During famine years, I had a divination slip in hand, and my whole family ate chicken, duck, fish, a

"Splash..."

Li Chunyan lifted the lid of the large pot, stirred it with a spatula, banged on the rim of the pot a few times, and shouted at the top of her lungs.

"Dinner's ready! Grab your bowls and come get your food... Line up!"

Meanwhile, Aunt Shuanzi lifted the steamer basket, and a plume of white steam billowed out, carrying a rich aroma of wheat, causing the people queuing for food to swallow hard.

"Hey, can you smell that? It's pure white flour, not a trace of whole grains!"

Old Lai Ye nudged the person in front of the line, squinting his eyes with a smug look, and said, "With just a bowl of pork stew with cabbage, I could eat five big white steamed buns, believe it or not?"

The man turned his head, gave him a disgusted look, and said, "Get lost!"

Startled, Ye Laolai raised his hand to cover his head, shrank back, and mumbled incoherently.

"If I hadn't stood up for everyone, would you be able to eat these big white steamed buns?"

"You're getting cocky now?"

The man turned and delivered a vicious kick to Ye Laolai's chest, sending him flying out of the line. "I told you to get the hell out of here, you hear me! You're disgusting!"

"Hey, why are you hitting me? You..."

Old Ye grimaced in pain, got up, and realized he had messed with the wrong person.

The man in front of him was Ye Shuanzi's cousin. Ye Shuanzi's family and Ye Youliang's family were in cahoots, so he didn't like him.

Old Ye was used to being lazy and cowardly. Even after being kicked in the gut, he didn't dare to utter a sound and shrank back into the group.

To everyone's surprise, none of the people who had "fought" for the white steamed buns and wages allowed him to cut in line.

"A bunch of ungrateful wretches!"

Ye Laolai cursed inwardly, then had no choice but to tuck the bowl under his arm and slowly join the queue.

By the time it was his turn, all that was left in the pot was a mushy mess at the bottom.

"Serve it yourself, who cares about you!"

Li Chunyan glared at him, threw down the spoon in annoyance, and turned to leave.

Old Lai Ye quickly grabbed a spoon and scraped the bottom of the pot clean. He then grabbed two large white steamed buns, found a corner, squatted down, and started eating.

It's just a glare, he's already eaten a lot, hasn't he?

Inside the room, on the small kang table were steamed buns and stew. Little Huanhuan was holding a big steamed bun that was bigger than her face and was happily munching on it.

Ye Cuicui sat next to her, serving her food while listening intently to her father and second sister discussing how to hunt wolves.

Ye Youliang used his chopsticks to make a few marks, then tapped the table and said in a low voice,

"Dali, Er Yatou, you two set up an ambush right here!"

Remember to pile the hay and firewood according to the dots I drew, pile them up as much as possible.

Never pour kerosene on it immediately; wolves have an incredibly sensitive nose and can smell even the slightest leak.

Ye Qingqing nodded quickly, "I understand, Dad."

Ye Dali said in a simple and honest voice, "Dad, I've remembered it too."

"Dazhuang, lie in ambush here."

Ye Youliang pointed to a spot on the map made of chopsticks, also known as Ye Dazhuang, "As long as Er Yatou and the others light a fire over there, the wolf pack will have to change course and run from here. This spot is high up, has a good view, and can be seen clearly within ten meters by the moonlight."

As soon as the wolves charge, nock your arrow and shoot! If you're quick, you can take down at least three wolves!

Ye Dazhuang narrowed his eyes slightly and said calmly, "Understood, Uncle."

Ye Youliang glanced at him and then added,

"Shoot as many as you can, don't be greedy, understand? Otherwise, when the wolves realize what's happening and pounce on you, you won't be able to escape!"

No matter how strong you are, you can't outrun a wolf! Come on, look at this path... When the wolf is about to pounce, don't worry about anything, just run down this path. It's the fastest way back to the village. Once you get back to the horse-stopping post, you'll be safe.

