Chapter 26 The Secret

The room was eerily quiet, save for the occasional crackling of the lamp wick and the intermittent breathing of the two people.

Ling Wei tied the last knot, cut the bandage, and looked up.

He met Shen Zhilan's gaze, which had shifted from his knees to hers. The dim light softened his usual aloofness, revealing a complex and unfathomable depth beneath.

Ling Wei stood up with a calm expression. "Alright, check it one more time before we leave tomorrow morning. Get some rest."

There was only one bed in the west room. Qing Shu quickly found two old benches and a few planks from the pile of miscellaneous items and quickly set up a simple bedding in the corner near the door.

"Your Highness, I will stay here."

The moonlight in the courtyard was desolate, and in the distance, Black Mountain Valley was hidden in the deep night, like a lurking beast.

The bed wasn't wide, and in the darkness, their breathing and body temperature were clearly audible. Ling Wei closed her eyes, trying to decipher the unusual behavior of Aunt Zhou's family.

This family clearly knew something, but the fear was so deeply ingrained that it was something they kept to themselves.

When it's time to make a decision, make a decisive one. Valuable clues are never found in the mouths of those who are easily frightened.

As dawn broke, Ling Wei and her companions got up to say goodbye. To avoid bringing trouble to the family, she did not try to get any more information out of Aunt Zhou.

The three of them tidied up the house, pushed open the door and went out. Aunt Zhou was feeding the chickens and Uncle Zhou was chopping firewood, their movements were stiffer than yesterday.

Ling Wei stepped forward, her face showing just the right amount of gratitude: "Thank you for taking us in. We'll be leaving now and won't dare to bother you any longer."

Aunt Zhou put down the chicken feeder, wiped her hands, and chased after them to the courtyard gate. She lowered her voice and pointed to a weed-covered path outside the village: "Girl, you... go that way, go around the woods ahead, there's an old path there. It's overgrown, but quiet."

Her eyes were filled with deep fear, and her voice was even lower: "Whatever you do, don't take that main road to the east! Remember, never!"

Ling Wei's eyes flickered slightly, and she nodded obediently: "Yes, I'll remember. Thank you for your guidance, Auntie."

She led the two of them towards the deserted path, until the village was completely out of sight, at which point Ling Wei stopped.

“Turn around and take the main road to the east.”

Qing Shu answered without hesitation: "Yes."

Shen Zhilan nodded in agreement. The more you are warned not to go to a place, the more likely it is to hide something you don't want others to see.

The main road to the east was busier, but the scenery along the way was desolate. Pedestrians had blank expressions and hurried past without even daring to look them in the eye.

After walking for most of the day, the sun grew increasingly intense, turning the dirt road white.

Ahead, by the roadside, stood a simple tea stall, with two old wooden tables covered in stains.

A woman around forty years old, wearing a faded blue headscarf, was leaning lazily against a mottled shed pillar, idly waving a tattered palm-leaf fan. Her eyes were half-closed, but when Ling Wei and the other two approached, she suddenly opened them and her gaze swept over them from head to toe like a brush.

Her gaze lingered on Ling Wei's simple old clothes and tired face, then swept over Qing Shu's silent face, and finally settled on Shen Zhilan, whose face was pale and whose steps were obviously unsteady.

The woman put on the warm smile common among business people, straightened up from the awning pillar, and took two steps to greet them: "You must be tired from your journey. The sun is scorching. Why don't you come in and have a bowl of cool tea to relieve your fatigue? It's cheap, only two yuan a bowl!"

Ling Wei stopped, her face showing fatigue and hesitation from the long journey. She glanced at Shen Zhilan before looking at the woman, her voice a little hoarse: "Thank you, landlady. We'll have a bowl of tea. Also... I wonder if you could stay here? My husband isn't feeling well, and I'm afraid we won't be able to reach the next town today."

The woman's smile deepened, and she hurriedly stepped aside to let people into the shed: "Yes, yes, you can stay here. There are empty rooms in the backyard. They're simple, but clean. The bedding has all been washed and removed. The price is negotiable!"

As she spoke, she wiped the long bench with a cloth. "Please sit down, have some tea, take a break, and talk slowly."

Ling Wei helped Shen Zhilan sit down slowly, and Qing Shu sat down in silence.

The woman quickly brought over three bowls of cloudy cold tea, but her eyes continued to subtly observe them, especially Shen Zhilan's obviously impaired legs.

"What is your surname, madam?" Ling Wei took a sip of the coarse tea and took the initiative to speak, her face full of sorrow. "My husband and I came from the north. We were originally going to stay with relatives, but we didn't expect... alas, our relatives have moved away long ago without even leaving a message."

My husband caught a cold on the way and had a fever for several days. He's recovered, but his throat...

She sighed, looked at Shen Zhilan with a worried expression, "She can no longer speak, and her legs are weak. It's like when it rains, it pours."

The woman introduced herself as Ms. Li. As she listened, she showed sympathy on her face at the right moment: "Oh dear, this is really... hard on you. Things are very chaotic over there in Heishan now. It might be a good thing if your relatives move away."

She changed the subject, tentatively asking, "So, are you planning to turn back? Or go somewhere else?"

Ling Wei smiled bitterly, her smile full of confusion and helplessness: "To be honest, Aunt Li, we don't know where to go either. We can't go back to our hometown. We sold our fields and houses when we left."

Right now, all I want is to find a place to rest and let my husband recover before making any further plans. But we're in an unfamiliar place..." she said, her voice lowering as she spoke, sounding utterly helpless.

As Aunt Li listened, the expression in her eyes changed several times. Her initial scrutiny and caution gradually faded when she heard the words "relatives moved away," "the land and houses have been sold," and "she was unfamiliar with the place."

Her face still showed sympathy, but when her gaze swept over Shen Zhilan's sickly appearance and the fact that he was reportedly disabled and mute, a secret excitement flashed in her eyes.

“Don’t worry, sister,” Aunt Li’s tone became even more kind and friendly. “Everyone has their difficulties. My backyard house may be old and worn, but it can keep out the wind and rain. You can settle down here. The accommodation and simple meals will cost you thirty coins a day. How about that? You won’t find a cheaper price anywhere else.”

Ling Wei's face showed gratitude and relief, then she looked at Shen Zhilan with some difficulty, and finally seemed to have made up her mind: "Then... thank you very much, Aunt Li."

"Of course, of course!" Aunt Li said with a smile, immediately getting up. "I'll take you to see the house right away, and boil some hot water for you to wash up!"

After settling in, Aunt Li's hospitality was impeccable.

Not only did they quickly bring hot water, but they also added an extra small dish of pickled vegetables to dinner, subtly inquiring about their hometown in the north and their future plans.

Ling Wei's answers consistently revolved around the points of "family decline," "no relatives to rely on," and "bleak future," with her tone becoming increasingly dejected, perfectly portraying a young wife with nowhere to turn.

Shen Zhilan remained silent throughout, occasionally responding with a slight nod or shake of her head when Ling Wei inquired with concern.