With a furious expression, Ye Weiliang slammed the door shut with a loud bang, as if sealing all her dissatisfaction and anger outside. She could no longer be bothered with those two utterly unreasonable, clearly unhinged people.
After resting briefly, the two of them set off toward the mountain.
Along the way, Ye Weiliang silently planned to herself—this time, she had to come back with a full harvest. She hoped to catch some bigger game, and if luck was on her side, she might even run into a ferocious yet highly valuable wild boar.
At the thought of this, Ye Weiliang unconsciously quickened her pace, her eyes shining with anticipation and excitement.
Walking side by side, each of them carried a basket in one hand while using the other to pick mushrooms and gather scattered firewood from the ground.
Ye Weiliang pondered that perhaps she should find a large, razor-sharp chopping knife; that way, she could easily hack down those dry, dead branches hanging high up in the trees.
“Liangliang, look over here! There are so many mushrooms!” Li Xingxing exclaimed in delight, her voice brimming with excitement.
“Sister Xingxing, why don’t you stay here and pick the mushrooms first? I’ll go over there and chop some firewood,” Ye Weiliang said decisively, having keenly sensed faint noises coming from not far away.
“Alright! Be careful!” Li Xingxing lifted her head and watched Ye Weiliang’s retreating figure with concern, reminding her repeatedly.
Only after receiving Ye Weiliang’s affirmative response did Li Xingxing feel at ease enough to lower her head again and focus on picking mushrooms.
The chicken-foot mushrooms here were countless, clumped together in dense clusters, like a lively little forest. Each time she picked up a plump, fresh mushroom, she felt a heavy sense of satisfaction, making it hard to stop. The more she picked, the more enthusiastic she became.
Ye Weiliang, meanwhile, dashed straight toward the source of the sound, her steps light and agile.
As she ran, she silently prayed over and over in her heart, “Please, heavens above, let it be a huge wild boar!”—as if such prayers could truly bring good fortune.
When she finally reached the spot where the noise came from, the sight before her made her ecstatic. Just as she had hoped, there was a whole group of wild boars leisurely foraging there!
Yes—an entire group of wild boars!
Five adult boars were enormous, each weighing over three hundred jin. Their thick, powerful limbs and sharp tusks were enough to strike fear into anyone’s heart.
There were also three smaller ones, snorting as they shoved at the others, seemingly competing for food.
At this sight, Ye Weiliang was so excited she nearly cried out. She cheered inwardly, I’ve struck it rich! I’ve struck it rich! This time, I can finally eat roasted suckling pig!
Imagining that tender, juicy, fragrant roast pork, she couldn’t help but swallow. At this moment, her eyes saw nothing but those fat wild boars.
She carefully shifted her steps, slowly approaching the group.
When she reached the perfect distance, she looked at the boars and silently recited “Collect.” Instantly, as if pulled by invisible threads, the wild boars vanished from the forest.
Only the small piglets—those she wanted to turn into roasted suckling pigs—were left scrambling in panic. Ye Weiliang struck one with a stick, knocking it unconscious.
However, this series of actions clearly exceeded her limits. A heavy dizziness swept over her, as if a massive stone were pressing down on her head. The purple golden-flower pattern on her chest surged with heat, burning so fiercely she could barely endure it.
“Girl, how are you?” Ye Jianjun’s voice sounded especially steady at that moment. Suppressing the shock in his heart, he buried all his astonishment deep inside and hurried forward to support Ye Weiliang as she swayed.
By now, Ye Weiliang had no strength left. Leaning on Ye Jianjun’s support, she slowly sat down on the ground.
Meanwhile, her consciousness quietly slipped into that mysterious space.
Inside, the captured wild boars charged around wildly. Enduring the throbbing pain in her head, Ye Weiliang barely managed to fence them in temporarily.
After catching her breath for a moment, she gradually recovered.
By this time, Li Xingxing had finished gathering mushrooms and walked over. Seeing Ye Weiliang sitting weakly on the ground with a middle-aged man anxiously supporting her, she rushed over without hesitation.
