The rumor had indeed come from the village chief's house, but the main culprit wasn't his little grandson.
The grandson had merely overheard that there was going to be a war, but it was Mrs. Hong whose imagination had run wild.
Especially after her husband had left her with a cryptic remark before he left—something about 'the winds are changing, take good care of the children'.
She had immediately jumped to the conclusion of forced conscription.
She was well aware that the number of able-bodied men in the village had sharply declined in recent years. If they started conscripting again, she feared their family wouldn't be spared this time. Why else would her husband tell her to take good care of the children!
