Xiao Hao tensed up and slowly turned to look at him.

The farmer smiled warmly: "Have you gotten separated from your family?"

Xiao Hao's eyes lit up, but he remained wary, pursing his lips and saying nothing.

The farmer took a few steps closer to Xiao Hao, "Was it... a man and a woman?..."

As he observed Xiao Hao's expression, he described him: "The man was tall and big, and the woman... um..."

Xiao Hao, thinking they really were his older brother and sister, excitedly asked, "You saw my older brother and sister? Where are they?"

The farmer secretly breathed a sigh of relief. "Ah, you really are a family. Oh dear, your brother and sister are in such bad shape, covered in wounds, bleeding so much..."

He frowned, trying to describe it as even more tragic.

Xiao Hao was blown away by the wind, and we didn't see what happened next, but when his older brother fought with the three Ding brothers, he was indeed bleeding.

Could it be that my sister is injured too?

Where are they?

Fearing the farmer might not say anything, he took out a compressed biscuit and stuffed it into the farmer's hand.

The farmer held the compressed biscuit and swallowed hard. Another person came closer, staring intently at the biscuit, as if he wanted to snatch it away and swallow it in one gulp.

In order to get news of his older brother and sister as soon as possible, Xiao Hao took out another compressed biscuit and stuffed it into the man's hand.

They exchanged a glance, then forced a smile and said, "They're recuperating in our village. Come with us."

Knowing they were a man and a woman, and knowing his older brother and sister were injured, Xiao Hao was so concerned that he followed them without any suspicion.

After winding and turning, crossing two mountain peaks and walking a long mountain path, we arrived at a small village built halfway up the mountain.

The village was in ruins, with most of the houses collapsed.

The villagers, in twos and threes, stared blankly, only perking up a little when they saw someone return with a big dog and a little boy.

There was a very unpleasant smell in the village, and Xiao Hao covered his nose uncomfortably.

On a snowy night, the dog's sense of smell is especially sensitive. It growled a few times and nudged Xiao Hao with its head, saying, "It smells awful."

Two people pushing carts came from a side road. As they passed each other, four bare feet were revealed on the carts, with signs of lividity already appearing on them.

Xiao Hao turned to look at the corpse on the cart, a strange feeling creeping over him.

The farmer winked at the two men, coughed twice, and explained:

"Alas, there's nothing we can do. With so little food and clothing, they're all dying of illness. It's too hot, and the bodies won't last long."

Looking away, Xiao Hao didn't say anything, but asked, "Where are my older brother and sister? They'll be here soon, right?"

"Almost there, almost there, we'll be there soon."

The farmer quickened his pace and led Xiao Hao to a place that looked like the village committee compound. Inside, there was a large pot with something cooking inside, steaming and emitting a nauseating smell.

Xiao Hao frowned. Xue Ye suddenly yelled and turned around. Behind him, a dozen men and women with fierce eyes surrounded him and Xue Ye, holding various farm implements and staring at him and Xue Ye, swallowing hard.

His older siblings weren't here; he'd been tricked!

Xiao Hao stared coldly at the two farmers who had brought him: "What's cooking in that pot?"