Chapter 62

Ding Xiang, not wanting to leave, cried, "I won’t go, I want to stay and care for Grandpa."

Still, Mrs. Zhang forcefully picked her up and carried her out.

Ding Xiang struggled but stopped, fearing that her noise might cause discomfort to Ding Zhuang, so she let Mrs. Zhang take her away.

Ding Liren looked at his grandfather and then at his father, and, grabbing Mrs. Zhang's dress, obediently walked out.

Ding Zhao then told Ding Lichun, "Go back to the room."

Reluctantly, Ding Lichun, seeing his father's stern face, wiped his tears and went to the west room.

Ding Zhuang moved his lips, and Ding Zhao leaned his ear closer to his father's mouth.

"If I die, you should..."

Ding Zhuang’s voice was very low and intermittent.

Ding Zhao's expression grew increasingly shocked, suppressing his doubts and continually responding, "Okay, got it, Dad, you'll be fine..."

The night was pitch black and utterly silent.

Ding Xiang's heart was filled with sorrow and fear, the feeling of despair like an abyss suffocating her. She felt so insignificant, fragile, and powerless.

Her grandfather had to resort to such brutal and desperate measures to protect her, yet at this moment, she could do nothing...

She heard Mrs. Zhang and Ding Liren's snoring. Exhausted, they had fallen asleep amidst their tears.

Ding Xiang couldn’t sleep, feeling as if her heart had been hollowed out.

The long night passed, and the rooster crowed, signaling dawn.

The faint dawn light cast shadows on the window paper, and the courtyard gate began to creak.

Ding Lichun ran out to open the door, finding Ding Shan and his son there.

Ding Shan came to check on Ding Zhuang, while Ding Qin was set to drive the ox cart to the county town to fetch a doctor and buy medicine. Leaving at this time, they would arrive just as the city gates opened.

Ding Xiang and Ding Liren approached the main room's entrance, but Ding Lichun blocked the door, not letting them in.

"I'm afraid you'll disturb Grandpa; Dad said you can't come in."

"We won’t make noise, just want to see," Ding Xiang pleaded.

For the first time, Ding Lichun ignored his sister's tears, pulling her back and saying, "Dad said no. He's discussing important matters with Uncle Shan. Don't disturb them."

Unable to do otherwise, Ding Xiang reluctantly sat down on the steps at the door, with Ding Liren sitting beside her.

Soon, Mrs. Zhang was called inside, and the three of them talked. After a while, Ding Shan hurried out, Mrs. Zhang went to cook, then returned to the east wing to stay busy.

Ding Xiang and Ding Liren exchanged glances, unsure of what the adults were planning.

After tidying up, Mrs. Zhang called Ding Xiang inside to change her clothes and wash her face.

Ding Shan, along with Xia Erbo and his son Xia Dahe, arrived, and they all discussed something in the room.

Ding Zhao came out, leading Ding Xiang and Ding Liren into the east wing.

Mrs. Zhang had already packed two bundles.

Ding Xiang understood what was happening. She shook her head like a rattle, "I won't go. I want to stay at home with Grandpa."

Ding Zhao picked up Ding Xiang, saying, "Dad knows you're smart, but there’s too much going on at home right now, and you can’t help but distract us. Be good, and go with Uncle Shan and Brother Xia to stay at your maternal grandfather's house for a while. Once things calm down at home, we'll bring you back."

"No, Xiang Xiang doesn’t want to leave Grandpa, Daddy, and Mommy..." cried Ding Xiang.

"We don’t want to leave you either. But this is Grandpa's wish. If you disobey, it will upset him and worsen his condition. The bad people have gone back to the county town, and there’s no immediate danger at home. Those people don't know the mountains well and won’t dare to disturb your maternal grandfather and uncle easily. Only when you're safe can we focus on dealing with them. Understand?"

"Their father chopped off three fingers to settle the debt. Who knows what the pawnshop might do next. They need to send the children away to ensure their safety."

