NOVPUB
Chapter 537: Chapter 537: Encounter Danger 8
Seeing Tong Yaohui’s troubled expression, Jian Jun sensed something and proposed, "Uncle Tong, you wait here for the police, while I follow this road and investigate."
Jian Jun worried that an uphill hike might be too much for the aging Tong Yaohui. Besides, leaving someone behind to wait for the police would ensure timely rescue in case of an emergency.
Concerned about the potential danger his daughter was in, Tong Yaohui had no patience to wait idly. He brooded over their situation and suggested, "Xiaojun, why don’t you break off some branches and leave them along the road as markers? The police will know which way to go when they arrive."
"Alright." 𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒑𝒖𝒃.𝙘𝙤𝒎
Without giving it much thought, Jian Jun hurriedly did as Tong Yaohui instructed.
They quickly marked the path and followed the narrow hill-side path, but soon reached a crossroads. There were three paths and no footprints could be traced due to rain erosion. Uncertain of which way to go, Tong Yaohui surveyed the terrain and chose the one on the left.
Meanwhile, Niu Wa, out of breath, was rushing uphill. Taige’s wife, noticing his urgency, intercepted him, curiously asking, "Why are you in such a rush? What’s going on?"
"None of your business," Niu responded, pushing past Taige’s wife. He barged into Taige’s house, shouting, "Taige, Taige wake up. Someone has found us."
He had spotted two people from the Breeding Farm hurriedly approaching while he was descending the hill to make sure the car was still in the Mud Pit. Fearing being caught, he had to sprint back.
Hearing this alarm, Taige quickly rose from his bed, "Is it the police?"
Niu Wa shook his head, looking panicked, "No, it seems, it seems like the people from the Breeding Farm."
Swearing under his breath, Taige replied, "If the people from the farm are here, it won’t take long for them to find this place. You go and warn Mangzi and Er Lvzi. I’ll go check on Tong Yao."
"Alright."
Niu Wa agreed and hurried off to warn Er Lvzi.
As Taige got up and started dressing, his wife held on to him and asked, "What’s going on?"
"Out of my way."
Taige pushed his wife aside and made his way towards Tong Yao’s hut. Sensing him approach unexpectedly, Tong Yao, Cheng Feng, and Hu Haiyun grew anxious, their hearts pounding.
Uncertain of Taige’s sudden visit, they felt uneasy.
By now, they had a clear view of Taige. He was dark, skinny but tall. His squinted eyes and scar on the left cheek made him look sinister and menacing.
Taige’s eyes quickly scanned the room. Noting the three untouched bowls of noodles on the window sill, he cheerfully inquired, "Why haven’t any of you eaten anything? Does it not suit your taste?"
The trio felt a bit awkward being put on the spot but couldn’t exactly say that they were weary of the hygiene or feared poison.
Tong Yao composed herself and responded with a laugh, "No, it’s not that. It’s just that we’re not hungry."
Taige apologized, "I thought I might provide you with something to keep your stomachs filled on the mountain. We don’t have much here. I hope you won’t mind. Now that the weather has cleared, you all take some rest and later we’ll help you descend the mountain and retrieve your car from the Mud Pit."
Tong Yao wasn’t sure what Taige’s sudden kindness meant, but as long as he didn’t confront them, they were safe for now. Thinking this, she quickly responded, "Taige, thank you very much for your help."
Taige nodded his head, attempting a simple, honest mountain folk impression, "You all rest now. Once Mangzi and Er Lvzi wake up, we’ll escort you down the mountain."
"Thank you."
Tong Yao nodded in thanks, but seeing the kind smile on Taige’s face felt eerie. She began to wonder if it was just her being paranoid.
As Taige left, Cheng Feng immediately asked, "Do you think he really intends to help us down the mountain?"
Hu Haiyun also found it odd, "Are we just being overly suspicious? Is he genuinely a nice guy?"
If he were a bad guy, he would have shown his true colors by now, right?
However, judging by her vast experience dealing with various types of people, Hu Haiyun had a hunch that Taige was not a good person at all.
Shaking her head, Tong Yao expressed her confusion, "Maybe it’s just me overthinking. But we should still be cautious until we are safe."
There was a strange atmosphere pervading the whole place; things were clearly not right.
The woman giving birth alone and the mute girl were not the norm.
Had Taige really intended to help them, he would not have thrown the rock at their car and deliberately block the car so as to obstruct their exit. These acts were clearly intentional. Tong Yao trusted her instincts; Taige was no simple man.
He didn’t seem like the average nose-to-the-grindstone mountain folk at all.
Cheng Feng nodded, "Regardless, it’s a good thing Taige hasn’t shown any hostility so far. If he truly intends to help us, I’ll make sure to reward them once we’re back. Life here in the mountains isn’t easy."
In particular, the fact that Taige’s wife had to give birth on the mountain by herself sent shivers down Cheng Feng’s spine.
Any mishap in such circumstances could have very serious consequences.
Both Tong Yao and Hu Haiyun looked at Cheng Feng as if he were an absolute simpleton.
Bewildered Cheng Feng queried, "Why are you looking at me like that? Is there something on my face?"
Tong Yao shook her head, but Hu Haiyun retorted, "Cheng, you seem a bit naive."
Abruptly uncomfortable, Cheng Feng crooked a smile and stayed silent. Even he admitted to himself that he had been somewhat foolish to make those remarks earlier. Amidst all these strange happenings, how could Taige possibly harbor good intentions?
However, having already voiced that out was now irreversible. Clearing his throat, he tried to change the subject, "Are you guys hungry?"
He looked at the bowl full of noodles as he asked.
Tong Yao twitched her lips, shaking her head, "I’m not, but if you are, feel free to eat from my bowl as well!"
Hu Haiyun added, "And mine too. I’m not hungry. Don’t hesitate, you can eat as much as you want."
Feeling nauseous, Cheng Feng quickly looked away from the bowls of noodles, "I’m not hungry anymore."
No sooner had he spoken than his stomach grumbled loudly. He sat uncomfortably, too embarrassed to look at Tong Yao and Hu Haiyun.
However, his embarrassment didn’t last long. The rumbling in Tong Yao and Hu Haiyun’s stomachs soon drowned out his own.
Looking down at his mud-caked pants, he gave a wry smile, "Guess we’re all in the same boat."
He had never imagined that he would find himself in a situation like this. It all felt surreal, yet it was undeniably happening to them.
Tong Yao and Hu Haiyun exchanged looks and burst into laughter. Tong Yao quipped, "Though born on different dates, we might all die on the same day."
