Chapter 77

Chapter 77

Lin Chunyan was also greatly surprised. She never expected that someone would use privately minted coins to buy goods at this time, and hurriedly asked Mrs. Zhang to bring out all the money she had collected recently.

Mrs. Zhang was also frightened. In the past, she had never handled so much money. Unlike Aunt Lin, who had a relative who was arrested by the authorities for this reason, her family was particularly cautious about copper coins and specially taught the younger generation how to identify them.

After this thorough check, Mrs. Zhang indeed found a few suspicious ones, which she took out and cursed.

"Who knows which scoundrel actually used privately minted coins to buy things."

Lin Chunyan carefully weighed the few copper coins in her hand and only then felt a slight difference.

"We must be more careful from now on." Lin Chunyan sighed, putting those privately minted coins in another jar and saying they could not be used anymore.

She then praised Sanlang, saying he did well in business, selling so much on his first day.

Sanlang, being praised, became happy again and recounted all his experiences along the way. "Once my braised fish becomes famous, I wonder how many people will come to buy it."

Suddenly, he exclaimed, "I still have to go collect fish; if it's late, the braised fish won't taste good."

Seeing him so energetic, the others finally laughed.

"There's still a scale at home; just take it and help Sanlang weigh the fish."

When the villagers heard that Lihua had returned, looking emaciated and barely alive, they couldn't help but sigh.

Previously, Ju Miao's mother had been eager to send her as a maid, visiting Lady Zhao several times without success, and later even quarreled with Lady Zhao, refusing to speak to her when they met.

Now, seeing Lihua in such a state, she felt a chill of fear, muttering that they didn't have the fortune to let Ju Miao suffer.

Life in the village had improved. Today, Mrs. Zhang collected sunflower seeds and peanuts, and tomorrow, Sanlang would come to collect fish, giving everyone some money. If they could also work for Lin Chunyan, it would be a great improvement in their lives.

Lihua, tired of seeing so many people, lay in her room, listening intently to the commotion outside, and only asked Lady Zhao to inquire about Apricot Flower's situation.

Seeing her so weak that she couldn't even speak, Lady Zhao could only shed tears and do as she asked.

"If we know where she is, don't touch the silver for her treatment; we must redeem her no matter what."

Lihua always felt it was like a dream, and when she woke up, she would still be sweeping the yard at Mr. Wang's house, suffering abuse.

But even if it was a dream, she wanted Apricot Flower to have a moment of peace in it.

Lady Zhao returned after a round of inquiries, saying she had found out where Apricot Flower was and asked Lihua to wait until after the New Year to look for her.

Lihua didn't know whether to believe it or not but didn't mention it again.

When setting up the stall again, Lin Chunyan carefully weighed each copper coin, maintaining her usual demeanor. Over time, she began to discern some patterns.

To her surprise, the one using the privately minted coins turned out to be Scholar Song.

Lin Chunyan, unaware of his family's circumstances, waited for Zhang Tianhe to come and asked him a few more questions.

"Scholar Song?" Zhang Tianhe ordered a bowl of noodles and slurped it down, "His family, like mine, comes from humble origins and is quite frugal, so there's nothing unusual about them."

Zhang Tianhe was puzzled why Lin Chunyan would ask such a question but told her everything he knew. Lin Chunyan listened and gradually understood the situation.

Although Scholar Song came from a poor background, he was very open-minded and sociable, getting along well with both Hu Xiaolang and Wang Xiaolang.

Lin Taohong whispered, "Could it be that his family is minting these coins? Otherwise, why does he always have them?"

Lin Chunyan thought Scholar Song wouldn't be so foolish. He was already a scholar and was waiting for the autumn examination next year to take the provincial exam, which would be his path to success.

If he were involved with privately minted coins, his future would be ruined.

"What should we do? Scholar Song often comes to our stall to eat, and over time, it adds up to a significant amount."

Lin Chunyan was also troubled. Scholar Song had helped them before and was very righteous. So, as the stall was about to close, she called out to Scholar Song.

With no one else around, Scholar Song was about to leave when he was stopped. He didn't show any displeasure, thinking there might be something else.

Lin Chunyan lowered her voice and mentioned the copper coins, observing his reaction as she spoke.

Scholar Song was initially stunned, his lips trembling, pointing at the coins in Lin Chunyan's hand, "This... This can't be true!"

Then his face turned pale. If this were exposed, his scholarly career would be over.

