Chapter 64

64 Mountain Bandits
Zhou Jia stroked the sleeve arrow on his arm and was about to ask again when Ruyi warned him softly, “Young Master, someone is coming.”
Ji Xiang hurriedly picked up his bow and arrow and scurried to the parapet. He looked at the black-robed people walking towards the Zhou family residence and pricked up his ears to listen for approaching footsteps. “There are more than ten people. The footsteps are heavy. There shouldn’t be much effort.”
The few people who came over were the bandits. They had just robbed the Xu family and were preparing to come to the Zhou family again.
Ruyi and Ji Xiang raised their bows and aimed at the two bandits in range. With two swooshes, the arrows tore through the air and hit the two bandits with two dull thuds. The bandits fell to the ground after being shot.
When the other bandits saw the two people in front of them fall to the ground, they hurriedly hid in the dark and shouted at the people behind, “Second-in-charge, what should we do? This place has bows and arrows.”
The second-in-charge looked at the Zhou family and snorted. “Looks like this family is prepared. It’s almost dawn. We don’t have enough people today. Let’s go back and bring more people.”
The bandits looked resentfully at the Zhou family mansion not far away. They dragged the two people who had fallen to the ground and left unwillingly.
Ruyi and Ji Xiang leaned against the wall and watched them walk away quickly. Ji Xiang jumped down from the wall. “Young Master, they’re gone.”
Zhou Jia listened to the commotion outside for a while, but he was still worried. “Go to the Li family and report to Miss Li that we’re safe. Let her rest assured.”
As Ji Xiang ran, he complained in his heart that his Young Master was still so formal with how he addressed Miss Li at this time.
As Li Yu lay on the bed, her face revealed worry. The bandits came to rob overnight after the locusts decimated the fields. It seemed that everyone had underestimated the severity of the drought this time.
If the drought and locust plague continued, it might cause an even greater disaster. It seemed that the escape route this time would not be too smooth.
Just as Ji Xiang entered the courtyard, Li Yu got up and opened the door of the central room. Ji Xiang went forward and whispered, “Miss Li, the bandits have already left. Young Master said to let you know so you can rest well.”
Li Yu nodded and said, “Alright. Ask him to rest well too.”
“Yes.” Ji Xiang bowed and opened the courtyard door to leave. Li Yu went over to close the courtyard door and lay down in the house before falling asleep.
At dawn, a group of people opened the Xu family’s courtyard door and walked out of the village with their bags dejectedly.
The villagers looked at them from afar and discussed. “I don’t think anything happened to the family. Looks like they handed over their belongings. Otherwise, these bandits wouldn’t have let them off so easily.”
Someone retorted angrily, “Pfft, what nonsense are you talking about? There’s a drought and locusts. Without food and silver, will the Xu family still be able to survive?”
An old man with white hair sighed. “There are still three catties of nails left in a rotten boat. No matter what, the Xu family is better off than us. Go back! Pack up, pack up, and escape with your wife and children while you still have the strength to find a way out.”
The villagers who lived near the Xu family still had lingering fears about what had happened last night. They all gathered at the entrance of the village chief’s house. Everyone looked at the bare bamboo poles in the bamboo forest and the locusts flying back and forth and sighed.
“I still wanted to stay at home and survive this drought, but even the Xu family was robbed last night. No one in the East Village helped. Looks like the village isn’t peaceful either!”
An old man looked at him and smiled bitterly. “You’re young and haven’t experienced it before. As long as there’s a disaster, we’ll be the ones to die. Before your body is exhausted, escape if you can!”
A man with a face full of resentment punched the wall of the village chief’s house. “Sigh! God, he’s not giving us a way out! We’ve eaten everything and there’s less and less water. Everyone can only wait to die of thirst and hunger.”
The older one stood up shakily. “If you’re strong, escape with your wife and children! If I can’t walk anymore, I won’t leave. The sooner I die, the sooner I can reincarnate.”
The village chief stood behind the courtyard door and listened to everyone sigh. He frowned and hesitated for a moment before opening the courtyard door. He said to the villager squatting at the door, “The Xu family was robbed last night. Those who want to leave, hurry up and go home to prepare. We’ll meet at the village entrance tomorrow at midnight. We’ll set off when it’s time.”
