Chapter Fourteen Camping Outdoors

  After resting for two days, Zhen'er and Hu'zi both had a bit of laziness, and with the sadness of parting, their pace slowed down. Seeing that it was already noon, Zhen'er called out to Hu'zi to stop and rest for a while.

  She took out a clay pot and flint from the bundle, which her mother-in-law had stuffed in that morning. She asked Hu'er to gather firewood nearby, while she washed the clay pot and some wild vegetables and mushrooms by the river, all of which were given by her father-in-law and mother-in-law. There was also a broken umbrella and several pieces of tattered cloth.

  The old couple saw that they had too few things, and their hearts were always uneasy, so they picked up some of the things at home and gave them to them. After all, their days are also difficult.

  All these heartfelt kindnesses Zhen'er knew about, and she also knew that for now she couldn't repay them, so she could only remember them in her heart, waiting for the day when she would have the chance to return them.

  It's been sunny for more than half a month, and there are dry branches everywhere on the mountain. Hu Zi quickly picked up a small pile of them near the house and carried them to the riverbank.

  Zhen'er had already finished packing up the things by the river early, and when Hu Zi brought over the firewood, they set it on fire. At noon, they still ate Wonton noodles, which were made by their mother-in-law in the morning, along with some wild vegetables and mushroom soup to drink. Hu Zi didn't feel too uncomfortable swallowing his food then.

  Qizhen'er was eating a bowl of Wonton, looked at Huzi who was holding a clay pot and drinking soup, and said: "Huzi, aren't you very reluctant to part with Grandpa and Grandma?"

  Qizhen's words came out, and Hu Zi looked at her in horror, afraid that she would come up with something else. "Sister, I don't like my father-in-law and mother-in-law."

  Qī Zhēnér heard Hǔ Zǐ's answer and was stunned for a moment, "Grandpa and Grandma are so good to Hǔ Zǐ, why doesn't Hǔ Zǐ like them?"

  Hutou put down the clay pot, pouted his mouth and said: "They want to separate Hutou from his sister. If Hutou likes them, he won't be able to see his sister again."

  What a silly child! Qizhen thought to herself. She was worried that she would leave him behind. "If sister doesn't separate from you, do you like grandma and grandpa?"

  The little tiger hesitated for a moment, seeing that his sister was not joking, nodded: "I like it. Grandpa and grandma are better to me than great-grandfather and great-grandmother."

  Although the tiger's son is small, he has understood many things. For example, when he and his sister were beaten by their aunt, his grandparents never stood up for them. When they had no food to eat and no warm clothes in winter, they never heard a word of concern from their grandparents. When his father had no money for medical expenses, his grandparents also did not give them any money.

  Sighing, Qizhen continued: "Since Grandpa and Grandma are so good to Tuzi and my sister, shouldn't Tuzi remember their kindness to us and repay it in the future?"

  Huzi nodded firmly: "I know, sister. Last night, Grandpa and Grandma told me a lot of things. They said that Huzi should listen to his sister's words in the future, be a good person, and protect his sister."

  Qizhen'er stroked his head with a mixture of relief and affection. This younger brother of hers was truly loved by her to the core.

  After eating and tidying up a bit, Qizhen'er and her brother set off. They didn't have much time to linger. For the past few days, they had been walking on this mountain without incident, but Qizhen'er still didn't dare to be careless, and it was better to head down the mountain early.

  After eating their fill and washing away the pain of parting, Hu Zi and Zhen Er felt a little better in their hearts. Adding to that was their longing for the future, and the two regained their momentum.

  The mountain flowers are in full bloom, and since leaving the Qi family village, the child's lively personality has slowly emerged. After two days of rest, he has also adapted to walking on mountain roads. Along the way, he is full of energy, jumping and playing around. One moment he chases after a butterfly, catches an ant, and another moment he picks wildflowers. Qi Zhen'er sees that he doesn't slow down their pace, so she doesn't stop him.