Scholar Song felt his legs shaking, not knowing how he managed to walk back home. His family, seeing him like this, thought something serious had happened.

"My uncle?"

Old Lady Song replied, confused, "He's naturally at his own home. Do you need something from him?"

Scholar Song rubbed his face, feeling his throat dry as he recalled the scene, momentarily forgetting how he got back and whether Lin Chunyan had promised to keep it secret.

He took out the few coins, his voice hoarse, "These coins were given to me by my uncle earlier."

Old Man Song nodded, "What's wrong? Is the money running short again? Should I ask them to send more?"

As a scholar, he had tax-exempt land, and his aunt's family had put a few acres in his name. With some assets, this saved them a lot, and they would occasionally send money to support them.

Scholar Song took it for granted, knowing that once he became an official, these people would benefit, and not taking it would make them distant.

He never imagined that the money would be problematic.

"Father, go call my aunt and uncle. I need to ask them something."

Seeing Scholar Song in such a state, Old Man Song understood immediately, put on a coat, and ran out.

Old Lady Song poured him a cup of water and told him not to rush, but to slowly tell the story.

Scholar Song simply recounted the events, and as Old Lady Song listened, she grew increasingly frightened, almost falling off the kang.

"Those scoundrels, how dare they try to harm my son! It's fortunate that the young lady noticed, but I wonder if she has mentioned it to anyone else!"

Unable to sit still at home any longer, she decided to go find Lin Chunyan and ask her to keep it a secret.

Scholar Song had no strength to stop her, only saying that they should wait for Old Man Song to return and clarify the matter first. "Since the young lady confided in me secretly, she didn't intend to make it public. Besides, she is usually kind-hearted, and I have some connections with them. There's no need to panic."

When Old Man Song returned with others, Old Lady Song bolted the main door and even locked the room door, which startled Tan Yongzi and his wife.

"Sister-in-law, what's going on? Why are you locking the doors?"

Old Man Song didn't know what had happened either. Old Lady Song, suppressing her anger, threw the few copper coins at them, "Why do you want to harm my son!"

Auntie Song was momentarily stunned and, forgetting her anger, picked up the coins, weighed them, and her face changed.

"Is there some misunderstanding? How do we know these are from us?"

Old Man Song kept staring at Tan Yongzi, noticing his evasive gaze, and knew he was guilty. He kicked him directly.

Tan Yongzi fell to the ground, his front teeth hitting the floor hard, blood gushing from his mouth, looking terrifying.

But no one in the room paid attention. Old Lady Song pointed at Tan Yongzi, "You two are always together. Now you pretend not to know. If my son can't take the imperial exams, I'll tear your house apart!"

Auntie Song helped Tan Yongzi up and asked him, "Husband, do you know about this? Last time, didn't you say you were going to exchange for silver? Who did you go to?"

She still couldn't believe Tan Yongzi did this intentionally, thinking he was deceived, and asked Old Man Song not to rush, "Let's investigate quietly. We'll catch those people."

Old Man Song scoffed, "If we go, won't others know we have counterfeit money? If they report my son, how will he take the exam?"

He then looked at Tan Yongzi, "Do you really not know about this?"

Tan Yongzi wiped the blood from his mouth and shook his head, "How could I harm my nephew? The dozens of acres of land must be registered under his name to avoid taxes. What benefit would harming him bring me?"

Scholar Song had already thought about this on his way back. Seeing Tan Yongzi refuse to admit it, he asked him to take him to where he usually exchanged money, "It might be a den. If we catch them, it will be a great achievement."

His words were partly true and partly false, known only to himself, but Tan Yongzi's expression turned anxious upon hearing this.

"I'll go myself. If my nephew goes, it might be discovered."

His nervousness made even Auntie Song suspicious, and she pinched his ear, "Tell me the truth. Which money shop did you get the money from? My nephew can't go, but I can check the accounts!"

Tan Yongzi had no choice. Auntie Song was always fierce, and he feared she would cause trouble at the money shop, leading to his own downfall. He admitted, "The money wasn't from a money shop. It was from a private friend who said he could exchange one tael for 1,200 copper coins."

That was 200 more copper coins than the money shop offered, so Tan Yongzi naturally agreed.

He suspected the money might be questionable, but since he wasn't spending it, he thought it wouldn't be noticed, saving him a significant amount.

