Chapter 59.2

Song Zhicheng quickly said, "Dad, why are you bringing this up? We weren't planning on taking advantage of Dingxiang."

Song Xingyi replied, "I'm just reminding you, don't think you're all that just because you have some silver in your pockets. Look at Third Brother and his family...ah...it's best to hold onto some things yourself."

Zhang shi also laughed and said, "Dad, we know all about these things, and we've talked to the children about it too. If Dingxiang didn't have the wit she does, we wouldn't have any silver saved up...since Dingxiang says now is the time to buy shops, then let's buy, even if we don't have that much silver, we can only afford a small one."

Song Dingxiang hurriedly said, "Actually, that's also my opinion. It's good to make a profit, but if we lose... So Uncle and Auntie still need to consider it for themselves."

Zhang shi said, "If it weren't for you, we wouldn't have had the confidence to buy a shop. If we lose, we can always start over. People have hands, feet, and strength, so should we be afraid of not making money in the future?"

With her words, others naturally didn't have any objections, so they all began to calculate how much silver they could use. If Song Dingxiang had a plan, once the drought passed and people recovered, the shops would naturally continue to make money.

Both families agreed to buy a shop, knowing that it wouldn't be stolen if left there, and if they needed to use the silver urgently in the future, they could always sell it.

Real estate is always a reliable investment in any era, and Song Dingxiang firmly believed in this.

Song Yulan was also tempted, but she hadn't made much silver and was a widow living off her family. After calculating the silver she had, she suppressed the urge to buy a shop and decided to wait until the drought passed to lease out a few more acres of land, as long as she and her mother didn't have to worry about food and drink.

As for other matters, they would deal with them later.

After the family members discussed it, they set off for the county town early the next day, feeling relieved only after receiving the title deed.

*

The parched earth, once softened by spring's tender mercies, now bakes beneath an unrelenting summer sun.

The heavens, stubbornly withholding their life-giving elixir, have condemned the river to a slow, agonizing decline. Its once vibrant current is dwindling, a skeletal reflection of its former self. Dependent on the river's bounty, the water hole is a desiccated husk, its bed cracked and gasping.

In this water crisis, the lotus pond has become an expanse of mud, its verdant leaves stilled in a desperate act of conservation, mirroring the land's collective thirst.

The county is promoting drought-resistant crops like buckwheat and sweet potatoes, with reduced taxes and the option to pay taxes with these crops instead of wheat, rice, or corn.

With autumn's inexorable march drawing near, the land parched under an intensifying drought. Song Dingxiang, having emptied her workshop of its tools and materials, dedicated her full attention to the cultivation of buckwheat and sweet potatoes. The once bustling space, where the rhythmic cadence of creation once echoed, now stood silent to the pressing demands of survival.

Hu Tou has gone to town several times to sell whatever food he can and bring back what he can't sell. If the drought continues, there may be unrest, so it's better to clear out everything now.

The winter's expected bounty of snow has yet to materialize, casting an ominous shadow over a land already grappling with adversity.

From the desolate north, a harrowing exodus unfolds as refugees, driven to the brink by desperation, converge on this region. In a macabre marketplace of survival, they barter their most precious possessions - their children and wives - for the meager sustenance of sweet potatoes and rice.

These desperate souls, clutching their newfound provisions, press onward towards the south, yearning for an oasis amidst the drought-stricken wasteland, a sanctuary where they can rebuild shattered lives and hope for a future beyond their darkest hour.

Wang Yuanwai and his family have left, leaving Wang Quan to look after the house in town. Li Yunsheng invited Song Xingyi to stay on his farm, but Song Xingyi ultimately declined.

"I don't really not want to go," Song Xingyi said to his family. "It's just that if we go, what about the fifth and sixth families? I'm not close to the first, second, and third families anymore, but the fifth and sixth families are united with us. We can't just leave them behind... I don't want to cause any trouble."

Song Dingxiang nodded in agreement. If only their family went and disregarded others, it might make sense logically, but it could strain relations in the future. They still planned to stay in the village, and they couldn't afford to offend all their relatives.

Natural disasters often bring about man-made disasters, as desperation for food can drive people to do anything.

In the middle of the night, they were suddenly awakened by cries and commotion.

Song Zhiyan and Song Zhicheng peeked over the fence with hatchets, looking towards the village entrance where the sky was glowing red from a fire. Dark figures were running back and forth, crying and shouting, until it finally quieted down.

They only dared to go out then, carrying shovels and calling out to the villagers to dig a trench near the fire for isolation.

A brutal assault targeted several homes at the village's periphery, resulting in tragic loss of life. The dwellings were reduced to smoldering ruins, their contents plundered in a heartless act of desecration.

Survivors, their bodies etched with the grim of soot, were overcome by an anguish so profound it melted them unconscious. Their pitiable state was a stark testament to the horror they had endured.

The entire village was in shock at the senseless deaths.

The local official came to survey the area and could only shake his head. "There's nothing we can do. These are displaced people wandering around, and it's impossible to locate them. Not just your village, several villages have been looted. Ah..."

Song Dingxiang felt a heavy burden on her heart. She looked at Song Xingyi and said, "Grandpa, why don't we invite the families of the fifth and sixth grandaunts to live with us, especially the fifth grandaunt... let's endure these days together. Besides, having more people around will boost our courage. We can't just leave it like this..."

Song Xingyi responded, "Yes, I will go talk to them. Those people are too cruel, taking several lives. Who knows what they might do next. If the drought continues next year, things might get even more chaotic."

