Xiao Jianguo pinched Wang Xiao’e hard. This stupid woman! All he’d wanted was to send her over to drop a few hints, bring up the favor of the twenty-five yuan loan, and broach the subject of getting him a job—just to prepare the Xiao family for what was coming.
But who would have guessed she’d kick up such a fuss? Now the whole family was being looked down on and avoided by everyone in the production team.
If this kept up, they’d be shunned by everyone and might even get formally disowned!
While cursing inwardly, Xiao Jianguo quickly put on a fawning, apologetic smile. “Please, everyone, don’t be angry. I was napping at home just now and had no idea Xiao’e was spouting such nonsense. She’s lost her wits. Big Sister, please don’t take it to heart.”
“Since we’ve already paid back the twenty-five yuan we owed, we’ll even write off the remaining two yuan and change. I promise I’ll give her a good talking-to when we get home. Just please, don’t hold this against us!”
Not daring to stay any longer, Xiao Jianguo turned and fled the moment he finished speaking, dragging his wife and son along as they hurried back into their own yard and slammed the gate shut behind them with a loud thud.
Once safely inside the house, the whole family huddled together, clearly planning their next move.
Xiao Jianguo’s retreat was so sudden that no one had time to react. They stood there, stunned, watching the family disappear.
After a moment, the neighbors began exchanging meaningful glances and whispering among themselves.
“Do you believe a word he said? You really think he didn’t know what was going on, that he was just asleep the whole time?”
Someone else let out a snort of disdain. “Pah! That whole family is full of scheming minds. Xiao Jianguo has always been like this—hides in the background while sending his wife out to charge ahead and stir up trouble. The second things get out of hand, he suddenly turns into the peacemaker.”
“But what I really wonder is, what on earth does Wang Xiao’e see in him? Her family is way better off than the Xiaos’. And all these years, he’s treated her poorly, yet she still follows him loyally no matter what. Look at her—she just got pinched and didn’t even make a sound.”
Another person smirked knowingly. “What else could it be? Xiao Jianguo is handsome, that’s what! Even in his forties, he still looks like a man in his thirties, and he always dresses neatly wherever he goes.”
“True enough. It really doesn’t make sense. But one thing you can say about the Xiao family—no matter what their character is like, every single one of them is good-looking.”
“Wait a minute—enough about that! I feel like we’ve forgotten something important!” someone suddenly exclaimed, slapping their forehead.
His words jolted the others back to their senses.
The production team leader’s wife gave a sharp start. She had already been feeling lightheaded from all the crying and emotional turmoil earlier, and Wang Xiao’e’s outburst had completely made her forget that her son was still trapped up in the mountains!
Now reminded, her panic returned and she looked ready to burst into tears again. She turned her pleading gaze toward Ye Qing.
Ye Qing nodded firmly. “I gave you my word just now, and I won’t go back on it. I’ll head up the mountain with the militia right away and bring him back safely.”
The woman’s legs nearly gave out, and she almost collapsed to her knees in gratitude.
Chen Xiuzhi pressed her lips together and looked toward the direction of the back mountain.
By day, the mountain appeared sacred, imposing, and full of vibrant life—it had sustained generations of families living at its foot.
But at night, it was shrouded in a thick, murky fog, looking eerie and foreboding. Wild animals roamed there, and if you listened closely enough, you could sometimes hear the distant howl of wolves.
She truly did not want Ye Qing to go up there. But there was nothing she could do—Ye Qing had already given her promise, and Chen Xiuzhi knew her daughter-in-law well: once she made up her mind, no one could change it.
Chen Xiuzhi sighed deeply. “All right, all right, everyone, you can go on home now. Ye Qing is leaving shortly with the militia, and there’s nothing more to see here.”
Since Chen Xiuzhi had spoken, the neighbors realized the commotion was finally over. With a few awkward pleasantries, they dispersed one by one until the yard was completely empty.
Only those directly involved in the matter remained in the Xiao family courtyard.
