Ordinary observers in fast time travel

Chapter 1235 Encountering Barbarian Soldiers Again

"Sister-in-law, sit down, I'll push you." Wang Tieshan's face was serious, completely forgetting that he had injured his leg.

"What are you saying! Don't you want your legs anymore?" Shi Jia rolled her eyes at her, put the little guy into the basket lined with straw, and said to Wang Tiehua, "Xiaohua, help your brother up."

"okay."

"Hold on tight," Shi Jia instructed the somewhat uneasy Wang Tieshan, smiling as he remarked on how adorable the young boy's chauvinistic nature was.

"Sister-in-law, I'm ready!" Wang Tiehua shouted from behind, pushing the cart.

As evening approached, the sun had already reached the mountaintop, casting long shadows of trees and people across the land. The hunched figures along the official road seemed to grow taller and more vibrant in the slanting sunlight.

Suddenly, the earth seemed to shake. Shi Jia subconsciously looked back and saw billowing dust in the distance.

Shi Jia's expression changed drastically. She hurriedly looked around. Ahead was a flat official road, with several hunched figures moving forward like snails. To the left were high mountains with dense trees. Although they were not steep, they were not flat either. To the right was a slope with a low incline, but it was covered with dense forest, making it easy to hide people!
She made a decision immediately, pulling the cart faster as she ran, shouting, "The barbarians are coming! Run!"

"Barbarians?" Wang Tieshan and Wang Tiehua were startled and instinctively turned around, only to see billowing dust getting closer and closer.

"Sister-in-law!" the two couldn't help but scream.

Shi Jia didn't say anything, but pulled the cart faster and faster until they reached the gentler slope she had just chosen.

She turned and rushed towards the slope. She calmly observed her surroundings and soon noticed a tall clump of bushes. She immediately tried to pull the car over, but the car quickly got stuck in the weeds and couldn't move.

Shi Jia immediately turned around, picked up Wang Tieshan, and put him into the tall bushes. "Stay there." She didn't give him a chance to speak. She turned around again, picked up the little guy and the basket, and put him in Wang Tieshan's arms.

"Tiehua, come here quickly!" Shi Jiachong said to Wang Tiehua, who was still struggling with the cart, while also taking the things off the cart.

Wang Tiehua was very obedient and immediately put down the cart, struggling to walk towards the tall bushes.

By this time, the cart was empty. Shi Jia glanced at the direction of the official road, then at the cart, and felt it was very unsafe. The cart had to be hidden; otherwise, if the barbarian soldiers discovered it, they wouldn't be able to escape either.

Shi Jia looked at the bushes beside him, immediately picked up a sickle and went over.

As the ground tremors intensified, the bushes completely obscured the cart. Shi Jia hid in the grass, watching the clothing, so different from that of the imperial court, rush past. Her heart grew heavier.

Based on the direction these barbarian soldiers are heading, the cities they will inevitably pass through on their southward journey will likely be captured. Even if they are not captured, war will certainly break out.

They have to take a detour.

The earthquake lasted for nearly half an hour. Shi Jia didn't have the relevant knowledge to calculate how many people were affected, but she was very clear about one thing: the refugees in front of her probably wouldn't survive.

The group was finally able to breathe normally again. Wang Tiehua said with heartache, "Sister-in-law, Niu Niu is almost unable to breathe!"

Shi Jia was startled and quickly let go. Seeing the little guy's face was all purple and red, she felt extremely guilty. "Niu Niu, I'm sorry, it's my fault."

She rubbed her face against the little one's face, trying to ease her guilt.

"Sister-in-law, have some water!" Wang Tiehua handed over a water bottle made of bamboo tube.

Shi Jia took the water bottle and drank a sip, then asked Wang Tiehua to pour a bowl for the little guy.

After drinking the water, the little guy's purplish-red complexion gradually faded, and he returned to being a little black baby.

Shi Jia breathed a sigh of relief. "Xiao Hua, hold Niu Niu, I'll go pack the things." The car was no longer usable. Shi Jia put most of the food into one basket, and another basket contained earthenware pots, flint, bowls, and chopsticks. She then stuffed some straw into the other basket and finally put the cotton-padded coat on top.

She thought for a moment, then took a cotton-padded jacket and put it in another basket. "Xiaohua, put Niu Niu here."

"Okay," Wang Tiehua said obediently.

Shi Jia then looked at Wang Tieshan, frowned, looked at the bushes, and cut down a small tree with branches. He smoothed the tree until it was smooth and thornless, and handed it to Wang Tieshan.

"We can't take the official road anymore," Shi Jia said gravely. "Tieshan, can you walk?"

“Yes!” Wang Tieshan said seriously.

“Okay, let’s walk along the foot of the mountain and see what’s going on once we’re out of this mountain.” Shi Jia was actually a little worried; without a map, it was practically like being blind.

If you follow the official road, at least you won't get lost.

But the situation is dire now. If they encounter ruthless barbarians, they're doomed. Shi Jia even considered finding a secluded mountain to stay in for a few years.

However, this is unrealistic; food, clothing, and shelter are all difficult to obtain.

As darkness fell, Shi Jia and his companions had to stop. Luckily, they found a cave and lit a campfire.

"Hiss~" Wang Tieshan had been holding back for most of the day, but the moment he sat down, he finally couldn't help but let out a sound.

"Brother, are you alright?" Wang Tiehua asked worriedly.

Wang Tieshan was in a very sorry state, with beads of sweat on his forehead and his face contorted in a grimace, but he kept saying, "I'm fine."

Shi Jia put the little guy aside, walked over to Wang Tieshan, squatted down, and reached out to pull up his trouser leg. He saw that his ankle was swollen like a bun.

Her expression was grave. She reached out and touched his ankle, and Wang Tieshan immediately hissed in pain. She had no medical knowledge and couldn't determine whether Wang Tieshan's joint was dislocated or fractured.

"Xiaohua, you cook first, I'll go pick some herbs." Li Yunniang knew a few herbs that could reduce swelling and relieve pain.

“Okay,” Wang Tiehua replied obediently.

Shi Jia nodded, picked up a basket and a sickle, and went out.

The moon was very round tonight, and its silvery light illuminated the earth. This made Shi Jia's herb gathering process very easy.

Suddenly, a faint clucking sound came from the air. Shi Jia paused in her herb-gathering, pursed her lips, and looked on with longing.

She listened quietly, trying to pinpoint the pheasant's location.

Suddenly, she moved, rushing quickly towards a patch of grass.

"Cluck cluck!" A sharp clucking sound rang out. The next second, Shi Jia had grabbed two chickens, a rooster and a hen! There was also a nest of eggs on the ground!
Shi Jia swallowed hard, deftly tied the two chickens together with two straw ropes, and then collected the eggs from the nest into the basket.

"The two kids will be very happy in a little while. It's too late today, so we'll save the chicken for tomorrow. Tonight, each of them can have two eggs!"

While picking herbs, Shi Jia made plans for the future of the two chickens and their chicks.