Chapter 113: The Onset of Chaos

It's really easy to develop a habit.

Shen Lie was back for only ten days, and his sudden departure left Sang Luo feeling unexpectedly unsettled, not to mention Shen An and Shen Ning.

What Sang Luo found most unbelievable and uncomfortable was the lack of a sense of security she felt when night fell just after Shen Lie left.

This thought puzzled Sang Luo; she had been so cautious and guarded when Shen Lie first returned, and in just ten days, the very person she had been wary of had become a source of her sense of safety.

Sang Luo understood that the rising prices of even basic grains in the county were to blame. Today, the Gan family returned from the county with news that small eateries, hearing about the tofu and dried beancurd price hike and need for grain trade, hesitated and then outright refused to stock them.

Today, someone from the village brought back news of the rising grain prices from the county, and those who were late to hear panicked upon learning of the skyrocketing prices of various beans.

The most tumultuous was Shen's third branch. Mrs. Li, who had toiled away outside for a month, was sent back home only to find her husband refusing to swap roles with her, claiming an injury and unable to serve. She wanted to pick a fight with the eldest branch of the Shen family but feared Shen Lie's intervention and the other families who were now close to the Shen's main branch. So, she refrained.

Still fuming, she heard about the grain crisis. Knowing that Shen San had the opportunity to buy grains but didn't, she locked the doors and had a fierce fight with him, scratching his face and both ending up injured, creating quite a commotion.

Emotions can be contagious; other families who failed to buy grains were initially just upset but soon also engaged in arguments and disputes.

In such situations, those like Sang Luo who had stored plenty of grains at home, although secretly from the villagers, couldn’t help feeling anxious in their isolated households.

"Well, all we can rely on are the three vigilant geese to watch over the house."

Just as she thought this, figures approached in the dark. Feeling a bit nervous, she realized as they drew closer it was Qin Fangniang and Gan Shi, carrying a quilt.

It turned out they were concerned about Shen Lie going into the mountains and leaving Sang Luo alone with the two children in a secluded home. They decided to come and stay overnight for safety.

Qin Fangniang joked, "I'm not sure if you’re accustomed to staying with us. I brought a quilt thinking if you're uncomfortable, you could sleep with Shen An and Shen Ning on the larger bed your uncle made, and I'll share a bed with Mrs. Shi."

Relieved, Sang Luo quickly reached out to Qin Fangniang, "Of course I’m comfortable with it. It's perfect timing for your visit. Honestly, after seeing the commotion in the village this afternoon, I've been quite anxious."

Pointing to the three imposing geese outside, she laughed, "I was just relying on them tonight. I was about to open the door and light the lamp to see if we should discuss the situation."

Joking about negotiating with the geese at home, Qin Fangniang and Gan Shi laughed together. Gan Shi added, "If there was more room, Liuniang would have come too, even Mrs. Zhou from the village chief's house asked about you."

Gan Shi referred to the village chief’s wife as Mrs. Zhou.

Sang Luo smiled broadly, "Thank you all for caring so much about me."

Qin Fangniang, well aware of why the old lady of her house was so concerned about Sang Luo, had discussed with the Lus and the Shis about finding someone to stay overnight for safety right after dinner.

Thinking this, Gan Shi directly said to Qin Fangniang with a smile, "No wonder your grandmother dotes on her, she’s just so lovable, isn’t she?"

Sang Luo led the two women towards the house, surprised: "Grandma Chen is worried about me?"

Qin Fangniang laughed, and Gan Shi added, "Indeed, she's worried. Right after dinner, she visited our houses to propose the idea of staying overnight for safety. Your Aunt You Tian and I waited until it was fully dark before coming over with our quilts to avoid drawing attention from the villagers."

Continuing with a smile, "I think Mrs. Chen truly treasures you like a granddaughter."

Sang Luo laughed heartily, "Only half a granddaughter? I'll have to work harder to win Grandma Chen's full affection and be considered a real granddaughter."

Qin Fangniang playfully pointed at her, teasing, "Then I'm at an advantage, gaining another daughter."

Sang Luo, playing along, exaggeratedly tilted her head back in response to Qin Fangniang's gesture.

As they reached the main house, Shen An and Shen Ning, who were practicing writing on a sand tray, heard the noise and came out to greet them, affectionately calling them 'Auntie'.

The siblings were aware that the two aunts were staying over that night and were quite happy about it.

Children are sensitive to emotions and malice. In the afternoon, several families in the village who hadn't managed to stock up on grains cast envious glances towards those who had. Although it wasn't outright hostility, it made Shen An and Shen Ning feel slightly uneasy.

Sang Luo moved her bedding and pillows to Shen An's bed, saying with a smile, "I apologize for the modest accommodations and narrow space, please make do for a few days."

Qin Fangniang and Gan Shi didn't mind at all. The bed might be rudimentary, crafted from several stools, but it was comfortably set with thick straw, a mat on top, and a clean, soft, thick quilt.

"This bed is quite comfortable to sleep on, it doesn't feel like making do at all."

Qin Fangniang set down the quilt and surveyed the room's arrangement. Upon seeing the curtain rolled up between the two beds, she exclaimed, "This is quite handy indeed, easy to put up and take down."

