Chapter 99: A Request

Shen Lian took a quick bath and dried his hair in the kitchen. By then, the sky had darkened, with only the blanket of snow brightening the early night.

It was cold, so Shen An and Shen Ning stayed home to help their sister-in-law, Sang Luo, with twisting the fine hemp rope, instead of accompanying them outside. Thus, only Sang Luo and Shen Lian went out.

At this point, Shen Lian and Sang Luo were barely more than strangers, with the slight improvement being Shen Lian’s normal state now, his ears no longer burning red.

Neither of them spoke. They quietly walked, crossing a mountain in silence, until Shen Lian finally broke the stillness by asking her name.

He felt a bit foolish today, especially back home in that awkward situation. Even though not knowing her name was inconvenient, he hadn’t thought to ask Shen An and Shen Ning.

Sang Luo smiled, “My surname is Sang, and my given name is Luo.”

“Sang as in the mulberry tree, and Luo as in the female Luo herb.”

Sang Luo.

Shen Lian silently repeated these two characters in his mind and nodded. When he next spoke to Sang Luo, he inadvertently addressed her as Mrs. Sang.

Sang Luo looked at him curiously, “You can call me Sang Luo or Ah Luo.”

She imagined the surprised looks of the Chen, Lu, Shi families, and Zhou Village Chief if Shen Lian called her Mrs. Sang when they reached the foot of the mountain.

They were nominally husband and wife.

Shen Lian's lips seemed to lift in a brief smile, quickly retracted, then he nodded agreeably, "Alright."

Sang Luo glanced at him, then moved on from the topic, asking about the business at hand, "You invited Zhou Village Chief today to inform the villagers about the situation in the north, so everyone can prepare, right?"

"Yes, being prepared always brings more hope."

Sang Luo nodded. She had done something similar before, but when Zhou Village Chief made the rounds, the effect was minimal. The villagers of Shili Village, she felt, were not very united, with some even seeming to take pleasure in the misfortunes of others.

Initially, when she encouraged people to buy grain, only a few did, while others focused their attention on those like her who were stockpiling it.

However, she felt uneasy not to warn them, so later when buying grain, they had to be more discreet to avoid causing trouble despite their good intentions.

She shared her previous experience and thoughts delicately, and Shen Lian nodded, "I understand. We’ll let Zhou Uncle handle this matter; we just do our moral duty. As for the rest..."

He assured her, "Don't worry, me, and Da Shan will find another place to hide the grain."

Having witnessed extreme hardships like cannibalism on their journey from the north, Shen Lian and his companions didn’t dare to have too much faith in human nature.

If chaos truly erupted, the only ones they could fully trust were the four of them who had served together in the army and survived death to return home. Their loyalty was to their respective families, and beyond that, Shen Lian dared not take too many risks.

He wasn’t a hero; he couldn’t save many, only doing his best to protect those most important to him.

Hearing this, Sang Luo felt much more at ease, even feeling fortunate for her earlier choice. Having someone else shouldering the burden made a real difference. Someone was thinking more, and further, than her. She felt a weight lift off her shoulders, and the formless anxiety lessened significantly.

She smiled, "Alright."

……

Upon arriving at the Chen family’s home, key members from several families were already gathered.

'Key' members generally meant those who held sway in the household, like Lu Lao Han and Lu Popo, Lu Da Lang and Lu Er Lang, including Feng Liu Niang who was now often out and about.

It wasn't that Feng Liu Niang now had such influence in the Lu family to warrant her involvement in these matters, but rather, with her husband thought dead now returned, neither wanted to be apart from the other, inseparable wherever they went.

The situation was similar in the Shi family; besides Shi Da Lang and Shi Er Lang, Gan Shi was also present.

Zhou Village Chief was a simpler case; he came alone.

The people from the Chen, Shi, and Lu families shared a common feature: their eyes were red and swollen from crying. Tears hadn't stopped flowing, but their faces couldn't hide the underlying joy.

Sang Luo felt slightly out of place with her clear, unswollen eyes, seemingly too bright for the gathering.

But blending in wasn't an issue; she was now virtually the cherished darling of these families. Upon entering the Chen’s main hall, people rushed to pull up chairs for her, took her hands in conversation, and she was soon encircled by the Chen elders.

Shen Lian observed this scene with a trace of surprise. He knew the Chens, Shis, and Lus had good relations, but was surprised that Sang Luo, an outsider, had integrated so well with the villagers in just half a year.

