After the group stopped, the villagers all looked at Su Chen in confusion.
Su Chen walked over to Murata, put an arm around his shoulders, and said with a worried expression:
"Oh dear, Murata, I just realized there's a problem!"
"It might not be a good idea for all the villagers to go up there. If the village is empty, thieves might strike!"
Murata froze.
He was utterly bewildered.
If everyone in the village was gone, who would steal from whom?
But before he could speak, several villagers caught on.
They opened their mouths and began shouting.
"The young gentleman has a point! We can't leave the village empty!"
"That's right! I still have two pounds of rice at home!"
"What if a demon comes and steals my grain?"
"And there are wild animals, too, beasts like wolves. I won't feel at ease if no one's home watching the grain!"
"Sir, why don't you let my husband go back?"
Everyone began offering suggestions.
But Su Chen waved his hand.
He said in a concerned tone, "Everyone, please stay calm. I didn't think this through earlier. Now it seems we'll need a few people to go back after all."
"But there's no need for so many people to go back. Two will be enough!"
Hearing this, the villagers immediately spoke up:
"Then let my husband go back. There are bears and wolves in the mountains, after all. I won't feel at ease without him at home!"
"It has to be my husband, too. How could one person be enough? Count my husband in!"
"No, what if Kamado Niu'er only watches his own grain?"
Everyone kept chattering away.
For a while, they couldn't decide who to choose.
Then Su Chen spoke up. "If you ask me, why not let the village chief