Chapter 37 The Hidden Turbulence

Chapter 37 The Hidden Turbulence

"Merge teams?"

Jiang Yutang leaned against the cart, his gaze falling on another group of refugees not far away.

That group was even larger than theirs, with the elderly, women, and children crammed together, the children's cries and the adults' complaints all mixed together, creating a chaotic mess.

She frowned slightly.

The more people there are, the harder it is to manage, and the higher the probability of accidents on the road. Whether it's fighting for food and water or someone collapsing from exhaustion, it can make an already difficult journey even more difficult.

Just then, the two constables escorting them turned around and shouted gruffly at the refugees, "Wait here! We're going to the post station to rest for a while. Don't wander off!"

After saying that, the two swaggered into the gate of the post station. Soon after, their laughter echoed from inside, a stark contrast to the exhaustion of the refugees outside.

The refugees dared not object and all found places to sit down and rest.

Someone pulled out a flatbread that the yamen runners had given out that morning. The flatbread was dry and hard, but everyone still chewed it slowly, their foreheads glistening with sweat, even picking up the crumbs that fell on their clothes and stuffing them into their mouths.

Seeing this scene, Jiang Yutang felt a pang of sadness. She turned around, climbed onto the cart, and took out several packets of wafer biscuits from her bundle.

"Try this, it's softer and easier to chew than a flatbread." She distributed the cookies to her family, and then specially handed Xiaoxiao a cream-flavored one.

Xiaoxiao took the cookie, squeezed it, and her eyes were full of curiosity.

"This looks quite exquisite." Jiang Shengan said, taking a bite. The crisp texture was a pleasant surprise. "It's actually quite delicious, much better than the dry rations we usually eat."

The family gathered around and quickly finished the cookies.

Jiang Yutang then took out a box of chewing gum from his bundle and gave one piece to everyone.

"This is chewing gum. Chewing it can freshen your breath and relieve boredom. But remember to spit it out when it loses its flavor, and never swallow it."

Jiang Huaiyu had just put her chewing gum in her mouth when she heard this and immediately jumped up. With something still in her mouth, she asked indistinctly, "What will happen if I swallow it? Poisoning?"

"Hmm..." Jiang Yutang deliberately feigned a troubled look, shrugged, and said casually, "It's not that serious, it might just be blocked."

"Blocked?"

Jiang Huaiyu repeated those two words to herself, then paused for a few seconds before realizing what they meant. She immediately looked miserable and patted her stomach.

"Oh no! Why didn't you tell me this morning when you gave it to me? I chewed it and it tasted bland, and I figured it wouldn't dissolve no matter how much I chewed, so I swallowed it!"

Seeing the other person pacing anxiously, Jiang Yutang couldn't help but burst out laughing and quickly explained, "I was just teasing you."

Jiang Huaiyu breathed a sigh of relief, both angry and amused: "You dare to lie to your third brother! I'll get my revenge next time!" As she spoke, she reached out to twist Jiang Yutang's ear.

The family members around him also laughed, and the originally oppressive atmosphere immediately relaxed a lot.

Cheng Lanzhou sat cross-legged under the tree, his gaze sweeping over another group of refugees. When his eyes landed on a few of them, he narrowed his eyes, revealing a dangerous look, like a cheetah lying in ambush.

"What did you find?"

Cheng Daier sat down next to Cheng Lanzhou. She knew her younger brother well; once he showed this expression, it meant someone was about to suffer.

Cheng Lanzhou withdrew his gaze, closed his eyes wearily, and his Adam's apple bobbed: "No, but it's still best to be careful."

Half an hour later, four yamen runners lazily walked out of the post station, chatting and laughing. But when they looked at the refugees, their eyes changed, and they became fierce and menacing.

The whip in the yamen runner's hand cracked in the air, the ear-piercing sound instantly tensing the previously relaxed refugees.

"Everyone, gather around here! Stop dawdling!"

One of the constables shouted sternly, while the other brandished his whip, pulling the two groups of refugees together like livestock.

The carriage wheels rolled over the gravel road in front, and the carriages behind slowly followed, forming a pincer movement that trapped the group of more than a hundred people in the middle.

The line of about forty people was barely able to maintain order, but now that it has doubled in size, it has become incredibly crowded.

The entire team resembled a bloated, long snake, stretched out in a chaotic mess, with the air thick with the smells of sweat and anxiety.

Jiang Yutang was caught in the crowd and could only follow closely behind Jiang Sumin, holding onto him tightly for fear of being separated by the surging crowd.

"Fourth Brother, move closer to me, I can't hold you back."

"Tsk, troublesome." Jiang Sumin said this, but still moved closer to her.

The sun was still scorching. After walking for two hours, everyone began to feel dizzy, their steps became unsteady, and even their breathing became heavy.

Just then, a commotion broke out in the crowd. A man hurriedly walked past Zhu and bumped into her forcefully. She stumbled and fell forward.

"ah--"

With her five-month pregnant belly, Zhu's face turned deathly pale instantly. She instinctively tried to protect her belly, but she couldn't steady herself in time.

"Watch out!" Jiang Jiuzhe reacted quickly, rushing over almost instantly, grabbing Zhu's arm and steadily supporting her.

Still shaken, Zhu leaned against Jiang Jiuzhe's chest, patting her chest with one hand and gently stroking her stomach with the other, her voice trembling, "It's alright...it's alright..."

Jiang Jiuze frowned, his sharp eyes sweeping across the crowded people, but all around him were densely packed figures. The person who had bumped into him had long since disappeared into the crowd, and he couldn't even find a trace of their back.

"Forget it, don't bother looking anymore, there are too many people." Zhu tugged at his sleeve and whispered her advice.

Jiang Jiuzhe remained silent with a dark expression, but pulled Zhu Shi closer to him, shielding her from the crowd with his body, his tone serious.

"Stay close to me. It's okay if you walk slowly, just make sure you don't get bumped into by anyone."

Zhu nodded, supporting her belly and walking forward along the other person's arm, feeling completely at ease.

Fortunately, Jiang Jiuze was there to protect her; otherwise, the consequences of that fall would have been unimaginable.

The setting sun was finally reduced to only half its head, gradually disappearing behind the mountains.

The first day after the group was reunited went relatively smoothly. The refugees found their own corners to set up temporary shelters, and the air was filled with the faint scent of firewood.

Jiang Yu was squatting on the ground checking Jiang Shengan's wheelchair. The wheels seemed to be a little stuck when they were traveling earlier, so he had to adjust them a little before it got dark.

A "ping-pong" sound came from beside the cart as the others took out pots and stainless steel bowls and chopsticks to prepare dinner for the night.

Just then, several men dressed in tattered clothes walked over from the opposite side. The leader was a middle-aged man with a fierce face. His eyes were fixed on the Jiang family's cart, filled with greed and resentment.

"Hey! What makes your family so special?"

He shouted in a rough voice, and the sound immediately attracted the attention of the surrounding refugees.

"We're all exiled, but others only have a bundle. You guys are different; you have a cart and a pot, and even the old folks in wheelchairs are so comfortable. Did you secretly get some benefits?"