Chapter 699: Fleeing Famine 4

Chapter 699: Chapter 699: Fleeing Famine 4

Fortunately, although Granny Du was malicious and harsh towards her three daughters-in-law, she truly adored her only daughter. After Du Jincui married into the Geng family, Granny Du not only refrained from asking Du Jincui to use the Geng family’s resources to support her maiden family, but when the Du family ate meat, she would send her grandson over to call her daughter back to eat.

But this privilege was limited to her daughter alone; her son-in-law Geng Dazhuang and her nephew Geng Xiaowu and niece Geng Xiaoyu couldn’t have a single piece of the Du family’s meat.

Because Granny Du doted on Du Jincui, during the famine, whenever Du Jincui had a mouthful of food, she would save half for Granny Du.

Eldest Sister-in-law Du wouldn’t dare snatch food from her mother-in-law’s mouth.

She awkwardly smiled and said, "Hehe, since it’s reserved for Mother, we’ll wait for her to return, and Sister-in-law can give it to her to eat."

Soon, Granny Du returned with the support of Second Madam Du and Third Madam Du.

With a heart full of pity, Du Jincui stepped forward to take over Third Madam Du’s position, helped her mother sit down, and then took out that half handful of husks, "Mother, this is saved from my mouth; please eat it."

"Does the Geng family not have anything else? Without water, how can these husks be swallowed; my throat is cut," Granny Du spoke hoarsely and rough.

Du Jincui’s eyes reddened, "Mother, the Geng family’s half sack of husks was saved from our frugal eating; there’s nothing else to eat. Mother, please have a bite to at least stay alive."

"I can’t swallow it," Granny Du closed her eyes, "Eating husks, my throat hurts terribly, I can’t even relieve myself. I... Oh heavens, why isn’t it raining yet, is it trying to kill us?"

"I’ve lived for decades, and in my old age, I still have to suffer like this, I..."

"Mother, stop wailing, save your energy, we have to keep moving later." Du Jincui wiped her dry eyes, shoving the husks into Granny Du’s hand, "Mother, I beg you, eat a bite; maybe we’ll find food tomorrow. Mother, you must survive; what will I do if you leave?"

The mother and daughter, heads together, wept sorrowfully.

Afterward, Granny Du held onto the husks, bit by bit, struggling to swallow.

...

After Yuan Chun fed Fasting Pills to Geng Dalin’s couple and the Geng family’s five children, none of them felt hungry, so they didn’t eat anything in the morning.

However, they didn’t suspect anything; they only thought their grandmother was right, they were probably beyond hunger to not feel it.

Once everything was tidied up and loaded onto the cart, Geng Dalin lifted his youngest son and placed him on it.

"Mother, you should sit too, I’ll pull you along," Geng Dalin said to his mother.

Yuan Chun waved her hand, "I’ll pass. Though I’m old, I can still walk. Only when I can’t go further will you have to pull me along."

Throughout, Geng Dazhuang showed no concern for his mother or the children, only thinking about food, using a moment of distraction to secretly grab a large handful of husks and stuff them into his mouth.

Choking, his eyes rolled back.

As the husks caused him discomfort, his hand reached out for a small bundle of grass roots.

Yuan Chun slapped his hand, "Geng Dazhuang, what’s this? Having stolen the husks wasn’t enough, now you aim for the children’s food?"

"Just a few grass roots, that’s the children’s lifeline, if you eat them, are you trying to starve the children?"

Geng Dalin also disapprovingly looked at his elder brother, "Brother, eating the husks was bad enough, how could you think of the grass roots? The children can’t swallow husks; they rely on this small bundle to survive. Without the grass roots, how can they live?"

Being scolded by his mother was one thing, but now even his usually silent brother reprimanded him, Geng Dazhuang angrily replied, "What’s it to you? I haven’t even eaten anything."