Chapter 128: Did Xiao Jin Cry?

With the caves chosen, each family went to their respective caves. Sang Luo felt this was akin to modern people moving into new homes. Despite the caves being mere dusty holes, they were homes for the foreseeable future.

Shen An, Shen Ning, and Chen Xiaoya, excited, rushed ahead with small branches, clearing the way. The Xu siblings were apprehensive, unable to imagine living in the caves they had just seen. Wang Yunzheng, clutching his little bundle that he hadn’t let go of for nine days, followed Old Mrs. Xu and Wei Qinghe, glancing at the cave the Xu family had chosen with a hint of expectation.

The first visit had been a quick overview, but the second visit was detailed as it was to be their new home.

Shen Lie and Sang Luo, with their two children, did the same.

The small cave Sang Luo chose, though tiny, had its advantages. The wide entrance and shallow depth meant better lighting compared to narrow, deep caves, making it less oppressive to live in.

Sang Luo, initially resigned to this cave, now felt satisfied. Living in a cave shouldn’t mean compromising, and given its size, she had to think carefully about the design.

Shen Lie noted some protruding rocks in the cave walls, which, though not sharp, could still cause injury. He said, “Think about how to arrange things here in the next few days. Be careful of these rocks. Once we’ve moved all the grain, I’ll smooth them out and make the furniture.”

He considered the cave’s size and hesitated, understanding why Sang Luo had asked about the larger cave. They weren’t truly husband and wife, and Sang Luo likely wanted separate spaces. He asked, “Should we expand it further inside? It will take time and effort, but it’s doable. I can ask Shopkeeper Xu for some tools.”

With the help of Chen Dashan, Shen Lie could easily navigate the forest alone, so he spoke casually.

Sang Luo’s eyes lit up at the idea of expanding the cave, but she quickly reconsidered. The canyon had nine caves, all reasonably sized. She worried that hollowing out the mountain too much could cause structural issues. She shook her head. “Just smooth the walls and expand slightly to make it more livable. I worry that digging too much could destabilize the mountain.”

Shen Lie’s eyes crinkled in a smile. “Alright.”

Privately, he liked the idea of staying close to Sang Luo, as they had before.

Having thoroughly inspected the cave and decided on its layout, they returned to the large cave. Shen Lie needed to go back soon to help transport the grain before the outside situation worsened, making it difficult for Shopkeeper Xu to bring the grain into the mountains.

At the large cave, Qin Fangniang and Gan had already returned and were preparing dry food for Shen Lie and the others to take on their return trip. It wasn’t yet time for lunch, but they were busy getting ready.

Sang Luo went to help, but the other families soon returned as well. With the grandmother and aunts joining in, the cave entrance became crowded. They sent Sang Luo to gather wild vegetables for lunch.

The Xu family returned the latest. Unlike the village families, the Xu family hadn’t endured much hardship. While Grandmother Xu, Wei Qinghe, and the early-maturing Wang Yunzheng managed well, the Xu siblings were wilting, struggling to imagine living in a cave long-term.

After imitating what they had seen in the large cave, spreading hay all over the ground and making some mats, the excitement they had felt upon seeing the cloud valley diminished slightly.

They understood the reasoning, but they felt disheartened.

Old Mrs. Xu had already comforted the three children in the cave earAlier, so now she didn’t say much. She just let them go play with their little friends and rolled up her sleeves to work with Old Mrs. Chen and the others.

The men would have to leave soon. They were supposed to rest in the cave, but fearing snakes hidden in the tall grass, they each picked up their hoes and went to clear the wild grass on the mountainsides leading to the caves of each family.

The children were the most idle, gathering together to discuss what their caves were like.

The older ones grouped with the older ones, the younger ones with the younger ones, boys with boys, and girls with girls.

Because of Shopkeeper Xu’s instructions, the Xu family was particularly close to the Shen family. Plus, Shen Ning had taken special care of Xu Wenyin on the journey. So now, Xu Wenyin joined Shen Ning, Chen Xiaoya, and Qiao’er’s group.

Seeing Shen Ning and Chen Xiaoya vividly describing their caves, whether big or small, round or narrow, and discussing all sorts of shapes, Xu Wenyin had no idea what to say.

It wasn’t until Shen Ning and the others looked at her that Xu Wenyin spoke up, “The inside of our cave is very dark. Are we going to live in the cave like this? Sleeping on hay spread on the ground?”

Shen Ning giggled, “Of course not. We’ll make beds, and we can also make cabinets and tables. My big brother knows how.”

Chen Xiaoya chimed in, “So does my dad.”

Xu Wenyin was dumbfounded. After thinking for a moment, she said, “My uncle might not know.”

Chen Xiaoya didn’t think it was a big deal, “Let your uncle learn from my dad, or even from Brother Alie. Brother Alie learned from my dad too.”

Xu Wenyin asked, “Is it hard to learn?”

Shen Ning shook her head, “Not really. My brother seemed to learn easily.”

