Chapter 180 is not to be trifled with.
Aunt Zhou led Zhao Dongmei and her group to the neighboring brigade in the dark.
Liu Zhixia and Zhang Xiuying felt like they were sitting on pins and needles at home. It wasn't until late at night that Aunt Zhou finally rushed back, looking exhausted.
"Don't worry, the person has been sent out. They will be waiting at the intersection along the way, and they can make contact as soon as Xiao Kai appears."
Zhang Xiuying breathed a sigh of relief and replied, "Captain Liu has made all the arrangements. The news has been spread, and the gas masks are ready. Everything is in place, and we're just waiting for my son-in-law to arrive with his men."
Seeing Zhang Xiuying's haggard face, Aunt Zhou patted her shoulder: "Xiuying, hang in there! Go back and get some sleep, get some rest, maybe she'll be saved tomorrow."
Zhang Xiuying's eyes reddened, and her voice trembled: "I want to sleep too, but every time I close my eyes I see Lao Si and Xu Zhiqing... I don't know if they are alive or dead, how can I put my mind at ease?"
Aunt Zhou comforted him, "Don't worry, no news is good news. He Shijie has split his forces into two groups, and someone must be specifically watching the hostages. Captain Liu has sent people to keep a close watch on the cave, and I heard they even have hunting rifles ready. As long as they are still sending food and keeping watch, it means the people are definitely alive."
Zhang Xiuying trembled and clasped her hands together, saying, "Then we can only hope that my son-in-law will arrive soon."
That night, no one in the Liu family slept.
Liu Zhixia hid in her spatial dimension and worked all night. She planted the medicinal herbs Gangzi had given her into the space. Although it was only for a day, with the space's blessing, the herbs grew wildly, and their medicinal properties were even stronger than the originals. She wanted to ensure everything went perfectly.
The next morning, the Liu family members got up with huge dark circles under their eyes, but Gangzi was the only one who slept soundly.
Breakfast was made by Liu Zhixia using ingredients from her spatial storage. After a few bites, everyone's listless spirits were instantly lifted.
Just as they put down their bowls and chopsticks, villagers from the next brigade came running in, panting.
"Auntie! Our brigade leader sent me to deliver a message! He's contacted your son-in-law! He's in place, so you should proceed according to plan immediately!"
A glint flashed in Liu Zhixia's eyes: "Mother, you stay home and oversee things. My older brother and I will go to the next brigade to carry out the plan. Tell Shen Yi and the others to hold their positions for now, keep a close eye on He Shijie, and don't let him escape!"
The villager who brought the news was taken aback: "Don't we need their help? The other side has guns!"
Liu Zhixia sneered: "We'll handle the rescue ourselves! Our militia isn't to be trifled with!"
These words thrilled the villagers: "Alright! I'll go and report it right away!"
Liu Zhixia returned to her room and took out the special medicinal herbs she had prepared in advance from her spatial storage.
"Gangzi, let's go! It's our turn!"
Gangzi rubbed his hands together, looking excited: "Alright! Today I'll show you what I'm capable of!"
The three of them went straight to the next brigade and found Captain Liu, who had been waiting for them for a long time.
Liu Zhixia handed a large bag of medicinal herbs to Gangzi: "Brother Gangzi, you lead the team to set off smoke signals, and make sure to keep track of the wind direction. My brother and I are going to the Shen family to 'add ingredients'."
Gangzi was a little worried: "Will it work? What if we get found out..."
"Don't worry. Big brother will draw their fire, and I'll sneak in. The Shen family only has two old people now, they'll be easy to deal with."
Gangzi gave a thumbs up: "Great! I didn't expect you to have this kind of courage! I wish us a resounding victory!"
After the division of labor was completed, Gangzi led his men to set up the "smoke array," while the brother and sister went straight to the Shen family.
Upon arriving at the Shen family's gate, Liu Zhixia crouched down and hid behind the house.
Liu Xiangyang took a deep breath and slammed the door shut.
"Bang bang bang!"
