Chapter 263: Tracking Ruan Shi

Chapter 263: Tracking Ruan Shi

Wei Pozi made a scene at the Xiang family's house, and in the end, she had Shuangyun carry away the basket containing the dead rabbit.

She despised Ruan Shi and didn't trust her at all.

It was better to take the rabbit away and have Shuangyun bury it in some wild place.

The matter seemed to be somewhat resolved this way.

Ruan Shi still wouldn't allow Yamei'er to go out.

The dog door at the Xiang family's house was also tightly sealed.

Xingxing was completely cut off from any news about Yamei'er.

Wei Pozi grew even more disgusted with Ruan Shi and started directly asking around about her during her walks.

Wei Pozi then learned that Ruan Shi was from Shuiganji, a place beyond a mountain and halfway across a valley.

Her previous husband had died, leaving behind a daughter. Ruan Shi wanted to remarry and take her daughter with her, but her in-laws wouldn't allow it, wanting to preserve the last bit of their son's bloodline. Ruan Shi had no choice but to leave her sickly daughter with her in-laws and marry into Nantuo Village.

Wei Pozi curled her lips.

She played the loving mother to Yamei'er at the Xiang family, but she had her own daughter!

As for more details about Ruan Shi, Wei Pozi couldn't find out much, except that Ruan Shi wasn't a local either; her grandfather's generation had migrated to this vast, continuous mountain range.

These were just minor details.

Seeing that she couldn't find out anything useful, Wei Pozi temporarily set aside the matter of Ruan Shi.

Because the most important day of the year, second only to New Year's Eve—the Winter Solstice—had arrived.

The Winter Solstice is one of the 24 solar terms and is often said to be as significant as the New Year. It is also the day with the heaviest yin energy, traditionally a time for sacrifices.

In the past, the Yujia family was poor, and they would just casually pass the Winter Solstice. But now, the Yujia family was different, so naturally, they had to celebrate it properly.

Bai Ge'er and Gui'er's school had a holiday, and Grandfather Liu, upon hearing that the Yujia family was celebrating the Winter Solstice, brought Liu Ge'er back to join the feast. Even Huai Ge'er, who was studying martial arts in the mountains, returned.

The Yujia family gathered together in a lively and complete reunion.

From early morning, the kitchen had been simmering lamb bone soup, and the aroma was so tempting that even Xingxing, who had been feeling down lately, couldn't help but show some craving.

"Grandma, wouldn't Daxisipo be lonely spending the Winter Solstice alone?" Xingxing quietly asked Wei Pozi.

Wei Pozi smiled and looked at Xingxing: "Are you thinking of inviting Daxisipo to our house to celebrate the Winter Solstice together?"

Xingxing nodded repeatedly, looking at Wei Pozi with anticipation: "Grandma, can we?"

Wei Pozi waved her hand: "Of course, we can."

Daxisipo was always finding fault with Xingxing, but Wei Pozi knew better. Not to mention anything else, the finished medicinal pills Daxisipo put in Xingxing's little sachet were worth a price that even Wei Pozi wouldn't dare to calculate.

Xingxing was so excited she was about to run out and personally invite Daxisipo to their house for the Winter Solstice.

Shuangyun was about to follow immediately—after all, they couldn't let a four- or five-year-old child go to Daxisipo's place alone.

Huai Ge'er quickly offered, "I'll go with Xingxing."

He dashed towards Xingxing, scooping her up from the ground as he ran, and with a quick lift and push, Xingxing was seated on Huai Geer's right shoulder.

Xingxing let out a surprised and excited "Wow!!!"

The siblings' laughter echoed far and wide.

When they arrived at the place where Daxisipo lived in the mountains, she was napping on a wooden recliner inside her house.

Upon hearing that Xingxing had come specifically to invite her to the Yujia household for the Winter Festival, a look of surprise flashed across Daxisipo's face, but she still reluctantly said, "No, no, on such a gloomy day, I don't feel like going out."

Xingxing gently shook Daxisipo's hand, which felt like a gnarled vine, "Grandma Daxi~"

Daxisipo looked annoyed, "...You're such a handful!"

With that, she slowly rose, cast a glance at the playful Xingxing, and said, "Let's go."

Xingxing chirped cheerfully, "Alright!"

Daxisipo secured the gate of her modest courtyard and set off with Xingxing and Huai Geer towards the Yujia household.

The path to Daxisipo's place wound through narrow, forking trails.

Daxisipo guided them along a concealed trail.

As they walked, Daxisipo suddenly gasped and peered down into a part of the valley.

Curious, Xingxing also looked down towards the valley.

Before she could spot anything, Daxisipo spoke in a low voice, "I think I saw your little friend."

Xingxing hadn't reacted yet, "What?"

Daxisipo pointed downwards, "See? A woman is carrying your little friend, heading deep into the mountains."

Xingxing looked carefully in the direction Daxisipo pointed.

Huai Geer, with his strong bones and having been taught martial arts by the old Taoist priest, a hidden master, had made rapid progress.

He had sharp eyes and ears, and without Daxisipo pointing anything out, he recognized it.

"...It really seems like Yaya," Huai Geer frowned, "Who is the woman carrying her? I don't think I've seen her before."

Xingxing finally spotted the two figures in the lush wild grass after much effort.

"That should be Yaya's mother..." Xingxing thought, feeling down as she remembered that since Yamei'er got a mother, she hadn't been allowed to play with them anymore.

"Wait—" Huai Geer suddenly spoke.

Xingxing looked at Huai Geer in confusion, waiting for him to explain what was wrong.

Huai Geer's frown deepened, "...I see Yaya, lying motionless on her stepmother's shoulder... Could she be asleep?"

"Whether she's asleep or not," Daxisipo suddenly spoke in a low voice, "On a day like the Winter Festival, carrying a little girl deep into the mountains is strange in itself... Could they have someone in the mountains they must invite home for the festival?"

Daxisipo's tone took on an eerie quality, sending a shiver of tension through Xingxing.

She was anxious, "Ah? Grandma Daxi, don't scare me..."

Daxisipo glanced at Xingxing and clicked her tongue, "What's the big deal? Let's follow them and see what they're up to, isn't that simple?"

Xingxing's eyes immediately lit up: "Really?!"

Daxisipo snorted: "What else? Would an old woman like me lie to a little girl?"

With that, Daxisipo walked ahead.

She knew these mountains like the back of her hand, familiar with countless hidden shortcuts.

An old woman, a young girl, and a little girl, the trio quietly trailed Ruan Shi and Yamei'er from about ten meters back, following them to a somewhat hidden house.

The house looked like a small hunter's cabin, its exterior quite run-down.

Ruan Shi's eyes lit up with joy, and before even stepping inside, she eagerly called out: "Yaya!"