Chapter 12 Refugees

They bumped and swayed all the way to the farmstead. Lin Yuan threw up twice. Finally, before he could throw up a third time, they arrived. The once unfarmed land is already opened and sowed with seeds. Although Lin Yuan don’t know what kind of seeds——based on his friend’s words while at college he is a typical city guy who can’t tell the five crops (TN: millet, soybeans, sesame, barley, rice or other types – basically a phrase that encompasses all grains) from each other, if left in a farm field he would not even recognize what is rice and what is wheat.

This is a bit of an exaggeration, after all Lin Yuan thinks he can definitely tell the difference between rice and wheat, but it can be considered a straightforward portrayal.

“Boss.” The driver jumps down and placed a mounting stool for Lin Yuan. Lin Yuan stepped down using the mounting stool and stood on the land he owns——from now on he can be considered a small-time landowner.

If in the future he has a son, he can say to his son:”Son, look, this is the empire dad conquered.” (TN: LOL can’t even describe how ironic this is. ML: what am I, chopped liver? Even the author thinks so.)

This is obviously not possible.

The sky has already darkened now, only by the moonlight can the grass huts not too far away can be seen. Outside the settlement of grass huts is a firepit. Here there is plenty of wood, being next to the mountain and all. At this time, most have already slept. The people wake at sunrise and sleeps at sunset. Without the worry of starvation life seems much simpler.

Lin Yuan did not want to wake them when they have already rested just to inform them their boss has arrived. So, their small group arrived silently to where Lin Yuan will be living.

The house does not have a complex design but very large, fit for living quite a few people.

This is likely the least luxurious house of a landowner, but very practical. Lin Yuan is very satisfied.

Si Niang and the rest began to unpack but the time is limited so they only clean up the bedrooms and set up the bed.

“This bed is constructed well.” Si Niang touches the wood. Although she is not an artisan but life gave her experience.

Lin Yuan can’t tell whether it is good or bad so he pretends by nodding.

When walking over he did not see a well, the front has a river but river water is turbid. In order to use river water you have to wait until the sand settles before cooking it to a boil. That is too troublesome, so that night Lin Yuan gave up on washing his face and brushing his teeth. Without washing his feet either he climbed onto the bed for sleep.

The others were of similar situations.

A day riding in an ox cart, his whole person feels sore. Lin Yuan lies on the bed and ask Er Liang:”Er Liang, before at home did I have a time where I went to sleep without washing my feet?”

Er Liang says quietly:”Yes, when young master was tired you just took off your shoes before crawling into bed.”

Lin sniffs at the air:”It’s a good thing my feet don’t smell.”

Er Liang:”Of course, young master doesn’t need to farm so your feet doesn’t sweat. Of course there would be no smell.”

Lin Yuan looks at him with disdain:”As if you farm.”

Er Liang says pleased with himself:”My dad said being able to serve young master is the fortune accumulated in my past life.”

“Sleep quickly.” Lin Yuan had Er Liang blow out the light.

The next day morning, Lin Yuan was awoken by Er Liang. He slept too deeply that he didn’t even notice it began to rain in the middle of the night. Waking up in the morning it was quite chilly. He rubs his arms and had Er Liang bring out a cotton coat to wear.

Er Liang:”Earlier I went to find Li da ye and Yang er ye (TN: Ye is a term of respect for older men and here Er Liang calls them based on their sworn brotherhood order). They are waiting outside.”

Lin Yuan thought as he put on his socks, who is “your Da ye”? The original owner’s da ye (TN: Da ye is also a term to address an older uncle. And used colloquially as a curse word btw.) arrived? Over such a long distance and only being a step later than them, is this person a fortune teller who can calculate that he will build a farmstead here?

“What do you mean your da ye, Yang da ye.” Lin Yuan, “say their names.”

Er Liang:”Ai, it’s brother Dao and Yang Zi’an.”

Lin Yuan:”…..Then call them as I would, big brother Li and second brother Yang. Don’t da ye er ye, it’s weird.”

Er Liang rubs the back of his head, not understanding what is weird.

Lin Yuan walks out his room and sees brother Dao and Yang Zi’an sitting on the chairs. These two look more weather-beaten then before, after all they must go out into the fields everyday to supervise. Lin Yuan first cups his hand in greeting, before saying:”Third brother said that the people in the north are beginning to flee elsewhere and that we should prepare early.”

Brother Dao:”That fast?”

Yang Zi’an:”Nothing to be afraid of, here we are surrounded by mountains. If there are truly refugees coming in they wouldn’t flee in our direction.”

Brother Dao obviously does not feel the same, he rubs at his chin and says:”We can’t be sure, refugees may not come here but what about mountain bandits?”

Mountain bandits, as the name sounds, are bandits that wonder the mountains. Mostly made up of young or middle-aged men with nimble bodies that would not be too tall or bulky so that they can move through the forest easily.

These bandits have long been a source of trouble for this area’s landowners.

Nobody wants to be robbed. Although giving them their food supply will gain peace, but handing over their food their heart would be in pain.

“We are here.” Yang Zi’an squat down onto the floor, dipping his finger in water he casually drew a map that shows their location, “On this side is the official road. Only a small path leads here and there is no merchant road either.”

“Mountain bandits rob passing merchants and wealthy landowners, but they never stay in one place too long. Our location resembles a valley, moreover there is no important road or any well-known wealthy landowners around. Mountain bandits will not come here even if they have nothing better to do.”

“Refugees will also not flee towards the mountains. They head to places where there are people such as cities. If refugees truly come over here then that means Wu city…..”

Yang Zi’an sighs:”Take them in, Wu city will be finished, don’t take them in, Wu city will also be finished.”

His meaning both Lin Yuan and brother Dao understands.

Taking in refugees, Wu city’s food supply would not be enough to support the increase in population. The city’s residents themselves do not have enough to eat let alone share with outsiders. When the time comes the conflict in Wu city will escalate. They don’t believe that Wu city can still maintain order in such a conflict.

But if the city doesn’t take in the refugees, eventually once refugee numbers increase in crowds, they will have the guts to commit desperate acts in order to survive.

As long as refugees arrive, no matter what Wu city does it will always be wrong.

Lin Yuan sighs:”I will have the driver go to Wu city in three days to bring a message to third brother to warn him once he discovers refugees to immediately come over.”

Yang Zi’an nods:”Fine.”

Brother Dao sits on the side not saying anything. He looks out the window and sighs lightly. He has a heroic spirit and a sense of justice but this kind of situation is not something they can take part of as heroes.

In the face of famine and suffering, it is difficult to resist, everyone can only go with the flow.

“Also have third brother spread rumors, so that others can be more aware.” Lin Yuan says, “and call the guys at the oil plant to come over as well with their weapons.”

Once the refugees move south, they must hide themselves and pass a duration of time where they must be self sufficient.

Until the refugees spread elsewhere, or……