Auntie Song often sent money to her family, and Tan Yongzi knew this was for their future. With this past assistance, if Scholar Song became an official, they would also benefit.

But taking the money out was like cutting flesh from his body.

When Lin Chunyan saw Scholar Song again, it was several days later. Seeing his dejected look, she was genuinely alarmed.

Scholar Song came specifically to thank Lin Chunyan, "Thanks to your warning, I don't know how to express my gratitude. Please accept this small gift."

Lin Chunyan exchanged pleasantries and accepted the gift, and Scholar Song breathed a sigh of relief, knowing the matter was finally resolved.

Lin Taohong peeked over and saw the many fine items Scholar Song brought, especially some rare spices, and smiled broadly.

"It was worth helping him."

When Constable Sun came for dinner, he mentioned the widespread use of counterfeit money.

"If you have any, be sure to turn them in to the authorities first."

"Will they still be punished if they turn them in?"

Constable Sun shook his head, "Not this time."

He lowered his voice, "This counterfeit money has circulated too widely. Many people have used it. If they pursue it, half the population might be flogged."

Lin Chunyan took out a dozen large coins, "I don't know who brought these to buy food. I thought they were stuck with them."

Constable Sun, seeing so many, laughed, "I knew you'd have quite a few."

As for how Scholar Song resolved the issue, Lin Chunyan couldn't find out. She only knew he continued to visit regularly for noodles, showing no signs of his previous anxiety.

Some time later, a group of people caught stealing copper from the mine implicated many others. Thanks to the county magistrate's discernment, all were arrested, bringing peace.

"He must be due for a promotion soon."

Lin Chunyan heard someone say this and perked up her ears.

But the person stopped talking and asked Lin Chunyan to hurry with the noodles, "I need to leave after eating."

On the day of the Laba Festival, the last day for setting up, Lin Chunyan didn't bring noodles but brought eight-treasure porridge instead.

At the time, people still called it seven-treasure five-flavor porridge, with walnuts, persimmons, chestnuts, and rice cooked together until thick and creamy.

Serving a bowl of this porridge, eating and drinking heartily, it was most comforting.

Lin Chunyan added red yeast rice, peanuts, and various beans, cooking a large pot.

Jin Niangzi said she would only come this one day, starting tomorrow to clean and prepare for the New Year. Seeing the sweet and fragrant porridge, she asked for a bowl first.

"Have you heard that at the Empress Temple on Copper Mountain, they are serving not only porridge but also red yeast rice today? Do you want to go eat there?"

Lin Chunyan had never heard of the red fermented rice before and asked Jin Niangzi how it was made.

"I've only tasted it a few times. It's not particularly good, and I hear they add milk and bamboo shoots. They only give it to believers on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month."

Seeing Lin Chunyan’s interest, Mrs. Zhang suggested she go and ask for a bowl, "Just to taste it."

Since there was nothing else to do today, Lin Chunyan left her stall to Mrs. Zhang and set off for Copper Mountain with Lin Taohong.

Lin Taohong was reluctant to move, "We have to climb the mountain. Who knows how long it will take."

Copper Mountain was very close, but because no one in their family had sought a child, it had been years since anyone had visited.

Lin Chunyan was also worried about climbing, but when they reached the foot of the mountain, she found it wasn't very high, and many believers were coming to pray.

Seeing that there were porters who could carry them up the mountain, Lin Taohong thought about spending some money. She asked and found out it would cost ten copper coins to go up.

And the same amount to come down.

Lin Taohong hesitated; ten copper coins could buy a lot of flowers. Although she now had a jewelry box with many items, who ever complained about having too much jewelry?

The porter, seeing that Lin Taohong was well-dressed, thought she could afford it and started to persuade her, flattering her greatly. Lin Taohong, who had initially been only slightly interested, was now almost convinced.

"Big Sister, why don’t we ride up and walk down?"

Lin Chunyan didn’t want to disappoint Lin Taohong and was about to agree when an older woman approached and said, "Are you two young ladies going to pray for a good marriage? If so, you should walk up to show your sincerity to the goddess."

Hearing this, Lin Chunyan immediately took out the money and gave it to the porter, "We are young and weak, afraid we might not make it up."

The old woman watched as the two young ladies got into the sedan chairs, shaking her head in disapproval.

Lin Chunyan’s sedan chair was carried by two porters. On the way, they chatted and mentioned that the red fermented rice was quite unpalatable, mostly to attract visitors from other places. "No one from White Cloud Town likes to eat it here."

