As Gu Qingcheng's family united against the extreme cold, on the other side, after the public trial, apart from Old Man Gu and Oldest Son Gu who were beheaded, the remaining Gu family members were bound by rope and driven by the ruthless officials towards the frontier.
The frontier here referred to the border with the Liao Kingdom. They had originally intended to flee south, but since the Liao Kingdom was in the north, this meant they had to travel back northwards.
Grandma Gu and her group were truly heartbroken.
On the road of exile, they discovered that the food supplies were their own responsibility. Since the entire family was apprehended, there was no outside help, and naturally, no one had prepared food for them.
As for paying for food, their meager silver had already been plundered by the prison bosses while they were incarcerated. How could there be any left?
In fact, the officials did allocate some funds for the prisoners' meals during escort. However, with the guards in charge, how could any of it truly reach the prisoners?
Expecting the guards to show mercy was as likely as them finding money on the road.
Fortunately, the guards escorting prisoners had a mortality rate evaluation index. If this index was exceeded, the guards would also be held accountable.
Therefore, even the poorest prisoners, though they had not paid, would receive a black steamed bun and a bowl of water each day to stave off hunger.
Although the Gu family had been fleeing famine, they at least had hot wild vegetable porridge three meals a day. When things got out of hand, Old Man Gu would even take out dried meat to boil into a broth.
Now, they were forced to eat these hard, sour, and rotten black steamed buns all day, resulting in them not having had a bowel movement for several days.
Grandma Gu knew that this wouldn't do; if it continued, her old life would be lost on the road.
The next evening, they happened to reach a dilapidated temple and decided to spend the night there.
This was the most comfortable lodging they had found after three days of exile.
Previously, they had been in the wilderness, making do with whatever they could find. The wind in the wild was fierce, and the cold made the family huddle together for sleep.
In the dilapidated temple, they were fortunate to have a wall beside them to block the wind, and they all expressed their relief.
As night fell, while the guards were asleep, Grandma Gu nudged Liu Cui beside her and whispered:
"Eldest daughter-in-law, look at us, surviving on just one black steamed bun every day. We won't last long."
"Yes, Mother. What can we do? We have no money, no food."
Liu Cui was still immersed in the grief of losing her husband and son, appearing listless.
Of course, she wouldn't want to die if given the choice. Who wouldn't want to live?
Even ants cling to life, let alone a living human being!
"Ah, let me tell you, that fiercest guard, Old Ding, gave that female prisoner named Hong Lian two white flour steamed buns today!"
Grandma Gu said in a gossipy tone.
"What? Such a good thing? Did you see correctly?"
Liu Cui's spirits immediately perked up at the gossip.
"How could I be mistaken? I saw it with my own eyes."
Grandma Gu said with envy.
"Ah? What happened? Did Hong Lian bribe the guard with silver? If that's the case, we can't do anything. Where would we get silver?"
Liu Cui shook her head.
"What bribe? Hong Lian has no money? Hong Lian used her beauty. I saw them go into the woods. When they came out, Old Ding was pulling up his pants, and Hong Lian's hair was disheveled."
Grandma Gu said sourly.
"Ah? Really?" Liu Cui's mouth dropped open in surprise.
"Of course it's true. Do you think my old eyes are blurry? Old Ding, that man, he's indiscriminate when it comes to women. Many female prisoners are already eyeing him."
Grandma Gu tutted a few times.
Liu Cui felt a sense of crisis.
Letting a woman go into the woods with Old Ding?
Now, she was the only woman in the family without a man's protection. Her husband had been beheaded. Was her mother-in-law implying she should trade her body for steamed buns?
How could Liu Cui be willing to sacrifice herself to save everyone?
Even if she were to sacrifice herself, if it meant getting white flour steamed buns, she would eat them herself. Why would she share them with others?
She must be out of her mind to do that.
Liu Cui's eyes darted around, and she quickly picked out the easiest target, saying:
"Eh? Mother, don't we have other women in our family? I think Xiao Hua is a good candidate. Let her go into the woods with Old Ding, and maybe she can get us white flour steamed buns too."
Grandma Gu's eyes lit up at this. To be honest, she had indeed intended for Liu Cui to do this.
Because Liu Cui was now a widow, and judging by her flirtatious demeanor, she wouldn't be able to resist finding a lover sooner or later. It would be better for her to go into the woods with Old Ding and exchange it for some food to survive.
However, Liu Cui wasn't attractive, far from Hong Lian. Old Ding might find her distasteful.
After all, although Old Ding was ugly, there was no shortage of female prisoners who willingly threw themselves at him.
But if it were Gu Xiao Hua, Old Ding would certainly be willing.
For no other reason, Xiao Hua was still unmarried. Wouldn't Old Ding be tempted?
"Is that appropriate? Xiao Hua is still young."
Grandma Gu said hypocritically, but inwardly she was pleased. With a target chosen, all that remained was the anticipation of eating white flour steamed buns.
"What's inappropriate about it? Xiao Hua is almost of marriageable age, why not?
Doesn't Hong Lian rely on her big hips? But our Xiao Hua hasn't been "introduced" yet, so she's definitely more valuable than Hong Lian.
Hong Lian only gets two buns at a time. If we offer up Xiao Hua, everyone in the family should get two buns each, right?"
Liu Cui, in order to distance herself from the situation, praised Xiao Hua profusely.
This was probably the most praise she had ever given Xiao Hua in her life.
"You're right. What man doesn't desire someone who hasn't been 'introduced'? I think it's feasible."
Grandma Gu, considering the cost-effectiveness, also felt that it was appropriate for Gu Xiao Hua to appease Old Ding.
"Yes, Xiao Hua has a fair face and a slender waist. Old Ding will be hooked after one taste. We can't just do this once. Let Xiao Hua interact with Old Ding more, and maybe we can even get meat buns!"
Liu Cui also became animated.
Grandma Gu almost drooled at the thought of meat buns.
Having received her eldest daughter-in-law's support, she quickly nodded and said:
"Then you go and tell Xiao Hua tomorrow. Just say it's everyone's intention for her to go into the bushes with Old Ding."
Liu Cui grunted a couple of times. She didn't want to be the one to relay this message. Otherwise, if the second couple found out later, wouldn't they beat her to death?
Now, as a widow, could she fight the second couple?
Her mother-in-law wanted her to be the scapegoat and bear the brunt of the second couple's anger, but she wasn't that foolish. Why not just go directly to Old Ding to discuss this matter?
If something happened later and the second couple blamed them, they could just shift the responsibility to Old Ding.
Gu Xiao Hua was starving. She was tired from walking, and she had fallen asleep very early, completely unaware that someone in the family was plotting to sell her.
The next morning, she was rudely awakened by the guards' shouts. The Gu family had no black steamed buns, so they could only swallow their saliva and pretend they had eaten breakfast.
To prevent them from dying, the guards would only grudgingly provide a cheap black steamed bun, which was distributed at noon. They received nothing in the morning.