It was said that on the day the imperial envoy arrived at Yongning Prefecture, it suddenly rained for three days and three nights.
The dry land was moistened, and the lifeless citizens cheered and shouted, as if they had finally seen the light of dawn. All of them said that this was an auspicious sign from the heavens, telling the world that the new emperor was a current wise ruler and was favored by the heavens.
Gu Yundong was still in Xuanhe Prefecture and did not know the news that was spreading like wildfire. Even if she had known, she would not care.
At this moment, she was standing in front of the noticeboard at the city gate. She looked at the notice that had just been posted and frowned slightly.
This notice was about the refugees who had fled the famine. Yongning Prefecture already had food and silver for disaster relief. The chaos had calmed down and order was slowly recovering. Naturally, the refugees were going to go back.
For anyone who returned, the government would give a certain amount of travel fees and exempt them from conscription for three years.
Of course, it was fine if they did not go back. The refugees would be resettled on the spo and registered by the government offices. This kind of condition did not allow them to be exempted for three years, and they would not be able to receive money.
Moreover, the place to settle down depended on your luck. Basically, it would not be in a prosperous town or even a slightly better village. The fields would not be distributed either. At most, you would be given two acres of wasteland to cultivate on your own.
Most people would choose to go back. The idea of returning to their roots was deeply ingrained in everyone's minds. They would receive money and they could be exempted from conscription for three years. When they returned to their hometown, they would still have familiar relatives and friends.
Furthermore, many people in towns had properties and houses in Yongning Prefecture. It would be too great a loss to give up just like that.
However, these were not very tempting to Gu Yundong.
After reading the notice, she carried the basket back to Aunt Ke's house.
Auntie Ke sat in the courtyard and was making shoes for the two children with a needle and thread. Only recently did she realize that this girl with good culinary skills actually didn't know how to make clothes and shoes. Madam Yang did know how to make clothes and shoes, but they didn't look good.
Aunt Ke doted on the two children and asked Gu Yundong to buy scraps of cloth to sew herself.
As she worked, she chatted. There were three small stools in front of her. The two children and the tall Madam Yang sat there obediently and listened.
Hearing the door open, Auntie Ke looked up at her. "Why are you back so late today?"
"There's a new notice posted at the city gate. I went to take a look."
"What did the higher-ups say?"
Gu Yundong closed the courtyard door and placed the vegetable basket on the stone mill at the side. Only then did she explain the contents of the notice.
Aunt Ke's hand paused for a moment before she continued sewing as if nothing had happened.
Madam Yang and Gu Yunke were still in a daze and could not understand, but Gu Yunshu understood. He immediately hugged her waist happily. "Can we go home? Will we have food to eat at home?"
Gu Yundong lowered her head to look at the little guy's sparkling eyes and asked, "Do you want to go back?"
Gu Yunshu was stunned. He blinked in confusion. "Doesn't Eldest Sister want to go home?"
If they didn't go back, where else could they go? This was Auntie Ke's house, not their house. People couldn't live in another person house for the rest of their lives, and the rent was so expensive.
Gu Yundong patted his head. "If go back to that house, we'll have our grandparents, Second Uncle, and Third Uncle's family. We might have to serve them forever and never be able to eat the food we ate two days ago again."
Gu Yunshu suddenly thought of the past and his expression changed.
Aunt Ke cast a sidelong glance at Gu Yundong. She was trying to scare a child. How shameless.
Gu Yundong pretended not to see it and continued to bewitch him. "Besides, do you still remember why we couldn't split off from the family?"