Reborn and returned, sisters swapped

Chapter 184 Winter

Seeing this, Gu Jinyan continued, "I will provide food, clothing and shelter, but I hope everyone will abide by the rules and work together to maintain order."

Those who wish to live a peaceful life may come with me into the city; as for those with ill intentions, I urge you to behave yourselves.

Her words, neither humble nor arrogant, gradually quieted the refugees down. Many lowered their heads and whispered among themselves, their expressions softening.

A moment later, some families began to step forward, bow their heads in gratitude, and indicate their willingness to accept the arrangements.

Gu Jinyan nodded slightly and ordered his men to bring these families into the city and arrange accommodations for them.

She secretly instructed Red Page to send out capable guards as soon as possible to prevent any possible disturbances during the night.

Just as everything was proceeding smoothly, a commotion suddenly broke out in a corner of the camp.

Several burly men stood together angrily, the leader being a fierce-looking giant who shouted in a gruff voice, "Hmph!"

Why should we, who have wandered here, be subject to your pointing fingers and telling us what to do?

If you don't give us enough food and money, don't blame us for causing a huge uproar!

Upon hearing this, the crowd erupted in uproar, retreating to observe and daring not to step forward.

Gu Jinyan remained calm, but he already knew in his heart that these people must be violent troublemakers.

She gave a wink to the guards beside her, and a squad of soldiers immediately stepped forward and surrounded the troublemakers.

Seeing that things were not going well, the big man turned to flee, but was blocked by a long spear.

He glared angrily at Gu Jinyan and shouted, "You woman, how dare you lay a hand on us?"

Gu Jinyan remained calm and slowly walked up to him.

The voice was calm yet carried an invisible pressure: "Hesha City does not tolerate those who do not follow the rules."

If today's matter is not handled properly, I fear the people will not have peace in the future.

If you do not obey the city rules, please leave. The kindness shown to you by Hesha City has nothing to do with you.

Seeing that he could not break free, the big man broke out in a cold sweat, his eyes darting around as if searching for a way out.

Ultimately, under the watchful eyes of the guards, he yielded and confessed his guilt.

Gu Jinyan waved his hand, ordering his men to temporarily detain these people and await their fate, as a warning to others.

As the rioters were subdued, the displaced people gradually calmed down, and the subsequent resettlement work went much more smoothly.

Gu Jinyan divided the young and strong men into several groups, selected some of the men who obeyed orders and were physically strong, and began to train them into a rudimentary volunteer force.

She patiently explained to them, "Hessa City needs to be rebuilt, and its people need protection. If you are willing, you can stay and assist in the city's defense, both to protect your homes and to ensure the safety of the people."

These displaced men were initially hesitant, but upon hearing the words "protect their homes," a glimmer of longing flashed in the eyes of many.

The hardships of war made them yearn for a stable life.

Gradually, they began to enthusiastically accept the training, picking up wooden sticks and simple weapons, and practicing their posture and formations day after day.

Gu Jinyan patrolled the area daily, occasionally demonstrating some simple defensive moves, allowing them to gradually appreciate the value of the team.

Soon after, this group of refugees was officially established in the city of Hersha.

As the people saw these former vagrants now standing neatly under the city walls, working hard to protect this land, they gradually lost their wariness of them.

The refugees went from being completely lost and confused to gradually developing a sense of belonging.

Gu Jinyan stood on the city wall, quietly watching the newly formed team before him, his eyes filled with a gentle sense of satisfaction.

This team may be young and inexperienced, but in her view, their passion has been ignited.

She turned around and slowly left, thinking firmly in her heart: the future prosperity of Hersha City will definitely be closely related to these people.

The cold winter wind quietly invaded Hesha City, causing the doors and windows of every household to shake and crystal icicles to form under the eaves.

Gu Jinyan stood on the city wall, gazing at the rooftops where smoke curled from chimneys, but a sense of unease crept into his heart.

Winter had only just begun, and many people in the city were already running out of food and water; and this was only the beginning of their predicament.

On the street, Hongye rushed over, carrying a thick roll of cloth in her hands, her face grave. "Miss, several wells in the city have frozen over, and the food stored up a few days ago is not enough."

"Now that the weather is freezing and the roads outside the city are difficult to travel, it seems impossible to transport new grain supplies."

As she spoke, she unfolded the cloth book, which was densely covered with records of each household's food rations and water resources.

Gu Jinyan glanced down, his expression unchanged, and only sighed softly.

She remained silent for a moment, her gaze sweeping over the houses in the city. After a moment of thought, she said in a low voice, "Pass on my order to gather and store the surplus grain in the city and distribute it to the people who need it most."

As for the well…find a few strong young men and pour hot water over the wellhead to see if any water comes out.”

Hongye paused slightly, "But Miss, if we distribute them like this, we're afraid we'll run out of stock before the end of the month."

Gu Jinyan pursed his lips and said slowly, "No matter what, we must help the people get through these next few days."

She glanced at the red page, her eyes filled with determination and reassurance. "Don't worry, there will always be a way."

The next morning, Gu Jinyan led the able-bodied young men of the city to light a brazier over the frozen well. The rising heat gradually melted the ice and frost.

However, the coldness of the well water was still insufficient to meet the city's drinking water needs, and the faces of the elderly and children in the city showed signs of fatigue and thirst.

Seeing this, a string in Gu Jinyan's heart seemed to be plucked hard.

She looked up at the gray sky, her eyes deep, as if silently resisting fate.

