Chen Hong sighed. "I don't want to say this, Jin, but we are really running out of food since we have to feed the young and old in this family. The harvest was poor last year, and now, we are facing a shortage in the spring. Life will only be getting more difficult in the following few months.
"The boy you brought home is pitiful, but we can't afford to keep him. Your uncle said that he was going to work in the fields, but in reality, he's gone to the mountain without Grandpa's knowledge. No one would want to go up the dangerous Mount Blackbird if given a choice."
As she spoke of this, Chen Hong looked Gu Jin in the eye. Seeing her indifferent expression, she gritted her teeth. "Last year, the Du Family's son went hunting in the mountains, and he was attacked by a wild boar. He was carried home, and he died a few days later.
"We're going to run out of food this month. Send the boy away if you still care for the family. Don't let him linger in our house."
"I understand." Gu Jin nodded lightly and left after Chen Hong finished talking.
Chen Hong frowned as she watched Gu Jin walk away.
She glanced at her daughter, who was helping her wash the vegetables. "What did she mean? Did she agree or not?"
Gu Minmin was working on the vegetables, so she ignored her mother. How the heck would I know? She thought to herself.
"I'm talking to you, rascal! Are you dumb?"
Chen Hong became furious when she did not receive her daughter's response.
Gu Minmin stopped what she was doing, flicked the water off her hands, then spun around to leave the kitchen.
Chen Hong glared at her. "Where the hell are you going, you rascal?"
"Didn't you want to know what Gu Jin meant? I'm going to find out from her and tell you."
Chen Hong was struck dumb as she stared daggers at her daughter.
The mother and daughter got into a silent standoff in the kitchen.
After a long while, Chen Hong relented. "Forget it. Come back and wash the vegetables!"
Gu Minmin also acceded as she went back in to continue what she had been doing.
This girl was also a stubborn one.
Meanwhile, Gu Jin gave An Mingji the bun. She rested her chin on her hand and fell into deep thought as he chewed the dry and hard bun in his mouth.
She remembered that two years before she returned to the city, a famine had hit the village.
That year, a month of heavy rain in the northern region of Hua Country had wiped out most of the crops.
Harvests had only come to about one-tenth of the total amount of yearly produce, and people were starving.
It happened this year if she was not mistaken,
There was a grave look on Gu Jin's face when she thought of what her aunt said.
She did not want to send An Mingji away, but she also faced problems in letting him stay.
Her family would not keep an outsider when the family was in such a situation.
Gu Jin lifted her gaze and looked on as the boy nibbled on the bun.
She would not abandon An Mingji because of what he had done for her in her past life. She owed him a great debt of gratitude.
Noticing her stare, An Mingji looked up and handed the half-eaten bun to Gu Jin. "Do you want some, Sister Jin?"
"I'm not hungry. You can have it all." Gu Jin shook her head with a smile.
She stood up, approached the wooden table, and poured him a glass of water.
It was still warm to the touch.
She carried the glass and walked toward An Mingji, who was sitting on the edge of the bed.
Looking at the lovely boy, a thought suddenly came to mind; she had gotten an idea on how to let An Mingji stay with her.
Gu Jin then handed An Mingji the glass of water. "Stay here while I go out. I won't be long."