When everyone heard the village chief’s words, they all stood up. “Got it. Then we’ll go back and prepare.”
Everyone split up and ran home. The village was in an uproar as everyone slaughtered their pigs and chickens.
After the robbery of the Xu family last night, Li Mei’s family was even more determined to escape with Li Yu.
Liu Changmin stood in the courtyard and looked at the newly renovated house reluctantly. He sighed and slowly placed the packed luggage on the ox cart.
Zhaodi and Laidi came out of the room with the bedding. Zhaodi looked at Li Mei, who was sitting blankly on a chair at the table in the central room. “Mother, let’s go! Let’s go to Cousin’s house first.”
Li Mei looked at the tables and chairs in the house reluctantly. Her tears fell as she choked and said, “Sigh! It wasn’t easy for me to have my own home. Boohoo… I’ve only had a few stable days, but I’m going to have to escape again.”
The sisters looked at Li Mei and their eyes turned red. They went forward and grabbed Li Mei’s hand. “Mother, let’s go! Grandmother will be here later.”
Li Mei wiped her tears and picked up the clothes on the table. She said firmly, “Let’s go!”
The family left the courtyard. Liu Changmin locked the door and drove the ox cart towards Li Yu’s house without looking back.
Li Yu woke up and realized that the sun was high. When she went out, she saw Li Mei and Li Qing packing dried grass into sacks.
Li Qing looked up and saw Li Yu coming out. He said with concern, “Sister, the food is warm in the pot. Hurry up and eat.”
Li Mei looked at Li Yu worriedly. “Yu’er, last night, the Xu family was robbed. I’m afraid more people are escaping today.”
Li Yu nodded. “Ji Xiang came to tell me last night.”
Li Yu recalled that Zhou Jia felt that his family was also the target of the robbers. She thought that it would be safer for them to live here together.
“Ah Qing, go to the Zhou family and ask them to bring everything over. Everyone can stay together and take care of one another.”
“Okay.” Li Qing put down the sack and left.
Li Yu returned to the house to take out the water bag and handed it to Li Mei. “Aunt, put some mint leaves in the water and boil them before putting them into the water bag.”
Zhaodi walked in with a pair of shoes and handed them to Li Yu. “Cousin, take a look. I sewed a layer of leather on the soles and the top of the shoes. This way, you won’t have to worry about the soles being easily worn through.”
Li Yu took it and looked at it. She raised her thumb and praised, “Zhaodi is so smart and your needlework is also good. This way, I’m not afraid that my shoes will wear out quickly.”
Zhaodi smiled happily and said to Li Yu excitedly, “Then Laidi and I will sew a few more pairs.”
Li Mei looked at Zhaodi and nodded in relief. “Go! If you sew a few more pairs, who knows how long we’ll be gone!”
Butcher He brought Xiaoyu to Li Yu’s house. Xiaoyu looked at the worried Butcher He and said, “Father, are Sister Xiaoyu and the others really going to migrate?”
Butcher He pointed at the locusts in the field. “If we don’t flee, are we going to stay here and wait for death? According to the situation, we won’t be able to recover for three to five years.”
When the father and daughter arrived at Li Yu’s house, Butcher He smiled and said to Li Yu, “Xiaoyu, Uncle also wants to walk with you. How about that?”
Li Yu smiled and nodded. “Sure! We can take care of one another when we walk together.”
Xiaoyu looked at Li Yu and pouted as she complained, “Sister Xiaoyu, you’re so mean. You didn’t even tell me that you were going to leave.”
Li Yu smiled awkwardly. “Xiaoyu, I’m sorry. I forgot about it.”
Butcher He looked at Xiaoyu. “Stupid girl! Do you think your Sister Xiaoyu is as free as you?! Let’s go! Let’s go back and pack our things.”
“Alright, Uncle He. Let’s meet at the village entrance tomorrow at midnight.”
“Alright, let’s meet at the village entrance at midnight.” Butcher He pulled Xiaoyu back to prepare.