Ding Xiang sniffled, understanding she couldn't be disobedient, nor could she claim ignorance. Even if she resisted, the adults would still forcibly take her away.

Still making a final attempt to resist, she choked up, "But I'm scared, scared that Grandpa might die."

"We got through yesterday's crisis; what could be harder than that?" Ding Zhao placed Ding Xiang's small hand over her heart, "Pray for your grandpa; he will be safe."

Ding Xiang hugged Ding Zhao's neck and whispered in his ear, "Daddy, go find Qian Er Dangjia. Tell him the dagger was made by Grandpa, and Grandpa can forge even better weapons. Maybe he can help our family."

Not knowing what further harm the pawnshop might cause, it was essential to find someone influential to speak for them. Regardless of whether Qian Er Dangjia was as noble as rumored, he might be willing to help for the sake of good weaponry.

Ding Zhao nodded solemnly, "Once you are safely gone, I’ll go to him."

Both he and his father had thought of this plan, but they hadn’t expected their three-year-old daughter to come up with the same idea.

Ding Xiang looked at the bundle Mrs. Zhang had packed for her, which included the small bundle with her shoes.

Ding Zhao also attached a small pouch containing pills to her, whispering, "There are a few pills in a small porcelain bottle, change them every two days."

Mrs. Zhang was instructing Ding Liren on various precautions to take.

Wanting to see Ding Zhuang one last time, Ding Xiang wasn’t permitted by Ding Zhao, so she tearfully kowtowed three times outside his window.

Seeing this, Ding Liren followed suit, kowtowing alongside her.

The group hurriedly ate breakfast. Ding Shan carried Ding Xiang on his back, while Xia Dahe led Ding Liren, both holding wooden sticks. They quickly headed towards the back of the village, passing Nanquan Village to the south, crossing Baishui River, and entering Nanfu Mountain.

"Grandpa's house was nestled in the Nánfú Mountains."

"If Ding Liren grew tired, Xia Dahe would carry him for a while."

"Familiar scenery was left far behind; now they were surrounded by unfamiliar dry leaves, huge boulders, with the sounds of birds chirping and the gentle flow of a stream, occasionally encountering herb gatherers, hunters, or passersby."

"Ding Xiang felt unbearable sorrow and extreme fatigue. Regardless of the situation her grandfather, Ding Zhuang, was facing, she was helpless at the moment and could only pray. She hoped her grandfather would survive his grave injuries and that Qian Er, the second-in-command, would truly be noble and righteous. Once this crisis passed, they would plan their next move."

"Placing hope in a stranger was an uneasy feeling."

"But it was the only thing she could do at that moment."

"Her physical strength was failing, her connections weak. Reflecting more, if she hadn’t underestimated the situation and had sought Qian Er's help earlier, maybe it wouldn’t have come to this. If Grandpa Ding Zhuang really died, it would be a pain she couldn’t bear for the rest of her life…"

"Tears silently streaming down her face, she unknowingly drifted into sleep amidst the jolting journey."

"She didn’t know how long she slept until she heard Ding Shan's voice, 'Xiang Xiang, wake up.'"

"She opened her eyes to find herself cradled in Ding Shan's arms, with Xia Dahe and Ding Liren sitting on a rock. Looking up, she saw the sun high in the sky."

"It was just past noon."

"By now, they had reached the mountain's peak, and the view had opened up."

"Majestic mountains rose all around, layers upon layers of hills, thousands of ravines and rocks, shrouded in clouds and mist, with red, yellow, and green hues painting the mountainscape like a magnificent tapestry…"

"Suddenly, Ding Xiang was startled by a large boulder at the top of a distant peak, almost letting out a cry."

Under the blue sky, on a towering mountain peak, a bare, brown boulder resembled a crowing rooster's head, with several eagles soaring above.

It was the place she had once dreamed about.

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