Chapter 418
When Zi Yisheng returned from Xishan, he learned that the little girl at home had gone to the mountain to work. He took a kettle and a straw hat from home and hurried up the mountain. By the time he arrived, he saw the three of them, who had already planted two rows of land, resting in the shade of a tree.
"You must be thirsty. Why didn't you bring a water bottle up the mountain?"
The three of them were indeed thirsty. They had planned to work for a while and then go home for lunch, but they couldn't stand it after less than two hours of work.
Zi Yisheng handed the three water bottles to them separately and put the straw hat on Ye Shenggge's head.
Qi Xuan and Chen Tangtang exchanged glances. It was already a great effort for Zi Shao to think of bringing them water, so they didn't dare to think too much about anything else.
"I'm sore all over after not doing much work. I guess I've been resting for too long."
Ye Shenggge took a few sips of water. Before she fled to the mountain, she had done a lot of farm work and exercised every day. She hadn't expected that a few months of rest would make her body ache so much.
"If you can't do it, let's go back. We'll have others from home come and do it later."
Actually, there weren't many people at home. Almost everyone had been assigned tasks, as it was a race against time to plant crops.
Even Zi Yisheng, after a trip to Xishan, would have his own tasks later.
"It's okay, the land isn't that big anyway. It'll take at most five days to finish planting it all."
"Exactly, little aunt's husband. Don't underestimate us. If we're not used to it today, we'll be much better tomorrow."
Zi Yisheng didn't say anything. After work, he would call his elder brother-in-law and Ouyang to help them with the work.
Ye Shenggge secretly added some spatial well water to her water bottle. After drinking it, her body aches eased a bit, but she didn't dare to add it for Chen Tangtang and the others.
Zi Yisheng didn't stay too long. He hurried to the land assigned to him. The men were each responsible for a piece of land, and the tasks were quite heavy.
The Bai Rong Brigade was one of the most active villages in finding ways to subsidize food. All the mountains near them were planted with crops that could be grown.
For five consecutive days, if it weren't for Zi Yisheng and the others helping, Ye Shenggge and the other two wouldn't have been able to finish. Since the soil was moist enough, there was no need for large-scale watering, which reduced the labor force significantly.
The remaining farm work didn't require the young girls like Ye Shenggge to do it. The villagers were now desperately accumulating work points, hoping to get a share of the first harvest.
All the peace was shattered three nights later. Ye Shenggge was dozing off when she heard voices outside. Her consciousness returned, and Ye Shenggge quickly got out of bed.
Zi Yisheng saw the little girl who opened the door and quickly stepped forward to pull her back.
"I woke you up."
"What happened?"
Ye Shenggge saw the grim faces of Second Master Shang and Third Master Shang, and Qi Xuan secretly wiping away tears, and knew that something big had happened.
"Something happened to Shang Shaoyan and Elder Uncle Shang. Elder Aunt Shang is already dead, so we are now discussing a rescue plan."
Ye Shenggge's heart skipped a beat. She had never met Elder Aunt Shang, but recently Zhao Jing had mentioned her sister-in-law from time to time, calling her a virtuous and gentle woman.
"How could this happen? Even if they were guilty, how could they have lost their lives before the trial?"
Zi Yisheng was also upset. If they hadn't run away earlier, they would have met the same fate.
"Don't worry, we'll find a way."
Ye Shenggge knew that Zi Yisheng was not in the mood to say more. What she could do was not to disturb them from discussing important matters. She walked to Qi Xuan's side to comfort the poor girl whose eyes were red and swollen from crying.
Qi Xuan saw Ye Shenggge and threw herself into her arms. She was really afraid that Shang Shaoyan would die. Even if they couldn't be together, she hoped he would live well.
"Little aunt, it's too scary here. How can they just kill people?"
Ye Shenggge didn't know what to say. She hadn't even figured out all the darkness of this era. Perhaps she had been too well protected, and she had never seen anything like it firsthand.
"It will be alright. They will definitely be able to save Shang Shaoyan."
Qi Xuan looked expectantly at the group of people gathered together, not even understanding what they were saying.
"Zi Shao, we'll have to trouble you again. I know this will put you at great risk, but I beg you to help Shaoyan and my elder brother."
Third Master Shang knew that at this time, self-preservation was the most rational approach. After all, they were all people who had to live in the shadows. He couldn't bring himself to ask them to risk their lives.
But it was the life of his only son, and the elder brother who had raised them. He would beg even if he had to, for Zi Shao to lend a hand.
"Uncle Shang, don't be like this. I won't stand by and watch Shang Shaoyan be in danger. However, I need to send someone to scout the path first. We can't just rush in blindly."
