They were gambling that the Chen Family would reach the county seat safely and gain a foothold there, gambling that this road would not bring dangers they could not withstand,
gambling that once they reached the county seat, there would be a way to survive.
If they won, perhaps they could carve out a sliver of life amid these troubled times;
if they lost, their entire family might perish in these desolate mountains.
The convoy moved slowly along the rugged mountain road. Its wheels rolled over frozen earth, letting out monotonous, heavy creaks.
Fang Yuan carried an enormous back basket and walked at the rear of the group. His steps remained steady, showing no sign of fatigue.
Prompts sounded in his mind from time to time.
[Basic Footwork proficiency +1...]
It counted as the only comfort on this dull journey!
Beside him walked an old servant migrating alongside the Chen Family convoy. His hair was streaked with white, and his face was etched with the marks of wind and frost.
The old servant looked back toward the village, which had gradually shrunk into a tiny black dot,
then sighed, as though speaking to himself, yet also as though speaking to Fang Yuan.
"This old man started working as a hired hand for Master Chen when I was barely in my teens. All my life, I've scarcely touched the furrows of my own land... The Chen Family has been my rice bowl.
"Now that the Chen Family is leaving, if these old bones of mine don't follow them and stay in the village instead, I fear I won't even make it through this winter..."
Fang Yuan's heart stirred at those words, and he asked, "Old sir, once you reach the county seat, what will you do about household registration?