Saving System: Calm Down, My Fleeing Host!

Chapter 254 - 253: The Real Disaster Is Only Beginning (Double-Length Part 2)

Spring is the beginning for the people to cultivate the land, and grain is the guarantee for a year’s living. If no grain can be planted, how long can everyone’s surplus last? Besides, many households already have no surplus, and most of the grain at the grain stores has been forcibly requisitioned for the brutal war. Next year, when there is no land to plant, the number of people who starve or freeze to death will only multiply, beyond count.

Cheng Xiaoxiao was still lost in thought, deeply terrified, as people outside had already called her name several times.

Ah! Cheng Xiaoxiao snapped back to reality.

Seeing that she was out of sorts, everyone patiently repeated the previous question to her.

This time, Cheng Xiaoxiao spoke up quickly, "We won’t enter the city; we’ll bypass and go directly to Yuan Yang City. However, we now need to purchase a large quantity of supplies."

Everyone was puzzled. They had seized a lot of supplies from the bandits, enough to last them a year. Why spend a fortune to buy more supplies?

Think about it, the entrance fee to the city is so expensive, would the grain inside be cheap?

Since there’s enough grain to last until next year, they could find a place to settle down, then open up land to farm, be self-sufficient, and save even more.

Cheng Xiaoxiao understood everyone’s thoughts, and she did not plan to hide her intentions now.

With a heavy and serious tone, she said directly, "I was lost in thought earlier because I had a bad dream. This snowstorm isn’t going to stop anytime soon, and the affected area is quite broad. It’s not just our country, but it might also affect the spring planting. We should stock up on more grain and daily necessities, just in case."

As soon as everyone heard it was another prophetic dream by Xiaoxiao, they couldn’t help but panic. Could this snow disaster be worse than the heavy rain!

The group quickly changed their tune and repeatedly agreed, "Then let’s buy more grain. Early tomorrow, we’ll split some people to enter the city together with others, while also organizing several teams ourselves to enter the city at staggered times to buy grain, to avoid catching the attention of those with ill intentions, and to gather some news."

Everyone, with back-and-forth suggestions, quickly came up with a plan to enter the city.

Everyone had unwavering faith in Cheng Xiaoxiao’s prophetic dreams. How many disasters had they escaped due to this ability? How many lives had they saved?

This time, there was no hesitation. They immediately recognized the seriousness of the issue and, without any prodding from Xiaoxiao, several captains hurriedly made arrangements.

After deciding to enter the city the next morning, Fang Zheng and Lu Jingtian found Cheng Xiaoxiao, indicating that they wanted to accompany her into the city. Cheng Xiaoxiao had no objections; it was clear they were looking for their relatives.

Given the wealth and resources of their families, entering the city was not a problem. However, the possibility of settling in Liao City seemed unlikely.

They drove their carriages and mule carts to the tent location next to the people’s tents, quickly blending in with this group of people, intending not to enter the city but to camp right there.

After all, there were only 20 days left, and they still needed to make it to Yuan Yang City to find a place to settle before the mountains were closed by snow.

If they couldn’t find one, they would temporarily stay in Yuan Yang City for three to five months. After the snow melted, they would either find a place to settle or head directly to their final planned destination.

The cold wind at night was even more biting, making the tarpaulin rustle loudly.

Snowflakes were still falling, so it was necessary to have someone regularly sweep the snow off the carriages and tents, and to keep the fire from going out. Otherwise, it would be easy to freeze to death in this cold and silent night.

Early the next morning, the aunts from the Life Department stirred a large pot of bubbling white porridge, and the aroma wafted far away.

Within the group of several hundred people, there were also many children, who eagerly gathered around. It had been a long time since they had had hot porridge.

With eyes shining green, though trembling from the cold and with snot flowing, they refused to leave, just staring hungrily.

The Guard Team quickly organized manpower to fend off and drive away the approaching children, fearing they would charge en masse to grab the food.

Food was so precious now, with over 100 people to feed, they dared not bring out anything good, only preparing some thin porridge with bread to make do with a meal, little expecting that this too would draw attention and coveting.

There were several hundred people on the scene; if they really tried to snatch their food, bloodshed would be inevitable. But these were innocent people who couldn’t even truss a chicken. If white knives went in and red knives came out, they feared they couldn’t bear to do it.

The group regretted it; they shouldn’t have decided to camp with these people just because of a few good exchanges yesterday.

Some parents with thin skins had already taken their children back, but some parents and children alike stared directly at their big pot, continually swallowing gulps of saliva.