Chapter 19: Someone Died

After Jiang Mama took care of things, Yan Huan carried half a wolf to her second uncle’s side. She remembered the protection Yan Jiang and Yan Hai had offered her last time. She was a person who repaid kindness. Her second aunt was in poor health and still had a five-year-old daughter to care for, unable to go up the mountain to find wild vegetables. For the past few days, the family had been living on vegetable pancakes, and she was afraid they hadn’t tasted meat for days.

However, to Yan Huan’s surprise, her second uncle didn’t accept her offering but asked her to take it to the third household instead.

Yan Qingzhi looked at his sensible and well-behaved niece, feeling gratified. He was very grateful that his niece would bring them wolf meat. However, he could also see that this niece, who had grown up in the Xu family, didn’t have a strong sense of belonging to the Yan family.

“Huan’er, I know you are kind and understanding. Second Uncle thanks you for thinking of me, but my family is strong and healthy. It doesn’t matter if we eat meat or not. Your third uncle has been weak since he was a child and also has a leg ailment. Your third uncle’s two daughters are also young. You should take this meat to your third uncle’s family.”

At a time like this, to still push away the meat they had obtained, Yan Huan truly admired him from the bottom of her heart. Smiling, she said, “Second Uncle, please accept it without worry. I have also prepared a portion for Third Uncle and will send it over in a moment.”

Hearing this, the look of gratification on Yan Qingzhi’s face deepened. Without saying more, he accepted the meat and then had Yan Jiang and Yan Hai bring out two wild pheasants, insisting that Yan Huan accept them. It turned out that the two brothers often sneaked out quietly while others were asleep. Thinking of the dangers lurking in the forest at night, Yan Huan couldn’t help but feel a pang of worry for them.

The Yan family was a family of frail scholars, and these two brothers were truly a prime example of a genetic mutation.

When Yan Huan arrived at the third household’s resting place, the family of four was sitting quietly around the fire, not saying a word. Beside them sat an unfamiliar girl whom Yan Huan didn’t recognize.

When Third Uncle Yan Qingfan saw her, he first looked surprised, as if he couldn’t believe he would see her here. Then, he quickly stood up, wringing his hands constantly, so flustered that he couldn’t say a word.

It was Third Aunt Li who reacted first, gently offering the stone she was sitting on and asking Yan Huan to sit down.

Yan Huan put down the half a wolf she had brought and said to Third Aunt, “This is wolf meat. Duo’er hunted it in the mountains during the day. It’s not much, but it should be enough for the sisters to have meat porridge for a few meals.”

In Yan Huan’s memory, the third household had always been the most inconspicuous and least noticeable. Third Uncle was taciturn and introverted, Third Aunt was gentle and quiet, and the two younger sisters had taken after Third Aunt, being polite and refined. Even when they occasionally met and exchanged greetings, they would blush. This family was hard to see at all unless the whole family was eating together.

Hearing Yan Huan’s words, Third Aunt’s face was full of excitement, and she awkwardly accepted the wolf meat, repeatedly saying thank you.

Third Uncle also looked excited, wringing his hands non-stop, but his mouth couldn’t utter a single word. He just looked at Yan Huan and smiled foolishly, and as he smiled, tears welled up in the corners of his eyes.

Yan Huan couldn’t stand this scene. Without saying much, she got up to leave.
She wasn’t giving this wolf meat to seek gratitude. It was purely because, as a modern person, she knew that these wild animals carried many deadly viruses, and she was unwilling to eat too much of them unless absolutely necessary.

Although she didn’t want to eat it, these things were real meat in the present time. Eating them could replenish physical strength and nourish the spirit. So, it was impossible to throw them away. The weather was about to turn cold, and the road ahead would become increasingly worse. Without taking care of their bodies, they might not even reach Ganzhou.

However, she had only taken a few steps when someone stopped her.

It was the two sisters, Yan Wanmu and Yan Wanqing, one nine years old and the other eight this year. The two sisters had been close since childhood and were inseparable.

Behind them stood the unfamiliar girl. That girl looked slightly older than the two sisters and should also be a daughter from one of the other families traveling with them.

Yan Wanmu, the older sister, held her younger sister’s hand and offered Yan Huan a silk handkerchief. Although the light was poor, the exquisite embroidery was still visible.

“Thank you, Sixth Sister, for giving us meat. This is a handkerchief I embroidered myself. I’m giving it to you, Sister.”

Yan Huan patted her head. Although the conditions on the road were poor, the two sisters were clean and tidy, which made her feel favorably towards them. Most importantly, they knew how to be grateful at such a young age, making them approachable people.

“It’s not safe outside, hurry back and rest early. We have to travel early tomorrow morning.”

The two sisters nodded obediently in agreement.

Just as Yan Huan was about to turn and leave, the girl behind them suddenly stepped forward and said to Yan Huan, “Sister can actually get meat to eat and even has extra to give to other families. You’re really amazing.”
The little girl was only about ten years old, fair-skinned and pretty, with a round little face that was pleasing to look at.

Although these words didn’t sound quite right, judging from the girl’s face, her admiration seemed genuine.

Out of politeness, Yan Huan nodded and smiled at her but didn’t intend to say much. She was about to walk away again when the girl stepped forward and grabbed Yan Huan’s sleeve, saying, “Sister, my father is gone, and there are no men in my family. No one can go up the mountain to hunt. I haven’t eaten meat for several days. Please be kind, Sister, and give my family some meat too, okay?”

Hearing this, Yan Huan finally realized who the two girls in front of her were. That day, when Jiang Cen came to the Yan family to borrow a pot, he had specifically talked to her about this for a long time, saying that the Song family’s daughter was not simple and asking Yan Huan to advise Duo’er.

Because of the girl in front of her, Duo’er had even given away the pot.

Earlier, she had thought this girl’s appearance was pleasing, but now, upon closer inspection, this young girl’s eyes were full of calculation.

“Was the Jiang family’s pot returned a few days ago? Since there are no men in your family, you shouldn’t eat much. That big pot of meat should have been enough for your family to eat for several days. How can you say you haven’t eaten meat for days?”

Hearing this, the girl’s face darkened, and she muttered in a low voice, “I thought she was a generous person, but I didn’t expect her to be so stingy.”

Yan Wanmu, who was beside her, heard this and quickly said, “Song Yan, why are you like this?”

Yan Huan didn’t take it to heart. She only told the two sisters to go back quickly, and then she turned and left. She felt it was a waste of breath to say even one more word to such a person.

The roasted meat was satisfying to eat. Even sleeping on the ground with only a layer of withered grass, Yan Huan didn’t feel uncomfortable.

The next morning, before dawn, a scream was heard, startling everyone to get up and investigate.

Someone was dead.

This was the first death on their journey of exile.

Everyone was trembling with fear, and some even vomited on the spot at the sight.

Because the officials had treated them relatively well along the way, everyone hadn’t felt the cruelty of the exile journey. But now, a living life had disappeared before their eyes, and the impact on everyone was significant.

The body was discovered in a patch of tall grass on the outskirts of the camp. The deceased’s limbs were incomplete, the flesh was mangled, and the death was extremely gruesome.

The person who found the body had accidentally stepped on an arm, mistaking it for a snake. Just as they were about to flee, they noticed it wasn’t moving. Stopping to look, they realized it was an arm.

That person collapsed to the ground in fright, screaming repeatedly. Then, those who came to investigate found other parts of the remains scattered around.

The most unacceptable thing was that the deceased was actually one of their exile groups.

A member of the Yan family!!!