Chapter 11 To Be Alive

The arrival of spring meant the warming of the earth, dead trees sprouting new leaves and the land thriving.

The corpse of beggars frozen to death have already been moved and vendors begin to show up on the streets. It was as if the tragedies of the winter did not exist, now is still peaceful and prosperous times.

But there are fewer temporary laborers on the street, instead there are more beggars.

Er Liang is currently packing their things as they must move to the farmstead. Although the dormitories for the workers have yet to finish building, but Lin Yuan’s private dwelling with a yard have already finished. Lin Yuan had thought it would still require some more time but the speed of the artisans was much faster than expected.

The oil plant business is already stabilized and on the right track. Basically, it was enough for Lin Yuan to check the accounts only once a month. Jiang Gui can also help in supervising.

Since the income coming from the oil plant increased and Jiang Gui’s dividend along with it, Jiang Gui began to regard the oil plant as a hen that can lay eggs. Everyday after work he would visit the place and afterwards happily go have a drink or two. He was often seen in a good mood the past days.

Si Niang and Gou zi is also packing up, after all they had lived there for several months and accumulated quite a lot of things.

Jiang Gui showed up to speak with Lin Yuan. “You are leaving, us three, ah no, four brothers, the three of you are on that side leaving me here by myself.” Jiang Gui sighed, slightly depressed, “if not for my job at the government office, I will also come along.”

Lin Yuan:”Third brother don’t say that, the oil plant still requires Gege’s care.”

Jiang Gui promises:”Of course, I won’t have fourth brother lose out even one bit, or else my name will be written backwards.”

Jiang Gui is a clever person with a clear view of things. He is able to adapt to all kinds of situations and put on the right attitude when facing different types of people.

“You should find more people to be on hand.” Jiang Gui says quietly, “I can see that the world will fall into complete upheaval soon. With more people you can protect yourselves better. Later, I will have people bring more hoes over, when needed it can be used as weapons.”

Lin Yuan paused, that the world will fall into upheaval everyone can sense it, but most people still cling to the thought that maybe it won’t and continue living their days. As long as the fire doesn’t burn to their doors they won’t be able to truly feel afraid.

“Third brother, don’t worry.” Lin Yuan pats Jiang Gui’s shoulder, “by end of next year, the granaries will be full and third brother can also come over.”

Jiang Gui sighs:”We’ll see.”

Staying in Wu city, at least there is a city wall. Even if it is short and crumbling apart, but a broken down wall is still a wall. Besides, Wu city also has soldiers guarding it. If outside you were to encounter bandits or refugees who are just a bit more ruthless, then normal people don’t provide much of a struggle.

But Jiang Gui also understands Lin Yuan’s thinking, his property is in a remote and desolate place without any people around. It is also surrounded by a river in the front and a mountain in the back. If anything does happen all you have to do to save your life is hide in the mountains.

But only as a last resort because Jiang Gui is unwilling to live that kind of life.

No one wants to live the life of a vagrant.

Lin Yuan did not try to convince him, after all Jiang Gui is no fool. If truly the day comes Jiang Gui will seek shelter at his farmstead.

“Third brother, no need to send me off.” Lin Yuan climbs onto the ox cart as Wu city cannot buy any horses. Ox is still an alright choice, slow but better than walking. Lin Yuan even hired a driver for his cart.

Jiang Gui stands just to the side of the city walls, watching as Lin Yuan’s cart left farther and farther.

A soldier that guards the city gates recognizes him and laughs:”You are like a wife sending their husband off. They have already gone and you are still watching.”

Jiang Gui swats at the soldier:”Don’t talk nonsense! I will go complain to your superior so that you will spend the rest of your life guarding gates!”

The soldier is not intimidated, still smiling mischievously:”Brother Jiang, I’ve heard you became rich recently?”

Jiang Gui:”What rich, where did you hear such nonsense. If I was rich would I still be here talking to you? I would already be at a restaurant eating the best.”

The soldier thinks about it and agrees. Sitting down he drank water from a bowl:”I heard that the north already has disturbances.”

Jiang Gui widens his eyes:”What?”

Soldier:”I heard from my cousin that a lot of people died and lead to a plague.”

Jiang Gui shocked:”A plague?”

Soldier:”It’s said that some cities already sealed itself. A lot of people are fleeing south. Don’t know how many are going to arrive this time.”

Jiang Gui felt a bit scared, when leaving he muttered to himself, “We’ll see, we’ll see.”

If truly there are refugees coming in from the north, even if he didn’t want to seek shelter with Lin Yuan he would still have no choice but to.

Although an ox cart is not as fast as horse carriages but it is more stable. Lin Yuan sits in the cart and feels as if his organs will be thrown up. The ox cart may be stable but the road is rocky. These days there’s no such thing as paved roads, no cement just plain dirt. If you don’t travel on official roads then the road will be even worse.

At noon the carriage stopped to rest. Lin Yuan ate a flat cake which was made by Si Niang and was both plentiful and tasty, not the least bit dry with the amount of oil used. Only one was enough to fill the stomach but the driver ate two. He is a middle-aged man, tall and skinny but not lacking in strength. Chewing on the savory flat cake he says:”Four more hours until we are there.”

Eight hours in total, Lin Yuan’s heart is full of despair.

The driver took a bite of the cake with a side of pickled vegetables and a drink of water, saying in contentment:”Boss, I have yet to meet a more generous person than you.” He has been a driver for many years but it is the first time a boss has given him two oil cakes to eat.

Driving a cart is hard work and also not many people can afford it. Most just rely on their legs to get anywhere.

Wealthy families have their own carriages and would not need to hire him.

Only merchants from other regions would rent a carriage. They may not treat him unwell but the most they would give him are two buns made of mixed grains. But today he not only gets two oil cakes but also pickled vegetables. He decides, the evening’s oil cakes he will save for his wife and children once he goes home.

Lin Yuan sat resting under a tree while Er Liang and Gou zi went to pick wild berries. “This is snake berries (TN: literal translation), taste good.” Gou zi picked some berries that are small and dark red, some are already rotten.

Er Liang picked one up, after rubbing it he put it in his mouth but soon sticks his tongue out:”A bit sour.”

Gou zi laughs:”You have yet to get used to eating it.”

Si Niang watches with a smile. Compared to when Lin Yuan first met her she appears much younger now.

It was on a whim that Lin Yuan asked her age and found out she was only 28. She married at 13 and gave birth at 15. If just by appearance, to say she is 48 Lin Yuan would believe it.

Si Niang is this time period’s microcosm of all farmer girls. Marry at an early age and have children early. If lucky they will survive childbirth, if unlucky both mother and child could lose their life. Their dream is to have plentiful harvest so that their families will not starve. If there were to be surplus then that would be the best thing ever. The landowner taking 10% less of the harvest is something to be content about.

Lin Yuan says to Si Niang:”Si Niang, once we arrive, if you like, find someone suitable and remarry.”

Si Niang paused, after awhile she said in a bitter tone:”Who will want me? Besides, I have Gou zi.”

For her, being alive is already a fortunate thing.

TN: Yay! A new map! Goddamn, I am already dying to get to the more interesting parts of war and schemes! (#｀皿´)