"Didn’t I hear it has milk?"

"In that big pot of red fermented rice, if you can get a little milk, you’re lucky. Mostly it’s just the flavor of bran."

Lin Taohong regretted her decision, "Jin Niangzi said it wasn’t good. It must be terrible. We shouldn’t have come."

"We should at least try it."

As Lin Chunyan comforted Lin Taohong, she overheard two people talking, "I heard that Lin Xiaoniang’s stall is closed until the New Year, for more than a month. Where can we find such delicious food?"

"That’s true. After eating it a few times, my taste buds are spoiled. Other places just don’t measure up."

Lin Chunyan felt a surge of happiness.

At the same time, Hu Xiaolangjun was attending a banquet hosted by King Zhao, following his father, Hu Xianggong. Looking at the exquisite dishes served, he found them tasteless.

Everything in the Imperial City was wonderful, except for the lack of Lin Chunyan’s cooking, which made everything seem dull.

King Zhao arrived late, and the Ninth Prince, sitting below, was visibly annoyed. He said openly, "I heard the Fifth Brother has taken a new concubine. Is that why you’re so late, enjoying a good time with her and forgetting about us?"

King Zhao didn’t get angry, "There were some other matters at home. Speaking of concubines, the Ninth Brother seems to have better luck. I hear your courtyard is nearly full."

The Ninth Prince sneered, suspecting that the incident at Copper Mountain in White Cloud Town was King Zhao’s doing, framed to implicate him.

He wondered why King Zhao had suddenly taken an interest in such a remote place. Copper Mountain was famous, but after years of mining, it was likely exhausted.

Hu Xiaolangjun paid no attention to the banter above. Hearing that the dish was made by Li Dainiang, he tried a piece of ham. The taste was indeed excellent, salty and fragrant.

After one bite, he saw a fish being served and tried a piece.

The fish was not as good as the ham, perhaps because it was cold, giving it a slight earthy smell.

Hu Xianggong was displeased with his behavior and coughed to remind him. Hu Xiaolangjun immediately stopped eating.

Someone then spoke up, "Li Dainiang’s cooking is still as good as ever. We only get to taste it once a year, and it’s hard to find elsewhere."

"It’s a pity she doesn’t take apprentices easily. Otherwise, we could bring one back to the palace."

This diversion made Hu Xianggong stop staring at Hu Xiaolangjun, much to his relief.

When Lin Chunyan reached the temple at the top of the mountain, she saw monks distributing seven-treasure porridge and red fermented rice. The line for the red fermented rice was short, so Lin Chunyan went to get a bowl. The young monk eagerly filled it to the brim.

Lin Chunyan thanked him and moved to the side to taste it. One sip confirmed why the line was so short; the red fermented rice was indeed not very good.

Upon closer inspection, she noticed it contained yeast and bamboo shoots. To get a good omen, she forced herself to finish it.

Lin Taohong wrinkled her nose throughout, silently blaming the young monk for giving her too much.

Lin Chunyan packed the remaining red fermented rice into a bamboo tube to bring back for Wang Yingniang and Mrs. Zhang to try.

Thinking it was the last day of the stall and selling a dish that every household could make, Mrs. Zhang expected few customers. However, many people came.

Many of those buying the porridge wanted to taste what Lin Chunyan had made, while others bought the pickled vegetables and bean curd.

"Big Sister, I was serious about what I told you last time. Have you thought about it?"

Mr. Zhao, who had bought something, didn’t leave immediately and spoke earnestly to Mrs. Zhang.

Mrs. Zhang remembered the incident with Lihua, where he had helped a great deal. She didn’t want to offend him and waved her hand, "Why bring it up again? Now I’m afraid to see you."

Later, she complained to Lin Chunyan, "He’s not really interested in me being his Big Sister. He just uses the title to visit our house. Without it, would I stop him from coming?"

Lin Chunyan just smiled and urged her to drink the red fermented rice.

Mrs. Zhang took a small sip and grimaced, "What is this taste? It’s terrible."

Thinking she wouldn’t have to run the stall the next day, Lin Chunyan felt a sense of relief. She slept until mid-morning the next day, not rushing to get out of bed. It was cold outside, so she waited for her clothes to warm up before getting dressed.

The door opened, and a gust of cold air hit her face. She had heard that the village stream was already frozen over, but the ice was still too thin, and all the adults in the households were warning their children not to go skating on it.

