The sun in the sky was blazing down on top of the carriage, rolling down a dirt pathway. It wasn"t a steady pathway where the carriage can roll its way down nice and smoothly. Those sitting inside the carriage weren"t the most comfortable either. They bounced along every time a rock blocked and hit the wheels.
Xiong Jingfei had her eyes closed, enduring the summer heat and the repet.i.tive sound she has heard for the past week. The sound of the carriage trundling down the dirt road and horse stomping. Closing her eyes was the only way to keep her calm and collected.
During the journey, they had already pa.s.sed various villages that were already receiving the blow of the war. Those that were located closer to the Capital were in better shape than those that weren"t. It didn"t come as a surprise to Xiong Jingfei, who never experienced war in fourteen years of her life. However, it did give her a hit of what it means to be in conflict.
"Please, give us some food." A woman whose rib cage was out in the open and clearly seen, held out her hands.
"Save us!" A child cried, walking alongside the carriage. Reaching out his small arms and hands for Xiong Guang to take.
"Xiong Guang! Close that curtain right now!" Xu Song snapped.
"Pretty lady, help us!"
"I am hungry!"
"I am thirsty! Please give me some water!"
"Please! Save my baby!"
Xiong Guang obediently closed the thick curtains that held as a s.h.i.+eld between them and those people out there. She looked at Xu Song dismally, "Can"t we do anything to help them? We have food and medicine!"
"No."
Xu Song opened her mouth, but the words heard weren"t coming from her.
Xiong Jingfei opened her eyes, "Our goal is to reach the border within less than two weeks, and we already fell behind."
"Yes, but couldn"t give them a little?"
"Xiong Guang! We can"t stop, and we aren"t able to help everyone in need." Xiong Jingfei explained, sighing. Xiong Guang wasn"t the only feeling frustrated and hurt at what she witnessed along the way.
We are at war! There will be casualties involved, and unfortunately, it is always the innocent ones.
When Xiong Guang had the curtains open, Xiong Jingfei did take a peek to see what is outside those curtains. It was worse than she had imagined it. The farther out the people lived, the skinner they became, and the less clothed they are. Their clothes were ripped, torn, and unwearable anymore. Their face was hallow from the lack of food, and their skin was wrapped tightly around their bones.
It was only the beginning, and it wasn"t looking good already.
Xiong Jingfei sat in the middle of the carriage with Xu Song sitting on one side, and Xiong Guang on the other. All three of them wore ordinary clothes that weren"t considered fancy or out of place. They planned to go undercover as travelers.
Although, it was hard to be under disguised of any kind. Even if Xiong Jingfei wasn"t ridding the most luxurious carriage or wore the finest silk. It wasn"t hard to tell they weren"t just any regular travelers, but travelers who were wealthy. At this time, their outfits that would have blend in would seem out of place. It didn"t have a single tear or dirt like those outside her carriage.
All three of them wore a white cloth covering the lower part of their face. Attempting to hide their ident.i.ties and if anyone were to have "capture" them. At least, they will get three chances to get away and not let those who captured them find out who is the real master.
In the end, the person who has to make it alive to the border is Xiong Jingfei.
"Can"t we give them coins or jewelry to sell, so they can buy food?" Xiong Guang being naive asked.
Xiong Jingfei and Xu Song took her question as her being young and does not know any better. Though she wasn"t that much younger than Xiong Jingfei. The youngest she is to probably by three years only.
Between the three of them, none of them wore a single piece of jewelry. There was no need to have any jewelry with them on this travel, besides some coins, just in case.
In a time of turmoil, people no longer care about gold and silvers. They rather rip off the clothes Xiong Jingfei had on to cover a small portion of their body for the upcoming winter. s.n.a.t.c.h the food rations brought along this journey, and steal the medicine she spent years preparing.
Also, which rich man is willing to exchange their food for wealth? They most likely had closed their food storage and locked it shut. Possibly have ten guards just watching over the food storage to make sure, starving people they had just seen, can not get any of it.
Golds and silvers are no longer valued. A single grain of rice is more valuable than any amount of money offered to those outside her carriage.
"Be quiet," Xu Song rubbed her forehead. She was tired of hearing Xiong Guang"s endless questions.
A part of Xu Song felt like pus.h.i.+ng her out there to experience it first hand, so she can have answers to her questions. Xiong Guang was once an orphaned with nothing until she was taken by the Xiong manor. She should know what it means to be poor and have no food! To be starving on the road and to have no one care for you.
Xi Song couldn"t process why Xiong Guang does not understand how precious it was to have food more than any piece of jewelry!