  Yesterday, Zhen'er had already inquired clearly from her father-in-law that not far from the village where her father-in-law lived, there was a village called Maoshan Village. The villagers were also hunters who had come to the village where her father-in-law lived to collect goods and were still familiar with them. They were kind people. Zhen'er planned to rush there in the evening to borrow a place to stay.

  They walked along the river for a long time, and as the sun seemed to be setting, they still couldn't see any sign of the village. Zhen Er became anxious, if they couldn't find a place to stay, it would be very dangerous for her and her brother to sleep on this mountain.

  Huzi didn't feel his sister's worry and anxiety at all, after resting for two days his spirit was much better, today he walked on a good road again, without branches scratching his face, when he got tired he could go to the water's edge to wash his face, Huzi walked very easily.

  The mountains slowly darkened, and the places that could be seen were getting closer and closer. Qizhen also gave up the idea of finding a homestay. She found a slightly higher terrain, with a river flowing at a distance, and set up camp on the leeward slope.

  The tiger cub, who had never camped in the mountains before, was still a bit excited and curious, but seeing his sister's serious face, he could only cover up his curiosity and obediently picked up some branches nearby.

  At this time, Qizhen also didn't feel at ease with Hu zi, a small child wandering around in the mountains. She knew that having a fire at night would be safer, so she and Hu zi quickly gathered branches.

  Until the mountains were almost invisible in the darkness, Zhen'er called back Hu'zi and hurriedly lit a fire. Looking at Hu'zi's radiant face under the firelight, Qi Zhen'er felt a warmth in her heart, although she had suffered greatly, but she didn't regret it. After leaving Qijiazhuang, not only did she change, but also Hu'zi seemed to have transformed into another person, with a small face full of beautiful hopes for future life, and sparkling eyes that delighted people's hearts.

  Hu Zi stared at the fire, while Qi Zhen'er went to the riverbank to wash vegetables. Along the way, they would see wild vegetables and dig some up. When food was scarce, these wild vegetables were very welcome. Qi Zhen'er was extremely grateful for this season; otherwise, she and her brother wouldn't have ended up in a beast's belly or starved to death.

  Sometimes you can see one or two small fish swimming in the mountain stream, and Qizhen'er is itchy to watch, but she doesn't dare to go into the water to catch them. She doesn't know how to catch fish, and if she rashly goes into the water, even if she doesn't catch any fish, it's okay, but if she catches a cold, it's not worth it. After all, the temperature is still not very high now, especially in the mountains.

  After dinner, Zhen'er and Hu'zi leaned against each other and fell asleep. The day before yesterday was such a commotion, although the poison had been spat out, but Hu'zi was still a bit hurt, today when they were walking, Zhen'er took care of him to walk slower, he was still tired, lying down for a short while before falling asleep.

  As she heard the even breathing sound beside her, Zhen'er gently covered the clothes over Hu'zi's body, put on her own outer garment, picked up the axe and started digging a hole around them. This was what she had thought of when she couldn't sleep just now. The two of them were weak children with no strength to truss a chicken, and if they encountered larger wild beasts, there would be only one dead end. Digging a few holes, whether it was safe or not didn't matter, at least she felt more at ease in her heart.

  Zhen Er was a person who was used to doing farm work. During the busy farming season, she had also followed others to cultivate the land. Digging a few holes was not difficult for her, and she finished digging the holes in more than an hour.

  Looking at the pit that had been dug, Qizhen'er revealed a relieved smile. Seeing the firewood beside her, another idea floated into her mind.

  She cut off a few sharp ends from the firewood and inserted them upside down into the pit, this was still the method that hunting girl from the Qi manor had told her before. Whether it would work or not she didn't know, but looking at it it seemed quite intimidating.

  After making these arrangements and adding more fuel to the fire, sprinkling some cinnabar around the perimeter, Qizhen finally felt at ease and lay down to rest.

  In the middle of the night, Qizhen'er heard a rustling sound and was too tired to open her eyes, thinking she had misheard. Just as she was about to fall back asleep, she suddenly woke up with a start and rushed to the pit to take a look. In an instant, she was stunned by what she saw.

  Today is also a double update, everyone has fun, remember to vote!