Every year, there were always some disobedient children who fell into the water and caught a chill, either falling seriously ill or losing their lives.

Mrs. Zhang was nowhere to be found, and Lin Chunyan didn't bother looking for her. Instead, she asked Wang Yingniang and Lin Taohong, "Since we have plenty of free time, is there anything you want to eat?"

"I want to eat that pork loin my elder sister mentioned last time!"

Lin Taohong still remembered the sweet and sour pork loin they had eaten before. Lin Chunyan had said that there were many delicious ways to prepare pork loin, which had made her mouth water for a long time.

"We'll need to buy the pork loin from the butcher."

Lin Chunyan was also craving it. Lin Taohong took a few coins from the jar and ran off, "I'll go and buy it."

Lihua, hearing the lively chatter from the neighboring house, looked out enviously. Zhao Niangzi wouldn't let her go out, only saying that she should wait until she was fully recovered and then visit Lin Chunyan in the spring.

"Their house is so lively. People often come to buy things from them. Some bring acorns to exchange for acorn residue, which can be used to feed pigs and chickens. Dog Egg's two sisters help out there, and his father often goes out to find hawthorns for them. Later, I even saw several baskets of persimmons being brought in..."

Lihua's eyes lit up, no longer as listless as before. "I wish it were spring now, so I could go talk to them."

Zhao Niangzi smiled. There were rumors in the village, but her family ignored them and never mentioned such matters to Lihua, only urging her to focus on recovering.

Occasionally, a few young women from the village would come to visit Lihua, chatting with her, and everyone eagerly awaited the arrival of spring.

Lin Chunyan had also sent over a few items, seeing that Lihua was in good spirits, and agreed with Zhao Niangzi, inviting her to visit once she was fully recovered.

Mrs. Zhang wanted to go and talk to Liu Niangzi but couldn't find her after searching around. She only heard that Liu Niangzi had gone up the mountain again.

"Snow is about to fall, yet she goes up the mountain again?" Mrs. Zhang felt indignant on Liu Niangzi's behalf and was also somewhat displeased with her daughter-in-law, Wei Rou.

Qian Niangzi laughed, "Her chicken coop is now the cleanest place in the village. Her daughter-in-law makes her clean it twice a day, more frequently than her own room."

Qian Niangzi was preparing a few fish to send to Sanlang, knowing that fish could fetch a few copper coins, and many people in the village preferred to sell them rather than eat them.

"I don't know how your family members think so far ahead," Qian Niangzi said with a hint of envy. "Not just Yan Niang, but even Sanlang has a bit of wit."

Mrs. Zhang was proud, "Sanlang learned how to make crispy fish from my Yan Niang. In the end, it's my daughter who is the clever one."

"Yes, yes, who wouldn't envy your good fortune?"

This time, everyone in the village truly thought so, no longer just paying lip service while secretly mocking Mrs. Zhang.

Liu Niangzi hated picking acorns on the mountain. The path was difficult, and she had to be extremely careful, constantly looking down for acorns. It wasn't long before her back and neck ached.

But Wei Rou had many reasons, and Liu Niangzi couldn't argue with her, so she had to go up the mountain each time, feeling quite aggrieved.

On this mountain, apart from her and Zhao Huaizi, it was rare to see anyone else.

Zhao Huaizi came to hunt wild game. He had caught several rabbits in recent days and didn't take them to the butcher to sell. Instead, he skinned them, dried the hides, and gave both the meat and the hides to Lin Chunyan.

Lin Chunyan paid separately for the hides, intending to make a warm rabbit fur mat to keep the house cozy.

Even with two stoves at home, the north wind occasionally blew inside, making it unbearably cold.

Zhao Huaizi said that if he caught a gray squirrel, he could skin it and make a warm coat to wear, which would also be very warm.

However, it was hard to get enough squirrel skins to make a complete coat, and wealthy families also liked them, making them quite expensive.

As Liu Niangzi grumbled and thought about these things, she suddenly saw a dark figure crouching motionless under a large tree ahead, which frightened her greatly.

The person also heard the noise and turned sharp eyes toward Liu Niangzi, a look that made her heart skip a beat.

What frightened her even more was that she recognized this person.

Liu Niangzi had a good memory; once she saw someone, she never forgot them. By chance, she had indeed seen this person before, one of the two men hanging from the tree when they caught the thieves.