Ye Dazhuang carefully examined the terrain. "Yes."

"You're new to our village and don't know the area well..."

As Ye Youliang spoke, he raised his chin at Ye Qingqing and said, "How about this, we'll have Er Yatou take you around to familiarize yourself with the area while it's still dark, so you can memorize the routes."

Ye Qingqing blurted out, "Dad, I'm not familiar with the terrain either. I need my older brother to guide me."

As soon as he finished speaking, Ye Dazhuang gave her a deep, meaningful look.

Ye Qingqing was taken aback, realizing she was about to be exposed!

She had only been in this world for a few days, and the original owner's memories were as blurry as if they were seen through a frosted glass, so she couldn't grasp many of them.

Ye Youliang chuckled and glared at his daughter.

"You've lived in this village for fifteen years, how could you not know it well?"

"No, I mean it's late at night, and I can't tell where I am even after leaving the village."

Ye Qingqing scratched her nose and said vaguely, "You should ask your older brother to take him. I'm afraid it might be bad if he brings the wrong person."

Ye Dali's task was originally to move firewood to a designated location under cover of darkness. Upon hearing this, he readily nodded with his honest and simple manner.

"Alright, I'll show Brother Dazhuang the way first, then we'll go get the firewood."

Ye Cuicui's eyes darted around, and she quickly raised her hand to speak.

"Dad, my eldest brother needs to move firewood. Don't let it delay things. How about I take Dazhuang with me? I know the way at night."

She thought Big Zhuang was incredibly handsome, more handsome than anyone she had ever seen. She always wanted to get closer to him, but she was always too shy.

Having finally found a chance to talk to Brother Dazhuang, Ye Cuicui mustered all her courage.

Ye Youliang glared at her, frowned, and said...

"What are you doing out so late at night! What if you run into a wolf? Call your brother."

"Oh……"

Ye Cuicui lowered her head sullenly, twisting the corner of her clothes with her fingers.

The courage she had finally mustered vanished like a floodgate being opened.

"Uncle, I know the way."

Ye Dazhuang glanced at Ye Qingqing and said calmly, "When I was investigating the wolf pack's tracks, I circled around the village. I've memorized the terrain. Don't worry, there won't be any mistakes."

Ye Qingqing, "..."

If you remember it, so be it. You're so great. Why are you looking at me like that?

It's pitch black at night and you can't see anything, so it's normal not to know the roads in the village.

With the arrangements nearly complete, Ye Youliang couldn't help but offer a few more words of advice.

"Dali, Erya, you two set the fire and stay by the fire. Don't run back."

Running away will easily attract wolves; staying by the fire is actually the safest option.

"Dazhuang, sharpen the arrowhead properly. I shot this arrow last year; it'll be ruined after only three to five uses."

The three nodded simultaneously. "Understood, Dad! Let's proceed according to plan!"

"Yes."

The plan was meticulously arranged, and the three of them acted as if nothing had happened, eating their meal and then going about their own business.

As dusk fell, the horse-stopping posts at both ends of the village were already in place, and more than thirty people held machetes, shovels, and hoes in their hands. Two hunters, carrying bows and arrows, stood guard on either side.

After eating and drinking their fill at Er Ya Tou's house and receiving their wages, these people started working voluntarily without being urged.

Behind Lanmazhuang, a bonfire was lit, and a group of five or six people, holding torches, patrolled back and forth on the village road.

After finishing their meals, everyone hurried back to their houses, locked the doors and blocked the windows, and huddled on the kang (a heated brick bed) so that they didn't dare to make a sound.

Although there are people guarding the village, the memory of the family that died tragically at the hands of wolves last year is too vivid.

As darkness gradually fell, the entire Kaoshantun village descended into a deathly silence.

"Awoo...woo..."

Deep in the hills, the faint howls of wolves echoed, creating an atmosphere of extreme tension and oppression.