Chapter 143: They’re Back

Chapter 143: They're Back

The night journey along the mountain path was arduous, and by the dead of night, snowflakes began to drift down from an unseen sky.

Wei Dahu carried the deeply sleeping Daya in his arms, with Huang Pozi and Liu Daocao following behind, holding torches. The mother and daughter had never walked at night, especially not on mountain paths. Surrounded by the pitch-black forest, with rustling sounds emanating from the undergrowth beneath their feet, it was indeed terrifying.

Bringing up the rear was Chen Sanshi, carrying a heavy load on his shoulders. Women were naturally timid, and he dared not expose his back to the darkness.

To take care of Huang Pozi and her daughter, Wei Dahu deliberately slowed his pace. He didn't dare walk too fast either, as he was carrying a pregnant woman who was sound asleep, fearful of any stumble or fall. The winding mountain roads led deep into the mountains, and after about two hours of walking, even Chen Sanshi, who was directionally challenged, noticed that the path underfoot seemed familiar, resembling one they had taken before.

"If we go further, we'll be deeper in," Liu Daocao also sensed something amiss, looking at the hunter leading the way and hesitating before saying, "The forest is dense, we shouldn't venture further in; we might encounter wolves." She had been pondering how he would settle them, mother and daughter, and even how he would arrange for Daya. Returning to her natal village, Big River Village, was out of the question, and the nearby villages, which had close matrimonial ties, offered no hiding place.

"You, you don't have to worry. Once we get home, there's nothing to fear from wolves. Our courtyard walls are high, too high for wolves to jump over," Chen Sanshi said from behind her, panting heavily.

Liu Daocao didn't want to talk to him and immediately fell silent upon hearing his words.

Chen Sanshi was a simpleton, completely unaware of his unpopularity. He continued, "My uncle's family are hunters, and they have an old house in the mountains. When things turned sour outside, my brothers and I built houses in the mountains. Later, Second Bull and the others came up too. There are many people in our household now, it's lively. Even if there are wolves, we won't be afraid. We'll hunt them all, and we'll have more furs for winter."

Wei Dahu didn't stop him from talking, considering the mother and daughter's anxiety throughout the journey. Knowing where they were going was better than stumbling blindly, at least giving them some peace of mind and lessening their unease.

"I couldn't find anyone when I went to Big River Village. It turns out you were all in the mountains?" Liu Daocao exclaimed in surprise.

"Yes," Chen Sanshi chuckled foolishly. "We went down the mountain today to move things and only then did we learn that the soldiers had come to the countryside to conscript men. We heard from the villagers that you had come to our house to knock on the door and deliver a message. My brother and I didn't even catch our breath before heading to Little Gou Village. Today's events, I really thank you."

With his parents not around, and his own sister being implicated, causing the mother and daughter to flee in the middle of the night, he wasn't very smart, but he knew right from wrong. On a grand scale, it was the Chen family's matter; on a smaller scale, his family owed the mother and daughter. This word of thanks made him feel embarrassed, not because she was a girl, but because a simple 'thank you' was too light, unable to compensate for what they had lost.

"It's something I wanted to do myself, why should I accept your thanks!" Liu Daocao turned her head to glare at him, her hands gripping the hemp rope tightly, the weight of her belongings pressing heavily on her shoulders. Knowing where they were going, she couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. She wasn't afraid of going to some remote mountain village, she was just afraid they had no plan. As long as there was a destination, it was fine.

Life in the village wasn't peaceful either. Who knew how terrified she and her mother were when news of the bandits' massacre in Zhoujia Village reached the village? They could hardly sleep well. Their home was at the entrance of the village, and if anything happened, they would undoubtedly be the first to be robbed. Robbery was one thing, but what frightened her most was their unpredictable nature, swinging swords and killing at will.

Many people died in Zhoujia Village, and the graves on the back mountain were almost full.

Although the soldiers coming to the countryside to conscript men had everyone in every household worried, she didn't dare say it, but she was actually quite happy. With the soldiers around, the bandits didn't dare show their heads. Conscription was only for men, and there were only two women in her family, making them the safest.

But who could have predicted that fate wouldn't let them live in peace? Just when they thought they could relax for a few days, this happened, leaving them unable to return home. Alas.

