Chapter 6

Chapter 6

The full moon hung high, and the cool breeze rustled through the treetops, making a soft rustling sound. The dappled shadows of the trees shimmered with a chilling glow in the darkness.

Following the beam of the flashlight, one could see the mounds on the hilltop, instantly creating an eerie atmosphere.

Wang Caoer hid beside Tang Qingqing, swallowing hard, her eyes darting nervously around.

Tang Qingqing also felt a chill, but she was unwilling to give up.

If they didn't investigate immediately, who knew if the two sheep would still be alive tomorrow.

"It's just a graveyard. In our vast land, where hasn't there been a burial? We must break all feudal superstitions! Besides, we're not doing anything immoral."

Zhai Hongyi's voice was calm and loud, his expression serene, as if it were no big deal.

This reassured Tang Qingqing and Wang Caoer, easing their fear.

Lu Xiangqian still didn't want to go to the graveyard in the middle of the night; it was too unlucky.

"Let's wait until tomorrow."

"If we wait until tomorrow, everything will be cold. Your production team doesn't have rules against outsiders entering the graveyard, right?"

Lu Xiangqian murmured, "Not really..."

Zhai Hongyi slung his backpack over his shoulder and held it with one hand.

"Then it's settled. Uncle, if you don't want to come, we'll go by ourselves. Don't worry, we'll be careful and won't step on any graves."

"No way, we can't go to the graveyard at night," Lu Xiangqian insisted.

Although anti-feudal superstition campaigns were ongoing, few villagers truly disbelieved these things.

Especially since there were two young girls with them, whose yang energy was weak, making them more susceptible to being frightened in the graveyard at night.

As an elder, he couldn't let the three children act recklessly.

Wang Caoer said, "Uncle, ghosts are scary, but losing the sheep is even scarier."

Lu Xiangqian sighed lightly, not saying anything more to stop them.

Tang Qingqing had been scared initially, but when her focus shifted to tracking the hoofprints, she had less time to feel afraid.

Though Lu Xiangqian felt uneasy, he was an adult, and the people buried here were familiar to him, so he wasn't too scared.

Zhai Hongyi, on the other hand, was bold and fearless, exuding a sense of righteousness.

With someone brave by their side, Wang Caoer felt less afraid.

"Do you hear that?" Zhai Hongyi suddenly spoke.

Wang Caoer tensed up, her teeth chattering. "W-What sound?"

Zhai Hongyi listened intently. "It sounds like a sheep!"

Tang Qingqing stopped what she was doing and listened carefully, but all she heard were insects chirping.

Lu Xiangqian said, "I don't hear anything. Did you hear anything?"

Wang Caoer and Tang Qingqing both shook their heads.

Zhai Hongyi listened for a few more minutes before striding off in a particular direction.

"The sound is coming from that way."

The others followed, turning left and right, and after a while, Tang Qingqing faintly heard something.

"I think I hear it too?"

Wang Caoer exclaimed excitedly, "Old Whitey, Little Cabbage, where are you?"

The sheep seemed to understand its name being called and bleated louder.

Initially skeptical, the four hurried towards the source of the sound.

In her excitement, Wang Caoer stumbled, and Tang Qingqing quickly tried to steady her.

But she hadn't positioned herself well and ended up stumbling and kneeling on the ground, her head lifting to see a tombstone in front of her.

With a buzz, Tang Qingqing's vision suddenly shifted.

The names inscribed vertically on the tombstone turned into horizontal rows of text.

Strangely, despite having little education and only knowing a few characters, Tang Qingqing could read the text.

Even more shocking was the content: she was the protagonist of a book?!

"Qingqing, are you okay?"

A sudden pat on her shoulder startled Tang Qingqing back to reality. She saw that the names on the tombstone were still inscribed vertically, and many characters were incomprehensible to her.

"Qingqing?" Wang Caoer looked at her worriedly.

Tang Qingqing regained her composure and smiled reassuringly.

"I'm fine. I must have been squatting for too long and got dizzy."

