Free Web NovelChapter 433: Chapter 433: Descending the Mountain
"Is Chen not going to look for him?" Little He asked as he watched Rong carry Tang on his back. Seeing the rest of the group preparing to leave, he quietly asked.
"Where would you look?" Huang scoffed, "I suspect he’s the one who caused Tang to be bitten by a snake and then fled. Maybe we’ll see him when we get down the mountain."
"Where did Mr. Ni go?" He asked with concern after getting ready and not seeing Ni Yanqing. freewebnovel.cσ๓
"He’s gone to check the situation." Xu Ancheng replied, "He’ll be back soon... look."
Xu Ancheng pointed to Ni Yanqing, who was walking over from a distance, and He breathed a sigh of relief.
"No need to look; he must have gone down the mountain. Down this way is Daihe Village." Ni Yanqing pointed in the direction he had just scouted.
"Indeed, he went down the mountain. It’s true what they say—you can’t judge a book by its cover." Huang muttered, "But how did Mr. Ni know?"
"By looking at the footprints, the person headed in this direction without hesitation, which means they knew the way." Ni Yanqing explained; he was the most familiar with Beidai Mountain among them.
"Let’s move quickly." Ni Yanqing led the way, and the group followed. Although Rong’s stamina was good, after carrying someone for half an hour, he began to tire, so He quickly took over to help carry.
Ni Yanqing led the way, and as small animals darted in front of him, he skillfully hit his targets with stones. Hua Yiran collected the game and packed it, while Xu Ancheng managed to catch two rabbits without stones, only by being next to Yi Roujing and watching the rabbits run into tree stumps and rocks.
Yi Roujing observed Tang’s condition all the way, cutting useful herbs without delaying their journey.
Watching the group’s almost effortless handling of tasks they themselves could not, the four young intellectuals realized collectively that they were not simple individuals.
After an hour and a half, the group finally emerged from the deep mountains, recognizing familiar scenery, and the young intellectuals breathed a long sigh of relief.
"We’ve survived, we’ve survived." Huang’s eyes reddened but held back tears.
"Hey, someone’s coming." Little He noticed Wu Guofang approaching on a motorcycle from another path on the mountainside, surprised.
"You’re back." Wu Guofang greeted Xu Ancheng and the others, "What happened?"
"This young intellectual was bitten by a snake and needs to be taken to the hospital for a serum injection as soon as possible." Yi Roujing said as she pulled out a dead snake, "It’s this Silver Ring Snake."
Yi Roujing’s beautiful appearance and delicate demeanor contrasted sharply with her calmness in handling the deadly snake, surprising those around her.
"Put him in the sidecar, and I’ll take him." Wu Guofang immediately took on the responsibility.
"I’ll go too. I know the way to the hospital." He volunteered.
"Alright, get on and guide the way." Wu Guofang did not refuse, and He awkwardly climbed onto the back seat, while Rong and Huang placed Tang in the sidecar.
Once everyone was seated securely, Wu Guofang set off immediately, speeding off into the distance.
"It’s a good thing we have a vehicle; Tang is saved." Little He watched the motorcycle disappear, relieved.
"Gurgle, gurgle—"
Huang clutched his stomach, a bit embarrassed but knowing it wasn’t his fault. They hadn’t eaten since ascending the mountain, and after the shock and the long trek, it was no wonder he was hungry.
"Let’s head down the mountain quickly and cook something at the youth point." Little He was also hungry, "When Tang and the others return, they can have something hot to eat too."
"If you don’t mind, please come to my place for a meal." Having traveled along with the young intellectuals, Ni Yanqing had a good understanding of their characters. Sharing a meal with them didn’t bother him; he wasn’t so petty. Besides, they were from Daihe Village, and he felt somewhat generous towards them.
"Can we really?" Rong asked shyly.
"It’s fine, we need to eat too. Just three more pairs of chopsticks." Ni Yanqing led the way, and the group followed.
"Wow, you live in this farmhouse?" Huang exclaimed upon arriving with Ni Yanqing, "This is the first time we’ve been here. The head of Daihe Village told us not to come up here. How can you live here? It’s not good if you’re found out."
"This is my family’s land and house. You’re trespassing, but I’m coming home." Ni Yanqing glanced at them.
"Aunt—" Mantou ran over first when the door opened, hugging Yi Roujing’s legs, "Such a big pig, so much meat! Aunt, are you hurt?"
"No, I’m not." Yi Roujing picked up Mantou, watching her son sitting obediently on a bench, holding a roasted yam.
"Mom, want some? It’s sticky." Baozi offered the yam.
"Brother, I want some." Mantou wriggled out of Yi Roujing’s arms, went over to Baozi, who blew on the yam and handed the peeled flesh to Mantou. Mantou took a bite, eyes squinting in satisfaction.
"Sister-in-law, you’re back. I made some noodles. You... who are they?" Ding Anmin emerged from the kitchen, noticing the strangers in the yard.
"They’re young intellectuals from Daihe Village. We met them on the mountain, and they haven’t eaten yet." Yi Roujing explained.
"I’ll make more. You all eat first. Finish this pot, and the next batch will be ready quickly." Ding Anmin said with a smile, as Huang Xiaobao brought out a large pot and set it over the small fire in the yard.
Ding Anguo and Jiang Bomeng brought out bowls and chopsticks, while Ni Yan’an and Yuan Xiangyu brought out chairs and stools.
The three young intellectuals received such kindness, and gratefully gave thanks. After cleaning their hands, they sat by the pot and started eating the noodles.
The rich broth floated with oil, and in the pot, besides noodles, there were fried meatballs, bright green vegetables, and golden fried eggs.
The three young women shyly took some noodles and vegetables, and scooped some broth, until Ni Yan’an, noticing, served each two meatballs and an egg.
"Don’t be shy, there’s plenty. Eat up." Ni Yan’an spoke softly, sincerely, causing the young intellectuals to blush.
Slurping sounds filled the air, and the big pot of noodles was quickly consumed by the group. Then Jiang Bomeng took the empty pot to the kitchen, and Huang Xiaobao brought out another hot pot and placed it on the fire.
This time, the base was not meat broth but fish soup, topped with tender white fish slices atop the noodles.
"We also had a good catch today, bringing back plenty of fish." Jiang Bomeng said proudly. Although they didn’t hunt, catching fish was just as fun, "Thanks to our little lucky star, Baozi, who found the lake!"
