Benjamin Walker waved his hand and said, "Tell your mother there's no need to fetch water anymore. If it doesn't rain in the next couple of days, this year's harvest is finished. Go home, lie down in the shade and sleep, don't waste your strength. Whether we survive or not is up to the heavens now."

“Dad, we're not going to try anymore?” Benjamin Walker's eldest son hurried over.

Benjamin Walker glanced at his hardworking son and shook his head, saying, "There's nothing more we can do."

The eldest son plopped down on a stone at the edge of the field, but the scorching ground made him jump up again. He didn't cry out, just fixed his gaze on the withered seedlings and said softly, "Dad, there are too many mouths to feed at home and not enough grain. Let my younger brother stay home, I'll join the army for food!"

Benjamin Walker gave a bitter smile and said, "If nothing grows in the fields, even soldiers won't have food to eat!"

The eldest son, Robert Walker, said, "If Fugu County won't do, I'll go work at the Yulin General's Office. Surely there will be food there."

Benjamin Walker reached out and stroked his eldest son's youthful face, saying, "Go home, your father will find a way."

The whole family, carrying buckets under the blazing sun, headed home. Many villagers were also making their way back.

In good years, after a day's work, the people of the northwest would always sing a tune or two with joy. Now, everyone looked as if they'd been hit by frost, listless and dispirited.

This damned heaven just won't let people live. Not only does it refuse to rain, it doesn't even leave a drop of water in the riverbeds.

The younger son, naturally lively, jumped barefoot into a muddy pond as they passed by. After rummaging around, he actually managed to catch a few loaches from the mud, holding them tightly in his hands to show off to his father and brother.

Benjamin Walker sighed and quickened his pace toward home.

Disaster was at their doorstep!

Last year's harvest was already poor, and the family didn't have much surplus grain to begin with. Now, it was the lean season again...

As soon as he got home, Benjamin Walker saw someone lying at his doorstep. He hurried over and turned the person over, only to find it was his old comrade-in-arms, Yellow Fox.

He checked for breath and found the man had fainted. Benjamin Walker said to his wife, The Walker Family, "Make some porridge!"

The Walker Family hesitated a bit, but seeing Benjamin Walker's grim expression, she hurried off.

"Put in the loaches that the younger one just caught."

Benjamin Walker instructed his wife calmly, then carried Yellow Fox into the house.

"Dad, what's wrong with him?"

The younger son shook Yellow Fox. Seeing no response, he asked his father.

"What else could it be? He's starving!" the eldest son, Robert Walker, said irritably.

Benjamin Walker scooped a ladle of water from the big jar and poured it down, gulp after gulp. After drinking, the hunger only grew stronger.

The millet porridge was brought over, so clear you could see your reflection, with a few shreds of meat floating in it.

Even in his sleep, Yellow Fox's craving for food hadn't lessened one bit. As soon as his mouth touched the bowl, he wouldn't let go.

A man eight feet tall, after eating a bowl of porridge, finally came back to life. Yellow Fox opened his eyes, and after recognizing those around him, grabbed Benjamin Walker and said, "Big Walker, there's no way to survive!"

Benjamin Walker replied expressionlessly, "There's no way to survive here either!"

Yellow Fox glanced at Benjamin Walker's sons, Robert Walker and Steven Walker, but said nothing.

Benjamin Walker waved his hand for his two sons to leave, then sat up straight and looked at the weakened Yellow Fox, saying, "What's the plan?"

"Philip Bolton's family has money and grain!"

Benjamin Walker smiled and said, "His father is a mine supervisor. It's only natural that their family has money and food."

Yellow Fox gritted his teeth and said, "Why should we starve to death while they wear silk and satin and feast on delicacies? Just because his father is a eunuch?

If cutting off that thing between my legs would fill my belly, I'd do it too!

If one dick could let my whole family eat and drink well, it'd be worth it a thousand times over!"

Benjamin Walker looked up and laughed silently, then said in a low voice, "So you mean we should go rob that dick?"

Yellow Fox gave a sinister grin and said, "Let's fill our bellies first, then talk!"

Benjamin Walker thought for a moment and said, "Philip Bolton's family is filthy rich, with no less than a hundred armed guards. Plus, the walls of the Zhang family compound are high—breaking in won't be easy."

Yellow Fox chuckled and said, "Philip Bolton takes after his eunuch father. Relying on his family's wealth and grain, he thinks this drought in Fugu County is his chance to make a fortune. He's been harsh with his guards, recently lending money at usurious rates, and who knows which brothel he's gotten involved with. As for poor families' daughters, if they're even a little pretty, he won't let a single one go.

Among the guards, there's one named Peter Bolton, a relative of Philip Bolton. He couldn't pay back his debts, so that bastard snatched his daughter. That very night, he tried to defile her, but the girl was so strong-willed she killed herself by smashing her head on the table corner.

Peter Bolton went to confront Philip Bolton and got his leg broken and was thrown out. A few days ago, I saw Peter Bolton at the mass grave. He told me he dug a tunnel into Philip Bolton's house, originally to save his daughter. But now she's dead, his leg is broken, and he's lost all hope.

Now, he just wants someone to help him kill Philip Bolton!

Big brother, I think this is something we can do. We're just waiting for you to call the brothers together!"