In such a place at night, Tang Qingqing dared not mention what had happened, fearing it might terrify the timid Wang Caoer.

According to her nature, she would definitely worry that something might happen to me, feeling guilty for causing trouble.

Zhai Hongyi walked swiftly, completely unaware of what happened behind him.

He followed the sound and eventually stopped in front of a thicket of brambles.

Looking closely at the brambles, they were not naturally grown but placed there intentionally by someone.

Zhai Hongyi moved the brambles aside. Despite being careful, he still got scratched on his hands and face.

Zhai Hongyi didn't care at all and, together with Lu Xiangqian, who arrived quickly, cleared away all the brambles.

With the brambles removed, a hollow depression was revealed, hiding two sheep inside.

Seeing them, the sheep bleated even more joyfully.

Excited, Zhai Hongyi turned around, only to realize that Wang Caoer and Tang Qingqing hadn't followed.

"Where are Tang Qingqing and Wang Caoer?"

As he spoke, the two appeared in his sight.

The terrain here was rough and uneven, making it easy to twist an ankle, so they supported each other, slowing their pace.

Without much thought, Zhai Hongyi waved at them, "Come over and see if these are the two sheep you lost."

Wang Caoer, who had been walking cautiously, upon hearing this, rushed over without hesitation.

"Baitouweng, Xiaobaicai!"

The two sheep had already come out of the hollow, and under the moonlight, their outlines could be vaguely seen.

Wang Caoer immediately recognized them and jumped excitedly on the spot. The sheep also recognized her and nudged her gently.

"I've been looking for you so hard, sniff sniff—"

Wang Caoer hugged the two sheep and couldn't hold back her tears.

She had been worried all along but dared not cry for fear of disturbing others. Now that the sheep were found, she could finally let out her emotions.

Tang Qingqing was also very happy, her smile spreading wide.

However, Lu Xiangqian's expression was grim. These sheep were hidden so deeply; clearly, someone had done this deliberately, intending to steal them.

Whether it was finding strayed sheep and wanting to claim them or stealing them purposefully, both actions were condemned and punishable.

Zhai Hongyi said seriously, "Uncle, we need to report this. It concerns public property, and it can't be swept under the rug."

Lu Xiangqian remained silent. According to his nature, he preferred to make big things small and small things disappear.

But Zhai Hongyi was a knowledgeable youth, full of enthusiasm and always eager to report issues.

These two sheep had caused them to run around all day, and they wouldn't let this go easily.

Zhai Hongyi clearly wasn't one to keep quiet. If he tried to hide it, he would end up getting implicated later.

"You can rest assured; I will report this truthfully to the team leader."

Zhai Hongyi nodded and turned to put the brambles back in place.

Confused, Lu Xiangqian asked, "What are you doing?"

"No evidence, no conviction. We should have the team leader send some people to watch this spot. Whoever comes to find the sheep can be caught red-handed, preventing them from claiming it was just a coincidence."

Seeing Zhai Hongyi's determination, Lu Xiangqian didn't dare to dismiss it lightly.

He joined Zhai Hongyi in putting the brambles back, and Tang Qingqing hurried over to help.

Zhai Hongyi blocked them with his body, "You two girls don't need to help. Just rest over there."

Tang Qingqing ignored him and went around to help, "A great man once said, women can hold up half the sky. I can do this work too."

"Trying to take care of you, and you're not grateful. Don't cry if you get pricked like a hedgehog."

Tang Qingqing paid no attention and became even more cautious.

Seeing this, Wang Caoer stopped crying and ran over to help as well.

The four busy individuals didn't know that not far from them, someone was sneaking up the mountain.

Initially hesitant, the thought of the two fat sheep and the money they could fetch made him bolder.

But just as he reached halfway up the hill, he faintly heard a child's crying, sorrowful like the winter wind.

Under the moonlight, the tombstones stood out even more prominently, and the inscriptions on them were clearly visible.

Sun Laifu's hair stood on end, and he scrambled down the hill, forgetting about the sheep and any thoughts of wealth.

