Chapter 38: Food Supplies

Soon they were back at their lodging, and at the doorway Shen Juancheng was pacing back and forth; from a distance he saw her hurrying to greet him.

Shen Qingquan whispered a few words to him, and Shen Juancheng's eyes flashed with surprise, but in the end he nodded.

The two let Ding Zhangshan go inside to wait a moment, then they left.

They only wandered nearby for about half an hour, and Shen Qingquan finally found a slightly more hidden spot—a dilapidated collapsed house with no one inside; she nodded to her father and stepped onto the broken bricks and tiles, squeezing inside.

After a moment she came out, "Father, it's done."

"Then I'll bring people over now," she said, still uneasy, "Are you okay alone?"

"Don't worry."

Shen Juancheng gave a few reminders, then left.

She just sat there waiting.

Suddenly her gaze flicked to a spot at the end of the alley, her eyes flashed, and after a moment she looked away.

Before long Shen Juancheng returned with Ding Zhangshan and the others.

"Come over and lend a hand."

She said something to them, then turned and slipped back into the collapsed hole.

Soon Ding Zhangshan and the others saw her pull out large bags from inside; he rushed forward to take one, feeling its texture, and an unbelievable thought flashed in his mind, his heart pounding wildly.

"W‑What's inside…?"

"Food."

She said it lightly, leaving the few of them stunned.

Ding Zhangshan stammered, "All… all of it?"

She glanced at him, "Help carry it out first."

"Y‑yes…"

So the group, with many hands, moved out a dozen or so bags and baskets.

These bags and baskets were bought by Shen Qingquan from the system, the cheapest antique style, costing only two Gold Coins in total, and there were still many in the warehouse.

The family, while fleeing famine, also scavenged many useful items, many of which were containers, all stored in her warehouse. These past two days, A Di and Si Didi, whenever they had time, would search nearby for useful things and bring them back.

She divided the 400 jin of Wheat in the warehouse into eight bags, each 50 jin.

Additionally, Sweet Potatoes were packed into two large crates, each 40 jin, total 80 jin.

There was also Millet; in this hour she harvested another 50 jin, and with the previous amount it made exactly 100 jin, packed into two bags.

Total food: 580 jin.

It nearly emptied her warehouse, but she kept the cooked food that Mother had prepared in advance, about 30 jin, enough for the family for three to four days.

Moreover, the fields would continue to yield food endlessly.

Ding Zhangshan looked at the pile of bags before him, nervously swallowing.

A corner of the crate showed a bright red Sweet Potato, catching everyone's eye; he heard someone beside him swallow.

"Is… is this Sweet Potato?"

The young man's eyes widened, and the next second his head was knocked; Ding Zhangshan glared at him, "Shut up! Trying to lure the others over?"

The others also carefully looked around, fearing being seen.

"Behave, these are food!"

"Miss, are these all for us?"

Shen Qingquan nodded, "Yes, bring them back first."

"Alright… you all come help! Be careful!"

They hurried forward, shouldering and lifting; with so much food, finally with Shen Qingquan and her father, eleven people in total, barely managed to carry it back.

Their faces turned red, but each wore joy.

Ding Zhangshan never imagined there would be so much food. Each person carried at least fifty or sixty jin; the place was still some distance from Denggu Alley, at least half an hour on foot.

"This won't do, Erhu, go call a few more people over, and also push our cart here, remember, don't tell the others yet, be careful."

"Alright, Uncle, I'm going right now!"

The youth called Erhu cheerfully replied and sprinted out, incredibly fast.

Soon he gathered four or five people and also pushed a cart.

So the group placed most of the food onto the cart, covered it with a thick cloth, and a few pushed it slowly along the Ice Road.

On the way they met many people; some eyed their bags with greedy looks.

Unfortunately, all Ding Zhangshan brought were strong young men, clearly not to be messed with, so the restless onlookers could only watch.

Finally the party returned to Denggu Alley, and Ding Tai and the others hurried up, "Uncle, Miss Shen, you're back?"

"Go inside first."

They pushed the cart into a shed, and others also unloaded the bags from their backs.

"First cook these for everyone, that'll give us strength."

Shen Qingquan said.

"These are food? What food… *hiss*!"

Ding Tai opened a bag, and when he saw the white flour inside, he inhaled sharply.

Ding Zhangshan was also stunned; he thought it was food, but didn't expect it to be fine grain? How long had they not seen such white flour?

All the bags were opened, the white powder dazzled everyone's eyes.

"There's even Millet…"

"Is this Sweet Potato?"

"Heaven's lord…"

Everyone in the shed was stunned!

How have they survived these past months? They've been eating almost nothing but grass roots and bark; the better stuff is just a dough of bran and grass, commonly called "Wowo Tou". How long has it been since they've seen proper food? Let alone fine grain!

For a moment, everyone inside the shed was too agitated to speak!

"Miss Shen, these… really for us? But… these are fine grain, I, we can't take them!"

Ding Zhangshan knew that the food before them could save many; they had already reached the point of mountain‑bound and water‑exhausted, and as long as they accepted these, they could survive.

But… no!

In these times, food is life! Let alone fine grain! If you take it out, one sack can fetch a hundred taels of silver! And they're all priced but have no market!

They fled famine all the way here; they have seen too much. Basically, the grain stores of every province are controlled by the government or those in power. The common folk have long run out of surplus grain. Vagrants and refugees are everywhere, looting, mobbing, killing, all for a bite to eat; some even sell their own children and women! Not to mention those who, to fill their bellies, have lost all morality and turned to cannibalism.

With morality collapsed, humanity in such times is less reliable than a few bites of food.

Precisely because they've endured this, they understand the preciousness of this food. If they take it now, what will become of Miss Shen's family?

Miss Shen is their benefactor; they cannot repay kindness with betrayal!

"Exactly, this food is too precious; Miss Shen, take it back quickly…"

Ding Tai also spoke, while the others remained silent.

"No! This food can save our lives! It cannot be taken away!"

Suddenly Erhuzhi lunged forward, clutching those bags tightly!? This book was first released on 17K Novel Network; see the official content immediately!