They walked in silence for a long time, a thin layer of snow accumulating on their heads. Suddenly, Wei Dahu, who was leading the way, stopped. Huang Pozi thought he was tired from carrying, which was understandable. It was already late at night, and they had been walking for several hours on the mountain path. She herself was exhausted from carrying an empty basket, let alone him carrying a seven-month pregnant woman. He hadn't rested once on the journey, and even iron would give out.

"Why don't we rest for a bit?" she suggested proactively.

But Wei Dahu didn't move, still staring in one direction. Huang Pozi looked twice, but saw nothing. She was scared in her heart and subconsciously grabbed her daughter's hand. After about half a cup of tea, the firelight flickered ahead, and someone was coming down the mountain with torches. They were still a distance away, and the people couldn't be seen, but they could faintly hear voices.

"Man Cang, you've worked hard all day, let Uncle carry you. You can guide me on my back."

"Second Uncle, I'm not tired."

"Is it too late for us to go down the mountain now? It's just Dahu and Sanshi, while Wu's family has many siblings, and their brothers-in-law are strong. Most of their daughters are married in the same village, so they have many relatives. If they wave their arms and shout, they might be able to gather dozens or even hundreds of people. Our brothers might suffer a loss!" He added angrily, "That damned Wu family dared to bully my daughter! At the time of marriage, I didn't covet their wealth or land, I just wanted a lively family atmosphere and good reputations for Wu's parents. I married off my daughter hoping she would be happy. It was Wu Lao Er who took a fancy to Daya, and I even let her take all the dowry back with her. As a father-in-law, I've done everything I could. But look at Wu Lao Er now, after just a few years, he doesn't know how to cherish her anymore! I'll kill you if I ever get my hands on you! Daya, my Daya, your father is here to support you..." He choked up, snot dripping, and nearly slipped on his feet.

"Man Cang, you've worked hard, Man Cang. I'll have your aunt make you a good pair of shoes when we get back."

"Second Uncle, I don't want them."

"Second Brother, look, there are torches ahead. Could it be Dahu and the others?"

There were only two people speaking, but several torches were lit, indicating that more than two people were coming down the mountain. Not only did the people above see those below, but Liu Daocao also heard the voices, talking about Sister Daya. She and her mother exchanged glances, looking in that direction.

Not daring to call out loudly in the dead of night, the people on the mountain stood still, while those coming down the mountain quickened their pace.

In just a short while, the two groups met.

Leading the way was Man Cang. Although he claimed not to be tired, this round trip in a single day, at the age when a boy's body was growing rapidly and bearing the heavy responsibility of guiding the way, everyone depended on him, and he was as exhausted as an old ox working during harvest time, panting heavily through his nostrils.

"Daya!" Seeing them, Chen Ershu originally breathed a sigh of relief, but then, upon seeing Dahu carrying someone in his arms, and recognizing the face that was exposed, none other than his daughter, his expression changed instantly, and he ran over with a cry of alarm.

In the evening, Man Cang and the others returned, saying that someone from Little Gou Village had come to the village to deliver a message, and that something might have happened to Daya. Dahu and Sanshi had already gone ahead. Not knowing the specifics, the parents couldn't sit still upon hearing that their daughter was in trouble. What kind of person Daya was, her parents could not be unaware of. She was the type to report good news but not bad news. Unless something major had happened, she, who could eat bitter herbs without changing her expression, would never send a message to her natal home.

They were worried about their daughter and also worried that Dahu and his brothers were outnumbered. Matchmakers always painted both parties in the best light, but life was never without bumps. At such times, a married daughter's support was her natal family's brothers. The stronger the natal family and the more brothers, the straighter the back of the married daughter. He pondered that they couldn't wait. The Wu family, seeing that the Chen family was small, would be even more arrogant.

He immediately asked Man Cang to lead the way again for his second uncle, as he wanted to bring his nephews down the mountain overnight to the Wu family to support his daughter. However, the anticipated fight with the Wu family did not happen. Halfway down the mountain, they met Dahu and the others, and Daya was wrapped in a quilt and carried into the mountain.

Although it was pitch black around them, with no visibility without a torch, the dim firelight revealed his daughter's pale, sunken face, with dark circles under her eyes. From a distance, one could smell the stench of someone who hadn't washed for a long time.

