Chapter Twenty-One: Selling Farmland

“Ah Chen, Ah Chen?”

In a daze, Shen Chen seemed to hear someone calling his name.

He looked up and saw his father, Shen Zhen.

“Father,” Shen Chen answered.

Shen Zhen said softly, “The clan elder is calling you.”

Shen Chen looked over and saw Deng Hong beckoning him over.

“Ah Chen, what do you think about the matter the clan is discussing?” After Shen Chen approached, bowed to the elders, Deng Hong questioned him.

Shen Chen shook his head. “I was distracted, thinking about yesterday, and did not hear the discussion.”

“Ah…” Deng Hong glanced around, and Deng Mao, Deng Zhao, as well as several Shen clan elders, all looked displeased.

For a junior to ignore the words of elders was considered highly disrespectful in those times.

Yet, Shen Chen had rendered great merit to the clan, so none could reproach him openly.

Deng Zhao explained, “We were discussing the southern route—planning to pass through Xiapi, travel via Peiguo to Runan, and from Runan enter Nanyang.”

Shen Chen considered this. “That won’t do. Xiapi, Peiguo, and Runan have all suffered repeated wars in recent years—especially Xiapi, which was recently massacred by Cao Cao, and now plague is rampant. If we migrate that way, our people may encounter the epidemic, and that would be disaster for the whole clan. We must find a safer route.”

“Oh?” Deng Mao asked, “Then where would be safe? Guangling has no plague, but Zuo Rong has caused havoc there—two governors have died at his hands. If we pass through Guangling, we may suffer as well.”

Shen Chen shook his head again. “I can’t decide yet. Give me two days to consider. The clan’s able-bodied men still need training, and the clan’s assets must be sold off—there’s still some time.”

Deng Mao replied bitterly, “But the traitor Cao is pressing hard. We discussed it—best to leave before the end of this month.”

“Leave before month’s end?” Shen Chen was astonished. Today was already the fifteenth of May; moving an entire household was no small feat. Even ordinary peasants, moving to another region, needed ten days to half a month just to deal with their property.

But Huangmenting had over three hundred households, more than a thousand people, and vast property and fields to handle—not to mention training guards. Two months would barely be enough.

Deng Mao sighed, “Everyone is frightened—Xuzhou is a place of misfortune now. So many died yesterday. If we stay longer, I fear…”

“I understand,” Shen Chen nodded silently. He knew well how things stood. Faced with the butcher’s