“Liangliang, what’s wrong? Did this man bully you?”
Ye Weiliang gently shook her head. “Sister Xingxing, I’m fine. I’m just a little tired.”
Li Xingxing had never seen Ye Weiliang so weak before, and her heart filled with doubt and worry.
She didn’t believe Ye Weiliang was merely tired—during all this time together, even when reclaiming land, Ye Weiliang had never once said she was tired.
Before Li Xingxing could ask more, Ye Jianjun spoke first, his voice trembling slightly. “Comrade, I’m her biological father. May I speak with her alone for a moment?”
Li Xingxing froze, staring at Ye Jianjun in surprise, then turned to look at Ye Weiliang, trying to find some resemblance between them.
Seeing Ye Weiliang nod faintly in agreement, Li Xingxing stepped back a short distance, though her gaze never left them, afraid something might happen to Ye Weiliang.
Once Li Xingxing had moved farther away, Ye Jianjun hesitated for a long while before finally speaking. “Girl, that ability of yours… where did it come from? Does it harm your body?”
Ye Weiliang looked at him steadily, then smiled faintly. “A few days before coming down to the countryside, I had a high fever in the middle of the night. They didn’t take me to see a doctor, and I burned to death. My soul went to the underworld. The Judge said my lifespan wasn’t over yet and allowed me to return. The King of Hell pitied my suffering and bestowed this treasure upon me—it can store all things and also give my mind a place to rest. He also told me everything about your situation. So I returned here with those memories and gifts.”
Hearing this, Ye Jianjun showed no doubt at all. His eyes were filled only with heartache and hatred—hatred directed entirely at Liu Pandi’s family.
He sat in front of Ye Weiliang, his voice shaking. “Girl, I’m sorry. It’s all Dad’s fault. I don’t dare ask for your forgiveness—I only hope you’ll give us a chance to atone. Is that alright?”
Ye Weiliang gently shook her head. “Comrade Ye, after this one-day trip to the underworld, I realized that things like familial bonds aren’t that important anymore. Living well is what truly matters.”
She brushed the dust off herself and slowly stood up, her gaze calm. “Comrade Ye, goodbye.”
With that, she picked up the small wild boar and walked toward Li Xingxing, breaking into a bright smile. “Sister Xingxing, look—I caught a little wild boar. Do you know how to make roasted suckling pig?”
Li Xingxing looked at her, her eyes full of concern and worry, but she didn’t answer directly. “Liangliang, are you really okay? Is he truly your father?”
Ye Weiliang smiled faintly and shook her head, a trace of bitterness and sorrow flickering in her eyes.
She knew she hadn’t truly let go, but at this moment, she wanted to appear strong.
“What could possibly be wrong with me?” she replied lightly.
Yet from that calm smile, Li Xingxing still caught that barely perceptible trace of pain and hardship.
Ye Weiliang indeed had no right to forgive them on Er Ya’s behalf.
But who didn’t yearn for their parents’ love and affection?
In her previous life, she had been an orphan. In this life, she had only ever felt parental warmth from Zhao Youliang and his wife.
To her, that warmth was precious beyond measure.
Meanwhile, back at the cowshed, Ye Jianjun covered his face and burst into tears.
Song Jingfang was stunned—she had never seen Ye Jianjun lose control like this. “Jianjun, what’s wrong? Did something happen to our girl?”
Ye Jianjun repeated what Ye Weiliang had said earlier, concealing the matter of her special ability.
Upon learning that their precious daughter had returned from the King of Hell’s court, Song Jingfang wept uncontrollably. “My poor girl… how could they be so heartless? They wouldn’t even take her to see a doctor? Wuwu…”
“Third Brother, tell Eldest Brother to find someone. Those human traffickers must receive the harshest punishment,” Ye Jianjun said quietly. Though he didn’t state it outright, he had already sent word to his eldest brother.
He believed his brother would understand their daughter’s past. Once he knew the truth, he would surely exert pressure on the farm so those who had tormented their daughter would receive the punishment they deserved.