"Le Zheng, thank you." Ningxia finally had time to look at this young man who was about her age. He had wheat-colored skin, a shade lighter than Li Gang, Lei Lao Hu and the others. He was not as burly as them, but tall and thin. His double eyelids and big eyes made him look particularly approachable.
Le Zhengtang's eyes were full of smiles, and he grinned with a row of neat white teeth: "You're welcome."
"Sister Xia Xia, don't you want to drink it?" Lin Yi held the porridge in his hand and stared at Ningxia, as if he would not drink it unless Ningxia drank it.
Ningxia picked up the steamed bread and sat down next to Lin Yi. "You two are not in good health, so why should I drink it too? Your uncle Lei and the others are still eating coarse grains."
Lin Yi understood what Ningxia meant. He pursed his lips and raised the bowl to drink. The salty porridge full of oil and water was still hot, which made him feel uncomfortable. When would he be able to become independent and earn enough rice so that Sister Xia Xia and Sangsang could have three good meals a day?
"Ningxia, you cook this!" Lei Laohu broke open his multi-grain steamed bun, put some Ningxia-made diced leeks and bamboo shoots on it, and took a bite while giving a thumbs-up. No wonder Old Liao Nas was so reluctant to leave. This simple dish was so much better than what he had in the camp.
Le Zhengtang also looked at Ningxia, his eyes full of seriousness, "Mm, it's delicious."
Ningxia was a little embarrassed for once, and waved her hands, saying, "It's just an ordinary home-cooked meal. I made a lot, and it's more than enough for the few of us. Le Zheng, Brother Lei, don't be polite to me later."
Knowing that Lin Yi was only half full after a bowl of porridge, Ningxia handed him a steamed bun. After seeing him finish eating, she turned around and started talking to Lei Lao Hu with satisfaction.
"What's that kid's name? Mulberry?"
"It's Sangsang~Ning~Sang~" Although she felt uncomfortable, Sangsang still answered Lei Lao Hu word by word in a long voice.
Lei Lao Hu laughed, "Little Sang, it's not okay for you to only drink this little porridge."
Sangsang wrinkled her nose. "It's Sangsang, not Sang the little brat. I can't drink any more. I'm full."
Lei Lao Hu caressed Sang Sang's head lovingly and looked up at Ning Xia. "When we get to the trading post, take the two children to see a doctor. Don't rush home. Le Zheng and I will go to the camp to report on our outpost work and collect our subsidies. We'll also pick up Li Gang and the others. We'll leave together."
Ningxia was of course very happy to do so, but Lin Yi hesitated to speak. This way, Sister Xia Xia would have to work very hard to cook. However, he looked down at his thin body and still did not speak.
At night, Lei Lao Hu and Le Zhengtang kept watch and refused to let Ningxia join in. Ningxia had no choice but to hug Sangsang and go to sleep early.
There were some minor noises during the night, but fortunately Lei Lao Hu and Le Zhengtang knew that the main purpose of this trip was to escort the three siblings to their destination safely and they ignored them, so the night passed peacefully.
After two days of hiking in the mountains, Ningxia's anxiety grew palpable as they neared their destination. Sangsang had vomited again the previous day, and his frail body looked like it was about to die. The two grown men were terrified, so they set out before daybreak.
"Wait! Something's wrong!" Lei Lao Hu suddenly stopped everyone. He walked forward carefully and gradually disappeared from everyone's sight.
Ningxia stood guard beside Maomao, alertly ready to pick up Sangsang and run away if she noticed anything unusual. Lin Yi also clutched the dagger tucked into his belt, his stern face stern.
"Let's go! Find a place to hide!" Lei Lao Hu returned to the crowd in a short while, shouting softly.
Without waiting for anyone to ask, he gave the answer directly, "A group of wild boars are coming!"
However, there were no caves or vines along the way, so the group had no choice but to hide behind a rock wall, which was extremely hidden. If the wild boars came along this route, they would easily find them.
Lei Lao Hu settled everyone down and neatly loaded the gun in his gun bag: "Le Zheng, you protect them. I'll go and lead the wild boars away. Otherwise, when they come, it will be all over."
Le Zhengtang nodded solemnly, "Be careful."
Watching Lei Lao Hu's receding figure disappear into the withered forest, the atmosphere became heavy as they held their breath and hid behind the stone wall. Even Maomao at the other end sensed the danger and lay down on the ground obediently without making any noise.
After a while, Lei Lao Hu's loud shouting was heard not far away, followed by a gunshot.
Ningxia frowned and hesitated for a while before taking out the pistol from her bag. She drew the bolt and loaded the gun with skillful movements, her whole body tense and alert.
Now was not the time to be curious, so Le Zhengtang suppressed the admiration in his eyes and listened attentively to the movements outside. Seeing that the other party did not ask any more questions, Ningxia secretly breathed a sigh of relief. It was illegal to carry a gun without permission.
Seeing some small movements outside coming towards them, "I'll go out and take a look." Le Zhengtang said, and prepared to go out in a crouched position.
Ningxia grabbed his arm.
Le Zhengtang looked down at the hand on his arm, then looked up at Ningxia and smiled: "Don't worry." Then he raised the gun in his hand and moved out step by step.
Ningxia felt something was strange and couldn't figure it out for a moment. She watched worriedly as another figure disappeared from her sight. Several gunshots rang out in succession, and the forest returned to silence again.
The three siblings waited for nearly an hour. After confirming that there was no sound outside, Ningxia took off her backpack and handed it to Lin Yi. She took out a bandage and some medicine and stuffed them into her pocket. "You keep an eye on Sangsang here. I'll go see if I can find Le Zheng and Brother Lei nearby."
The fact that they hadn't returned for so long only meant that the wild boars were truly formidable. They were very likely in danger, and she couldn't wait here in peace. Knowing the dire situation, Lin Yi's eyes were filled with worry, and he clenched his fists but didn't stop them.
Ningxia moved carefully while roughly feeling around. After making sure that there was no danger nearby for the time being, he looked back at the stone wall where the brother and sister were hiding, and then slowly followed the traces left by Le Zhengtang.
Ningxia found Le Zhengtang in a dense forest overgrown with weeds. She was extremely glad that she had found him. If Le Zhengtang had died here to save her and her siblings, it would have been a shadow in her heart that would never dissipate.
At that moment, Le Zhengtang lay half-lying on the ground, his face pale and sweaty. The cloth on his right arm was soaked with dark red, yet he stubbornly held his gun. Two wild boar carcasses lay on the ground, and one was confronting him.
Although it looked thin, the wild boar, whose size was still not to be underestimated, had grown back its two long fangs that had originally degenerated. It seemed to be afraid of the weapon in Le Zhengtang's hand. It lowered its head and confronted Le Zhengtang fiercely. It did not dare to move forward for a while and did not even notice Ningxia walking behind it.
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