Without water, no one could cook. Every household had little water left, and everyone only dared to take a small, precious sip. The village chief's family gave their mule a little water, but the others' mules had to go thirsty.
The children, without a care in the world, were all playing hide-and-seek around the carriages.
Ju Hua and Zhang Laojia's daughter, Xiang'er, were sitting on the earthen wall playing cat's cradle when Ju Hua suddenly shouted, "Someone's here!"
Gu Fei looked over and saw a woman with a dust-covered face standing outside the low earthen wall. She was holding the hand of an eight or nine-year-old boy, and a girl of about fifteen or sixteen stood beside them.
Seeing everyone staring at her, the woman smiled nervously. "We're refugees... could you folks let me and my children rest here for the night?"
No one spoke; they all looked to Gu Zhang.
