Chapter 11: Reunion

(Note: hi readers, can you please notify me if you still want me to keep translating this novel because it has a lot of character some of you will be confused about the names along the way. Thank youuuu!)

Tian Mi said, “Dad, I’ll go look for Grandpa Xu outside Xingrong County. You all don’t head to the main road yet. After I find them, we can discuss where to go next before heading directly to the next place. This will be safer.”

Since Tian Mi was only carrying her small bag and a large knife, she felt secure. Although it’s said that a girl alone might be afraid of being kidnapped by traffickers, she was an exception. If traffickers wanted to kidnap her, they probably wouldn’t even bother. And as for robbing her small bag? What a joke! The risk-to-reward ratio was just not worth it.

Everyone thought for a moment, realizing that it was much safer for her to go out alone with the large knife than for them to stay here guarding the food and water. They all nodded, allowing her to discuss with Grandpa Xu whether heading southwest was suitable.

Tian Mi nodded in agreement.

Aunt Feng stuffed two steamed buns into her bag, filling it up. She even wanted to cram two more into her chest area, but Tian Mi firmly refused, saying her chest was already crowded enough. Aunt Feng had no choice but to give up. She gave Tian Mi a glance, reminding her to be careful on the way, not to run around, and not to rush if she couldn’t find them. Everyone would be waiting for her here.

The people on the main road were robbing food and water mainly because they were truly in need. Tian Mi couldn’t provide much food for them, as there were just too many people, but she could find a way to get them some water.

Carrying the large knife, Tian Mi swaggered down the main road. With her stature and confidence, no one dared to target her.

Since coming here, Tian Mi had been drinking the spiritual spring water from her space every day. Now, her physical strength was no longer as weak as when she first arrived. Back then, she was inexperienced and exhausted after one sleepless night, but now she could walk for a long time without even panting, feeling lighter. She touched her waist and thought it should be smaller now, then touched her chin, which felt tighter.

Upon reaching the main road, there were indeed many people, all in large groups, each holding weapons, mostly farming tools.

Tian Mi followed the crowd, which was surely heading toward Xingrong County.

Not far from the main road was a village, and as she walked toward it, she saw many people resting by campfires in the large drying yard.

Tian Mi went to look for a well. Every village had a well, and as long as everyone had water, there would be no more fighting over it.

When she reached the well, there was no one around, and it was clear that there was no water in it. So she filled the well and left. By the time dawn broke, she had filled the wells in the villages heading toward Xingrong County before finally stepping onto the main road, carrying the large knife confidently while shouting, “Fenwei Escort, Fenwei Escort…”

At that moment, there were so many people on the road, dragging their families along, looking disheveled, and Tian Mi truly witnessed the scene of a disaster.

With her appearance, anyone from the Fenwei Escort could see her at a glance; she was too eye-catching, especially with her loud voice.

However, she called out all the way to the city gate without seeing anyone. She wasn’t anxious; she had mostly been in the villages along the way, only stepping onto the main road near the city gate. So she turned back, searching through the crowd while shouting, “Fenwei Escort, Fenwei Escort!”

Despite her large build and carrying such a big knife, the disaster victims showed no interest in her, numbly moving forward. Ah! With her figure, she could have gone viral online.

They had no spirit for gossip at all!

Finally, after walking back for about ten minutes, Xu Feiyan joyfully ran out from the crowd and hugged her tightly.

“Sister Tian Mi, I finally found you! Are you okay? What about Uncle Tian and Uncle Cui?”

Xu Feiyan was the daughter of Xu Xingrong, two years younger than her, and had grown up following Tian Mi. If anyone bullied her, Tian Mi would step in with a punch, leaving them with a crooked nose. Xu Feiyan’s affection for Tian Mi was unwavering, bringing her absolute security.

Tian Mi felt a surge of warmth and said happily, “Feiyan, I’m fine. Where’s Grandpa Xu?”

Upon hearing this, Xu Feiyan burst into tears.

“Grandpa was knocked down in the crowd and seriously injured; he passed away a few days ago.”

Tian Mi’s nose instantly felt sour, and tears streamed down her face.

Tian Mi controlled her emotions and asked, “Where’s your dad?”

Xu Feiyan led her toward the back of the crowd, and Tian Mi saw Uncle Xu, her grandmother, her eldest uncle, second uncle, Uncle Cui, Aunt Bai, and a large group of people looking at her with joy, waiting for her. However, the number of people was obviously wrong; Uncle Xu, Uncle Chai, and many others were missing.

Tian Mi hurried over, put down the large knife, and greeted, “Grandmother, eldest uncle, second uncle, Uncle Xu, Uncle Meng, eldest aunt, second aunt, Aunt Bai, Aunt Yuan.”

Uncle Xu said, “We finally found you! Where are your parents?”

Tian Mi replied, “Dad is on a small path with some food and water. We were worried about being robbed since we are few, so I came to find you.”

Uncle Xu then said to the eldest and second uncles, “Let’s go meet up with them and discuss our next steps.”

Tian Mi went to her grandmother and gave her the leather water pouch and the steamed buns from her bag, noticing that her grandmother’s lips were dry.

Her grandmother looked at her with tearful eyes and said, “Dear girl! You’ve lost weight!”

Oh my! That’s my grandmother! How could she tell that I’ve lost weight with my body like this?

“Grandmother, I’m fine! Please drink some water!”

Her grandmother was reluctant to drink, just taking a small sip before wanting to pass it to her little cousin, Chen Miaomiao.

(Why is there so many names???? HUHUHUHU bare with me readers HAHAHA)

Tian Mi couldn’t stand it and said, “Grandmother, please drink. We have more; I heard there is water in the nearby well.”

Hearing this, her grandmother finally relaxed, took only another sip, and then gave it to Miaomiao.

Feeling extremely thirsty, just a sip made her feel rejuvenated as if she had come back to life.

This wasn’t just a feeling; it was real. This water came from the well in her space—spiritual spring water.

Miaomiao drank and, seeing Xu Feiyan come over, offered her a sip as well.

“Oh my! Is this heavenly water? Just one sip feels so much better.”

They also gave a sip to Aunt and several of the little kids carefully, afraid they would finish it all.

When it was time to set off, Tian Mi noticed that Uncle Xu’s cart team had also decreased a lot, but this wasn’t the right place to talk; they would discuss it later after regrouping.

Tian Mi took the lead with the large knife, and Xu Feiyan finally felt more at ease again. She lifted her small face and walked next to Tian Mi with her head held high.

Tian Mi quietly asked, “Uncle Xu, what about Uncle Chai and the others?”

Xu Feiyan said angrily, “We arrived here the day before yesterday. We had to wait for your grandmother’s family to join us, but they didn’t want to wait and insisted on leaving with the Zhan family. Their hearts are so dark; they took away most of the supplies, and Uncle Chai went with the elder uncle.”

In Tian Mi’s memory, Uncle Xu was a selfish person she disliked. He always acted above others, while Uncle Chai eagerly flattered him and treated him with great respect as he was an educated man.

During this disaster, how could they not fear retribution for taking so many supplies? They were supposed to be scholars.

Speaking of the Zhan family, they had taken even more. Dad was definitely with Uncle Xu.