Refugees

Winter.

Heavy snow sealed off the sky.

Snow, white as goose feathers, drifted down in a vast fluttering curtain, shrouding heaven and earth until all became one color.

That boundless white was desolate and sorrowful. The bitter wind howled as it swept through every corner, leaving nowhere to hide.

More than ten li outside Yang City.

A group of refugees fleeing famine and war trudged painfully through the wind and snow.

Their clothes were ragged, their faces wan and haggard, their eyes filled with endless pain and helplessness.

The howling snow sounded like a deadly curse. From time to time, someone collapsed.

The procession was silent. Hunger and cold made them reluctant to open their mouths and let even a wisp of warmth escape.

Others could remain silent, but Jiang Gui, as the leader of this refugee band, had to speak.

"Hang on, everyone. We're almost there, almost there."

"Yang City is just over ten li ahead. Once we reach Yang City, we'll live. Once we reach Yang City, we'll live."

Long after his words fell, a skeletal man behind him hesitated before struggling to voice the question in everyone's hearts.

"Boss, can we really live once we reach Yang City?"

"We can. Definitely!" Jiang Gui said decisively.

"This is what the lords of Xinhe Commandery said. They said Yang City is the wealthiest county town among the surrounding commanderies and counties.

Master Zhang of the Zhang Family is known as the Duke of a Hundred Virtues. He accumulates merit and does good deeds, and has already aided several thousand refugees. As long as we get there, he'll definitely give us a way to live."

At those words, everyone looked hopefully through the falling snow toward Yang City.

Snow filled the skies.

Jiang Gui's refugee party of several dozen supported one another as they struggled onward.

Yet hunger and cold hung over the entire group.

Even with Jiang Gui encouraging them, after traveling those ten-odd li, five or six people still remained forever in that world blanketed in snow.

Carrying those people's blessings with them, they finally reached Yang City.

Outside Yang City.

The Zhang Family had long known that refugees from Shu Land would be arriving in Yang City over the past month or so, and they had long prepared a response.

Thus, personnel from the Zhang Family were stationed outside Yang City at all times to manage and handle the matter.

Before Jiang Gui's group drew near Yang City, when they could only vaguely glimpse its firelight through the wind and snow—

The steward assigned by the Zhang Family to handle refugee affairs had already reached them first.

"New refugees, right? Follow me."

"Thank you, sir. Thank you, sir. Thank you, sir."

Jiang Gui was overjoyed. He was not afraid of someone managing them; he feared only that no one would, leaving his group to freeze or starve to death in this icy wilderness.

"Come with me. Keep up."

The steward was expressionless. This was not his first time guiding refugees, and Jiang Gui's group bowing and thanking him stirred no emotion in him.

"Yes, sir. Yes, sir."

The steward walked ahead, and the group followed behind.

They hurried all the way to a place outside Yang City.

In a specially cleared camp outside Yang City.

The camp contained dozens of densely packed houses built from piled earth and stone.

The houses were not large, covering only a few dozen square meters, but if they squeezed together, fitting several dozen refugees inside for the time being would not be a problem.

"Thank you, brother. Thank you, brother."

The group was led into one of the houses. A fire was lit, and the steward had someone bring them thin porridge. The porridge entered their bellies.

With the hunger in their stomachs somewhat eased, the tension throughout their bodies finally relaxed.

They had only just arrived in Yang City, yet they had been brought into a warm house, given a fire for warmth and thin porridge to fill their stomachs. Everyone was deeply grateful to the Zhang Family, speaking auspicious words and praying for Master Zhang's blessings.

At this moment, the steward who had brought Jiang Gui's group to the camp returned and looked at them.

"Other than the old, weak, sick, and disabled, the Zhang Family of Yang City does not support idlers.

"Soon, someone will come to record what you know, what work you have done, and what skills you possess."

"The Zhang Family will arrange work according to each of your circumstances."

"Thank you, sir. Thank you, sir. Thank you, sir."

Jiang Gui's group was ecstatic upon hearing this.

At this moment, they were so grateful to the Zhang Family and the steward that tears filled their eyes.

As refugees with no home, nowhere to go, and not a coin to their names—

Having arrangements made meant the Zhang Family would not simply ignore them and watch them freeze or starve to death.

For refugees, this was news as great as the sky.

"Mm, no need to thank me. If you want to thank someone, thank the master of the Zhang Family!"

"We will never forget Master's immense kindness. In our next lives, we will become oxen and horses to repay him."

"Alright, alright."

The steward raised a hand, stopping their thanks.

"There is one more matter. The Zhang Family is currently recruiting Drug Trial Participants. Anyone who becomes a Drug Trial Participant will immediately receive five taels of silver as settlement money, and the Zhang Family guarantees that his family will be arranged work."

As soon as those words fell, the excitement from before vanished from everyone's faces. They looked at one another, their eyes clouded with indescribable emotions.

"Sir, I... we... we need to think about it."

"Mm, that's fine. Rest here for the night. Give me your answer tomorrow morning."

With that, the steward left directly, leaving only the several dozen people who had fled here together in the house.

"Boss, what do you think? Should we become those Drug Trial Participants?"

"Drug Trial Participants, Drug Trial Participants... just hearing that name, it sounds like there's no return."

Jiang Gui fell silent.

Or rather, it was not only Jiang Gui. A considerable number among the several dozen people were silent.

Because they had families—wives, children, elderly mothers, and the like.

The steward had seemingly only asked who was willing to become a Drug Trial Participant.

But how could they fail to understand what the latter half of his words meant: the Zhang Family guaranteed that his family would be arranged work?

Those willing to become Drug Trial Participants would have their families and relatives given priority in work arrangements.

Those unwilling would have to wait.

Wait until when? Until the year of the monkey and the month of the horse—no one knew.

But wait... could they afford to wait?

From Shu Land to Yang City was a journey of several thousand li. When they set out, there had been over a thousand of them. Now, some had scattered, some had died, and only several dozen remained.

Among them, they had long endured enough poverty, hardship, and suffering.

Even if it was only for a promise, it was enough!

"Xiao Ding, I'm going."

Jiang Gui wore a solemn expression. Then he clasped his fists toward the others.

"Everyone, I, Jiang Gui, have brought you all to Yang City. My task is complete."

Like a single breath, Jiang Gui had been forcing himself to hold on throughout their journey of flight.

Now that they had finally reached Yang City, that breath escaped, pouring out a thousand li.

"To have brought you all to Yang City, I, Jiang Gui, have no regrets in this life. Even if I go to the underworld, it will be something I can boast about.

"So I'm going to become one of those Drug Trial Participants."

"I have no family or relatives. I'll take those five taels of settlement money for myself. No matter what the Zhang Family wants to do, before I die, five taels of silver will still let me live it up for a while."

"This world is too bitter. I..."

Hearing this, the others lowered their heads in silence, their hearts tangled with conflicting emotions as they wavered indecisively.

Yet after only a few breaths, several men in the group looked at their skeletal relatives beside them and gritted their teeth, making their decision.

"Boss Jiang, we'll go with you."

"Let's hope... let's hope the Zhang Family keeps its promise!"