At the time, hearing there was something to see, Liu Niangzi naturally didn't miss it and went early. Later, she heard that these two were thieves who had broken into Mrs. Zhang's house, which made her feel uneasy, so she left after a few glances.

Liu Niangzi's heart pounded. She had heard Mrs. Zhang say that these people had been arrested by the authorities and beaten, and they wouldn't dare cause trouble again.

But there was Hong Zhuzi crouching on the hillside, and even if she tried to convince herself otherwise, Liu Niangzi didn't believe it.

In just a moment, cold sweat broke out on her forehead. She feared that Hong Zhuzi might have evil intentions and finish her off. If that happened, she wouldn't even have the chance to cry.

Thinking of Zhao Huaizi, Liu Niangzi had a sudden idea. She continued to mutter curses and pretended to have just noticed the person, "Hey, young man, what are you doing here? Are you trying to catch rabbits? Let me tell you, my husband Huaizi catches rabbits every day, but he's been hunting for years. He knows this mountain like the back of his hand. No one else dares to come here except us two!"

After saying this, Liu Niangzi shouted up the mountain, "Huaizi, come down quickly! There's someone here trying to catch rabbits like us!"

The mountain was quiet, but Liu Niangzi put all her strength into her shout, and a response finally came, "What? Trying to catch rabbits?"

Liu Niangzi breathed a sigh of relief. When she looked back, Hong Zhuzi was gone.

She was so scared that she didn't even pick up her basket and ran straight down the mountain. Fortunately, she had been going up the mountain every day, so she knew the path well and managed to run down, panting heavily as she rushed to knock on Lin Chunyan's door.

"Who is it?" Lin Chunyan called out, raising her voice. "Are you here to buy something?"

"It's me, your Liu Niangzi!"

Liu Niangzi's legs trembled, and she felt weak, barely able to stand. Only when the door opened did she feel her breathing return to normal.

The yard was filled with the aroma of meat. Normally, Liu Niangzi would have been tempted, but she didn't have the time to think about it now.

Lin Chunyan had just put the marinated pork loin in the pot when she saw Liu Niangzi burst in, looking disheveled. She knew something must have happened.

"What happened, Auntie?" Lin Taohong asked curiously, her expression mirroring Mrs. Zhang's when she gossiped.

Liu Niangzi didn't have time for formalities, "Something big happened! I saw the thief on the mountain, the one you hung from the tree!"

With a loud clatter, the basin in Lin Chunyan's hands fell to the ground. Liu Niangzi repeated herself, "It's true, I couldn't have mistaken him. Luckily, I was quick-witted, and Zhao Huaizi was on the mountain, agreeing to help, which scared the person away!"

Lin Chunyan already knew that the person who had been lying in wait for them on the mountain must be Hong Zhuzi. The two brothers whose legs were pierced by bamboo skewers, one had his leg permanently damaged, and the other was exiled three hundred miles away, likely not even having reached their destination yet.

Only Hong Zhuzi, because he hadn't entered their home, was only given a dozen or so lashes and then released.

He probably harbored resentment over this.

Hong Zhuzi hadn't expected to be discovered on his first day of surveillance. Feeling unlucky, he didn't want to give up so easily. After circling around, he returned to the mountain.

He thought the woman didn't seem like she was lying and might have genuinely come to hunt game, fearing that he would scare away the rabbits.

The two brothers, the only laborers in their family, now had one with a crippled leg and the other exiled for three to five years. The family blamed everything on him, accusing him of inciting the trouble.

Hong Zhuzi naturally wouldn't admit it, but everyone in the village knew each other well. They could guess what had happened, and their looks towards Hong Zhuzi became increasingly unfriendly.

Hong Zhuzi couldn't hold his head high in the village anymore. He didn't think he was wrong, only blaming the two brothers for their incompetence and considering Lin Chunyan the root cause. With nothing to do in winter, he didn't want to stay at home and listen to people's gossip, so he crossed a mountain to come and stake out their place.

When Zhao Huaizi heard Liu Niangzi's cry, he didn't know what had happened, thinking she might be in danger. He stopped setting traps for rabbits and followed her voice, but found no one.

Coming down the mountain, he felt puzzled and decided to go to Lin Chunyan's house to ask. He saw that many people had already gathered there.

He was startled, "What's going on?"

He hoped Liu Niangzi hadn't really fallen into a ravine.

