near the city gate, Shen Lie paused, asking a few villagers about leaving together. Joining a group from Sanli Village, the sight of several robust men discouraged any ill intentions from the outsiders."

"Taking the main road back, they visited each household to complete their act, with villagers enviously inquiring about the long-term work they supposedly found in the county."

"After a few responses from Sang Luo, they entered Chen's house."

"They handed over the salt, medicines, and remaining silver to Chen's mother. With Shen Lie's return, the children's training resumed, and news spread to the other families. Stealthily joining the youngsters was Shen Jin."

"Sang Luo stayed at Chen's house, troubled upon noticing Shen Jin sneaking off to join the group. Watching his giddy delight upon reuniting with the others, she felt concerned."

"She subtly gestured towards Shen's house, whispering to Chen's mother: 'Granny, did they buy any grain recently?'"

"Chen's mother, also noting Shen Jin, sighed in response to Sang Luo's question, shaking her head: 'Those poor kids are stuck with such careless parents.'"

"She then quietly shared with Sang Luo about Li's recent visit and how, since her departure, Shen San seemed utterly unconcerned, lazing around the house and neglecting his duties."

"Sweet Ya, the little one, relied solely on her brothers throughout the winter."

"In the chaos, the state of Shen's third branch is uncertain, yet Chen's mother, well-aware of the affairs of the other two branches, remained tight-lipped."

……

"In the evening, while Shen An and Shen Ning practiced reading with the younger ones in the courtyard, and Shen Jin joined in, Sang Luo, preparing dinner in the kitchen, quietly asked Shen Lie, 'I discreetly inquired with Granny Chen this morning; your uncle and aunt haven't bought any grain. What will become of Shen Jin and the others?'"

"The couple's dispute stemmed from missing the opportunity to buy beans before the price hike. Even after their fight, Li was reluctant to make the purchase, considering even the cost of beans too high. They relied on their existing food stores, optimistically continuing their service."

"Shen Jin's daily presence was a relief for Shen Lie. Teaching him slingshot skills and how to trap birds during the day, he couldn't overlook his younger cousins, whom he'd helped raise, feeling torn inside."

"Yet, taking Shen's third branch along was out of the question for him."

"He could care for his cousins, but harbored deep grudges against their parents. Could children truly separate from their parents?"

"Even if he agreed, would Shen Jin and his siblings consent?"

"In this world, unless parents are exceptionally cruel, children, no matter how close they are to you, will yearn for their parents when it matters most. This is universally true for all children."

"Thus, Shen Lie couldn't even broach the subject. Teaching hunting is one thing, but discussing escape? That would be too much for Shen Jin to bear. Could such a plan be concealed from their parents?"

"Forget his unwillingness to involve Shen's third branch and Li; the mere thought of the consequences if this plan leaks, especially considering their nature, is daunting."

"The five families are bound together. He cannot risk exposing his own and the others to danger, or he would be no different than Wang Chunniang."

"Witnessing Shen Jin's blissful ignorance in the courtyard, both fell into a pensive silence."

……

"On the twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month, the Little New Year, none of the five families made much preparation, as most were in the mountains. On this day, two women from Shili Village visited, well-known to the villagers as the mother-in-law and wife of Lu's in-laws, arriving with a basket to visit their relatives."

Author's Note:

"I wrestled with this chapter for three days, revising it multiple times in the document. The original version was more detailed, tying into several future plot lines without risk, but today, I pondered whether such perfection could exist in a real-world setting. After three days of indecision, I revised it by the afternoon, enhancing the realism of the character development and plot. I apologize for any inconvenience to readers who have already gone through it. My hesitation in editing stemmed from not wanting to disrupt your reading experience. I finished revising this chapter at six, meaning today's intended update will be delayed."

"Additionally, regarding the use of poison on arrows, I'm not a medical expert. This information was sourced online and should not be taken seriously or imitated. Also, remember this is set in ancient times when hunting was permissible; today, we advocate for wildlife protection."