Chapter 32: Xia Mo, How Are You Going to Support a Wife?

“You’re really useless.”

Xiao Jingyuan’s blatant disdain dragged Xia Mo’s wandering thoughts back to reality.

“A grown man who can’t even chop firewood—how do you expect to support a wife and children in the future?”

Xia Mo, the one being looked down on: “…”

“I don’t need you to worry about that. I’m a craftsman, I know medicine, and I don’t need to chop firewood to feed my family.”

“Hmph.”

Hmph—so when he can’t win the argument, he just grunts.

“If the snow stops later, we’ll leave. We have boots, so we’re not afraid.”

Snowy weather didn’t stop people here from going out. Even those fleeing from famine continued on through the wind and snow.

The last time people got trapped in the mountains, it was because the terrain was rugged, and they were dragging carts full of their belongings, making it impossible to move forward.

But Xia Mo and Xiao Jingyuan were traveling light. Even their luggage could be stored in the convenience store, so nothing could hold them back.

Xiao Jingyuan still insisted on chopping some firewood for the elderly man, while Xia Mo took some rice, flour, and dried noodles for the elderly woman, reminding them to hide the food well.

Underneath the kitchen, there was a pit they had dug days ago to prevent their supplies from being stolen by the Rong slave raiders.

Only then did Xia Mo realize that they actually had more than just a little coarse grain—their provisions were all hidden in that large pit.

Of course, it was still just coarse grain, not much else.

After saying their goodbyes to the elderly couple, the two were given conical straw hats, rain capes, and two pairs of sturdy straw sandals as parting gifts.

Carrying their newfound gifts, they continued on their journey.

They traveled during the day and, by evening, would look for a farmhouse to stay in overnight.

Exchanging some grain for a night’s lodging wasn’t difficult.

If they could find a town to rest in, that would be even better.

Xiao Jingyuan must have taken quite a bit of silver from those two men they looted earlier. At least, for now, he hadn’t suggested staying in a cheap common lodging house.

That day, they once again encountered a group of people fleeing with their families.

This time, it was a full household—a young child sitting on a cart, looking about three or four years old, along with four adults: a young couple and a middle-aged couple, all struggling to push the cart forward.

The cart didn’t just carry the child; it was also packed with belongings—their entire family’s possessions.

Pushing a cart through wind and snow was obviously no easy task.

Xia Mo stepped forward to lend a hand.

The middle-aged man turned his head and repeatedly thanked her.

“Young man, thank you!”

“It’s nothing, just lending a hand.”

Seeing this, Xiao Jingyuan probably felt a little guilty, so he joined in to help as well.

With two more people pushing, the cart moved much more easily.

“Uncle, where is your family heading?”

“We’re planning to go to Bianzhou City for the New Year.”

Oh, so they weren’t refugees fleeing from disaster.

“We heard that after the Rong slave raiders took over Tongzhou, their next target would be Bianzhou. Our home is north of Bianzhou City, and it’s too unsafe to stay there. So we decided to move into the city and take shelter. My younger son and his wife run a business in Bianzhou, and a few days ago, they sent someone to tell us to come and take refuge with them.”

The city was indeed safer, but…

Before Xia Mo could say anything, Xiao Jingyuan suddenly spoke up. “What if Bianzhou can’t hold out either?”

The hopeful expression on the uncle’s face froze.

“That won’t happen. The best soldiers are stationed in Bianzhou—it’ll hold.”

Xia Mo quickly nudged Xiao Jingyuan and shot him a look, silently telling him to shut up if he couldn’t say anything reassuring. The northern provinces were sparsely populated, and as far as she remembered, Bianzhou wouldn’t fall until after the New Year. At the very least, these people could spend the holiday in peace.

As for what would happen after the New Year—whether the people would be evacuated south or stay and fight for Bianzhou—that was a decision for the city’s governor.

“You two young men, where are you coming from, and where are you headed?”

The uncle’s son spoke up, breaking the awkward silence.

Xia Mo quickly smiled and responded, “We’re from a small town on the northern border, heading south to seek refuge with relatives.”

Seeing how lightly packed the two of them were, the family had assumed they were just heading to a nearby city. They hadn’t expected that the real refugees were actually these two.

But they looked so well-fed—their faces were fair and smooth, even fairer than his own son’s. They didn’t look like they were running for their lives at all.

Xia Mo was good at making conversation and soon got the whole family chatting, allowing everyone to forget the unlucky words Xiao Jingyuan had said earlier.

They walked for about half an hour when Xiao Jingyuan suddenly grabbed hold of the cart.

“Stop.”

Everyone stopped talking and looked at him in confusion.

“Awooo~~”

A distant howl explained why Xiao Jingyuan had told them to stop.

“Damn, wolves! Cuàn’er, grab your weapons!” The uncle was the first to react, pulling a shovel from the cart and gripping it tightly.

His son, Cuàn’er, obeyed his father’s words and pulled out a bow and arrows, staring warily in the direction of the sound.

Xia Mo instinctively reached into her rain cape—though in reality, she was just pretending. She actually took a machete out from the convenience store and handed it to Xiao Jingyuan.

Then she pulled out another one for herself.

The Qian family didn’t have time to question why Xia Mo’s rain cape could conceal such a long machete. They were too busy watching the approaching wolves.

One… Two… Three…

In no time, seven wolves had emerged, pacing in an elegant but threatening formation, surrounding them.

“Husband, why are there so many? What are we going to do? There’s no way we can take on seven wolves!”

Qian Da-shu’s wife was already trembling with fear, gripping a wooden pole so tightly that it was clear she could barely hold it.

“Seven wolves isn’t even that many—it could be worse.”

“Oh, sure, like that makes it any better? If you guys can’t fight them off, make sure to give me a good whack with that shovel—I’d rather die cleanly than be eaten alive.”

“Enough, Cuàn’er’s mother, stop saying such ominous things.”

Then he turned to his son. “Cuàn’er, shoot the lead wolf! If their formation tightens any further, they’ll attack!”

But Cuàn’er wasn’t as steady as his father. His hands trembled so badly that his first shot completely missed.

“Aiyah, how are you this useless? You missed at this distance?!”

“Dad, I… I’ll try again.”

“Focus! We only have a few arrows left. If my arm hadn’t been injured years ago, I wouldn’t have even let you hold the bow.”

The next arrow was loosed, but not only did it miss again, it also enraged the wolves.

They charged.

Seven wolves lunged at them from all directions.

Now, Cuàn’er was shaking even more, sweating profusely despite the freezing weather.

“Give it to me.”

Seeing this, Xiao Jingyuan didn’t hesitate. He snatched the bow from Cuàn’er’s hands and fired an arrow at the nearest wolf.

The arrow struck the wolf’s neck, and it collapsed instantly.

“Nice shot!”

Qian Da-shu shouted excitedly before swinging his shovel at another attacking wolf.

Xiao Jingyuan quickly loosed another arrow—another wolf down.

The Qian family stared at him in shock.

This young man didn’t look very old, but his archery skills were incredible.

Xia Mo didn’t stay idle either. She swung her machete wildly, shouting as she slashed at the wolves.