Chapter 274 My Wife, It's Me

Tie Dan glanced nervously at Qin Sui Sui, and seeing a slight smile on her face, he quickly shouted to his friends, "Hey, don't talk nonsense! I won't cry!"

Hearing his voice, everyone turned around in surprise and saw that Tie Dan'er was alright and had not been eaten by the tiger. They quickly wiped away their tears and surrounded him, saying, "Tie Dan'er, it's so good that you're alright!"

Tie Dan'er tilted his head back and said arrogantly, "Of course I'm fine! Do you know who saved me?"

Everyone immediately looked at him with curiosity. Tie Dan'er pointed his little hand at the clouded leopard sleeping next to Qin Suisui: "The clouded leopard saved me! It even took me to find my second and third uncles!"

The children were initially trembling with fear at the sight of the clouded leopard, but when they heard Tie Dan'er's exaggerated account of how the clouded leopard had saved him and led him to Li Lao Er and Li Lao San, they were no longer afraid. It turned out that the clouded leopard wasn't fierce at all! It could even help save people!

Qin Suisui realized she'd made a blunder and quickly reminded them, "Kids, this clouded leopard recognizes us, which is why it saved Tiedan'er. But most wild animals in the mountains are still very fierce and can bite. If you happen to encounter them, please don't provoke them!"

The little ones responded immediately.

Only then did Tie Dan'er remember the purpose of their trip up the mountain. He hurriedly shouted to one of the children who was still sniffling, "Gouwa, where's my basket? Give it to me quickly, I want to give it to Sister Qin."

The children also remembered this, and they all brought their little baskets to Qin Suisui, chattering, "Sister, these are the mushrooms I picked, my favorite mushrooms, I'm sure you'll like them too!"

"Sister, these are the medicinal herbs I gathered. I hope you'll find them useful!"

"Sister, these are the freshest torch fruits I picked. They're delicious. Here, take them from me!"

...

A group of children rushed up to Qin Suisui, chattering excitedly about the contents of their baskets, presenting them like treasures. Some even looked a little cautious, as if afraid Qin Suisui wouldn't like them.

Qin Suisui took a closer look. Although the children were carrying small baskets specially woven for them by their families, they were quite spacious. The baskets were full of fresh mushrooms such as green-headed mushrooms, chanterelles, and porcini mushrooms, as well as medicinal herbs unique to Yunnan Province such as poria cocos, gastrodia elata, notoginseng, and gentian, and various wild fruits that she couldn't name. They were colorful and looked very pleasing.

Tie Dan'er directed his third uncle to walk up to Qin Suisui, handed her his small basket, and turned around with a touch of arrogance, saying, "I put all the mushrooms I picked in their baskets."

Qin Suisui took the plant and saw that it contained three fresh Dendrobium officinale plants. These children, who grew up in the mountains, had probably picked medicinal herbs with the adults and knew that the herbs should not be damaged. The three Dendrobium officinale plants were completely intact without any damage, which showed how careful they were.

It would be a lie to say she wasn't moved. The oldest of these children was not even ten years old. To thank her, they actually came all the way up the dangerous mountain to find so many good things for her. Qin Suisui's eyes even reddened.

"Thank you, I really like everything. When we get back, I'll bring you some pastries."

But we must not forget to educate these children: "You are too young. You cannot go up the mountain alone without an adult. It is very dangerous. Have you forgotten Jiwa and Sanzhuzi? And the injections and medicine I gave you? What if you encounter a rabid dog again after I leave?"

Thinking of the miserable state of Jiwa and Sanzhuzi, everyone shuddered and nodded hurriedly: "Sister, we understand."

When are you leaving?

"No, when will you come again..."

A group of people, with their children, chattered away as they descended the mountain towards the setting sun.

The clouded leopard escorted the person to the foot of the mountain. Qin Suisui secretly fed it a few more eggs and promised that Dahuang and Dahei would bring it some food to play with that evening. Only then did it reluctantly turn around and walk back up the mountain.

After descending the mountain, Qin Suisui took the children directly back to the stilted house. She took out various snacks, cookies, and candies from her luggage bag—actually, from her spatial storage—and gave each of them a bag. The little ones played around Qin Suisui for a while, and only reluctantly went back home after hearing the calls from other families for dinner.

Jia Zhenzhen was also eating cookies. As she stuffed cookies into her mouth, she mumbled, "Sui Sui, your luggage isn't heavy, but I didn't expect it could hold so many snacks!"

Qin Suisui waved away the biscuit crumbs that she spat out and said with a smile, "I was worried that there would be nothing to eat in the mountains, so I specially bought a lot of snacks. I didn't expect that we wouldn't go hungry at all here."

Jia Zhenzhen nodded with a smile: "Yes, Aunt Zhang is so good to us. We eat like it's New Year's every day. We owe it all to you."

"Let's each give Aunt Zhang some more money before we leave. They've had a hard life. We've been eating their food for the past few days, and we don't even know how long we've been eating their rations," Hu Jue suggested as he overheard their conversation.

Qin Suisui nodded: "Yes, we need to make up for it. Make it up when we leave, otherwise she definitely won't accept it."

Just then, Captain Li's voice suddenly came from downstairs in the stilted house: "Comrade Qin, has Comrade Qin returned?"

Qin Suisui rushed out: "What's wrong? Uncle Li, has something happened?"

Captain Li shook his head: "No, it's the brigade headquarters that has your phone number, saying it's your spouse."

Two years ago, the Hongshan Brigade also received care from the organization and had someone come down to install telephones for them. However, in the past two years, apart from orders from above, almost no one has used the telephones because the telephone charges are too expensive and no one is willing to spend the money.

This was the first time he had received a call from outside the organization. However, the caller claimed to be Qin Suisui's lover, so Captain Li didn't dare to be careless. Fearing that the caller might have something urgent, he quickly contacted Qin Suisui.

Upon hearing that it was Pei Jiuyan on the phone, Qin Suisui's eyes lit up. She quickly changed her shoes and went downstairs, following the captain towards the brigade headquarters.

The brigade headquarters, which also served as the official business center for the Hongshan Brigade, was located in the center of the brigade. It appeared to be a converted farmhouse courtyard, as Qin Suisui also saw a kitchen and livestock shed.

The telephone was set up on the desk in the main room. Qin Suisui waited for less than two minutes before the phone rang again. She picked it up impatiently and said, "Hello?"

Immediately afterwards, Pei Jiuyan's voice came through the electric current and reached Qin Suisui's ears, sending shivers down her spine. She heard him chuckle softly and reply, "Wife, it's me."