Seeing him arrive, Lin Chunyan hurriedly asked for his help, "Uncle Huaizi, we might need you to go up the mountain again. You're the most familiar with the area, and it will be easier to find someone."

On the other side, Uncle Lin Erlang and Erlang both held sticks, while Sanlang led Little Hei and Big Yellow, determined to find the person.

Only then did Zhao Huaizi understand what had happened. Frowning, he said, "I heard Liu Niangzi's voice earlier and responded. When I went to look, I only saw a basket on the ground, with no other signs. The person must have run away long ago."

"We still need to search the mountain a few more times," Uncle Lin Erlang insisted, worried. "I didn't expect the thief to dare come back. Who knows what they're planning? It's fortunate that Liu Niangzi encountered them."

"That's not necessarily the case," Zhao Huaizi reassured them. "As long as no one goes out alone or leaves the house, with all the traps set up, the thief won't dare enter."

"But during the New Year, who wants to live in constant fear?" Mrs. Zhang was furious. "We must catch that thief, give them a good beating, and make sure they never dare return."

Lin Chunyan originally wanted Liu Niangzi to lead them up the mountain, but since Zhao Huaizi knew where to go, she didn't need to trouble her.

Liu Niangzi was still very frightened and was supported back into the house by Mrs. Zhang, saying she didn't know how to thank her.

Lin Chunyan didn't go up the mountain. She kept peering outside, looking left and right, hoping for news from both sides.

Lin Taohong went to town with Li Youfu to find the brothers from the escort agency. Lin Chunyan thought they might have a solution, as they had helped resolve the Daniu incident last time.

Uncle Lin Erlang and the others returned first, all looking dejected. They had followed Zhao Huaizi around the mountain but hadn't seen Hong Zhuzi, who seemed to have disappeared.

"This guy must have just started staking out," Zhao Huaizi analyzed. "Before, when I set rabbit traps, I walked around the mountain several times and never saw anyone."

Liu Niangzi added, "That's true. I go to the mountain every day to collect acorns. If someone had been there for a while, they would have left some signs, but there were no fresh droppings on the mountain."

There was a moment of silence in the room. Liu Niangzi continued her analysis, finally slapping her thigh, "This scoundrel must have just arrived. He saw me and got scared off!"

Seeing her recover, Lin Chunyan breathed a sigh of relief and politely sent everyone back, promising to invite them for a meal another day.

"There's no need for that. Since you're living here, it's worrying. Why don't you come back to the village with us? There's no need to set up a stall anymore."

Lin Chunyan thought for a moment, "Let's see what the brothers from the escort agency say. Lin Taohong and Brother Youfu have already gone to get them."

"That's a good idea. Those brothers have real skills. They can search deeper places and might find the thief."

Lin Chunyan wished she could catch Hong Zhuzi immediately and regretted not dealing with him earlier. Who would have thought he would seek revenge?

One can't always be on guard against thieves. Lin Chunyan felt uneasy and kept looking outside. Finally, she saw Lin Taohong and Li Youfu returning from town.

Behind them were several brothers from the escort agency. Not only did Lin Chunyan feel relieved, but even Mrs. Zhang, seeing Da Zhuang, let out a sigh of relief.

"Brother Da Zhuang, you've finally arrived. The thief is on the mountain behind our house, but we don't know where he's hiding! How can we feel safe?"

Da Zhuang waved his hand, "Don't worry, we'll search the mountain again. This guy is probably quite cunning. A big search might scare him away, and he might come back on his own."

Lin Chunyan expressed her gratitude, "We won't let you brothers come for nothing. Whether you find him or not, we'll reward you generously."

Hu Zi chuckled, "Miss, there's no need for a generous reward. Just provide us with some food, and we'll come up the mountain to catch the thief every day."

Zhao Si also chimed in, and the atmosphere improved. Lin Chunyan looked around but didn't see Sun Anyuan, so she asked a few more questions.

"Our leader went to the neighboring town on business and has been gone for two days. He should be back soon."

Da Zhuang patted his chest to reassure Lin Chunyan, "Although our skills aren't as good as the leader's, we can still catch this little thief."

Without further ado, they quietly headed up the mountain.

Mrs. Zhang went inside to light incense for the Buddha, praying for the thief to be caught quickly.