Chen Popo noticed Shen Lian’s expression and laughed, "Ah Lian might not know this, but our livelihoods these days are all thanks to your wife. This winter, our three families can eat well and stay warm, all because of her."

Shen Lian looked towards Sang Luo, realizing this was news to him.

Lu Popo chuckled, "You're quite fortunate, having such a wife sent by the heavens from afar."

Qin Fang Niang and Gan Shi, the aunties, also teased good-naturedly, while Chen Da Shan nudged Shen Lian with his elbow, giving him a mischievous wink.

Zhou Village Chief and others watched with amusement, lightening the atmosphere with their laughter.

After warming up the mood, everyone took their seats, and Zhou Village Chief brought up the serious matter at hand.

Chen Da Shan had already shared the ordeals of Shen Lian and the others during their time away, allowing Sang Luo to finally connect the dots with Lu Er Lang and Shi Da Lang, noticing Shi Da Lang's empty sleeve.

Gan Shi was grateful and content; losing an arm was trivial compared to the fortune of returning alive.

The men discussed serious matters, mainly the rise of bandits and self-proclaimed kings in the north. Shen Lian reiterated his concern that the south might not remain peaceful for long and urged Zhou Village Chief to inform everyone to stockpile grain and salt.

Zhou Village Chief recalled the lukewarm response when he previously advised villagers to hoard grain when the price was at eighty wen and sighed softly.

He turned to Sang Luo, "Mrs. Shen, do you know the current grain price in the county?"

Despite many villagers frequently visiting the county, Sang Luo was likely the one most aware of the grain prices.

Though Zhou Village Chief didn’t know if Sang Luo had stockpiled grain, her sensitivity to current affairs and foresight surpassed most villagers.

Sure enough, Sang Luo gave an accurate figure, "Last time I was in the county, it was 350 wen per dou."

At 350 wen, even Zhou Village Chief's hand trembled; since the price rose to 150 wen, villagers stopped considering buying grain.

"350 wen..."

Shen Lian shared the prices he found out in Qi Zhou, leading to a moment of silence in the room.

After a pause, Zhou Village Chief, Chen Lao Han, and Lu Lao Han looked towards Sang Luo, with Zhou Village Chief asking, "Mrs. Shen, do you think it's still worth buying grain at these prices?"

In reality, she couldn't afford much. Even with some savings, in the context of the county, she was just another poor farmer. To buy more grain would mean digging into her last reserves of emergency funds.

The elders of Zhou Village instinctively looked to Sang Luo for her opinion. While it was not unusual for women to offer advice or make decisions in their families – like the matriarchs of the Chen and Lu families, or Gan, the eldest sister-in-law of the Shi family – the recent returnees, including Shi Dage, Lu Erge, Chen Dashan, and Shen Lie, were somewhat perplexed.

It was common for women to listen in on men's discussions and for them to express opinions, as exemplified by the elderly women of the Chen and Lu families and Shi family's matriarch, Gan.

But Shen Lie's wife???

The men exchanged looks of bewilderment. She was, at most, only sixteen years old, right?

Sang Luo herself was also slightly bewildered. She had only planned to be an observer that day, especially in front of Zhou Village's head. She didn't intend to stand out, preferring to remain low-key and invisible.

Yet, to her surprise, the decision about whether to stockpile grain was directed at her first, with the elders all looking to her for guidance.

Sang Luo: “……”

She pondered for a moment, swiftly weighing her options.

In this room, aside from Zhou Village's head, everyone else was completely trustworthy. As for Zhou Village's head... well, he seemed to be a decent person too.

Shen Lie had just mentioned finding another place to store grain, suggesting that they'd also have an alternative place to go in times of crisis. This gave Sang Luo the confidence to inform Zhou Village's head to notify all the families in the village, so she didn't need to be overly concerned.

Sang Luo, no longer hiding her thoughts, said, “If you're asking for my opinion, I think we should buy if possible. Stock up on grain and salt, and it's best to even get some common medicines, having a few prescriptions prepared by a doctor at home.”

The need to stock medicines indicated that it wasn’t just for regular home use because, if one could stay safely at home, they could always visit a herbalist for treatment.

Was she preparing for a scenario where they couldn't stay at home?

Zhou Village's head stood up and paced several times around the hall. He stopped near the entrance of Chen’s hall, gazing out into the night sky.

That direction led into the mountains, into a vast range whose depth was unknown – no one he knew of had ever reached its end, let alone ventured deep into it.