Some villagers who didn't have farmland began packing their belongings, planning to form a group to migrate for survival. However, the Song family was considered significant in the village and couldn't abandon their possessions.

Fortunately, they had some grain left to sustain themselves, praying for rain to come soon.

As winter passed, the village population dwindled, and even the Chinese New Year lacked any festive spirit. The drought had left everyone feeling lifeless.

"Second Daughter, have you noticed that we haven't seen Song Jiaoxing from their family for so long?" Fang Shi asked while sorting through leather.

Without any pigs left, they quietly kept a few sheep in the cellar for milk to feed the little ones. Due to the lack of nutritious food, Qiao Liu and Zhao Di's milk supply was insufficient.

Zhao Di's son, Dayu, born in a drought year, unfortunately couldn't breastfeed for long and had to drink sheep's milk and a porridge made from aged millet. Even this porridge was precious, as only the nursing babies were allowed to have it.

These pieces of leather were sent along with the wool initially. Some were made into shoe uppers and sent back, while the rest that couldn't be done in time were no longer outsourced but made by the women themselves when they had free time.

The families of the fifth and sixth grandaunts also moved in together, with the three families squeezed into one courtyard. Although it was a bit inconvenient, they felt much safer.

As for the third brother's family wanting to live with the eldest brother's family, unfortunately, the eldest brother's household was already crowded, and they couldn't accommodate them. The second eldest brother's family had unpleasant division of inheritance issues, so they were not willing to host the third brother's whole family.

Therefore, now the families of the fourth, fifth, and sixth elders lived together, causing some envy among other families.

The fifth grandaunt said, "What, you still don't know?"

Fang Shi was always one to gossip and eagerly asked, "Fifth Aunt, what's going on with Jiaoxing?"

With a disdainful snort, the fifth grandaunt said, "That family did such a thing, claiming Jiaoxing had gone to her maternal home early on. And when you all found her and brought her back, did you think things could go back to how they were before? She had already been sent to her maternal home, reportedly married to a widower over there."

"What???" Fang Shi was extremely surprised. "Married to a widower? Why?"

"You fool," the fifth grandaunt scoffed, "why do you think? One, they couldn't tolerate her anymore, and second... who knows if Jiaoxing is still a virgin. Being able to marry off is already good enough. Do you expect to make a big fuss and find a better family for her?"

Song Dingxiang also felt heavy in her heart, "How could Jiaoxing be willing? She's too proud."

The fifth grandmother said, "Even if she's not willing, what can she do? Can she run away a second time? In this year of great calamity, there's no food to eat anywhere she goes. It's better to stay in this mountain valley, even if we have to eat tree bark, we won't starve."

Song Dingxiang sighed, unable to describe the feeling in her heart, but she just felt stifled.

Suddenly, Li shi said, "Fifth Sister-in-law, your son is a hawker, right? Why not consider opening a shop in town?"

The fifth grandaunt replied, "Already thought of that, and my youngest son is learning a trade in town, planning to bring me over there later. Our family is small, anyway, I'm just an old lady, I can live anywhere. It's just hard to leave you all."

Li shi smiled and said, "Living in town is good, convenient, and far away from all those troublesome things, so we won't be implicated in the future."

Upon hearing this, the fifth grandaunt's eyes lit up, "What, do you all have the same idea?"

Li shi then asked, "What does the sixth family think?"

The sixth grandaunt leaned on the kang cabinet, comparing a few pieces of broken leather in her hand, and laughed, "Our family is even simpler, but we've spent a lot of money on medicine these years, afraid we won't be able to live in town. But my family doesn't get along well with them, it's all out in the open. If something happens, we won't be implicated. Fourth Sister-in-law, if you move to town, let my youngest son taking care your orchard, you can pay him a few coins a year."

Li shi said, "We indeed have that idea, I'm also tired of it. We all have the same parents, how come their families can come up with such ideas? After Song Taohong came out, making others jealous, they started following the bad example."

The sixth grandaunt added, "Luckily my daughter got married early, or we would really lose face. When my family earns more money in the future, I'll move to town with you all, just don't let them bother you."

"I just don't know when the heavens will open their eyes, at this rate, I'm afraid we won't survive..." The fifth grandaunt looked at the clear blue sky outside, sighing heavily with worry.

As the disaster situation finally eased in the summer, several heavy rains completely soaked the ground, refilling the water puddles and bringing back the long-lost greenery in the lotus pond.

Some of the people who fled to escape the famine returned, but some may never come back. However, people couldn't dwell in sorrow for too long, everyone picked up their plows and hoes and rushed towards the fields.

Now is the perfect time to plant corn, and they can also plant a second crop of late rice. As long as the heavens don't unleash more calamities, at least they can live a year of plenty.

The Imperial Court also distributed seeds for various crops. When Song Zhiyuan went to collect the seeds, he encountered Wang Yuanwai, who had just returned from the north.

"Old brother, there's been a great victory in the north! Your son-in-law should be returning soon. Haha!"

Upon hearing this, Song Zhiyuan was so overjoyed that he almost forgot about the seeds. He could only think about returning home to share the good news.

Zhou Yino returned, and Song Zhiyuan's daughter finally no longer had to endure hardship. Their future was now filled with hope!

At the same time, Song Dingxiang also received a letter from Zhou Yino, the first one he had sent in two years.

——— Author's Note:

Song Dingxiang: Endure hardship? No, no, not at all. If it weren't for the drought, I would be living comfortably.