Chapter 117: Not One of Us!
to the happy chattering of her family members, proudly twisting her neck, which made Tao Hongying think she was about to poop and quickly unboxed to have a look.On both sides, a glimpse of their butto...This idea was exactly in line with Liu's thinking. Confined to a cave every day, he would have gone mad too.
"Good idea, I've been thinking about this for the past few days too. If you don't come, I was going to go over there and talk to you anyway."
He snapped off a twig and drew in the dirt with it.
“These dozens of mountains connected together, actually overall, look a bit like a pea. We came in from the tail end of the pea, and the top of the pea is the Jinsha River. Now we’re staying here, if I’m not mistaken, it’s the thinnest part of the waist of the pea. As long as we walk east, maybe over four or five mountains we could see signs of people.”
The village head frowned, a little worried.
The whole group has been venturing into the mountains for a month now, and so far, no one has been injured. It's truly remarkable.
When the heavy snow blocks the mountains, it's very dangerous to go out and get delayed somewhere.
"Let's wait until spring and see what it's like then."
Li Laosi and Liu Biatou looked at each other, both wanting to give it a try.
Liu Biaotou then said, "Village Chief Uncle, we don't need to bring many people. Just me and Lao Si will go out. With our skills, we're not afraid even if we encounter some difficulties."
"No, Father, take me and Jiayi too!" Liu Yang piped up from the side, immediately refusing.
Jiale also rushed forward, nodding frantically, "Yes, we have to go too."
Liu Biao, the head of the鏢局, slapped his son and scolded, “Go away, we’re talking about serious business.”
Liu Yang started to argue, “We're all old enough to hunt, so why can't we listen to adult conversations”
"Yeah, if you guys don't agree, we'll just sneak after you." Jia Yi chimed in as well.
He treated Liu Yang like his own brother, inseparable and always ready to stand by each other's side. Of course, he wouldn't abandon him now.
Everyone was amused and bewildered by the antics of the two boys. The village head pondered for a moment before saying,
"Go if you want to, everyone else is staying put for the winter, there's no real danger. But remember, don't go too far and come back early."
"Okay, Uncle, we miss home too. We definitely won't go too far."
Once the decision was made, every cave rejoiced and began to wonder what lay beyond their home.
Although the barbarians retreated, they had already reached the Jinsha River. They even vaguely hoped that Kyoto would not relocate southward.
Although everyone knows, this is unlikely...
On the second day, Liu Daiao and Li Laosi, accompanied by Jia Yi Liu Yang, set off.
They are also relying on their skills. They only have a few sorghum pancakes in their arms, but they carry bows and arrows and swords completely.
This means that after going out, everything to eat and drink will have to be found in the forest.
The Li family, of course, remembered and wanted to stop him, but they knew it was useless. So they just let go.
As a result, the two adults and two children went into the forest. After seven or eight days, they did not come back.
The Li family's faith in Li Lao Si and Liu Diao Tou's abilities was beginning to waver.
Two layers of grass curtains blocked the entrance to the cave, making the inside somewhat dim.
Thankfully, there was a fire burning in the stove, providing a meager light.
The pot was half-full of boiling water, sizzling and steaming at the edges.
Li Laotai held her granddaughter and quietly lifted the curtain, peering out at the mountains beyond.
Unfortunately, after looking many times, I still couldn't see anyone.
Li Laotai couldn't help but regret, "I shouldn't have let Lao Si and Jiayì go out. In such heavy snow, it's not just suffering, it's also unsettling."
The square table in the house was placed next to the earthen stove. A smooth stone slab lay on the table. Jia Ren held a calligraphy brush in his left hand, dipping it in water and practicing writing with his left hand.
He is a hard worker. In just a few days, he has already written something presentable.
Jiahuan sat beside her older brother, tapping hazelnuts and walnuts with a small stone. She picked out the nuts and put them in a small bowl—this was her sister's snack.
Seeing Grandmother like this, Jiarren said, “Grandma, don’t worry. The Village Head said that if Fourth Uncle and the others don’t return tomorrow, they will send people to fetch them.”
