RWNEFE -Chapter 55 Every Man for Himself!

“Master, we have to find a water source quickly!” Liu Laohu said, though deep down, he wasn’t confident.

Clearly, everyone in this village had fled the famine. If there was water nearby, who would willingly leave their home?

Shen Lanxi examined the situation. “The dust on the table isn’t thick, which means the villagers haven’t been gone long. Locals know the area best. If we can figure out the direction they went, we should be able to find water!”

Liu Laohu’s eyes lit up. “I’ll go check which path has footprints!”

Shen Lanxi replied, “It’s fine to wait until it’s cooler.”

Liu Laohu, eager for a plan, didn’t want to linger while she ate, and immediately left.

Not long after, Shen Yuanjing arrived with several children, both legitimate and illegitimate.

“Big Brother, we didn’t react in time when they caused trouble before. Sorry!” Shen Yuanjing was the first to apologize.

Next were Shen Yuanjun and the others.

“Big Brother, we were stunned at the time. By the time we wanted to scold them, Liu Laohu had already dealt with them. It’s not that we didn’t want to help you!”

“We didn’t realize at the time that the wagon and food belonged to Big Brother.”

“Big Sister, next time if something like this happens, we’ll be the first to stand up and scold them!”

“Big Sister, please forgive us…”

Shen Lanxi observed everyone carefully and nodded. “I’m not angry, so you don’t need to apologize. I’m glad you came to speak to me directly.”

Shen Yuanjing and the others hung their heads, filled with guilt.

“Thirsty? I still have a little water here. Drink, but don’t tell anyone else.”

They all looked up at her immediately.

“You coming here shows that you truly care about me. For everyone who genuinely cares, I will give the same care in return!”

The more she said this, the guiltier Shen Yuanjing and the others felt.

“Big Brother, once I’ve mastered my martial arts, I’ll protect you, so no one will bully you!” Shen Yuanjing said seriously.

“Me too!”

“Me as well…”

The others chimed in.

Shen Lanxi said, “Chunxue, get some mung bean cakes—everyone gets one as a reward!”

“Yes!”

With water and cakes, Shen Yuanjing and the others felt a little embarrassed.

“Big Brother, I’ve learned a full set of punches. I’ll go back and train hard later!”

“I’ll train too!”

Shen Lanxi said, “While we were on the mountain, I observed each of you closely. You’ve all made great progress.”

“Yuanjing, you killed four guards with others—you’ve progressed the most and think strategically. When you practice martial arts, consider which moves use the least energy but take down the most enemies!”

Shen Yuanjing froze, then immediately began thinking seriously about her words.

“Yuanjun, you’re timid but agile. When practicing, you can add some weight. That way, even if you face someone much larger, you can rely on speed and skill to defeat them!”

Shen Yuanjun also fell into thought.

“Yuantang, Yuanqing, you…”

After they left, they remained silent, each lost in thought.

“Why did you all come back empty-handed?” asked Grandmother Shen.

Shen Yuanjing frowned. “Grandmother, Master doesn’t have much water left either!”

Shen Conglian exclaimed, “Impossible! With such a big wagon, it must have had plenty of water. How much could she drink alone?”

“Do you even need to ask? She just didn’t want to share with us!” Shen Congli said with a scowl.

Shen Congwen frowned. “Lanxi isn’t that kind of person.”

Shen Congyi sneered, “Every man for himself—who knows when we’ll find water? She’s obviously only thinking of herself.”

“Fourth Uncle, my Big Brother isn’t like that!” Shen Yuanjing argued.

Shen Congyi snorted disdainfully. “We’ll see—time will reveal the strength of the horse and the nature of the heart.”

Shen Congwen glared. “Enough! When the prisoners forced Lanxi to get off the wagon, you didn’t say a word. Now you want something, and suddenly you think of her? Think about it—didn’t she help us all the way?”

Shen Conglian and the three brothers immediately hung their heads in shame.

“She’s our Shen family. Isn’t it right that she helps us?”

The Shen family all looked at Shen Yuanzhan. Some eyes were thoughtful, others angry.

“Yuanzhan, didn’t you eat what Big Brother gave you on the way? Didn’t you use the money Big Brother gave you? How could you say such a thing?” Shen Congwen could hardly believe the words came from a child barely in his teens.

Grandmother Shen slammed the table. “I think Yuanzhan is right! Lanxi is one of us Shen family. We raised her, and now she should help the family!”

Shen Congyi said, “Big Brother, Yuanjing and the others aren’t reliable. I think you need to go ask Lanxi yourself!”

Shen Congli’s eyes lit up. “Right! If you don’t go, father and mother will have to. If they go to ask Lanxi for something, her guilt would be much greater!”

Shen Conglian said, “She has good food and drink but doesn’t think to honor the elders at home. She only thinks of herself. If this were in the capital, she’d surely be labeled unfilial, selfish, and malicious!”

Shen Congwen couldn’t stand the slander against his daughter and walked outside.

“I’ll go check!”

The Shen brothers had achieved their goal and were smug.

Shen Yuanjing and his siblings were annoyed—father was always like this!

Shen Congwen had barely walked a few steps when he saw someone begging the officials for water.

“Sir, I’m parched! Please, just give me a sip of water~”

“Go aside! I’m thirsty too. If you don’t move, I’ll make you drink your own blood!”

“I have money~” A piece of silver was offered, but the official didn’t even look.

Another silver piece was offered. The official weighed it, then relented.

“This only buys one sip of water!”

“Thank you, sir, one sip is enough!”

Seeing that money worked, the prisoners began paying for water. One bold prisoner bought ten sips, making the others envious.

Shen Congwen turned on his heel and returned.

“Do you all have money on you? Let’s buy water. If we don’t, the officials will sell it all before we can!”

The Shen family all turned away sheepishly.

“Eldest, we don’t have money. Go ask Lanxi!” said Grandmother Shen.

Shen Yuanjun added, “Second and Fourth Aunt have money. When escaping the mountain, I saw them searching the guards’ pouches!”

Shen Yuantang: “Third Aunt has money too. I saw her take some from the guards as well!”

Shen Yuanjing: “Second, Third, Fourth Uncle—you also searched?”

Shen Yuanxin quietly said, “I saw Grandmother take some too!”

Grandmother Shen glared at Shen Yuanxin in fury, scaring her behind Wei Rulan.

Wei Rulan sneered sarcastically: “So only our branch of the family is honest, taking nothing, while all the others took?”