Sweet Dreams in Famine Years: The System Leads to a Brilliant Life

Pan Yang just breathed a sigh of relief after hearing what the officers and soldiers said, but when he heard that "no one near Huzhou City will take in refugees", he was stunned.

"Sir, does anyone know where we can take in refugees?" Pan Yang asked anxiously.

The leading officer shook his head, his tone still cold: "I don't know, anyway, no one near Huzhou City will take in refugees, you'd better leave here quickly."

After hearing this, Pan Yang felt powerless, like a deflated ball. They had finally escaped here, and if the government refused to take them in, where would they go next?

Finally, Pan Yang led a group of villagers out of the town in a state of despair. The villagers were also bewildered, and they also heard the conversation between Yang Lizheng and the soldiers.

Unable to bear it any longer, Pan Yang walked up to Zeng Zhengen and asked with a worried look on his face, "Zeng girl, what should we do?"

"Uncle Pan, don't worry, let's wait until we get to Lingzhou City and then see the situation. If Lingzhou City doesn't take us in, then we will continue to go south and we will always find a place." Zeng Zhengen's tone was firm, giving people a sense of comfort.

After hearing Zeng Zhengen's words, Pan Yang felt relieved and the team continued to move south. Passing through several towns, they got the same result: no one was willing to take in refugees.

The villagers were getting more and more depressed. If there was no place to take them in, they would most likely become refugees. In this way, the team was getting closer and closer to Lingzhou City, but the villagers were getting more and more depressed.

"Zeng'er, will Lingzhou City take us in?" Zeng's mother's voice was filled with anxiety, and her heart was beating fast. After being rejected by so many towns, anyone would inevitably feel anxious.

Although Zeng Zhengen was unsure, she tried to stay calm so as not to make her mother worry more: "Don't worry, Mom, we will be able to settle down." Her tone was firm, trying to convey a hint of confidence.

Before they knew it, more than 20 days had passed since they left Huzhou City. As the distance to Lingzhou City shortened, the villagers placed their last hope here.

Finally, on this day, everyone arrived outside Lingzhou City. People were coming and going at the city gate, and the sounds of hawking in the market were faintly heard, as if revealing a glimmer of life. Hope ignited in the hearts of the villagers, as if they saw a ray of light.

Pan Yang also smiled, thinking that Lingzhou City looked so prosperous, maybe the government here would be willing to take in refugees like them. He decided to go and find out the situation himself.

"Everyone wait here, I'll go to the front to ask." Pan Yang mustered up his courage and said to the villagers.

After Pan Yang calmed the villagers, he walked straight towards the soldiers guarding the city gate.

As soon as he approached, the soldiers stopped him and said, "To enter the city, each person needs to pay five copper coins."

Pan Yang's smile froze instantly, and he felt disappointed. Five copper coins? For more than 60 families, the cost of entering the city is not a small amount. He calculated that if this happened, their food and silver reserves would probably be greatly reduced.

Pan Yang returned to the team with his head down. The villagers felt very depressed when they saw his frustrated face.

"Village chief, what did the official say?" After a period of silence, someone finally couldn't help but ask.

"To enter the city, each person needs to pay five copper coins." Pan Yang said helplessly.

When everyone heard this, the sadness on their faces deepened instantly. They had been fleeing from famine along the way, and they had very little silver left. Now, even if they just wanted to enter the city, a family would have to spend more than a dozen copper coins, and a large family would need dozens of copper coins.

Everyone was thinking in their hearts, if the government was willing to take them in, it would be fine, but if not, wouldn't they have to continue moving south?

Just when everyone was frowning, Zeng Zhengen directly asked the key question: "Uncle Pan, have you ever asked the officials whether the government will accept refugees?"

Pan Yang's expression froze, as if he had been awakened by this question. He was so shocked to hear that he had to pay to enter the city that he even forgot to ask the most important thing.

"Girl Zeng, I... I couldn't remember it for the moment." Pan Yang said with some stuttering.

Zeng Zhengen's heart sank when he saw him like this, and he quickly analyzed: "Uncle Pan, why don't we let everyone wait outside the city first, and I will go into the city alone to find out the news!"

She went to the city alone, so it was obviously more flexible to do things. If the government did not accept refugees, the villagers could also save this wronged money. Pan Yang thought about it and felt that this was a good idea, so he nodded and agreed to Zeng Zhengen's proposal.

"Okay, girl Zeng, be careful when you enter the city!" Pan Yang reminded her with concern.

"Well, Uncle Pan, don't worry, I will be careful." Zeng Zhengen nodded in response.

After that, she went to explain to her parents, and then walked to the city gate alone. After paying five copper coins, Zeng Zhengen successfully entered the prosperous Lingzhou City.

The bustling scene in the city made her dizzy. The endless stream of people and the hawking sounds intertwined together, vividly presenting a prosperous picture. Compared with Qingping County, this place was like two different worlds. There were a wide variety of goods, and the hawking sounds from the stalls were one after another, which made people dazzled.

Zeng Zhengen did not stay for long and went straight to the government office. At the gate of the government office, she stuffed some small change into the hands of the guards and said in a gentle tone: "Sir, I want to ask you something."

The officer weighed the silver in his hand, looked satisfied, and accepted it.

"What's the matter? Tell me. I will tell you everything I know." The soldier smiled and looked at Zeng Zhengen.

Zeng Zhengen rubbed his hands, tried to relax, and said softly: "Sir, I heard that there are many refugees coming from Huzhou City. Although we are a little far from Huzhou City, we cannot rule out the possibility of refugees coming here. May I ask if the government has considered accepting these refugees?"

She did not directly mention her identity as a refugee, after all, the attitude of the government here is still unclear. If the government takes tough measures against refugees and suppresses them as refugees, it will be dangerous.

If an ordinary person asked such a question, the soldiers would probably chase him away immediately. However, Zeng Zhengen had just given him some silver, so the soldier answered her truthfully out of interest.

"The order from above is that Lingzhou City will not accept refugees. If there are refugees coming, they will be treated as refugees. Men will be sent to the army, and women will be slaves."

Zeng Zhengen heard this and cursed in his heart, "Dog official." Sure enough, he was right. Fortunately, he did not directly disclose his identity.

After saying goodbye to the officers and soldiers, Zeng Zhengen hurried out, anxiously thinking about how to tell Pan Yang and the others the news.