She and Gan's wife were uncertain about whether Sangluo and Shen Lian had consummated their marriage, given that four people were living in one room. Not wanting to overstep, she mused with a smile, "When times are peaceful again, we should consider leveling the ground next door to build two more rooms to accommodate everyone."

The children didn’t understand this remark, but Sangluo, grasping the implications, replied with a slight embarrassment, "Yes, who knows when the turmoil will end or when peace will return."

Her response seemed somber. Gan’s wife’s gaze shifted and landed on an oil lamp and two sand trays on the table, swiftly changing the subject, "Are Shen An and Shen Ning practicing their writing?"

Upon closer inspection of the sand tray used by Shen An, Gan’s wife couldn’t recognize any of the seven or eight characters, but that didn’t stop her from admiring his work.

"Shen An is really diligent. His handwriting is much better than your Daniu and Erniu brothers'," she complimented.

In her household, a single sand tray could barely accommodate two or three clumsy characters.

After some idle chat, Sangluo proceeded to prepare dried bean curd. Qin Fangniang and Gan’s wife, observing propriety, refrained from offering help. Instead, they picked up the unfinished shoes from Sangluo's needlework basket and began stitching by the light of the oil lamp used by Shen An and Shen Ning.

The night passed quietly. Early the next morning, Sangluo was already up preparing tofu, with both children lending a hand. Qin Fangniang and Gan’s wife, noticing this, couldn’t help but think how hard Sangluo worked to earn money, which had improved the lives of all three families, deepening their gratitude towards her.

Thankfully, they were now only supplying a few taverns, simplifying the process. The deliveries were handled by Chen You Tian and Lu Er Lang, sparing the women the need to transport goods to the city by cart or shoulder pole.

Qin Fangniang and the others gathered at Sang Luo's mountainside courtyard during the day to practice slingshot shooting with her.

Days swiftly passed, and the village remained relatively peaceful. However, the county was abuzz with rumors of war elsewhere. Wealthy folks in taverns and tea houses discussed the news, while the less affluent fretted in the streets. Each household had its sources of information, ranging from well-informed to hearsay.

Chen Youtian and Lu Er, who frequently visited the county, heard a variety of rumors: new kings proclaimed in different places, and reports of unrest in Henan Road.

On the thirteenth day after Shen Lian and Chen Dashan left, refugees appeared in the area around Qi Yang County.

Unlike the few who previously avoided contact, this time groups of dozens were seen in a single day, all gathered outside the city gates of the county, begging passersby for food, water, and clothing.

Refugees were strictly prohibited from entering the city, but with their encirclement, the county government finally reacted by strengthening gate security, setting up temporary shelters for the refugees, and cooking large pots of extremely thin porridge to distribute.

According to Chen Youtian and Lu Erlang, the porridge was so watered down it barely contained any rice grains, more like a rice soup than porridge.

However, within the city, some wealthy families set up porridge sheds to provide disaster relief, distribute medicines, and donate clothing. Although their porridge was also very thin, it was better than the government's, and the old clothes were warm, better than many rural folk's attire.

Sang Luo and the others completely ceased their business operations and stopped their morning runs to the neighboring village, focusing instead on training the children in nearby mountains, while Zhou Cunzheng began arranging for young men in the village to be alert to strangers approaching Shi Li Village.

Another piece of news brought back by Chen Youtian was that the owner of Dong Fu Lou had returned to Shexian to settle his family.

In such a situation, one indeed cannot be at ease without the family's mainstay returning to set things in order.

As Zhou, Chen, Shi, and Lu families privately agreed to guard against potential refugee attacks by having one man from each household pair up and stay overnight in the kitchen of Shen's main house, Shen Lian and Chen Dashan, who had been away for nearly half a month, returned home just as night fully fell.

Encountering Shi Erlang and Zhou Dala, who were carrying straw mats, quilts, and pillows to sleep over, alongside the nearly wild-looking Shen Lian and Chen Dashan, carrying their own bulky burdens, was a striking sight in the dark at the mountain's base.

Upon meeting, Shen Lian called out, "Uncle Shi Er?"

Shi Erlang and Zhou Dala recognized the voices and excitedly confirmed, "Shen Lian and Dashan?"

"So you've returned!"

"What's all this?"

Voices sounded simultaneously: Shi Erlang and Zhou Dala in excitement, while Chen Dashan and Shen Lian expressed confusion.

Shen Lian tensed up, quickly realizing something amiss: "Is there trouble here?"

Shi Erlang nodded, "There are refugees, and not just a few. Seems the plague up north has passed, and they're not being held back. We figured your isolated house might be unsafe, so we planned to come and keep watch. Did you find a suitable place?"

His query sounded urgent after the explanation.

Shen Lian and Chen Dashan nodded, eyes bright with hope. Shen Lian said, "We did, Uncle Shi. Let's go back first to put our things away. Please quietly return to the village and invite some of the elders over for a discussion."

Shi Erlang and Zhou Dala agreed, quickly heading towards the village with Chen Dashan, all carrying their belongings.