152: Chapter 152 Where does it look like there was a locust plague?

The other group of Kongjia Village villagers heading south walked for half a day, their footsteps still relatively brisk.

But after half a day of walking, their faces darkened.

The fields on both sides of the road were completely barren—the grass on the ridges was gone, the crops were gone, and even the topsoil had been churned up from being chewed.

Clearly, even after entering Guanhai County, the sight before them was still one stripped clean by the swarm of locusts.

In the crowd, some slowed their pace, some hung their heads, and some began to mutter in low voices.

A man squeezed from the back of the group to the front, his voice filled with anxiety as he said,

"Village Chief, did we make a mistake by choosing to go to Guanhai County? Both sides of the road here look just like our village!"

The people behind him joined in with a chatter of agreement.

"The locusts came from the south; Guanhai County has probably been stripped clean too."

"If we go to Guanhai County and they don't have food either, what do we do?"

"How about we just go back?"

The village chief of Kongjia Village was named Kong Sanlang. He was a middle-aged man with a burly stature and muscular arms.

Hearing the voices behind him, he stopped, turned around, and looked at the dirt-streaked villagers, saying,

"Everyone, it's no surprise that this place was eaten clean by the locust swarm, but at least heading to Guanhai County means we won't run into the swarm again."

"Have you forgotten that people in our village were eaten alive by the locusts?"

Village Chief Kong Sanlang's words instantly quieted the clamor among the crowd.

After all, many of these Kongjia Village residents who chose to head south to Guanhai County did so precisely to avoid the locust swarm moving north.

The crowd quieted down and continued heading south behind Village Chief Kong Sanlang.

No one spoke another word, and the low murmurs were scattered by the wind.

After walking for a while longer, this group of Kongjia Village residents saw their first village.

There were a few willow trees at the entrance of the village, their leaves vibrant green and swaying gently in the wind.

The water in the fields glinted with a bright white sheen, and the rice plants were lush green, growing splendidly.

The vegetation around the village was intact, and there were even flowers in bloom.

The villagers of Kongjia Village stood at the entrance, staring wide-eyed at the vibrant green willow trees and the lush, thriving rice plants.

Village Chief Kong Sanlang stood there, the image of those lush green crops reflected in his pupils, saying in disbelief,

"How did they manage this?"

A man straightened up in the field, his pant legs rolled up, mud clinging to his feet.

He raised his head and looked at the group at the village entrance—several dozen people carrying bundles, holding children, and supporting the elderly, looking as if they had fled from somewhere.

He paused, set down the rice seedlings in his hands, walked over to the village entrance, stood in front of the Kongjia Village villagers, and asked,

"This is Wangjia Village. Where are you from? You don't look like people from Guanhai County."

Facing the man's question, Village Chief Kong Sanlang of Kongjia Village replied,

"We are indeed not from Guanhai County. We come from Kongjia Village in Yongning County."

"We came here because Yongning County suffered a locust plague. The locusts ate all our crops, stripped all our trees, and ruined our village."

"That is why we headed south and ended up here."

Learning of the situation, the man hurriedly returned to the village and informed Village Chief Wang Deshun.

Wang Deshun was originally not the chief of Wangjia Village.

But after successfully leading the village to enshrine Lord Qinling during the Disaster of the Evil Tree, Wang Deshun was unanimously elected by the entire village to be the village chief.

Having learned the whole story, Wang Deshun led a group of villagers toward the village entrance.

Wang Deshun walked out from the village with several men following behind him, some carrying water and some holding dry rations.

He stopped in front of Kong Sanlang, sized him up from head to toe, and then spoke,

"You came over from Kongjia Village in Yongxing County?"

"Yes."

Kong Sanlang nodded.

"I am the chief of Wangjia Village, Wang Deshun. I've heard about your situation."

"As for the locust plague, we had one here too. Those things are indeed fierce; coming in a sky-blotting swarm, they could scare the soul right out of you."

"During those few days, everyone was in a panic, terrified just looking at them."

Kong Sanlang froze for a moment, a trace of confusion flashing in his eyes.

He looked at Wang Deshun, then looked back at the lush green willow trees behind him and at the thriving rice crops.

"You also had a locust plague?"

Kong Sanlang had a look of complete bewilderment.

How did this Wangjia Village look anywhere near like it had suffered a locust plague?

Please!

The state of their own village, Kongjia Village, when they left it not long ago—that was what a locust plague looked like!

"Then why are your crops still fine? Why are the trees still fine? Why is the grass still fine? It doesn't look like you've been through a locust plague at all."

Kong Sanlang asked, his lips trembling.

"That's because our village shrine enshrines Lord Qinling. With Lord Qinling protecting us, those locusts couldn't get anywhere near us at all."

Wang Deshun turned around and pointed toward the shrine at the east end of the village.

Kong Sanlang looked where his finger pointed and saw the somewhat humble shrine.

The rest of the Kongjia Village residents also saw the shrine.

It could be said that whether it was Village Chief Kong Sanlang or the villagers of Kongjia Village, upon hearing this talk of deities, they were half-believing and half-doubting.

Naturally, their instinct was not to believe in talk of deities.

But the Wangjia Village before their eyes was starkly different from the places they had passed along the way.

The fields stripped bare by the locusts and the leafless trees were things he had seen with his own eyes.

But upon arriving at Wangjia Village, the scene drastically changed.

The crops were still there, the trees were still there, the grass was still there, and the people were still there.

It was like a miracle, forcing him to believe it whether he wanted to or not.

"Chief Wang, I have a few words I'd like to say," Kong Sanlang said with a heavy exhale after his initial astonishment passed.

"Go ahead," Wang Deshun responded.

"Chief Wang, although your village wasn't heavily impacted during this locust plague, I imagine your food supply isn't plentiful either."

"If all several dozen of us stay here, it will only drag you down, and we will surely be a burden to you."

Kong Sanlang made up his mind and said,

"So I'm thinking of leading the men of the village away to find a living elsewhere."

"I also hope Wangjia Village can let the children, elderly, and women stay. They don't eat much and can help you with some chores..."

Listening to Kong Sanlang's words, Wang Deshun waved his hand and said,

"No need. All of you stay."

Kong Sanlang raised his head, his mouth agape, his eyes filled with surprise.

Wang Deshun looked at him and said,

"Back then, Qin Family Village took us in the exact same way."

He paused, his gaze passing over Kong Sanlang's shoulder to rest on the eave of the shrine outside the courtyard.

"Back then, dozens of us fled to Qin Family Village as refugees. Qin Family Village didn't chase us away. They gave us food, gave us shelter, and gave us hope to go on living."

"At that time, the village chief of Qin Family Village said that Lord Qinling is merciful, and Qin Family Village would not stand by and watch people die."

Wang Deshun withdrew his gaze and looked at Kong Sanlang.

"How Qin Family Village treated us is how we will treat you."

"How Lord Qinling protected us is how we will protect you."

"All of you stay. Wangjia Village's food can still last us for a while."

"All of you stay. Wangjia Village's food can still last us for a while."

"All of you stay. Wangjia Village's food can still last us for a while."