Within the valley, there was an image of prosperity and aspiration, and Shanggu Town also thrived because of that batch of grain. Especially upon knowing the yield of sweet potatoes and potatoes, subtle smiles appeared on the faces of the townsfolk, renewing their expectations for life. They tirelessly planted seeds in the ground, meticulously tending to them, eagerly awaiting the harvest in a few months.
Yet, in Panshi Town, several dozen miles southeast of Shanggu Town, and even in county towns a hundred miles away, the residents still lived in extreme fear, oppression, and despair. Violence was rampant everywhere. Many people had gone mad in the scramble for food resources and territories.
There was hope initially when the flood receded, but what came was greater despair—no relief grain, no seeds. People could only stave off hunger with wild vegetables, and their eyes were cast in darkness without hope in sight.
