After buying the steamed buns, Shen Wenhai led his family to a street corner, preparing to eat.

Just as he took his first bite, he felt a sharp pain at the back of his neck.

Darkness consumed his vision, and he collapsed to the ground.

Jiang Shi and Shen Dayong were also knocked unconscious.

The steamed buns in their hands had barely been bitten before they fell to the ground.

“Big Brother, we’ve really hit the jackpot this time,” a rough voice said.

Most of the vagrants outside the city were dirt poor, without even a single copper coin on them.

Because of this, these bandits hadn’t had much luck robbing people lately.

But today, they had stumbled upon a big catch.

“These people definitely have money. Second Brother, search them first. As for this little girl, we can sell her to Drunken Fragrance Brothel for a hefty sum. The remaining three—send them to Boss Liang. His mine is always short on workers.”

Another man chuckled. “Big Brother, you’re brilliant as always.”

The group searched Shen Wenhai and his family thoroughly, only finding a little over four taels of silver.

Though it wasn’t much, it was still better than what they’d been getting from the starving refugees outside the city.

Without hesitation, they each carried one of the unconscious family members away.

Shen Qingju was sent to the brothel, while Shen Wenhai and the others were sold to a black-market mine.

There, they would be forced to work day and night.

As long as they were alive, they would have to dig. If they stopped, their only fate would be death.

Shen Qingwan didn’t know what had happened to them, but she was certain their outcome wouldn’t be good.

After resolving the Shen family’s affairs, she felt quite satisfied.

That night, with Da Huang standing guard and soldiers patrolling nearby, she finally had a peaceful sleep.

..

The next morning, the village head gathered everyone at the designated location, waiting for the officials to escort them to their newly assigned village.

Although many still harbored hopes of eventually returning to their hometowns, the ongoing famine made it impossible for them to leave.

For now, they had to stay in Suzhou and try to make a living by cultivating the land.

After a short wait, government officials arrived to lead them to their designated village.

No one knew exactly how far it was from Suzhou City, but since the two officers had walked there, it seemed they would be making the journey on foot as well.

The village head, eager to build a good relationship with the officials, invited them to ride in his mule cart while he walked alongside it.

His hospitality paid off, as the officials began sharing information about Suzhou along the way.

The land assigned to them was situated between Suzhou City and Jingyang Town.

Technically, it was closer to Jingyang Town, but it fell under the jurisdiction of Shakou County.

The county seat was three hours beyond Jingyang Town, making it a half-day journey from their new village.

Fortunately, the village head had a mule cart. A trip to Suzhou City would take no more than half an hour with it.

After traveling for two hours, Shen Qingwan finally saw a vast forest in the distance. Suzhou was known for being sparsely populated.

To put it bluntly, it was a barren wasteland. Endless plains stretched as far as the eye could see, with barely any vegetation.

The famine had only worsened the situation.

The ground was parched and lifeless, and even the trees in the forest looked withered.

In the distance, she spotted refugees stripping leaves from the trees, likely in a desperate attempt to stave off hunger.

“We’ve arrived. This is your assigned village,” one of the officers announced. “Due to the large influx of refugees, the land here is unclaimed and free for you to use as you see fit. Build your homes first, then register the land deed at the county office. You’re also free to cultivate the surrounding fields. Once you’ve cleared the land, you can register a farmland deed as well. Refugees are exempt from taxes for one year. Work hard, and if you’re lucky, you might even get a harvest before winter.”

The village head frowned slightly.

He had hoped for a three-year tax exemption, as was customary for newly cultivated land.

Though the promise of a winter crop was reassuring, the soil here was different from their homeland in Youzhou.

They were used to growing rice and wheat, but it was clear that neither would survive in this barren terrain.

“Officer, do you know which crops grow best in Suzhou’s soil?” he asked.

The official didn’t withhold information. “Suzhou has a cold climate and usually only supports one planting season per year. The main crops here are millet, sorghum, and wheat.

Rice can be grown, but only in high-quality paddy fields. Since it’s only early July, you should be able to clear the land in time to plant winter wheat. The soil here is poor, and yields are usually low.

In normal years, it wouldn’t be this bad. But with the disasters in the south, a massive influx of refugees, and ongoing military supply demands, the government has already requisitioned grain three times this year. That’s why food is so scarce.”

The official sighed. His own family were farmers, and between the famine and the war, they were barely scraping by.

If not for his government job, his household might not survive the winter.

The village head quickly expressed his gratitude, while Shen Qingwan turned her gaze to a nearby lake.

The lake was large—at least a hundred feet long and thirty to forty feet wide.

Its waters were clear, with shallower areas revealing the sandy bottom, while the deeper parts were shrouded in mystery.

This lake was a treasure.

It was perfect for fish farming and lotus cultivation.

“Officer, will this lake belong to our village?” Shen Qingwan asked.

The official softened his tone upon seeing her fair complexion. “This is Mingyue Lake, the only lake in the area. Since it’s near your village, it will fall under your jurisdiction. However, you’ll only have usage rights—you can’t sell it.”

Shen Qingwan nodded thoughtfully. “Officer, if I wanted to establish a fishery here, would I need government approval?”

The official assumed she was talking about raising livestock and didn’t give it much thought. “If you want to build an animal pen, you just need to register the land deed at the county office.”

He seemed like a patient man, as he hadn’t shown any annoyance despite their many questions.

Still unsure, Shen Qingwan pressed further. “Will other villages be settled near us in the future?”

“That’s hard to say,” the officer admitted. “This area is vast, and other villages might take an interest in it.”

“If another village is established nearby, will they share control of Mingyue Lake with us?” she asked.