The midday sun hung harsh and blazing overhead, scorching the scalp.
Even the ground shimmered with a blinding white glare.
After finishing the cooking, serving her mother-in-law and husband their lunch, and washing the dishes, Lin Suier finally wiped the sweat from her forehead and walked into the main hall.
Her husband had already returned to his room to study.
Madam Zhou was reclining in the creaking bamboo chair, dozing, the worn palm-leaf fan in her hand swaying lazily.
Little Cao lay on a small stool nearby, holding a twig and scribbling randomly on the ground.
Lin Suier walked up to Madam Zhou.
“Mother, we don’t have much rice left, and the harvest hasn’t been good. I was thinking… this afternoon I’ll go to the back hill near the neighboring village and dig some wild vegetables. We can mix them in and stretch our meals for a few days.”
Madam Zhou lifted her eyelids and shot her a sidelong glance without speaking.
But that look was like a knife, clearly saying: if there’s no food at home, it’s because you, the daughter-in-law, are incompetent and can’t manage the household well.
Enduring the gaze, Lin Suier continued, “I’ll go and come back quickly, but I probably won’t return until before dark. Little Cao… I’ll have to trouble you to watch her, Mother. Please don’t let her wander too far or get hurt.”
Her mother-in-law didn’t like Little Cao, and she felt uneasy leaving her behind.
Madam Zhou gave an unwilling “Mm,” fanning herself harder. “So much trouble with you. Go on, go on—just come back early to cook dinner. Wenqi still needs to study tonight.”
“Yes, Mother. I understand.”
Lin Suier responded, then crouched in front of her daughter and gently patted her head.
“Be good, Little Cao. Listen to Grandma. Mama will go find some tasty wild vegetables for you. You can try something fresh tonight, alright?”
Little Cao lifted her small face, her bright black eyes full of dependence on her mother, but she still nodded obediently.
“Come back early, Mama!”
Lin Suier’s heart tightened. She kissed her daughter’s cheek, then stood up, grabbed an old bamboo basket from the kitchen, and hurried out.
The back hill of the neighboring village was much deeper than the hills near Apricot Blossom Village. Aside from hunters and woodcutters, few people went there. It was said the wild vegetables there grew abundantly.
Under the blazing sun, Lin Suier walked along the narrow field paths for over an hour, her soles aching, before finally reaching the foot of the mountain.
As soon as she entered the woods, the dense canopy blocked out the harsh sunlight. A cool mountain breeze swept over her, easing the heat.
Not daring to waste time, she rolled up her sleeves, bent down, and began searching.
Sure enough, clusters of wild amaranth and purslane grew everywhere, fresh and tender.
Her heart eased a little, and her hands moved quickly. Before long, half her basket was full.
Straightening up, she wiped her sweat. She had heard there were ferns and mushrooms deeper inside. Since she was already here, she might as well go further in and gather more.
The deeper she went, the denser the trees became, and the dimmer the light. A sense of unease crept into her.
But thinking of their dwindling food, Lin Suier clenched her teeth and continued deeper with her basket.
Suddenly, her eyes lit up—just a few steps ahead, a plump cluster of ferns poked out from a pile of decaying leaves.
Delighted, she hurried forward—
but her foot suddenly slipped.
Whether she had stepped on slick moss or a loose stone, she instantly lost her balance.
“Ah!”
With a short cry, she tumbled down the steep slope beside her.
The bamboo basket flew from her hands, and the vegetables scattered everywhere.
A piercing pain shot through her right ankle.
Her vision went black for a moment before she finally caught her breath.
She tried to move her foot—immediately, the pain made her gasp, cold sweat breaking out across her forehead.
It’s over…
Her heart sank.
Looking up, she saw the sun had already tilted westward, and the forest was growing darker.
Somewhere in the distance, crows cawed harshly, sending chills down her spine.
In this desolate mountain, she was alone—and now her foot was injured, leaving her unable to move.
Gritting her teeth, Lin Suier tried to get up, but the slightest pressure on her ankle sent stabbing pain through her.
After several attempts, she fell back each time, exhausting herself.
Her nose stung, and tears welled in her eyes.
Then, the steady sound of footsteps approached from afar.
Her heart leapt to her throat, and every hair on her body stood on end.
In this wilderness, with night approaching—who could it be…?
A tall, sturdy figure pushed aside the tangled branches and stepped out.
It was Jiang Liao.
A cooking chest still hung from his shoulder, and in his other hand, he carried a wild chicken.
It looked like he had just finished working at a cooking job and had come into the mountains to hunt something on the way back.
Squinting, Jiang Liao swept his gaze over the area and immediately spotted Lin Suier lying on the ground.
Her already watery eyes were now filled with tears.
She looked pitiful.
His thick brows instantly knitted together.
“What are you doing here?”
With long strides, he reached her side in just a few steps.
Seeing that it was him, Lin Suier felt a sudden wave of relief. For some reason, her face flushed red as she stammered, “J-Jiang… Brother Jiang… I came to dig some wild vegetables, but I wasn’t careful… I slipped.”
Jiang Liao didn’t respond. He set down the chest and the wild chicken, then crouched beside her.
His tall frame carried a strong masculine presence as he drew close.
Lin Suier instinctively shrank her shoulders.
“Twisted your foot?”
he asked, his gaze like iron hooks landing directly on her swollen right ankle.
Her skirt had ridden up slightly, revealing her fair calf, strikingly pale.
“Mm…” she answered softly, not daring to look at him.
Jiang Liao reached out his hand—large, with defined joints and rough skin—toward her injured ankle, as if to examine it more closely.
Startled, Lin Suier trembled all over like a frightened rabbit and instinctively tried to pull her foot back.
The movement tugged at the injury, and she gasped sharply, tears streaming down at once.
“Don’t move!”
Jiang Liao barked, his tone firm.
His large hand had already grasped her lower leg, unyielding.
His palm was like burning iron, holding her firmly in place.
Lin Suier froze, not daring to move.
This hand… was completely different from her husband’s slender but weak one.
His rough thumb brushed against her skin unconsciously, sending a trembling numbness through her.
Jiang Liao pressed carefully, each touch forcing Lin Suier to clench her teeth to keep from crying out.
“The bone should be fine. Just a sprain.”
The man released his hand.
But the scorching warmth lingered on her skin, refusing to fade.