Fu Chang was thinking that once the rice was harvested, he would arrange for a group of able-bodied men to leave the mountains—both to purchase supplies and to inquire about news from outside.

The elder was very afraid Fu Chang would leave and hurriedly asked: “Will the County Magistrate lead the group?”

Fu Chang shook his head. “No, I’ll have Zisong lead them out.”

Fu Yong, styled Zisong—Fu Chang had only recently given him this courtesy name. Having received a courtesy name meant he was now an adult.

The elder felt relieved hearing this. Fu Chang had no intention of abandoning them and leaving, so he said “The County Magistrate is wise” and turned to go cut soybeans.

Before the refugees fled, Fu Chang had been the County Magistrate of Heyin. When Heyin City fell, he could only lead the people in flight. As they fled, the group scattered and dispersed. Combined with refugees from other places joining the chaos, in the end only a few Heyin people remained by his side.

Though only a few remained, their presence could prove Fu Chang’s identity, so they called him County Magistrate, and everyone followed suit.

Fu Chang had always wanted to decline the title.

But everyone knew Fu Chang was the only one among them capable of keeping them alive in these deep mountains. How could they let him go? So everyone called him County Magistrate.

Even though this was just a village of thirty-nine households and he was now essentially a village chief, everyone still called him “County Magistrate.”

Fu Yong’s shoes had broken halfway there, so he could only carry his straw sandals in one hand while carefully avoiding thorns on the ground as he walked over. “Father, today is the eighth day of the seventh month in the fifth year of Yongjia.”

Fu Chang frowned. “We planted our soybeans too late. The mountain temperature is also somewhat lower than outside, so the soybean harvest has been delayed until now.”

“I see the rice ears are already drooping. When I touch them, they’re full. As long as we have good sun for the next half month, they should turn yellow.” After the leaves started turning yellow, it would take at least another half month before harvest.

Calculating this way, the rice harvest was indeed later than outside.

“It’s still due to having too few farming tools.” Fu Chang surveyed the scene. Many people, lacking sickles or even stone knives, were pulling up the soybeans by their roots with their hands. This was not only inefficient but also exhausting. He lowered his gaze in thought. Last year’s rice harvest had been very arduous, and the previous wheat harvest too—many people had pulled everything up by hand.

“This won’t do. Don’t wait until after the autumn harvest. Go back tonight and prepare. Select fifteen people. You’ll lead them out of the mountains together,” Fu Chang said. “Your main task is to buy farming tools and seeds, and inquire about news from the court. Return before the first day of the eighth month.”

That would be just in time for the autumn harvest.

Twenty days should be enough time, but…

“Father, we have no money.”

Fu Chang said: “Take some things out to barter.”

But what could they possibly have to trade?

Apart from grain, they only had some medicinal herbs found in the mountains, animal hides, bones, and such.

Everyone in the village mobilized, packing basket after basket of items for them.

Fu Yong was very worried. “If we encounter refugees or roving soldiers after leaving the mountains, carrying so many things, won’t we be torn apart?”

“Are you stupid? If you can’t win, can’t you run?” Fu Chang said. “Don’t be attached to the goods. Preserve what you can, but if you can’t, throw it all away. Life is what matters. In any case, however many people you take out, you must bring back that many.”

Fu Yong solemnly agreed.

In front of everyone, Fu Chang brought out over a string of copper coins and a jade pendant to give him. “This is the last of our family’s money. Buy plenty of writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones. Pawn this jade pendant to buy a hoe for the family, and two more sickles.”

Their family only had one sickle, which Fu Chang had traded grain for with another family when they first entered the mountains.

Seeing this, the villagers immediately pulled their sons or nephews going out aside to discuss. Those without sons or nephews going out came directly to find Fu Yong, bringing out their savings: “This is money we saved before entering the mountains. It’s useless here in the mountains. Please help us buy some things.”

Most wanted farming tools, but what they requested most were needles and thread.

Thread was manageable—they could make it themselves. Needles were what they lacked most. Currently, many households in the mountains had fashioned needles from animal bones and teeth, but they were all very thick and difficult to use.

They still preferred the needles from outside.

Fu Yong’s memory was far inferior to his father’s. He could only find a previously used piece of paper and record their requests in the blank spaces at the edges.

Seeing his diligence, Fu Chang felt gratified but couldn’t help sighing: “If only Dalang were here. He could remember everything after hearing it once.”

Fu Hong, standing nearby, became unhappy hearing this. “But it’s Elder Brother who’s here. The clever cousin is still in Yuzhou observing mourning for his wife’s grandfather.”

Fu Chang glared at him. “You can’t have in-laws. If we stay in these mountains our whole lives, you’ll never get a wife.”

Fu Hong’s mouth fell open.

Fu Chang furrowed his brow in thought. “Zhao Hanzhang wields considerable power in Yuzhou. Calculating the time, they should have finished mourning and likely married by now. Zisong, after you go out, see if you can find a merchant traveling to Yuzhou and ask them to help deliver a message telling Dalang our current location.”

“Alas, I wonder how Luoyang fares, how His Majesty fares, and how your grandfather is doing?” Fu Chang held little hope in his heart for Fu Zhi. He knew his father’s resolve. Seeing that Xiongnu army’s fierce approach and Luoyang’s vulnerability, the city most likely couldn’t be defended. If the Emperor met with disaster, his father would most likely die for his country as well.

Then there were his elder brother and sister-in-law trapped in Chang’an, where famine raged—their survival also unknown.

And his third and fourth brothers who had gone out to study—even before Heyin fell, they had already lost contact for over a year. He didn’t know if they were safe either.

Fu Chang’s heart was heavy with concerns, and he had no mind to lecture his son.

His words, however, stirred Fu Hong’s stubborn nature. He immediately circled around him buzzing: “I want to go out too! See if I can find you a daughter-in-law.”

Fu Chang irritably waved his hand. “Go, go, go. Outside there are only refugees and roving soldiers. Where would you find a wife?”

“Why not? No matter how chaotic, there must still be gentry and fortified estates, right? Perhaps some young lady will see how handsome I am and want me as her husband?”

Fu Hong threatened: “Be careful, or I’ll become a live-in son-in-law.”

Fu Chang stroked his beard and said: “If you can survive outside, being a live-in son-in-law isn’t bad.”

Fu Hong was stunned. “You don’t mind?”

“What would I mind? Great heroes don’t ask about origins. In this chaotic world, as long as people can survive, I don’t care what methods you use.” Fu Chang paused here and added a condition: “As long as it doesn’t violate human decency.”

Human decency—that is, the most basic principles of being human.

Fu Chang said: “Nowadays beasts run rampant, but you must remain human. If you can’t even be human anymore, end your lives early rather than tell anyone you’re from the Fu clan of the North.”

Fu Yong and Fu Hong immediately responded solemnly.

After responding, Fu Hong said somewhat indignantly: “Father, do we look like people who wouldn’t be human?”

Fu Chang praised them: “Of course not. I’m just saying this. Remember it and teach your descendants the same way in the future.”

Only then did Fu Hong brighten up. “Then Father, you agree to let me leave the mountains with Elder Brother?”

Fu Chang hesitated, looking at his younger son’s excitement and anticipation. He finally nodded.