Watching the ox cart leave the village, outside the village.
The village suddenly became tumultuous.
"You, did you see it just now?"
"I saw it, this, this Gu Chang'an, wasn't she dead?"
"Re, revived?"
"Could it be an evil spirit in disguise?"
The courtyard of the Village Head's family was packed with people, and the old Village Head had a splitting headache from all the shouting.
His eldest son bellowed, "Quiet, what's all the commotion about?"
The villagers thought Gu Chang'an's revival was ominous.
"Village Head, Gu Chang'an died and came back to life, she must be an evil spirit in disguise. When has there ever been someone who died and came back to life?"
"That's right, that's right, Village Head, capture Gu Chang'an and burn her to death, to prevent her from harming anyone."
Everyone said they wanted to burn Gu Chang'an to death, giving the Village Head an even worse headache.
In his youth, he had traveled and seen people appear to be dead in certain situations, but the ignorant would assume they were dead and bury them.
He thought Gu Chang'an might have been in such a situation, these foolish villagers.
"All shut up, what evil spirit nonsense? Look at yourselves behaving like ghosts, you lot are more like evil spirits than Gu Chang'an.
She never died, do you think Old Gu Six is stupid? Would he not know if his own daughter was dead or alive?
You all are meddling in other people's business, do you have enough food at home? Did you gather wild vegetables today?
That's enough, don't crowd here, go do what you need to do."
The Village Head's scolding dispelled any fear the villagers had.
The Village Head was the most educated person in the village and had seen the world, so the villagers trusted him.
Then they recalled that Old Gu Six had insisted his daughter wasn't dead, perhaps they had made a mistake?
Nevermind, nevermind.
They didn't even have their own food situation settled, how could they have time to worry about whether others were dead or alive?
The villagers dispersed in groups, chatting about family matters.
The Village Head looked at the dry, cracked earth outside and said to his eldest son, "Go to the city and investigate the situation there."
"Yes, father."
Gu Chang'an and her father were unaware of this farce in the village as they walked and discussed what they needed to buy.
"Father, what do you think of the Village Head's character?"
Old Gu Six pondered for a moment and said, "He is a fair and upright Village Head who does real work for Qingfang Village."
He didn't interact much with the villagers, as before his adopted father took him in, he had begged in the city or other villages.
Later when his adopted father brought him home, their house was a bit far from the village, and he disliked going there.
He really didn't want to see the people of the old Gu family.
Moreover, he didn't have time to wander in the village, as he had to practice martial arts with his adopted father, learn hunting, reading and writing. He was very busy.
His impression of the Village Head was just that, as for the villagers, they were just people who put on a facade.
"Father, should you remind the Village Head about the travel permit? Is it in the Village Head's possession?"
"Hmm, yes, I should remind him. Whether we have the travel permit or not, it's safer to travel with a large group when fleeing the famine."
During such chaotic times, it's easy for people's evil intentions to be unleashed.
His martial arts skills were decent, but two fists could not overcome four hands.
They paid six coins each to enter the city.
It was unclear if it was due to the weather, but the entire city looked grayish, and people walking on the road kicked up dust.
The streets were not very wide; Gu Chang'an did not know how road widths were calculated in ancient times.
Compared to modern roads, they were about the width of two lanes.
They first went to the grain store, where a few scattered people came to buy grain or check prices.
Old Gu Six approached and asked, "Shopkeeper, what are the current grain prices?"
The middle-aged man, who had just been chasing people away, seemed delighted, like a different person.
"Sir, please don't call me the wrong title. I'm just a worker at this grain store; you can call me Elder Brother Li. Grain prices have risen a lot; new rice is 40 coins per pound, old rice is 35 coins per pound, brown flour is 18 coins per pound, and white flour is 25 coins per pound."
"Thank you, Elder Brother Li. Your temperament is admirable; I can also tell you are not short-sighted."
"Old brother, you have a way with words. Let me give you some inside information; this grain store doesn't have much stock left.
Our shopkeeper has gone out of town to procure more grain. If he can get it, good, but if not, then no amount of silver will buy grain.
I've heard that there are droughts in all 46 counties of the surrounding 5 prefectures, so it will be difficult to get any grain."
"Thank you, Elder Brother Li. Please prepare 800 pounds of new rice, 500 pounds of old rice, and 500 pounds of white flour for me. I'm buying rations for my entire village."
"Oh my, you're asking for a large amount. It's a good thing you came to Chen's Grain Store, as we have that much stock. If you had gone elsewhere, you might not have been able to buy any today."
Elder Brother Li cheerfully called two young workers to bring the goods from the warehouse.
This was a big customer; in addition to his wages this month, he would also get a good bonus. What a profit!
Old Gu Six looked at the old ox; it could not pull 1,800 pounds of grain, and even if it could, it would attract too much attention on the way back.
Recalling his daughter's abilities, he whispered to Gu Chang'an, "Daughter, can you use your powers to hide the grain for me?"
Gu Chang'an nodded.
Old Gu Six was relieved and said, "Elder Brother Li, I'll take the grain in two trips. First, I'll take one cartload out of the city, as our village's other ox cart is waiting outside. I'll come back for the rest later."
"Alright, that's 62 taels of silver in total. Pay me half now, and the other half when you come back for the rest."
"Agreed, 31 taels. Take it, I'll pay you the other half when I return."
The workers moved quickly, with the rice and flour in 100-pound sacks, and had already loaded ten sacks onto the cart.
It didn't look like much, but it was heavy.
Gu Chang'an also got off and walked. Father and daughter drove the ox cart around the city randomly for two rounds, then found a small alley and drove the cart inside.
Old Gu Six kept watch at the entrance while Gu Chang'an observed their surroundings. With a wave of her little hand, she transported the ten sacks of grain into the manor's warehouse.
"Father, it's done."
Old Gu Six looked at the empty ox cart, licked his lips; his daughter Gu Chang'an was truly formidable.
He returned to the grain store with the empty cart, paid the other half of the silver, and waited for the workers to load the cart. Just like before, he went back to that alley and secured the grain.
Then they went to a small grain store and bought 300 pounds of rice and 200 pounds of white flour, with prices the same as the previous store, just on a different street.
Gu Chang'an noticed that the grain stores only sold very basic grains: rice, white flour, and brown flour. Rice was divided into old rice and new rice, that was it.
There were no beans, no sweet potato flour, no corn flour, and no coarse grains.
In Gu Chang'an's memory, she had never seen corn, sweet potatoes, or potatoes.
When village families ran out of grain, they would eat brown flour and wild vegetable porridge or just wild vegetables to stave off hunger.
Before grain prices rose, brown flour cost 3 coins per pound.
Tsk tsk, how heartless, how heartless.
The famine hadn't even started yet, but grain prices had risen like this, would people even be able to live?
