It was bad. He could see why they only kept the fastest growing meat and vegetables in the garden. Huo 's medicinal garden and greenhouses could supplement some but he found himself thumbing through the papers, 'How have you managed for all these years? '

'We have found generosity has a way of coming back to us. In moments of great need someone will come by with a donation as thanks for something we did years ago, or a caravan will deem a staple food 'non profitable ' if they carried it any farther and cut us a deal. We 've been on the edge more times than I can count but something 's always pulled us through. '

'Did the insect plague make it all the way out here? '

'Yeah, good protein, uncovered our grass traps though. '

Yue winced in memory, then that damn dopey look melted his pristine features. Jie looked around and zeroed in on the source.