When Tang Qingqing and the others returned, she noticed something different on the ground.

Normally, she would have stopped to investigate, but her mind was in turmoil, and she lacked the inclination.

In her haste to find the sheep, she hadn't had time to think. Now that everything was settled, the strange scene earlier left her bewildered.

Was she the protagonist of a book?

Was this world a book?

That's too bizarre!

"What's wrong with you?" Zhai Hongyi noticed something was off.

Tang Qingqing shook her head. "Nothing, I'm just tired."

Zhai Hongyi had seen how hard Tang Qingqing had worked along the way and did not doubt her words.

He took out a handful of White Rabbits from his pocket and put them in her hand.

Tang Qingqing wanted to give them back; she had already eaten too much of his candy today.

Zhai Hongyi placed his hand on her head and patted it gently. "You're amazing, so you need to take good care of yourself. If your body breaks down due to lack of nutrition, it would be a great loss for the country."

Tang Qingqing blushed at his words; no one had ever praised her like this before.

Even when her master acknowledged her skills, he only said two words— "Not bad."

"I'm not that amazing."

"How can you not be? Ask your little sisters."

Wang Caoer followed closely behind the two sheep, keeping an eye on both them and Tang Qingqing. Hearing this, she nodded vigorously.

"Sister Qingqing is the best! Without her, I would have been dead!"

Tang Qingqing felt embarrassed but secretly delighted, and even the strange incident was pushed to the back of her mind.

Upon returning to the Lu family, they saw Wang Heizi stretching his neck to look their way from afar.

As soon as he saw them, he rushed over.

"Wow, you found the sheep!"

Wang Caoer smiled throughout the day and didn't feel tired despite all the running around. "It's all thanks to Sister Qingqing! Brother Yi is also amazing; he could hear the sheep from far away, otherwise, we wouldn't have returned so quickly."

Auntie came out of the house upon hearing the commotion and invited them inside.

"You must be tired after a long day. I've prepared hot water for you to soak your feet later, which will help you relax."

Tang Qingqing: "Auntie, thank you. We're sorry for disturbing you."

Wang Caoer: "Auntie, we're sorry for causing trouble."

It was already late, and many families were asleep. The Lu family had stayed up late for them.

"Don't mention it. Treat this place like your own home. Don't be polite with Auntie. You'll rest here tonight and go back tomorrow morning.

Don't dare to wander outside late at night again. This time you were lucky, but next time might not be the same."

Tang Qingqing and Wang Caoer agreed obediently, while Wang Heizi anxiously asked what had happened earlier.

When they learned that the sheep had been hidden on the grave hill, both Wang Heizi and Auntie gasped in shock.

Zhai Hongyi did not enter the Lu family's home but went with Lu Xiangqian to the captain's house.

Meanwhile, at the Tang family's home.

Zhao Dahua pulled her husband, Tang Jianjun, onto the bed and spoke to him. "Remember, you must secure the sheep-herding job for our son Xingwang."

Tang Jianjun had just finished delivering public grain and was so exhausted that he was barely keeping his eyes open, feeling very impatient.

"What's so difficult about it? Just let Xingwang replace that girl."

Zhao Dahua scoffed. "But your mother disagrees!"

Tang Jianjun finally woke up a bit. "Why does she disagree?"

"It's because she's biased. Our son, who will carry on the family name, isn't valued as much as someone else's daughter who will eventually marry out.

Back when I was about to give birth, she still went to serve them during their confinement period and stayed there for months. When I gave birth, there wasn't even anyone to help me, which left me with postpartum health issues!

She never thought of us when it came to benefits, but always relied on us when she needed help. It's only because we're kind-hearted and always think about respecting the elderly. In another family, there would have been a lot more trouble."

Thinking about this, Zhao Dahua felt a surge of anger.

Hearing this, Tang Jianjun was unhappy and spoke in a gruff voice.

"I'll talk to the captain tomorrow. Why should a girl herd sheep? This job should be done by a boy."