My Fulang is a Delicate Flower Chapter 88 Part 2

Ji Yangzong's chest heaved deeply. Just moments ago, with the whole family present, he had to hold himself together. Now, with no one else around, he could no longer contain his emotions. Carelessly, he covered his eyes.

"I am the village head of this village."

He wasn't afraid of reprimand from the authorities, what truly weighed on his heart was the sense of having failed the villagers.

When trouble arrived, he was the one preparing to leave. He had no idea what would become of so many fellow villagers.

"Although this journey is to join the merchant caravan heading north, we cannot simply abandon the families of those villagers who previously left to work elsewhere. I have already made advance visits to each household of the caravan's members. Once conflict breaks out, these families will first take refuge in Yuchang. When news arrived this morning about government troops being dispatched, I immediately sent Daniu to notify these families, and then had them spread the word to other villagers—anyone willing to evacuate should gather their belongings and follow our group."

Huo Shu said calmly: "In turbulent times, among those neither kin nor friend, there isn't so much affection to persuade each and every one. We can lend a hand to those who intend to survive. For those stubborn and unwilling, we can only let them be."

Ji Yangzong was speechless. He hadn't expected that Huo Shu's arrangements had already taken these into account. No wonder Daniu's figure had been missing earlier, it turned out Huo Shu had already sent him out.

"Now that we've given them one chance, it can be considered having done one's utmost."

Huo Shu said to Ji Yangzong: "When the time comes to leave, we'll leave some grain in the public granary, giving those who won't leave one last option. Father, you can also be free of guilt. In the face of great disaster, it isn't necessary to wait for death alongside stubborn people to be considered benevolent and righteous."

After hearing all of Huo Shu's arrangements, Ji Yangzong's eyes were red, and he could no longer hold back his tears.

Ji Yangzong had always presented himself as strong and unyielding—a shrewd and fair village head, a father both strict and kind, and among his siblings, a magnanimous, reliable figure who could support and look after his relatives.

Since the elders and parents passed away, there had been no one left for him to rely on. Everything had to be held up by him. He had to step forward, make decisions, and take charge.

But regardless of age, young or old, all people were made of flesh and blood, not from silver or iron. Everyone hadnmoments of hesitation, helplessness, and confusion. Yet at such times, he had no one to rely on.

His wife and child were vulnerable, it was his duty to protect them. How could he then make them bear more fear and worry?

After the passing of his parents, this was the first time, in this moment, facing a major event, that he had received thorough arrangements and had truly been able to rely on a younger generation.

Although Huo Shu was only his son-in-law, he far surpassed what one might expect from one's own children.

Huo Shu was usually aloof, only treating Ji Taoyu differently. He and his wife often comforted each other: as long as Huo Shu treated Ji Taoyu differently from others, even if he didn't regard them as family, it didn't matter.

Now, encountering this event, he finally understood Huo Shu's dedication.

He couldn't help but also admire Huo Shu's decisiveness. However: "A-Shu, when the time comes, with so many people leaving together..."

Huo Shu knew what Ji Yangzong wanted to say: "In turbulent times, manpower is a great asset. A drop of water evaporates when fire comes, but a pool of water has the power to extinguish it. If we want strong men as help, it's impossible not to have the old, weak, and young."

"Taking so many people is indeed difficult. But the world rarely offers perfect strategies. How can everything go as wished? One must always bear some hardship."

Ji Yangzong felt resolved: "You are right. Letting those willing to leave come along is already an act of benevolence and righteousness. A large group is hard to move, but it also gains resistance power because of the numbers."

Huo Shu nodded and said: "We must leave tonight. Leaving one moment earlier makes passing through the border smoother."

"I'll go pack first."

"Alright, go, go quickly."

Ji Yangzong watched Huo Shu enter the house. He swiftly wiped the tears from his face, steadied himself, and mustered his resolve to begin packing as well.

The house was in chaos, busier than during New Year preparations. But unlike the lively bustle of New Year preparations, everyone seemed hushed, only burying their heads in hurriedly packing their belongings. No one spoke much.

Only the dull sounds of chests opening and closing could be heard.

For the chickens and ducks they had raised at home, Huo Shu solved them with a few strokes of the knife to take them all along.

The village wasn't only the Ji family preparing to leave—those other families that had decided to depart were also turning out boxes and emptying cabinets, busily packing their belongings.

Since the village families had been notified, everyone in the village now knew about the impending war and the Ji family's urging for people to evacuate.

Fearing it might be false rumors, some villagers secretly went to peek outside the Ji family's house. Discovering that the Ji family was indeed packing, they made immediate decisions without a word, went back to gather their own families, and rushed to pack according to the notified time.

Naturally, there were also those hesitant and unable to decide, wanting to leave but reluctant to give up the fields and family properties in the village, yet afraid of the war if they stayed.

In their anxiety, the children and adults at home cried together.

There were also those who, having made up their minds firmly not to leave, gathered at home pointing and cursing the Ji family for having no conscience. As village head, he wasn't guarding the village but actually thinking of running away.

"Eldest Brother, the Ji family has already packed several chests of things in the main courtyard. Shouldn't we also quickly pack our things and go out to hide for a while!"

"The garrison troops have moved south. If the authorities can't hold back the rebels, what will we do when they fight their way here!"

The You family member who went to gather news ran back, and they gathered again in the courtyard of the You family's main branch.

The Ji and You families didn't get along, but in the face of great disaster, they naturally paid attention to each other's movements to make their own response plans.

Unexpectedly, upon hearing this, the eldest uncle of the You family said directly: "Good! It's good that they're leaving!"

"Why should we run! With the Ji family gone this time, Ji Yangzhong can forget about keeping his title as village head. All these years we haven't been able to catch him making a mistake, and now he delivers it himself. If we leave, will we still have this chance?"

"Eldest Brother, what time is it now, and you're still thinking about these things? Don't you want your life?"

The second uncle of  the You family said: "The fighting outside is so fierce, I'm afraid there will be no life left to enjoy this wealth."

The eldest uncle said: "Heroes emerge in times of chaos. How can you achieve anything if you're so timid and fearful when things happen. If they really attack by then, just hide in the mountains. On our private mountain over there, there's an abandoned lumber yard deep in the valley forest. Tidying it up would be best for taking refuge. Even if they come here for no reason, they won't go into that forest to fight. We can just come out after the war subsides."

[乱世出枭雄 (luànshì chū xiāoxióng): lit. in chaotic times, heroes emerge; fig. great leaders arise during turmoil]

The fifth uncle laughed upon hearing this: "Indeed, how could I have forgotten that Eldest Brother's private mountain has that lumber yard for shelter. That mountain was so remote, even livestock had difficulty reaching it. The lumber yard was abandoned not long after it was used. Although it must be somewhat overgrown and old now, it just happens to be a good place to settle."

The uncles from the various branches immediately felt a wave of relief, and their panic subsided considerably.

The eldest uncle added: "Don't just idle around either. Right now is the time to win over the people's hearts."

The You family members looked at each other and smiled.