A short while later, Old Man Shen came out furtively to open the door.
Taking advantage of the moment, Liu Zhixia nimbly scaled the wall and entered the courtyard, heading straight for the kitchen. At that moment, Old Mrs. Shen was busy with her back to the door.
"Who is it? Why are you shouting like that!" Old Man Shen impatiently pulled open the door bolt.
Upon seeing that it was Liu Xiangyang, Old Man Shen's expression changed, and he guiltily tried to close the door: "You... why are you here?"
With lightning speed, Liu Xiangyang grabbed the door and demanded sharply, "My fourth son is missing! Did you do it?!"
Old Shen's eyes darted around: "What nonsense are you talking about! Your fourth son is a grown man, do you think I would tie him up? This has nothing to do with me! Get out of here!"
Liu Xiangyang ignored his nonsense, shoved him aside, and strode inside: "Enough talk! I'm searching! I suspect you've hidden Lao Si in the house!"
"Hey! You bastard! Are you taking advantage of us because we're all alone? Help! You're hitting an old man!"
Old Man Shen howled at the top of his lungs, but the surroundings were quiet, without a single ghost in sight.
Seeing Liu Xiangyang about to go inside, he panicked and desperately grabbed Liu Xiangyang's waist, but was dragged forward. He could only shout towards the kitchen, "Old woman! Come out and help! Someone's robbing us!"
Hearing the noise, Old Mrs. Shen rushed out. Seeing it was Liu Xiangyang, she slapped her thigh in anger: "Good heavens! Liu Xiangyang, we are your former in-laws, how can you treat us like this?"
Liu Xiangyang pointed at the steaming pot in the kitchen and sneered, "Didn't you say you didn't have money to buy rice? Where did this premium rice come from? The food looks good! Tell me! Did you use money from my fourth son to buy rice?!"
Old Mrs. Shen's eyes widened in panic, and she shouted, her voice trembling with fear, "Nonsense! This...this was a gift from a relative!"
"Still not admitting it? Then I'll search for it myself!"
Liu Xiangyang pushed the two aside and headed straight for the main house.
The two old people were terrified. Although there was no one hiding in the house, it contained the grain they had just taken from the kidnappers! The two chased after them like madmen, desperately trying to stop them, and the house immediately descended into chaos.
Taking advantage of the chaos, Liu Zhixia slipped into the kitchen, quickly sprinkled the medicine powder into the food, and stirred it evenly.
Just as they finished, they heard Grandma Shen exclaim in surprise, "Oh no! My vegetables are still in the pot!"
As the footsteps drew closer, Liu Zhixia's mind raced, and she instantly hid in the space.
Grandma Shen rushed into the kitchen, looking around warily. When she didn't see anyone, she breathed a sigh of relief and quickly packed the food into a basket, covering it tightly.
At this moment, Liu Xiangyang had turned the main house upside down, but Old Lady Shen did not come in to stop him, and he couldn't help but feel anxious.
Old Man Shen sensed something was amiss and stared at him suspiciously: "Are you here to find someone or to cause trouble? If no one's here, get lost!"
Knowing that continuing the argument would expose his deception, Liu Xiangyang could only pretend to be unwilling, spit out a curse, and leave.
He hid behind some bushes in the distance, and after a while, he saw two old men carrying baskets sneaking out of the door.
Once the two had gone some distance, Liu Zhixia gracefully climbed over the wall and left.
Liu Xiangyang went up to her, looking guilty: "Little sister...it's all my fault, I couldn't hold that old woman back."
Liu Zhixia winked mischievously, "Brother, what are you talking about? I've already succeeded. Let's go! Let's go to the cave and wait to see the show!"
Yesterday, Captain Liu led a team to test the fire once, and they figured out the location and wind direction.
Everything is ready, except for this favorable wind.
The brother and sister took a shortcut and arrived at a secluded spot near the cave ahead of everyone else.
Not far away, Gangzi and several militiamen were guarding the pile of wheat straw that had been spiked with additives, their expressions tense as they stared at the sky.
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