Jia Huan also nodded, "Fourth Uncle is the most capable, he definitely won't have any problems."
Old Li San sat on the edge of the straw mat, grinding a two-tiered wooden shelf in his hand, preparing to put bowls and sundries in the house.
He also replied, “Yes, Mother, I’ll go with you then and definitely bring the fourth brother and the others back.”
Li Laotai sighed, she was afraid that her youngest son and grandson wouldn't come back, so she sent her third son in as well.
Jia Yin quietly looked out at the mountains, feeling no sense of alarm. She guessed her father and the others were probably fine. She hugged grandma's neck and said she was thirsty, intending to distract her grandmother for a moment.
As expected, Old Mrs. Li quickly went to the corner behind the wall to look for the small jar.
The jar contained wild honey harvested from the forest earlier. The family had kept it, occasionally adding it to Jia Yin's water for drinking.
At this moment, Old Madam Li drew some warm water and poured a large bowlful.
Jia Yin took two sips, then held up her little chubby hand and called her brother over.
Jīaxiājiānchán's throat was dry, she swallowed nervously. Seeing that Grandma didn't object, she smiled sweetly and crept up to her younger sister.
Three siblings, each taking a sip, quickly finished the honey water, warming up to each other with affection.
Elder Li picked up her sewing basket and started darning the soles of shoes. Perhaps because her granddaughter was so well-behaved, she temporarily put aside some worry about her son who wasn't very reliable.
The next morning, the sky was somewhat overcast, and the elders all said they feared there would be another heavy snowfall.
Now, everyone in the village was restless.
All the young and middle-aged men from each cave came down the mountain and gathered together to discuss how to quickly go up the mountain to greet Li Laosi and his companions.
We agreed to make marks along the way, so we wouldn't have trouble finding each other.
The village head, with his hands behind his back and a pipe clenched in his hand, paced in front of the crowd, frowning as he spoke.
"We can't go with too many people either, after all, there are young and old here. We have to be prepared for anything."
He pointed at Li Lao San and said, “Lao San, you take five or six people there, can you do it”
"No problem, Village Chief. We'll head out right now and be back soon." Li Laosan was already dressed and ready, holding an axe in one hand and a rope around his waist, with over twenty dried grain cakes packed on his back.
He turned to the villagers and said, "Whoever can spare some time, come with me. My family will provide food for the journey."
Immediately, five or six villagers stepped forward. They were those who usually got along well with the Li family and often went hunting with Li Lao Si.
After a quick tidy-up, these people will head into the woods.
At this time, someone suddenly shouted loudly from above the cave, "There seems to be a figure in the woods!"
Everyone immediately rejoiced, Li Laosan lifted his leg to run forward, but he was stopped by the village head.
As people age, they become more experienced and cautious.
The village chief advised, “Wait a moment and see if it’s Old Fourth and his people.”
In such a remote and ancient forest, how could there be anyone else besides them wandering around
Everyone thought the village head was too timid, but no one dared to refute him.
We waited and waited, but no one came out from the forest. And we didn't see any sign of anyone in the cave again. It was as if everything that had just happened was an illusion.
But the villagers insisted, "I couldn't be wrong, there was definitely a figure, but whether it was four or five, I couldn't tell!"
Li Laosan couldn't wait any longer, gripping his firewood axe tightly and saying, "I'll go take a look first!"
As soon as he moved, those villagers naturally followed him too.
Then, several people stepped on the snow and entered the forest.
After walking for more than half a watch, even Li Lao San, who was usually so good-tempered, started to feel restless.
Could it be that the villagers were mistaken
Just then, a figure emerged from behind the tall trees in the distance.
Li Laosan and the others were overjoyed, ready to call out, but their faces changed in the next instant!
No, this isn't one of us... would be just perfect."The old woman said that she was going to move the salted duck egg stand. Tao Hongying saw that there was no one outside, so she whispered, "Mother, take a few more salted goose...