Xu Wenyin felt relieved and quietly sighed in relief. Turning to Shen Ning and the others, she said, “I almost thought we would have to sleep on the ground forever. I saw bugs on the cave floor earlier.”

Shen Ning and the others laughed. Chen Xiaoya said, “Let’s ask my grandma for some dried mugwort later. We can smoke it to repel bugs.”

Shen Ning added, “And bugs aren’t scary. If we catch them, we can feed them to the chickens.”

Even six-year-old Qiao’er nodded, “My brother catches bugs to feed the chickens. My mother says chickens lay more eggs when they eat bugs.”

Xu Wenyin looked at Shen Ning and the others with admiration. “You’re very brave.”

Shen Ning had been to the county town and even to Dongfu Restaurant. Thinking of the houses in the county town, she said, “It’s not that we’re brave. We’ve seen a lot since we were young. You must have always lived in nice houses in the county, so you haven’t seen this before.”

Xu Wenyin agreed, “I used to live in the county town, and I recently stayed in Shezhou. This is my first time in the mountains. I’ve never seen so many bugs and wild animals before.”

Listening to Xu Wenyin talk about the county town and Shezhou, Chen Xiaoya asked about the county town and Shezhou. There was much to talk about—the houses, shops, roads, cars, restaurants, and snack shops. Even the youngest Qiao’er was drooling with envy, wishing she could experience it all.

Xu Wenyin smiled and said, “My dad said that if it’s safe outside, he’ll take us out. When the time comes, I’ll take you to my house, and my mother will take us shopping at those shops.”

The girls were delighted. However, Xu Wenyin’s expression darkened as she mentioned her parents. “I miss my mother and father, and my older brothers. Do you think things will really get chaotic outside? My father, mother, and grandmother said that many refugees rushed into the city, killing people indiscriminately. That’s why my father didn’t want us to stay in Shezhou.”

Other children might not understand terms like “refugees” or “chaos,” but these families were exceptions. Their elders and Shen Alie had taught them.

Shen Ning had heard a lot. She said, “My brother said that the north has been chaotic for a long time, and many people have died. It’s not just in the counties; there are bandits in the mountains too. That’s why we’re hiding in such a remote place.”

Listening to Xu Wenyin talk about her parents, Shen Ning also thought of Shen Jin and the others.

They all had new homes now, but Shen Jin, Shen Yin, Shen Tie, and Sweetie were still in the village. She didn’t know how they were doing.

The little joy she had felt before had faded away.

“Xiao Ya, do you think Shen Jin and the others are okay now? When they realized we were gone, do you think Shen Jin cried?”

She had been holding onto this question for a long time, too afraid to ask. Today, they had arrived safely at their destination, and their future homes were settled, but she couldn’t help but think of her closest friends and ask her closest playmate.

Chen Xiaoya felt a bit down too. She and Shen Jin hadn’t gotten along well in the past, but later, Shen Jin became more amiable. They played together every day. Now, hearing Shen Ning mention it, Chen Xiaoya felt melancholic.

“He probably cried. If I were left behind, I would cry too. And if there are refugees, will they be killed too?”

The word “kill” made her heart flutter. Before, it was only used for slaughtering chickens and ducks. It wasn’t until her older brother returned from outside that she learned people could be killed for no reason, too. People killing people.

Thinking of her playmates, she couldn’t help but feel anxious.

Xu Wenyin was puzzled. “Who is Shen Jin?”

Qiao’er said, “He’s Xiao An and Xiao Ning’s cousin. Xiao Ning has three cousins and one cousin. The oldest cousin is called Shen Jin.”

Xu Wenyin blinked. “Then why didn’t he come with us?”

She saw the other families’ cousins all came together.

Chen Xiaoya muttered, “Because Xiao An’s uncle and aunt are really bad. No one wanted to bring them.”

Xu Wenyin didn’t have uncles and aunts like that. She only had an uncle who was really good, so she couldn’t imagine what really bad relatives were like. She asked, “Then couldn’t they have brought Shen Jin and the others?”

Shen Ning brushed off the grass on her hands. “They probably wouldn’t bear to leave their parents.”

Xu Wenyin thought about it and agreed. Children always stayed with their parents. Like her and her third brother, since their parents couldn’t come, their grandmother brought them.

…

At Shili Village, after the tax collector measured enough grain outside the Shen family’s courtyard and left, poor Mrs. Li was still lying on the ground, unable to get up for quite some time.

Shen Jin and Shen Yin tried to help, but how could the two brothers, so young, lift Mrs. Li? They just cried. Shen Jin looked up and saw Shen San huddled in a corner of the courtyard. He was angry. “Dad, what are you still doing? Help Mom up quickly.”

Shen San was indeed stunned. He hadn’t expected Mrs. Li to be so fierce, daring even to confront the official.

She had gone mad, truly mad.

But now, with his son’s scolding, he finally came to his senses. The tax collector had left, and he straightened his back, hurriedly walked to Mrs. Li’s side, grumbling as he helped her up, “Have you lost your mind? Haven’t you served your two months of labor? Do you want to get tied up and serve another half a year or a year?”

