Chen Xiaobei shook his head. "No, that's too much. Such a large patch of houttuynia cordata, it would be a waste not to pick it. Besides, there's so much ginseng and lingzhi in Gourd Valley. If I don't go, won't it just benefit others?"
Cui Hongyu said emotionally, "No, husband, those are external possessions. Your safety is the most important."
Hearing Cui Hongyu's words, Chen Xiaobei's heart warmed.
This was a proper wife.
But then again, the better his wife was to him, the better life he should provide for her.
Chen Xiaobei smiled slightly and raised the repeating crossbow in his hand. "With this, what do I have to fear?"
"I'll go into the mountains tomorrow morning."
After a brief rest, Chen Xiaobei got busy. The umbrella net he promised to make for Li Dong needed to be done quickly, as his large fishpond was in urgent need of fry.
He worked until dark, and a huge umbrella net was completed.
Seeing the umbrella net, which was as large as two millstones, Cui Hongyu was also startled.
"Husband, this is much larger than our net."
Chen Xiaobei chuckled, "Yes, its mesh is also large, so it can only catch big fish. The small fry can be left in the river; they're hard to raise."
Chen Qiao'er also came over, peeking her little head out, looking at the umbrella net curiously, and then reaching out to touch it. "Brother, when will Qiao'er be able to lift this net?"
Chen Xiaobei and Cui Hongyu exchanged glances and both smiled.
Chen Xiaobei tapped his sister's little head. "You, eat well. When you grow as big as your sister-in-law, you'll be able to lift it."
Cui Hongyu's face turned slightly red. "Husband, you're making fun of me again."
Chen Xiaobei looked at the towering peaks. It was indeed a bit much.
Seeing where her gaze fell, Cui Hongyu's face turned redder, and she turned away anxiously. "Husband, Qiao'er is still young."
Chen Xiaobei chuckled, "Yes, yes, Qiao'er is still young, but you've already grown up."
Chen Qiao'er innocently tilted her head up and looked at Chen Xiaobei. "Brother, what are you saying? I don't understand."
This child, why are you being clever when you should be playing dumb?
Just as Chen Xiaobei was about to speak again, he heard a commotion in the street, followed by someone shouting loudly, "Xiaobo, Xiaobo, come home for dinner."
It turned out to be Zhao Hua. Chen Xiaobei couldn't help but shake his head. How old was Chen Xiaobo, and he still didn't make anyone worry. Where had he run off to now?
As they were talking, another voice sounded, "Dayong, Chen Dayong, come home for dinner!"
There, another one.
Chen Xiaobei shook his head. How old were they, that their own mothers had to shout in the street to get them home for dinner.
But within half a cup of tea's time, shouts echoed across the street, from five or six voices.
Strange, why weren't so many people going home for dinner today? Chen Xiaobei was a bit surprised. He put down his work and hurried out of the courtyard gate.
A few steps out, he saw Li Dong rushing towards him.
"Brother Xiaobei, something seems wrong. Xiaobo, Dayong, and the others reportedly went to Chen Ping's house this morning and haven't been seen since!"
Chen Xiaobei frowned. "Who's on duty for the village guard? Has no one seen them?"
Li Dong shook his head. "No one has seen them."
Chen Xiaobei pondered for a moment. "Have someone quickly ask around and see if anyone has seen them. Also, tally how many people are missing."
Soon, the urgent sound of gongs and drums rang through the village.
Dozens of village guards rushed out and dispersed after receiving their tasks.
Chen Xiaobei walked around under the big locust tree. Soon, news came back.
After some questioning, carpenter Zhang saw Chen Ping leading people into the woods west of the village.
After his careful recollection and confirmation from villagers, there were five people with Chen Ping.
Furthermore, according to Zhao Hua's careful recollection, Chen Xiaobo seemed to have said he was going to look for ginseng and lingzhi.
Looking for ginseng and lingzhi meant going into the mountains.
This matched what carpenter Zhang had said.
Six people entered the mountains in the morning and hadn't returned by nightfall. A thought suddenly flashed through Chen Xiaobei's mind. When he was digging for ginseng, he had heard wolves howling.
Oh no, could they have encountered wolves?
As he was contemplating, there was a sound of hurried footsteps. Zhao Hua was the first to rush over. She knelt before Chen Xiaobei with a thud. "Xiaobei, please help us find Xiaobo. He's our only son. If anything happens to him, how can I live?"
As she spoke, several other parents rushed over and knelt before Chen Xiaobei, weeping.
Seeing their state, Chen Xiaobei's heart softened. He looked at Li Dong, who was not far away.
In an instant, Li Dong understood what he meant. He patted his shoulder and said, "Brother Xiaobei, everyone will follow your orders."
Chen Xiaobei's mouth twitched slightly. This wasn't about his orders. If they had encountered a wolf pack, anyone who went would be in great danger.
But if they didn't go, he couldn't live with himself.
Could he bear to watch these parents with graying hair kneel here and cry?
Thinking of this, he looked at the village guards present and asked loudly, "Chen Xiaobo and the others should have gone into the mountains. Now, we need to go into the mountains to find them. Who is willing to go with me?"
Silence. There was silence in the crowd.
This silence was expected, as everyone knew what going into the mountains meant.
After a brief silence, Li Dong finally took a firm step forward. "I'll go."
Good. This village guard captain had some responsibility.
Next, Chen Xiaowen also stepped forward. "Brother Xiaobei, I'll go too."
Chen Xiaobei shook his head without hesitation. "No, you can't go. You're still young."
"No, I want to go." Chen Xiaowen's attitude was very firm. "I'm a member of the village guard. If the village head can go, and the captain can go, why can't I?"
Although he was not tall, his words were sonorous and decisive.
Chen Xiaobei nodded approvingly, stepped forward, and patted Chen Xiaowen's shoulder. "Well done."
"This is a proper village guard."
Chen Xiaowen had just come of age and was the shortest among the village guards. With him taking the lead, the other village guards also stepped forward. "Captain, I'll go."
"Village head, count me in."
In an instant, the crowd was roused, and everyone responded.
Chen Xiaobei looked at Li Dong. "Choose eight more people, plus you, a total of ten. Come to my house."
Chen Xiaobei finished speaking and ran home quickly. He had just gotten ten repeating crossbows from Liu Rumei, and now they would be put to use.
Back home, Chen Xiaobei found the ten repeating crossbows.
He also asked Cui Hongyu to help carry a box of arrows into the courtyard.
Soon, Li Dong arrived with eight village guards. To Chen Xiaobei's surprise, Chen Xiaowen was among the eight.
Chen Xiaobei glared at him in anger.
Li Dong naturally understood his meaning and spread his hands. "He insisted on coming. I thought it would be good to give brother Xiaowen a chance."