Chapter 124: Traitor from Within
They walked for another hour, putting a good distance between themselves and Qinglong Gorge, before Uncle Ma finally told everyone to rest.
As was their custom, they first gathered firewood and lit a ring of small fires. Then they circled the mule carts inside the ring and lit a large bonfire in the center, where everyone gathered to rest.
The leaping flames lit up their surroundings.
It was only then that Gu Fei saw what a sorry state everyone was in.
Gu Jinsheng, from the village chief’s family, was dragging one leg as he limped along.
Her uncle, Gu Zhong, had an arm in a sling across his chest.
Her other uncle’s shoulder was soaked in blood.
They looked like the battered remnants of a defeated army.
Mrs. Chen had just set up the pot to cook when Ms. Qian came over, her voice booming, "Sister-in-law, our grain was all stolen! Lend me some."
Mrs. Chen’s hands froze. ’It’s happening,’ she thought. ’The very thing I’ve been dreading this entire journey has finally come to pass.’
’Refusing is not an option. This is Gu Zhang’s own brother and sister-in-law, after all.’
’But if I lend it to them, there’s no question they’ll never pay it back.’
Aunt Liu watched them, looking like she wanted to say something, but she ultimately held back. She decided it was best not to interfere in a matter between two brothers; it wasn’t her place as an outsider.
The grandmother then rushed over to Mrs. Chen. "What are you standing there frozen for? I saw two bags of flour on that cart. Just give one to the eldest’s family."
’Talk about biting the hand that feeds you!’
’The old woman was a textbook example!’
’She eats our food, yet she wants to give our things away!’
’And she didn’t even say to give them coarse grain—she went straight for the flour!’
Gu Fei opened her mouth to speak several times but swallowed her words each time.
’This is Gu Zhang’s own brother and sister-in-law. It isn’t anyone else’s place to speak up.’
Gu Zhang’s voice was grim. "We don’t have much food left either. Everyone knows that Young Master Su and his companions are eating with us. This flour must be saved for them."
"But it’s not impossible to lend you some, Sister-in-law. We have half a bag of millet. That should be enough to last your family until Huainan County."
"Mrs. Chen, give it to her."
Ms. Qian was unhappy when she heard this. They clearly had flour, but he was offering her millet. What was that supposed to mean? Everyone knew flour was a fine grain and millet was a coarse one; flour was usually three times the price of millet.
Since she had no intention of ever paying it back, she naturally wanted the flour. She couldn’t help but mutter, "Can three people really eat that much flour?"
Gu Fei finally couldn’t take it anymore. ’She came here for a handout, and she still has the nerve to demand flour!’
She said coolly, "Aunt, you still haven’t said when you’ll be returning the grain you’re borrowing."
"When our family borrowed one tael of silver from you, we paid you back within the hour."
Hearing Gu Fei’s words, Ms. Qian’s mouth flew open. "You wretched girl! When adults are talking, what right do you have to butt in—"
The words had barely left her mouth when Ms. Qian suddenly remembered: Gu Fei had killed men, fought off wolves, and who knows how many bandits she had struck down today. Her cheek twitched, and she quickly backtracked, "Little Fei, your aunt didn’t mean it like that. It’s just... it’s just—"
Gu Fei stared at her coldly. "Grain is so precious right now. It’s what’s keeping us alive. You’ve seen for yourself how many people have died on this journey, fighting over food, haven’t you, Aunt?"
"You make it sound so simple, ’borrowing’—"
Lian’er, mustering her courage, chimed in, "Exactly! Does your family not have any silver? A few days ago, when Shanzi’s family ran out of grain, they used silver to buy more."
With the two of them tag-teaming her, Ms. Qian’s face flushed crimson. She glared daggers at Lian’er. ’A mere servant girl they bought, and she dares to talk back to me!’
At this, the grandmother grew frantic and barked at Lian’er, "You shut your mouth! This is no place for you to speak!"
She then turned to Mrs. Chen. "Didn’t you hear what he said? Hurry up and get it!"
Without a word, Mrs. Chen retrieved the half-bag of millet from the mule cart, set it on the ground, and went back to preparing their meal.