On the way home, Wufu saw two elderly farmers sitting by the field, chatting idly with gloomy faces. Looking across the fields, he noted that the rice plants had mostly withered away.
"It’s gone, it’s gone. This season’s rice crop is probably ruined."
"Heaven doesn’t leave us a way out."
As Wufu walked past, he saw a few people not far away arguing so fiercely that their faces were flushed and their necks were strained, all over the matter of water diversion for their fields, and they were coming to blows over it.
"Wufu." Someone called out with surprise.
Wufu looked up to see Lady Liang holding a large basket, so he forced a smile on his face, "Aunt."
"Are you coming back from the town?" Lady Liang asked with a smile.
"Yes." Wufu nodded. "Aunt, how about you?"
Lady Liang’s smile faded a bit and she said, "Your uncle and the others are still watering the fields. I’ve brought them some herbal tea. It’s too hot these days; without something to reduce the heat, people can’t withstand it."
The Old Zhou family’s fields were also in this area, and as a daughter-in-law, Lady Liang frequently brought water and meals, which was quite normal.
"How are the crops in the fields?" asked Wufu.
Lady Liang sighed and shook her head. "Your uncle said they’re probably not going to make it. Now we’re just trying to water them more, but it’s still not enough. The ground is all cracked."
Wufu frowned and said nothing more, remembering that her pair of earrings were finished, so she took them out of her purse and handed them over, "I happened to run into you."
Receiving them, Lady Liang looked at the earrings that were strung with two jadeite beads, beautiful enough to make her not want to let go.
"They’re really beautiful." Like any woman, Lady Liang loved jewelry, especially such high-quality jadeite, which were among the most presentable earrings from her dowry.
"Aunt, I’ll be off." Wufu was not very close to her and didn’t linger for more conversation. After thinking for a moment, she added, "The price of grain has risen in the town."
Caught off guard, Lady Liang’s expression changed. "Are you serious?"
"Today I bought grain for thirty-five wen per catty," Wufu spoke indifferently.
Lady Liang was stunned, then asked anxiously, "Wufu, did you hear any news?"
"With no rain, the price of grain will surely continue to rise."
Wufu did not say much more, leaving that statement behind, considering it her way of fulfilling her duty towards Madam Zhou.
Lady Liang watched Wufu’s retreating figure, and after a moment’s thought, she turned back to the fields.
She had to discuss the situation with the head of the family.
Back in the village, Wufu saw a crowd gathered in front of one household, talking about something. She initially wanted to bypass them, but when she heard the word "bandits," she stopped and walked over.
The neighbors were discussing a man from that household, saying he had encountered bandits on Mount Emei in Huayang County and had an arm chopped off, barely making it back home alive.
"How come bandits have suddenly appeared?"
"It’s not so sudden. The Northwest has had disasters, and refugees are scattering everywhere. Who knows where they’ve ended up? Naturally, they go where there’s a way to live."
"Whenever there’s a disaster or war, peace is disturbed. Heaven, we at Wozi Village won’t also attract these calamities, will we?"
"It’s hard to say. Even without the bandits, we’re not having an easy time. It hasn’t rained for so long, the crops are dying of thirst!"
Having heard this, Wufu did not wait to hear more and turned away.
Huayang County is not far from Maofeng Town and is much more prosperous than here. Compared to bustling areas, a small village like Wozi Village is relatively safer.
But the situation was more chaotic than she had anticipated. It seemed she needed to complete the task at hand as soon as possible, instead of going to town every day. Otherwise, leaving only Madam Zhou and Hongyu at home, two weak women in a remote residence, if any trouble arose, they would only become sacrificial victims.