The sky cleared up after the rain that day, the air was moist and fresh, the birds were singing and the flowers were fragrant, making people feel relaxed and happy.

Song Qingci soaked glutinous rice and prepared to make red date glutinous rice jelly.

She has been feeling bad about Xunxun's accident a few days ago.

Xunxun doesn't hold a grudge and now often comes here to play with other children.

Song Qingci thought about making something delicious for them.

"We'll have cold cakes to eat tomorrow." Feng Xun said happily.

As the master and servant were talking, Mrs. Zhang from next door came out with a basket on her shoulder. Seeing them, she smiled and said, "Is Qingci making something delicious again? I'm going to pick mushrooms. Do you want to come with me?"

Song Qingci immediately agreed happily.

Because she had wanted to find medicinal herbs for a long time, but she had just arrived and did not dare to move around freely, and she was even more afraid of being mistaken for a spy.

It would be best if someone could lead the way right now.

Song Qingci washed his hands, took Feng Xun with him, picked up the basket, and followed Mrs. Zhang to the mountainside.

Mrs. Zhang said she knew where the best mushrooms were.

This is a secret that I would never tell anyone, but Song Qingci is different, so I have to take her there.

After all, the Zhang family's children often came to her house to eat and drink, and Mrs. Zhang felt embarrassed.

As they walked, Mrs. Zhang taught Song Qingci how to find the way. "...This way, even if we get separated later, you can find your way back by yourselves."

Feng Xun laughed and said, "It's no use telling our girl, just tell me."

Song Qingci is a person with poor direction.

When she goes out, she can't even tell east from west, south from north.

Feng Xun is a little stronger than her, but not much stronger.

But Song Qingci was not worried because she brought pine nuts today.

Pine nuts know the way.

The three of them soon reached the middle of the mountain. Mrs. Zhang took a sickle and cut through the dense bushes on both sides, creating a path.

The grass on the ground was so deep that it almost reached your knees when you stepped in.

Song Qingci had suffered hardships with Jiang Jingchu, but had never worked in the fields.

The moist and itchy touch, and the unsteadiness of not being able to step on solid ground, made her feel afraid.

"Mrs. Zhang, we won't follow you in."

Song Qingci pointed to the side and said, "I've already seen several herbs I want."

"Okay, then you wait here for me." Mrs. Zhang said with a hearty laugh, "I can see you're not the kind of person who can do the hard work like us. If you're in a hurry, you can go back first."

Song Qingci nodded, but thought in his heart, we can't go back, we must wait for you.

She took Fengxun to collect herbs and told her not to go deep into the grass.

After all, this is in the mountains. What if there are poisonous snakes or dangerous beasts?

Better safe than sorry.

"Girl, is this Ganoderma lucidum?"

"No, those are poisonous mushrooms, don't touch them."

"Girl, I saw the yam."

"Dig some back and stew it with meat."

The two men were talking while waving hoes to dig medicinal herbs.

The medicinal herbs on the mountain are more complete than I imagined, and time passed by unknowingly.

When the rumbling thunder sounded, the two realized that the sky had become gloomy and a heavy rain was about to come.

"Girl, find a place to hide from the rain."

"Okay, we can't be under the tree, or we'll be struck by lightning."

"If God strikes you down, it would be a mistake... Oh no."

The raindrops hit the two people with a crackling sound.

Song Qingci vaguely remembered that there was a huge rock leaning against the mountain not far away, forming a natural shade underneath.

They can go there to avoid the rain.

Although it was not far, the two people who were bad at finding their way still tried almost every direction, east, west, south and north, and finally found the huge rock after being completely soaked.

"It's over, it's over. I've lost my mind now." Song Qingci squeezed the water out of the corner of his clothes and said with a smile, "My mother used to scold people, saying that they must have lost their minds because they didn't bring an umbrella on a rainy day."

"Miss, I don't know whether you are crazy or not, but your eyes don't seem to be working well." Feng Xun said.

"Um?"

"Look behind you..."

It was a rainy day and they were in the mountains, so the vision was obstructed, so Song Qingci didn't see anything when he ran over.

When she heard Feng Xun's words, she felt a chill on her back.

Before she could think about it, she suddenly heard a "Wow" sound behind her. Was it crying?

Song Qingci turned around and looked at the small ball curled up under the boulder, and was stunned.

Is it a child?

How come there are children here?

She squatted down and saw clearly that it was a little girl who looked about six or seven years old. She had two small buns on her head and her skirt was covered with mud and water, so her original appearance could not be seen. Her face was also covered with mud and she was crying loudly.

Wow, can you even pick up a child here?

Song Qingci was a good child coaxer. He first helped her wipe her face, then took out a red rope from his purse and taught her how to play with it.

Under her gentle words, the little girl gradually calmed down and was no longer so scared.

Song Qingci then slowly asked her, "Why are you here? Did you get lost while picking mushrooms in the mountains with your family?"

Along the way, they met many people who went into the mountains to pick mushrooms.

But Song Qingci was a little uneasy because the dress on the little girl was made of the finest clustered brocade.

This brocade cost twenty taels of silver per piece a few years ago.

No one in the mountains, including Mr. Fu San, would use such expensive materials.

So where did this little girl come from?

Could it be——

Thunder roared and lightning flashed across the sky, illuminating Song Qingci's pale face.

She thought, could this be the hostage that Mr. Fu San had kidnapped and taken to the mountain?

My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!