Chen Xiuzhi turned to look at her two sons, wondering if she should send Xiao Yang and Xiao Lei along as well. She was uneasy about letting Ye Qing go up the mountain alone with the militia.
Ye Qing saw her hesitation and spoke immediately. “Mom, I can handle this by myself. The boys have no experience traveling in the mountains—they’d only slow us down if they came along.”
“Then let me pack some dry food and water for you. There’s no telling how long you’ll be gone,” Chen Xiuzhi said, her voice heavy with worry.
The team leader’s wife was already so grateful she felt she could bow down in thanks. She quickly stepped forward. “No, Xiuzhi—you rest. I’ll prepare everything.”
She gently but firmly ushered Chen Xiuzhi back into the house, then went straight into the Xiao family kitchen. She called over one of the young militiamen and asked him to run to her own home to fetch supplies.
“We can’t afford to waste time. Every minute Xiao Wuzi stays up there feels like an eternity to me. I have flatbreads already baked and some sugar water at home—go get them. As soon as they’re warmed up, you can all head out.”
Soon the food was brought over. The woman steamed the breads to warm them through, then filled every water gourd with sweetened water. When everything was ready, she walked anxiously with Ye Qing and the others to the foot of the mountain.
She looked up at Ye Qing with tearful eyes. “I beg you, child—just bring Xiao Wuzi back alive. Whatever you want afterward, I’ll do it. And please, stay safe yourselves. If my body were stronger, I’d climb up there right beside you.”
Ye Qing wasted no more words. She strapped all the supplies in place, put on her work clothes, and began the ascent first.
The young militiamen were still trying to comfort the mother, but when they turned around and saw Ye Qing already disappearing into the trees, they quickly hurried to catch up.
Five militiamen had come along—all strong, able-bodied young men, two of them even carrying hunting rifles.
To be honest, with so many men and firearms between them, none of them felt particularly afraid. It also meant they couldn’t understand why Ye Qing looked so stern and serious.
When they reached the foot of the steepest part of the trail, Ye Qing suddenly stopped.
“Did the messenger who came back today tell you exactly where Tian Wuzi was last seen?” she asked.
Li Anping, one of the militiamen, spoke up right away. “Yongzi said it was around the spot where you usually pick mushrooms. It takes roughly two hours to walk there. But later, they were chased by a herd of wild boars and ran until they got completely turned around.”
“Picking mushrooms?” Ye Qing let out a faint, knowing laugh. “Very well, I understand. Let’s keep moving.”
As they walked, the young militiamen remained relaxed, chatting and laughing casually among themselves.
But Ye Qing’s expression grew more serious with every step.
The reason was simple: the weather was turning bad. Rain was coming to the valley, and the mountain was already wrapped in thick fog. The higher they climbed, the poorer their visibility became.
If she hadn’t already traveled this same route twice before, it would have been nearly impossible to find their way in the dead of night.
After about an hour of walking, the militiamen began to feel the change in atmosphere. The deep woods felt silent and oppressive, and Ye Qing—who knew the terrain best—was walking ahead with a grim, unsmiling face.
They fell quiet, gripped their rifles tighter, and followed more cautiously.
Suddenly, Ye Qing halted again.
“What is it? Why stop now?” one of the young men asked, his voice carrying a trace of impatience he didn’t even realize he had.
Though the militia patrolled the mountains regularly, they mostly stayed near the base and only did so during daylight hours. Their main duty was to keep watch and ensure wild animals didn’t wander down into the village. Hardly any of them had ever ventured deep into the forest at night.
“Quiet. No talking,” Ye Qing whispered sharply. “Everyone stay silent.”
She closed her eyes and listened intently for a moment. Then her face changed. Without explanation, she turned sharply and headed toward the right.
The rest were thoroughly confused. “Where are you going? Aren’t we supposed to go rescue Tian Wuzi?”
“This is the way to find him,” Ye Qing replied briefly. “Stop asking questions and follow me.”