Zi Yisheng would go to save them, but he couldn't sacrifice the lives of his brothers to save Shang Shaoyan.
Third Master Shang was not an irrational person. He tightly clasped Zi Yisheng's hand, and everything was understood without words.
The person who needed to be sent out now had to be very skilled. So Ye Mu'en was the first to volunteer. If he didn't act now, he would truly forget what he used to do.
Ye Shenggge quickly stepped forward and pulled her elder brother back. She was selfish; she didn't want her elder brother to take risks, as no one could guarantee a safe return.
Ye Mu'en patted his sister's head, smiling confidently.
"Don't worry, with your elder brother's skills, there's nothing he can't achieve."
Ye Shenggge was not afraid of offending the Shang family. Everyone cared about their family members.
"You're made of flesh and blood, not an invulnerable body. Bullets don't have eyes. Do you want me to worry myself sick?"
Ye Shenggge knew exactly how to handle her elder brother, and she always got her way. Please forgive her selfishness; she didn't want to exchange heroic righteousness for a lifetime of grief.
Ye Mu'en hesitated. But he really wanted to go.
"Shenggge, I promised you I wouldn't do anything risky again. Let me make this a clean break, okay? It can also be a formal farewell."
Ye Shenggge felt a knot in her heart. A farewell, what if it was a real farewell? Ye Shenggge looked at her father standing by. It was better not to look, but as soon as she looked, Ye Shenggge almost fainted.
The fiery passion in her father's eyes was no less than her elder brother's. Perhaps this was the mission ingrained in their bones, which had been suppressed since coming to this world and had finally erupted.
At this moment, Mother Ye came to pat her daughter's shoulder. There was nothing more to say; she supported the men in the family's decision.
Did Ye Shenggge have anything else to say? Three out of the four family members agreed.
Ye Shenggge held back her tears and nodded at her elder brother.
"Remember that your family is waiting for you. Don't get hurt, and don't make us sad."
Ye Mu'en hugged his sister. The little girl worried too much. He cherished his life, alright? He would definitely keep his promise to spend time with his family.
Even Zi Yisheng went along this time. Although he didn't need to personally rescue them, his presence could disrupt things and people in many places, at least causing chaos.
Ye Shenggge's attention was all on her elder brother, and Zi Yisheng only received a little bit of concern, as those who charged forward were the most dangerous.
Zi Yisheng left home with a sense of melancholy. Who told him that his status in the little girl's heart was not high enough? He was jealous of his elder brother-in-law. They had met around the same time, and it was unfair that only blood relation could command so much concern.
Ye Shenggge was listless after they left. She didn't sleep all night. She went into the space and busied herself with tasks, at least to calm herself down for now.
Mother Ye was accustomed to the lives of the men in her family going through life and death situations. This kind of worry had long been buried deep in her heart.
When Mother Ye saw her daughter's dark circles in the morning, her heart ached. In her previous life, her daughter was always lying in bed. When the men in the family went on missions, they never told her. Moreover, the country was stable in her previous life, and dangerous missions were much less frequent than now.
"Daughter, Mom knows you're worried, but you can't wear yourself out. What if they all come back safely and you fall ill?"
Ye Shenggge leaned weakly against her mother. She understood everything, but she just couldn't do it.
"You rascal, come here, let your master take a look. You've worn yourself out like this after one night. I think you want to keep taking medicine."
Ye Shenggge extended her arm. What could be wrong? Her heart was incredibly healthy now.
Elder Fan held her pulse, waiting for his little disciple. Even though he knew she was fine, he wanted to tease her.
"I'll write a prescription, and you'll be fine after three days of taking it."
Ye Shenggge was stunned. She quickly took her own pulse. How could this be? She really had no problem. After taking her pulse, Ye Shenggge even doubted her own skills.
"I'm fine. Master, what did you find?"
"Stagnation of the heart and excessive heart fire. Not taking medicine is bad for your heart."
Elder Fan said it so righteously. In fact, it was just some medicine to clear the heart fire and some tonic medicine.
"Then hurry up and write the prescription. This girl just doesn't listen. After finally not having to take medicine, she's started again."
Ye Shenggge listlessly drank the millet porridge handed over by Aunt Zhen. Whatever they said, so be it.
"Shenggge, have you seen Xuanxuan?"
The porridge in Ye Shenggge's throat got stuck. She coughed until tears came out of her eyes.
Ye Shenggge also looked anxiously at Uncle Qi, hoping it wasn't what she thought.
"Uncle Qi, when did you notice Xuanxuan was missing?"
Qi Luquan was old. He discovered his granddaughter was missing in the morning and searched everywhere. He had searched the entire village and was now sitting opposite Ye Shenggge, panting.