"But even before the establishment of the Daqian Dynasty, the world was in great turmoil. I was very young then, hiding in the mountains with my parents and uncles for a long time."

"The mountains were terrifying, with venomous snakes and fierce beasts. One of my cousins died at the jaws of a beast. As a child, I remember being so scared, crying and wanting to leave the woods. But the words my mother said while wiping my tears are still clear in my mind."

"She told me, 'Don't cry. We can’t leave these woods; the outside world is far more terrifying than the beasts in here.'"

Zhou Village Chief lowered his eyes, reflecting, "How many years of peace did we really have? At the dawn of the Daqian Dynasty, the empire was praised for its greatness. We all thought good times had come, but they didn’t last long."

"I don't know how wise, diligent, or benevolent the Emperor really is. Us common folk dare not speak of it. All we ever wanted was peace."

"But now, even that peace seems to be slipping away."

"Thinking about my wife and children possibly having to endure what my cousins and I did as kids weighs heavily on my heart."

He turned back, his shoulders seemingly more stooped.

"Mrs. Shen Lian is right. Let's use whatever silver we have to buy what we can. If the world really descends into chaos, what good will holding onto a little silver do?"

"It can neither feed us nor quench our thirst."

"Chen Lao Han and the others nodded in agreement, all of them having experienced the hardships of war in their years."

"But how much grain can we buy daily from the county’s grain shops now?"

This question came from Chen Lao Han.

"Each person is only allowed to buy two sheng at a time," answered Luo Sang.

"Two sheng is hardly enough for a day’s meal in a large family. If there’s no reserve grain, getting enough to eat means several family members have to queue up to buy grain."

"That got everyone worried. Although they could send several people to line up, it would mean getting multiple passes, and the daily entrance fees to the city aren’t small."

Luo Sang, observing everyone’s expressions, said, "I’ll go to the county in a few days and see if there’s a way to buy more. Initially, when the grain prices weren’t so high, it was possible, but now I doubt it. The grain merchants are probably reluctant to sell too much."

"Qin Fang Niang and the others knew how Luo Sang first bought a large quantity of grain – a whole nine shi, transported back in two carts. At that time, the county's grain shops had already started rationing sales at five dou per person, closing by mid-morning."

"Although Qin Fang Niang also delivered tofu to the Dong Fu Lou, she only dealt with the kitchen staff and the accountants for payments, while Luo Sang had some influence with the manager Xu."

"Hearing Luo Sang offer to inquire, everyone's eyes brightened with hope."

"Zhou Village Chief, unaware of these details, knew of Luo Sang’s dealings with Dong Fu Lou. Hearing her proposal, he too felt a surge of excitement."

Luo Sang turned to him and said, “Uncle Zhou, I can’t guarantee that I’ll be able to manage this. I’m telling you upfront because I trust you. I need to inquire first to know if it’s feasible, but I must say something in advance.”

Zhou Village Chief, sensing what Luo Sang was about to say, nodded, “Go ahead.”

Luo Sang explained, “If it works out, I can help buy for your family, but only for your family. I can’t assist other villagers or your extended family, and I hope you won’t mention this outside. I don’t want to create any risks for myself.”

The Zhou family, being indigenous to the area, differed from refugee families like the Chen and Shen families. The Zhou family was well-established locally since the previous dynasty, spreading out to nearby villages only when lands were allocated at the founding of this dynasty.

Although the Shi and Lu families were also locals, they couldn’t compare with the Zhou family.

Luo Sang, having heard from the children about Shen Lian learning mathematics from Zhou Village Chief, had a favorable impression of the Zhou family, which is why she didn’t exclude him from today’s discussion on grain purchase.

But while willing to help Zhou Village Chief, she didn’t want to expose herself to unknown risks, such as those associated with Zhou Li Zheng’s family.

Last time they bought grain, Zhou Li Zheng’s sons accompanied Zhou Village Chief and his son to the county. Although Luo Sang had limited interactions with Zhou Li Zheng, based on a couple of official matters and previous tax and labor levy dealings, she didn’t have a good impression of him.

Zhou Village Chief quickly assured her upon hearing her words, “Rest assured, Miss Sang. I’m grateful for your help and won't behave dishonorably. Whether this works or not, I won’t utter a word about it even at home.”

Luo Sang believed him. The Zhou family was known for their discretion; during the months she sold tofu, they never leaked a word outside. The entire family’s ability to keep secrets, significantly influenced by Zhou Village Chief as the head of the household, was commendable.

