I didn't dare to make a sound and just lay down on the straw bed. But maybe it was because of the pressure and the stress I'd been under lately. Without the foreigners causing trouble, I slept very comfortably.

When I opened my eyes again the next day, it was already bright, but when I glanced around, I only saw Liu Jiaojiao and Wang Xiaoxiao.

"Brother Sihai is awake. Sister Xiaoxiao just made some porridge with some rice in it. Come and try it. She also cut up some sea cucumber and shrimp in it."

I rubbed my eyes, got up, and scanned the area again.

Wang Xiaoxiao looked at me and chuckled: "Are you looking for Xiao Qiang or Xu Wei? They both went out, saying they were going to gather herbs. They left early this morning with their baskets. What's wrong? They've only been gone a short while and you're already reluctant to leave?"

Feeling a little embarrassed by Wang Xiaoxiao's teasing, I glared at her, feeling somewhat awkward as well: "What nonsense are you talking about? But when the two of them walked together, which one of them suggested it?"

Whether they went together, or who called whom, the outcomes would be vastly different.

Given Xiao Qiang's temper, if she were to invite Xu Wei over, a major battle would be brewing today.

Given Xu Wei's boldness, she probably wouldn't dare disobey Xiao Qiang.

But after hearing my question, Wang Xiaoxiao shook her head, and Liu Jiaojiao, who was standing next to her, couldn't help but laugh.

"Who knows how they discussed it? When Xiaoxiao and I got up, they had already started packing their things, and then they left together without saying a word. They even brought food with them, so it seems like they're going to go further away."

I couldn't help but feel a little anxious: "How do they look?"

"They both looked perfectly normal. When they left, Sister Xiao Qiang was in front, and Xu Wei was following behind carrying a basket. There was nothing wrong with them! Brother Sihai, what's wrong with you? Do you want to eat?"

Liu Jiaojiao and I didn't dare to say anything more, and Wang Xiaoxiao was obviously just watching the show. I didn't dare to say anything more, so I quickly got up and drank two bowls of porridge without any appetite before going down the mountain.

After running down the mountain, they saw that idiot Chen Jian sitting on the deck with a knife, still fiddling with his piece of wood.

I quickly stepped forward and asked, "Did you see Xiao Qiang and Xu Wei this morning?"

Chen Jian nodded: "I saw it. The two of them went to the woods together. I think they went to pick apples. Did you eat the apples so fast?"

I was incredibly nervous: "And then what?"

Chen Jian looked at me like I was an idiot, shook his head, and said blankly, "Then I didn't look either. After all, I had other work to do. What's wrong? Didn't you tell them to pick apples?"

I would never let those two pick apples. Neither of them is someone I can afford to offend.

But I couldn't say too much of this to Chen Jian, so I gritted my teeth, turned around, and went back to the cave.

But for the entire afternoon, I couldn't concentrate on anything else, eagerly waiting for Xu Wei and Xiao Qiang to return.

But to everyone's surprise, the two women waited until the sun was almost setting before finally dragging a huge pile of things back home.

I was terrified and nervous, a mix of emotions surging through me. My head felt heavy, but I still managed to run quickly down the mountain and rush towards Xu Wei and Xiao Qiang.

As I got closer, I realized that Xiao Qiang was carrying four large baskets.

The two baskets were tied tightly with vines and straddled a tree branch, dragging across the shoulders like carrying poles.

The basket was full of bright red apples, large and appealing, clearly sweet and delicious.

Behind Xu Wei was a very large net, inside which were several short-legged birds and many green plants, which were probably edible wild vegetables.

"Where have you two been? Why have you been walking for so long? Are you hungry or thirsty? Xiaoxiao has been simmering soup in the cave. Hurry up and give me these things. You two go upstairs and have something to eat before taking a bath."

Xu Wei smiled at me and said, "Sister Xiao Qiang took me to a forest. There were lots of mushrooms and wild vegetables there. Sister Xiao Qiang said that if we can't eat all the mushrooms, we can dry them and save them for later. As for the wild vegetables, let's have hot pot tonight! We even found some chili peppers, look!"

As she spoke, she tried to open the net she had pulled up so I could see it.

But at this moment, I didn't have time to care about chili peppers or anything like that; just looking at Xiao Qiang made me a little scared.

But to my surprise, Xiao Qiang didn't get angry with me. Instead, she smiled and handed me the vertical stick she was carrying.

"Oh dear, we've been walking all afternoon and found so much stuff. Look, my hands are even cut. You'd better get me some good food to help me recover when we get back."

I looked at the two women, neither of whom showed any anger or ruthlessness in their eyes. Instead, their calmness was somewhat frightening.

Could this be the calm before the storm?

I didn't dare to say anything and quickly took the things from Xiao Qiang's hands, only to find that they were indeed quite heavy.

At that moment, Chen Jian saw our situation from afar and immediately ran over to help.

I was quite surprised to see so many short-legged birds in Xu Wei's large net.

Where did you two catch so many?

"It was Sister Xiao Qiang's idea. She set up this trap and waited nearby. So she caught a total of seven this afternoon. However, one of them seems to be dying. The rest should be fine. We can take them back and raise them to lay eggs."

While Chen Jian was astonished by the two women's terrifying abilities, he winked at me. I was too lazy to pay attention to him and hurriedly and clumsily transported all the things up the mountain. I then gave some to Chen Jian, the one with the short leg that had died, so that he could go back and make something to eat.

Chen Jian gave Liu Jiaojiao a flirtatious wink, then turned and left with the short-legged bird.

Back on the mountain, Wang Xiaoxiao stared blankly at Xu Wei and Xiao Qiang.

I didn't dare ask anything, and quickly packed my things and went down the mountain. When I got to the beach, I started collecting seashells and sea cucumbers. Fortunately, the tide had come in during the afternoon, and there were many things mixed in with the rocks. As I was picking things up, my mind was in a complete mess.

I was just thinking about whether I should explain to them, or go back and have them examined for injuries. Could it be that they went to a secluded corner and started fighting?

Lost in a state of confusion, I didn't know how to get back. As I faced the two women, a soft voice suddenly came from behind me. I turned around and saw Xiao Qiang standing behind me with a very cold expression on her face.

I thought to myself, "Oh no, the storm is coming!"