Lin Wanxing quickened her pace toward the cave.
As soon as she reached the entrance, she saw Xiaoshi holding a bundle of firewood while Yaya clutched a few small wildflowers in her hands. Both children were anxiously looking down the path.
“Big Sister! You’re back!”
The moment they spotted her, Xiaoshi ran over, while Yaya held up the flowers and threw herself into Lin Wanxing’s arms.
“Big Sister, I was so worried about you!”
Squatting down, Lin Wanxing accepted the flowers with a smile.
“I’m back. Look—we’ve got wild vegetables to eat now.”
She spread the wild vegetables and medicinal herbs out on a clean, flat stone and divided them into two piles.
One portion of vegetables would be eaten today.
The other, together with the medicinal herbs, was hidden inside a narrow crack between the rocks.
Yaya tilted her little head curiously as she pointed at the herbs.
“Big Sister, what illnesses can these herbs cure?”
Lin Wanxing patiently explained,
“Dandelions can help stop bleeding. Mugwort keeps insects and parasites away. And this one is for treating colds. If any of us gets sick, these will come in handy.”
Yaya nodded, only half understanding.
Picking up a small bunch of shepherd’s purse, she smiled shyly.
“Big Sister, this vegetable is really tasty. I helped you dig it up yesterday.”
Lin Wanxing gently rubbed her little sister’s head.
Her heart finally felt a little more at ease.
With these wild vegetables and medicinal herbs, the three siblings’ chances of surviving deep in the mountains had improved considerably.
She lit a fire, softened the wild greens in water, then grabbed a handful of coarse rice and cooked it together with the vegetables into a thin porridge.
She also placed several steamed buns beside the fire to warm them.
Soon, the aroma of the buns and the porridge filled the cave.
Holding a steamed bun in one hand and a bowl in the other, Xiaoshi and Yaya ate with hearty bites, their little faces glowing with satisfaction.
Back in Qinghe Village…
Before dawn had fully broken, the area beneath the giant locust tree at the village entrance was already crowded with people.
Standing on higher ground, the village chief repeatedly struck the bronze gong, his voice full of urgency.
“Hurry up! Carry your belongings! Keep an eye on your children! The moment dawn arrives, we’re leaving! If we’re delayed, we won’t reach tonight’s resting place before dark and we’ll have to spend the night in the wilderness!”
The villagers jostled noisily into formation, carrying sacks of grain and bundles of bedding on their backs.
Old Madam Lin and Liu Cuihua stood among them, each carrying bulging cloth bags while scanning the surroundings with long, gloomy faces.
From the moment she’d woken up that morning, Old Madam Lin hadn’t seen Lin Wanxing or the two children.
At first, she’d assumed the wretched girl had gone out early to gather firewood.
But now the caravan was about to depart, and they were still nowhere to be found.
What angered her even more was that the sack of supplies she had packed the previous night, along with the steamed buns she’d saved for the journey, had completely disappeared.
Even the family heirloom hairpin—
Together with the private savings she’d painstakingly hidden—
Had been stolen.
“That damned brat! Where did she run off to? Just let me catch her! I’ll beat her to death!”
Still cursing, Old Madam Lin rushed into the kitchen, searched the woodshed, and even tore through the shabby little room where the three siblings had lived.
Not a single person was there.
Her heart skipped a beat.
That little wretch…
She’d probably run away.
Unable to find them, Old Madam Lin could only sulk her way to the village gathering.
“Is everyone here? If everyone’s present, we’ll set off.”
The village chief’s authoritative voice rang out again.
“I think the three children from Lin Leshan’s family still haven’t arrived!”
Someone in the crowd suddenly shouted.
The moment those words were spoken, the bustling crowd fell silent.
Everyone turned to look at Old Madam Lin.
“What are you all staring at me for?”
Old Madam Lin snapped angrily.
“It’s not like I refused to take them! That little wretch stole my grain and silver and ran away! I’m furious too! What do you expect me to do?”
The village chief frowned and walked over.
His expression darkened.
“Explain clearly. Did you see them last night?”
“Of course I did! We even had dinner together!”
Liu Cuihua stomped her foot angrily, waving her arms as she spoke.
“When I got up this morning, they were gone. The back gate was left open. The large sack of food we’d packed and several daily necessities disappeared too.”
“It must’ve been that little brat! She took her brother and sister and ran away! Maybe they fled into the mountains!”
Immediately, the surrounding villagers began murmuring among themselves.
“They ran into the mountains? That’s far too dangerous! There are wolves and venomous snakes in there. How could three children possibly survive?”
One woman sighed worriedly.
“I’d say they were probably terrified after being mistreated by your family. That’s why they ran.”
An elderly man lowered his voice, unable to hide the disapproval in his tone.
Everyone in the village knew how Old Madam Lin and Liu Cuihua treated those three children.
They barely ever let them eat their fill.
Hearing this, Old Madam Lin immediately glared at him.
“What nonsense are you talking about? When have I ever mistreated them? I fed them and took care of them! That ungrateful girl stole my food and ran away with her siblings! If the wolves eat them, they only have themselves to blame!”
Though she sounded confident, panic had already begun creeping into her heart.
If those three children really disappeared forever, having three fewer mouths to feed during the famine wasn’t the problem.
The real issue was…
If Lin Wanxing had escaped, her plan to sell the girl for grain had fallen apart.
And those steamed buns she’d carefully saved for her precious grandson Goudan during the journey—
They were gone too.
Ignoring Old Madam Lin’s tantrum, the village chief asked calmly,
“Think carefully. Did you notice anything unusual last night? Did the children ever mention going into the mountains? Or hiding anything?”
Old Madam Lin froze and began thinking back.
“Last night… last night I even made white-flour steamed buns for them. That girl asked whether we could bring more wild vegetables on the journey. I scolded her… Ah! A few days ago, I also saw her secretly sharpening a hatchet. She said she was going to dig wild vegetables. I didn’t pay any attention…”
The more she thought about it, the more suspicious everything seemed.
Slapping her thigh, she exclaimed,
“She planned this all along! That little brat’s grown wings! She actually dared oppose me!”
The village chief frowned even more deeply.
Turning to two young villagers nearby, he ordered,
“You two head to the entrance of the deep mountains. See if there are any children’s footprints or other traces. If you find anything, come back immediately. Everyone else stays here. Don’t wander off.”
The two young men acknowledged the order and hurried toward the mountains with hoes slung over their shoulders.
Old Madam Lin paced in circles, still cursing.
“That damned girl! If I catch her, I’ll break both her legs! I’ll teach her who’s really in charge of this family!”
No one paid her any attention.
The villagers looked at her with a mixture of contempt, sympathy, and resignation.
At a time like this, during a famine migration, having one less person meant one less burden.
But three young children venturing alone into the deep mountains…
Their chances of survival were slim.
About half an hour later, the two young villagers returned, drenched in sweat.
They reported to the village chief,
“Chief, we found children’s footprints at the entrance to the mountains, along with trampled grass. The trail continues about a li into the forest. We also saw several loose stones scattered around, as though someone had kicked them…”
“But we didn’t find the children.”
“And there weren’t any signs of wild animals either.”
The village chief sighed and slowly shook his head.
“Forget it.”
“The mountains are too dangerous. We can’t delay the entire caravan because of three people.”
“If that child chose this path herself…”
“Then the rest depends on fate.”
Turning toward the gathered villagers, he called out,
“Everyone, stop waiting! We’re setting out!”
“We head south.”
“Let’s do our best to reach the next town before nightfall.”