She nodded and smiled slightly, “Thank you, Uncle Zhou. Whether it works out or not, it's uncertain. I appreciate your integrity. I’m just cautious about the potential unrest ahead.”

Zhou Village Chief nodded repeatedly, “It’s only right. I'm grateful that you included my family in this. Thank you.”

He wouldn't be ungrateful.

Having agreed on a plan, Sang Luo needed to leave; it was a cold winter night, and she still had to prepare vegetarian mock tripe and fermented tofu at home.

However, just as they stepped out, Zhou Village Chief hurried after them, calling them to stop.

Shen Lian turned, “Uncle Zhou? Is there something else?”

Catching his breath, Zhou Village Chief glanced around. In the snowy night, the area was deserted, the nearest house quite a distance away. Then he whispered, “Once you buy the grain, you’ll likely find a place to hide it, right? And plan for future contingencies?”

Shen Lian's brows furrowed. Zhou Village Chief continued, “I mean no offense. In fact, everyone would do the same, finding a backup plan. What I want to ask is, can our family be part of your contingency plan?”

Shen Lian looked at him silently for a moment before saying, “Uncle Zhou, you have many relatives here. Won’t you stay with them?”

Zhou Village Chief expected this, nodding, “I have relatives, but our branch isn’t very close. Besides, only my family remains in our line. I trust you more than my extended family. I have my reasons; I think following you would be safer.”

Shen Lian found it difficult to respond, as this wasn’t just about his family. Any mishap could endanger all four families involved.

Zhou Village Chief understood Shen Lian's concerns. He approached Shen Lian because he knew from Shi Dalaong and others that despite being the youngest in the military, Shen Lian was the leader due to his agility and cleverness.

On the battlefield, it was Shen Lian’s quick thinking that allowed him, along with Chen Dashan and another comrade, to save the severely injured Shi Dalaong and Lu Erlang, ensuring their survival.

This is why Zhou Village Chief came to Shen Lian first.

He added, “I know what you’re worried about. Since it’s about hiding grain and seeking refuge, we won’t ask where exactly. We’ll entrust half of our grain to you. If the day comes, just take my family with you. My sons are strong and reliable young men; more people means more strength, right?”

Not needing to disclose the exact location greatly reduces the risk. In times of escape, having more able-bodied men indeed adds to safety. Zhou Village Chief’s family is well-off and will likely have a substantial supply of grain, at least not burdening us.

Shen Lian’s concerns diminished significantly. He looked at Sang Luo, who thought for a moment and nodded slightly in agreement.

Seeing her consent, Shen Lian said to Zhou Village Chief, “Alright, I’ll discuss this with Dashan and the others tomorrow. Everyone knows your integrity, Uncle Zhou, so there shouldn’t be any issues.”

Zhou Village Chief relaxed noticeably at these words. Forgetting the age difference, he bowed to Shen Lian, “Thank you very much.”

Entrusting the family’s welfare to Shen Lian felt reassuring.

Shen Lian returned the gesture, “No need for formalities, Uncle Zhou. It’s cold; please head back soon.”

Zhou Village Chief, recalling Shen Lian’s hunting trips to the county, asked, “Are you planning to go hunting again? I mean, should I arrange for a pass?”

That was indeed necessary.

Shen Lian replied, “I was planning to visit Zhou Liren's house tomorrow morning.”

Zhou Village Chief smiled, “I’ll take care of it. It’ll be faster and less hassle. I’ll ask Dashan and the others later whether they need passes. If Sang Luo can’t buy enough grain, having the passes early means more people can go to the county.”

Zhou Liren was known for being bureaucratic, especially in bad weather, likely to delay and drag things out.

Shen Lian would have gone tomorrow, but tonight he had to help with tofu making. If Zhou Village Chief could handle it quicker, it would be better.

Shen Lian smiled, “Thank you, Uncle Zhou, for taking care of this for me. I’ll bring the household registry and money to you later.”

Zhou Village Chief grinned, “It’s no trouble. I was going to inform the clan about your return anyway. This way, I’ll also do a favor for my cousin. He’ll likely get it done faster. But rest assured, I won’t speak of what shouldn’t be mentioned.”

Shen Lian felt assured about Zhou Village Chief's discretion. The chief had to return to Chen's house to discuss the matter of passes with others, and also needed to visit the village families. They agreed that Shen Lian would soon deliver his household registry directly to Chen's house, and then parted ways.