About ten minutes later, her posture relaxed slightly, and the others finally dared to speak again.
“Why did we switch paths all of a sudden? The main trail is wide, straight, and well-trodden—wouldn’t it be easier to stick to it?”
Ye Qing smiled faintly. “Yes, it’s easier—both for us and for the animals. Especially at night, when snakes and all sorts of creatures come out to hunt. Walking that path would be like volunteering to get bitten.”
“And that main trail also becomes a wind tunnel after dark. It’s dangerous to travel through it at night. I’m taking you on a safer route.”
The men exchanged puzzled glances. None of them had ever heard of a “wind tunnel” in the mountains—these were the kinds of survival secrets only experienced woodsmen knew.
As Ye Qing prepared to climb higher, another militiaman spoke up, sounding doubtful. “I know where the mushroom patch is that Yongzi mentioned. This isn’t the way to get there! Ye Qing, are you actually serious about finding Xiao Wuzi?”
“If I didn’t intend to rescue him, why would I be climbing up here? Wouldn’t I be much more comfortable staying home in bed?” Ye Qing shot back, not bothering to slow down. “You can follow me if you trust me. If not, I’ll turn around right now and go back down, and you can search for him on your own.”
The men hesitated, then all looked to Li Anping for direction.
He paused for a moment before making up his mind. “Right now, this is our only option. Let’s stick with Ye Qing. Come on, keep up.”
The path Ye Qing chose was muddy, uneven, and required scrambling over rocks and fallen trees. At first, the militiamen gritted their teeth and kept pace, but as time went on, they began to tire. The silence of the night forest felt heavy and unnerving, and a growing sense of restlessness began to creep in.
Watching Ye Qing pause every few minutes, seemingly on edge, only added to their anxiety.
As they neared the deeper part of the forest, one young man finally lost his patience. Half complaining about Ye Qing, half trying to boost his own courage, he spoke loudly.
“All this talk of tricks and special knowledge—listening to the wind and avoiding paths? We’re a whole group of strong men with rifles! What wild animal would dare come near us? I bet even a tiger wouldn’t scare us off!”
His bold statement drew shocked stares from the others, who subtly shifted away from him.
Ye Qing couldn’t help but smile. She turned around to look at him.
She saw no real malice in his eyes—only excessive confidence in his own physical strength. Softly, she asked, “What’s your name?”
The young man puffed out his chest proudly. “I’m Li Weidong! Anping is my cousin, and no one in the Li family is a coward!”
“Speak for yourself—don’t drag me into it,” Li Anping muttered dryly from behind.
Li Weidong paused, scratched his head, and insisted, “But I’m right! We have two loaded rifles—any beast that comes near will get a bullet! And even if we run into a wild boar, we’re strong enough to fight it off!”
Li Anping looked utterly embarrassed. He leaned over to Ye Qing and whispered, “My cousin just joined the militia. He’s never been this deep in the mountains before. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about—please don’t take it to heart.”
Ye Qing shook her head with amusement. “You think I only rely on clever tricks and don’t have the strength to back it up?”
Li Weidong looked her up and down doubtfully. “You? With those thin arms? Come on, don’t kid yourself.”
“Fair enough,” Ye Qing said calmly. “If you feel that way, once we’re back down the mountain, we can have an arm-wrestling match. If you can beat me, then you’ll have proven you’re tough enough for anything up here. But if you can’t even win against these ‘thin arms’ of mine, maybe you should stop saying things that make people laugh.”
Li Weidong’s face flushed red, and he agreed angrily to the challenge.
Seeing how sweaty and exhausted the men already looked, Ye Qing made a quick decision. “Let’s stop here for a rest. Once we find Tian Wuzi, we’ll likely have to fight off wild boars to get him out. We need to conserve our strength now. Split the flatbreads and drink some water.”
She took a bite of bread herself, but after chewing only twice, her expression turned sharp and alert. In one swift motion, she used her walking stick to flick something away from right beside Li Weidong’s foot.