"I was worried when I didn't see her in the morning. I searched the village and the mountains, but I couldn't find her."
Mother Ye slapped her thigh, her face looking very displeased.
"Oh no, Xuanxuan wouldn't have run off with Mu'en and the others, would she? What should we do? The danger they are facing is not something Xuanxuan can participate in."
Ye Shenggge's face grew darker and darker. This Qi Xuan, she acted without considering the consequences. She was agile but had no combat power. If she didn't help, she might even hinder her elder brother's actions.
"Don't panic. Let's send someone to inform Uncle Gong in the county and ask him to quickly find Zi Yisheng and the others. If you see Qi Xuan, knock her unconscious and bring her back to me."
Ye Shenggge was truly angry. Regardless of whether Qi Xuan was a burden or not, her actions would surely cause inconvenience to everyone's actions. If the plan failed because of Qi Xuan, or if there were casualties, she would never forgive Qi Xuan.
Chen Tangtang also came in the morning. Hearing Shenggge's strict instructions, she quickly ran out to find someone. She didn't even know what had happened, but she knew she had to find Ouyang immediately and have him arrange what Shenggge had instructed.
Mother Ye also wanted to complain a bit, but seeing Old Man Qi Luquan's distraught appearance, she didn't want to add fuel to the fire.
"Daughter, don't worry. With Gong Wentao, we will definitely get Xuanxuan back."
Ye Shenggge suppressed her anger. She hated teammates who were like pigs. She hated people who didn't recognize their own abilities. If she was incapable, she should just wait quietly. Why did she have to show off? Such people were the most detestable.
"I'll go out and wait for Ouyang. I still have some things to tell him."
Mother Ye and Elder Fan exchanged glances. Neither dared to say anything more.
"Old Qi, don't worry too much. Mu'en and the others wouldn't let Xuanxuan go on an adventure."
Qi Luquan was so angry that he was weak. He really didn't know how many more times he could be tossed around at his age.
"Sister-in-law, I didn't raise Xuanxuan well. She's really disobedient. I even want to break her legs and tie her up at home."
Mother Ye echoed Qi Luquan's words, as holding back was truly unbearable.
"Old Qi, you really need to discipline her properly. Last time she ran away, luckily the brothers from the black market in Mingcheng helped her, and she was able to return safely. Not everyone is lucky every time. If Xuanxuan had accidentally been hit when she rushed out, would Shang Shaoyan save his father or Qi Xuan? She would have been a burden instead of a helper."
"I scolded her last time, but she's done it again. As soon as she hears Shang Shaoyan's name, she loses her mind. Is there no other man in this world? How can she risk her life for Shang Shaoyan time and time again?"
The more Qi Luquan spoke, the more he felt that Shang Shaoyan was the nemesis of his granddaughter. If they couldn't be together, they would be incompatible.
"Sister-in-law, this is not a solution. Shang Shaoyan will also live in the Bai Rong Brigade in the future. I don't know what crazy things Xuanxuan will do in the future.
If they all return safely this time, I want to marry Xuanxuan off. I'll threaten her with my old life. If she gets married, she'll be more obedient."
Mother Ye's mouth and eyebrows twitched painfully. Letting him discipline his child, this old fool only thought of marrying her off. It was unbelievable.
"Heh heh, let's wait until the children all return safely."
Ouyang ran back soon. On the way, he heard some vague explanations from his wife.
"Ouyang, hurry up and find Uncle Gong and ask him to find Zi Yisheng and the others as quickly as possible. Don't disturb their actions, just search for Qi Xuan in their vicinity."
Saying this, she handed Ouyang a packet of powder, her eyes filled with a hint of ruthlessness.
"When you find Qi Xuan, don't say anything or ask any questions. Just drug her. She likes to run, so I'll make sure she can't run anymore!"
This was the first time Ouyang had seen Ye Shenggge like this. He felt a chill run down his spine as he took the packet of medicine and turned to go home to get his bicycle, not daring to say a word.
Qi Xuan chased after them all the way, but their speed was too fast, and they had vehicles. She could only hitch rides, look for ox carts, and borrow bicycles. It was a bumpy journey.
This way, Qi Xuan only knew the city Zi Yisheng and the others were going to, but not their specific destination.
Qi Xuan came to Shenzhen for the first time. She was not only unfamiliar with the place but also had no identification. However, she had brought enough money and coupons. If she couldn't stay in a guesthouse, she could still find a place to stay with money.
Gong Wentao immediately set off upon receiving the news, thinking that if he could help, he wouldn't complain about running an extra trip for Qi Xuan.
Zi Yisheng only learned that Qi Xuan had run away again when he saw Gong Wentao. Already,