Was this still his daughter? The last time he saw her, she was plump and healthy. How had she been tormented into this state in just two short months? What had happened?

"Daya, Daya, it's Father," Chen Ershu's tears flowed freely as he reached out to touch his daughter's face, worried about waking her up. She seemed to have finally fallen asleep, her brows still furrowed.

"Let Sister sleep. Let's go home first, and discuss everything else at home later," Wei Dahu sidestepped the hand that Ershu extended, saying mercilessly, "I'll carry her. You almost fell last time. Sister can't afford to fall now."

Chen Ershu wiped away his tears and nodded hastily. "Thank you for your hard work, Dahu." As he wiped his nose and tears, using his sleeve to wipe continuously, his tear-filled eyes finally saw Huang Pozi and her daughter standing beside him. He had met Huang Pozi before, but it was too dark to see clearly now, and he didn't know why Dahu had brought outsiders up the mountain. However, his nephew would never bring bad people, and with tears still clinging to his eyelashes, he instinctively smiled, a snot bubble forming with each smile, making him look strangely comical for his age.

It was quite a sight, and Huang Pozi subtly shifted her gaze away.

"Brother One, Brother Two, help Daocao carry her basket, and also Aunt Huang," Wei Dahu signaled to his two elder brothers with a glance.

Liu Daocao instinctively tightened her grip on the hemp rope, eyeing them warily, unwilling to part with it. Huang Pozi gently patted her daughter, what was there to be wary of now? The time to be wary was when she led people into her home. Now, it was too late!

"Sister Daocao," Chen Ershi scratched his head with a foolish smile. Regardless of whether he knew her or not, calling her like Dahu was the right choice.

Liu Daocao grunted at being stared at and moved her basket to him. "Be careful."

"Okay." Chen Ershi thought it was clothes or quilts, but when he took it in his hands, it was surprisingly heavy, and he almost couldn't hold it. She had carried such a heavy basket for such a long distance; this girl had quite the strength. He couldn't help but glance at the sturdy, dark-skinned girl.

With more people around, they felt less afraid.

Man Cang led the way, while Second Bull brought up the rear. The flickering torchlights wound along the rugged mountain path for two to three hours.

As soon as they arrived home, scraping sounds could be heard at the gate of the courtyard. Xiaohu was sensible and didn't make a sound at night, seemingly aware of the dangers of the deep mountains and the need to avoid barking randomly at night.

Two thick wooden beams secured the courtyard gate, preventing entry from the outside. Wei Dahu was about to call out to his father when the light in his room suddenly came on. Soon after, Peach Blossom, dressed in a robe, emerged with an oil lamp in hand, standing under the eaves and asking, "Is that Dahu?"

"It's me, dear," said Wei Dahu, his face, taut all day, finally relaxing into a smile at this moment.

Tao Hua also heaved a sigh of relief, tapping on each door in turn: "Elder Sister, Zhao Di, wake up. Help open the courtyard gate; they've returned."

As her words faded, sounds of movement came from several rooms.

With something happening outside and the men taking the night road down the mountain, those left at home couldn't sleep soundly. This was especially true for Tao Hua. When Little Tiger darted out of the room, she had a premonition, never expecting it to be them indeed, seemingly having encountered trouble halfway.

Wu Zhaodi and Fang Qiuyan, dressed, opened their doors, telling her to stay put while they worked together to lift off the door bolt. Once the door was opened, those outside entered the courtyard, and those sleeping inside woke up as well. Old Man Wei and Old Man Lin emerged, cloaks draped over their shoulders, along with Second Aunt who had been waiting by since early morning.

She was a quiet woman who seldom spoke, barely noticeable within the household. Though she intended to follow them down the mountain, she was held back and left to anxiously await their return at home. Taohua was roused by the commotion caused by Little Hu, while she herself had not slept a wink all night. The moment she heard Dahu's voice, she rushed out without hesitation.

Presently, as she watched her niece cradled in her nephew's arms, tears suddenly streamed down her face.

"Author's Note:"

Thank you to "Ruan Nan" for launching a deep-sea torpedo, thank you so much, truly a generous gesture. Treasures, please don't throw anymore, your kindness is felt, the writing is already complete, hahaha.

Thank you, my dear readers, for your support and offerings. I am truly grateful to each one of you. (Pressing my hands together in gratitude)

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