Just as she was deep in thought, an old man from the city walked over, trembling.

The old man held a small, dusty jar in his hands and gently handed it to Gu Jinyan.

With a hoarse voice, he said, "Sir, here is a little bit of food that my family has stored up. It's not much, but it can last for a few days during the famine."

Gu Jinyan was stunned. She looked at the small jar tightly held in the wrinkled hand, and a warm feeling welled up in her heart, and her eyes also became slightly hot.

She gently pushed the jar back and said softly, "Uncle, you should keep this grain for yourself. There will be grain in the city, I promise."

The old man stubbornly shook his head and said in a low voice, "It doesn't matter if we old bones go hungry, but the young people and children can't go hungry, adults."

You've worked so hard for us for so long, it's time for us to share the burden.

Gu Jinyan silently gazed at the old man's sunken eye sockets, feeling as if a taut string in his heart had been gently plucked.

She gently held the old man's hand and said firmly, "Everyone in Hersha City is my family."

"Among family members, no one owes anyone anything; we simply support each other." She patted the old man's hand and placed the small jar back in his arms.

After watching the old man leave, Gu Jinyan turned around and looked out into the streets and alleys.

Despite their hunger and cold, the people still supported each other, their eyes shining with unwavering perseverance.

This scene deeply moved her, making it impossible for her to give up on continuing the search for food.

In the following days, she made proper arrangements for various affairs in the mansion, and personally led several guards out of the city, braving the severe cold to travel to nearby villages and towns.

The horse's hooves pounded the muddy path covered in ice and snow, each step difficult and heavy.

Gu Jinyan's cheeks were flushed red from the wind, and his clothes were covered in frost, but his hands gripped the reins tightly, and his gaze remained unwavering.

She traveled between several villages and towns, tirelessly buying grain from the villagers.

However, wherever they went, what they saw were desolate villages and displaced people.

Those villages and towns had been almost completely plundered by the Iron Barbarians, and the remaining villagers either fled or were driven out.

She stood at the desolate entrance of the village, looking at the dilapidated scene around her, her heart filled with anxiety.

Now that food is hard to come by, she has to find another way, but she can't figure out what to do.

In the dim morning light, Gu Jinyan and his group were hurrying back to Hesha City.

A cold wind blew in her face, carrying the fishy smell of grass and trees, causing her to frown slightly. Her fingers unconsciously curled up in her sleeve, trying to ward off the biting chill of early autumn.

She looked down at the muddy path beneath her feet, and suddenly a blurry image appeared in her mind—the scene when she first set foot in the Hu clan a year ago.

Samira, a girl from the Tiger Clan, picked a handful of red berries from the hillside, handed them to her, and said with a smile, "These are wild fruits unique to our area. They are sweet and sour, and are perfect for filling your stomach and keeping you warm in winter."

Samira smiled at her expression and explained, "This fruit not only makes people feel warm, but also slightly replenishes their energy."

When heavy snow blocks the mountain passes, our tribe relies on this fruit to survive.

She added jokingly, "However, not everyone can stand this taste; eating too much of it will make your teeth hurt from the sourness."

Although the memory is somewhat hazy, the delicate fragrance of that fruit seems to still linger in my nose.

She slowed her pace and looked up at the hillside beside the road, where a few sparse saplings stood stubbornly in the cold wind.

The leaves rustled in the wind, and a few dark red fruits hung faintly on the branches, like pairs of tiny eyes watching passersby.

Gu Jinyan narrowed his eyes, a warm feeling quietly welling up in his heart.

Gu Jinyan snapped out of her daze, looked down at the scattered red berries at her feet, and suddenly realized that these were the wild berries she remembered.

In the wilderness of this city of Hersha, such vibrant little lives are growing!

She bent down, gently picked a fruit, carefully wiped off the dirt, and put it in her mouth.

The sour taste of the fruit instantly assaulted her taste buds, followed by a subtle sweetness that soothed her tired and cold body and mind.

Gu Jinyan narrowed his eyes, savoring the taste of the fruit, and a thought gradually emerged in his mind.

The people of Hersha City did not recognize this wild fruit and probably never imagined that it could be eaten.

In the past, these fruits were ignored in the wasteland and regarded as weeds.

But now, the dense clusters of red berries before her eyes seem like a gift from nature to the city of Hesha.

A glimmer of hope quietly taking shape amidst the harsh winter.

A warm feeling welled up in her heart, as if she could see these fruits bringing life to the people of the city.

"Perhaps it is these wild fruits that can help the people of Hesha City get through these difficult times."

Gu Jinyan muttered to himself, a hint of satisfaction in his eyes.

She crouched down slightly to carefully observe the appearance of the fruits.

The fruit is small and round, with a slightly glossy skin that feels cool to the touch, but it is exceptionally resilient in the cold wind.

She gently pinched one and found that although the fruit was small, it was full of firm flesh, with juice seeping slightly from her fingertips.

Thinking of the people in the city, these fruits might be able to alleviate their immediate needs.

She stopped, and the soldiers behind her looked at her with confusion.

After a moment's hesitation, Gu Jinyan made up his mind: "Hongye, send a few people up the hillside to pick those wild fruits."

Although the quantity is small, it's better than nothing, and perhaps it can be distributed to those who need it most.

Hongye was taken aback for a moment, then nodded and immediately gathered several strong and capable soldiers.

Several men rolled up their sleeves, looked at the not-so-tall trees on the hillside, exchanged glances, and then quickly walked forward.