Mrs. Li had kept her eyes closed all this time. If not for her labored breathing, the blood stains on her clothes would have scared her four children to death.

Luckily, it was still winter, and they hadn’t taken off their winter clothes. People in the countryside couldn’t afford thick coats or thin coats. They only wore winter clothes, which weren’t very thick.

The tax collector’s whip was harsh, but it was blocked by Mrs. Li’s coat. However, the whip was made of some unknown material. Mrs. Li’s coat was torn to shreds, and blood could be faintly seen seeping through the cotton inside.

In addition to being whipped, Mrs. Li also endured several kicks from the tax collectors. She was in too much pain to speak, just breathing heavily with her eyes closed. Only when Shen San came over, grumbling and scolding, did she finally open her eyes. Unable to move or curse, she just stared blankly at Shen San.

Shen San felt a chill from Mrs. Li’s gaze, feeling inexplicably threatened. He thought that Mrs. Li might still have the strength to tear him apart. Feeling nervous, he said, “Why are you looking at me like that? I’m doing this for your own good. Wouldn’t it be in vain if you took this beating for nothing?”

Mrs. Li continued to stare coldly at him, making Shen San feel even more nervous and flustered. Summoning all his strength, he helped her into the house, threw her onto the bed, and then hastily left, saying there was work to be done in the fields. He grabbed a hoe and ran out of the room.

Being thrown onto the bed like that, Mrs. Li’s wound hit the bed, causing her to groan in pain. She gasped for air, struggling to breathe, and after a while, Shen Jin and Shen Yin helped her up. With their help, she managed to lie down on the bed.

The four siblings cried loudly. Shen Jin had never been so scared. He didn’t dare to touch the bloodstains on his mother’s body, only to be pushed away by his father.

Shen Jin didn’t dare to think too much. He wiped away his tears and said, “Mom, should I go to Sanli Village to find a doctor for you?”

Mrs. Li shook her head laboriously.

Where would they find the money to pay a doctor now? Even the gold bracelet and the money they had saved at home had been taken by Shen San to exchange for exemption from military service.

It wasn’t until now that Mrs. Li truly felt hopeless. Shen San wasn’t a very hardworking person. They didn’t farm much land, and now there was only a small bag of grains and two small bags of beans left in the house. Even if they rationed it carefully, they could only last four months. It was only February, and the autumn harvest was still far away. How were they going to live in the future?

That was why she had gone crazy and rushed at the tax collector carrying the grain.

They couldn’t survive anymore.

But seeing her children crying so bitterly, Mrs. Li didn’t dare to say anything. She forced herself to shake her head. “Bear with it. Once the bleeding stops and you rest, you’ll be fine.”

Shen Jin wiped his tears. “Mom, let’s run away. The government will seize our grain. There’s not much left at home.”

Seizing grain was no different from robbing. The officials were even more ruthless than bandits because they could do it openly in broad daylight.

Mrs. Li understood the logic, but she shook her head. “There’s not much left now… If we let them take it, everything we’ve paid and sacrificed will be in vain. If we run now, the gold bracelet, the silver coins, and the grain they took away will all be wasted. At least by staying here, we still have land and can grow some crops.”

She was breathing heavily, and after a while, she continued, “And where can we run to? There are many wild beasts in the mountains, and hungry refugees with red eyes. You haven’t experienced fleeing, so you don’t know what it’s like. Our family, your father, your eldest brother, and little Shen An and Shen Ning, who was just born… We survived by fleeing. Running into the mountains, we might be killed by people or eaten by wild beasts.”

Shen Jin lowered his head and said softly, “Big brother is very capable.”

Mrs. Li’s gaze became distant.

Yes, Shen Lie was capable. He could travel through mountains and forests and return safely. But Shen Lie wouldn’t take them with him.

She endured the pain in her body and asked Shen Jin, “Has your big brother taught you how to hunt? How are you doing?”

Shen Jin nodded. “He has taught me some simple traps for catching mountain chickens and the like. I haven’t tried it myself, but my brother said I’ll get the hang of it with practice.”

As for slingshots and pits, Shen Jin didn’t mention what Shen An had said that day.

Mrs. Li smiled, but her smile seemed to hit her wound, causing her face to contort in pain. Nevertheless, she still smiled. Her eyes were red with tears.

Seeing his mother like this, Shen Jin’s tears fell even harder. Suddenly remembering something, he said, “Mom, don’t move. Big brother taught me how to recognize some herbs that can stop bleeding. I’ll go find them.”

Shen Yin followed quickly. “Brother, I’ll go with you.”

The two brothers ran out like the wind. Mrs. Li watched the empty doorway, then looked at Shen Tie crying by the bed. Shen Tie, who was not even as tall as the bed, closed his eyes and cried silently. Tears began to flow from Sweetie’s eyes as well.

Shen Tie saw his mother crying and himself crying, with tears and snot all over his face, so he hurried over to wipe Mrs. Li’s tears. “Mom, are you in a lot of pain?”

But the more he wiped, the more Mrs. Li’s tears flowed