Lin Chunyan couldn't focus on cooking. She paced back and forth in the room and lingered at the door. Thinking about what might have happened if Liu Niangzi hadn't encountered the thief and Hong Zhuzi had targeted them, she felt a chill.

With only a few women in the house, bringing in more men wasn't practical. After much consideration, Lin Chunyan decided to dig a cellar.

"If something happens, we can hide in the cellar, and no one will find us."

Mrs. Zhang wasn't enthusiastic about digging another hole, "In this cold weather, the ground is hard to dig. Once the thief is caught, these problems will be over."

Lin Chunyan didn't argue with Mrs. Zhang and began planning where to dig the hole.

The best spot would be inside their room, allowing them to quickly reach the cellar. They would need to prepare some food and an additional exit.

Thinking about this, she didn't find the time hard to pass.

Hearing hoofbeats nearby, Lin Chunyan rushed out and saw Sun Anyuan dismounting his horse, covered in dust and mud from the snow, clearly having rushed to get there.

"Where are Dazhuang and the others?" Sun Anyuan didn't bother with pleasantries and asked directly, "Any news on the thief?"

Lin Chunyan shook her head, "Dazhuang and the others have been up the mountain for almost half an hour. They haven't come down yet. My second uncle and his group also went up but found nothing."

Sun Anyuan nodded, looking somewhat apologetic at Lin Chunyan, "I should have been more careful. I thought Hong Zhuzi wouldn't dare, nearly making a big mistake."

Lin Chunyan knew it wasn't really Sun Anyuan's fault; he wasn't omniscient and couldn't have known what Hong Zhuzi would do.

Without further ado, Sun Anyuan left his horse and headed up the mountain.

Liu Niangzi returned home with a high fever. Many in the village had heard about the thief on the mountain, and Wei Rou was also quite frightened, quietly serving Liu Niangzi tea and water.

Liu Niangzi felt triumphant, exaggerating her discomfort to make it seem worse than it was, groaning several times, "It's a good thing I have a strong constitution, or I might not have made it back today."

Seeing that Wei Rou remained silent, Liu Niangzi continued, "I think we shouldn't go up the mountain to collect acorns anymore. Who knows what could happen? This time I was lucky, but what about next time?"

Wei Rou didn't want to mention the chickens going hungry at this moment. Seeing her father-in-law return late from outside, she felt disheartened and sat dejectedly to one side.

Liu Niangzi was puzzled, "Where have you been all day? I almost died just now, and you weren't even here to help. It was so dangerous..."

Liu Niangzi recounted her ordeal with embellishments, but Wei Rou noticed something odd about her father-in-law's reaction and glanced at him several times.

This glance made Wei Rou's heart race. Peng Laoda's clothes were clearly thrown on in a hurry, with the collar inside out, different from how he left in the morning.

She disliked untidiness and couldn't directly comment on her father-in-law's appearance, so she had Peng Pingan help tidy him up before they left. She had checked again to ensure he looked presentable before feeling relieved.

But now, he looked completely different when he returned.

Liu Niangzi continued to describe her harrowing escape, while Wei Rou felt only sorrow.

Sun Anyuan reached the mountain and quickly joined Dazhuang and the others. Dazhuang had followed Zhao Huaizi around the mountain but found nothing, finding it strange.

"This Hong Zhuzi isn't simple; he seems to know the mountain well."

Sun Anyuan thought for a moment and sent a small team to check if Hong Zhuzi had returned home or fled elsewhere.

He and Dazhuang continued searching the mountain, avoiding the usual paths Zhao Huaizi took and instead choosing less-traveled routes.

Zhao Huaizi also realized Hong Zhuzi wasn't simple and worried for Liu Niangzi. He suspected Hong Zhuzi was momentarily misled, thinking Liu Niangzi was truly with him on the mountain, and feared he couldn't escape if he acted, which is why Liu Niangzi survived.

As night approached and no one had returned from the mountain, Mrs. Zhang stopped praying and came out to look around. Lin Chunyan had already chosen the tools.

"Oh, you're really going to dig a pit!"

"Not a pit, but a cellar!" Lin Taohong explained, following Lin Chunyan's plan. The cellar would be like another room, hidden and secure, making them unafraid even if ten or eight people came.

"Why go through all that trouble? We already have a cellar at home."

"That cellar is in the yard, and many people know about it. Running there would be like being caught in a trap."

Mrs. Zhang couldn't argue with Lin Chunyan and fell silent, "I wonder how things are going on the mountain."