Chapter 3 Hurry up!!!
There was no time for Fan Xiaoxiao to hesitate. Almost the instant Aunt Wang finished speaking, she stumbled into the room, blew out the lamp, picked up the flint on the table, and the straw raincoat and bamboo hat hanging on the door.
"Sister! Don't stand there! There are weapons left by your husband at home! We're leaving! Xiao Bao, go to the kitchen and get some sugar and salt. Quick!"
Somewhat flustered, upon hearing her sister's words, Madam Fan quickly turned and went into the inner room to find the wood-chopping knife and bow and arrows her husband had left behind. Yu Xiaobao, with his short legs, headed towards the kitchen, while Fan Xiaoxiao pushed open the door, glancing at the chaotic scene at the village entrance in the distance. Gritting her teeth, she caught up with Granny Wang's family, who were driving an oxcart a few meters away, hurriedly gave them a few instructions, and then quickly ran back to the courtyard.
A moment later, the three left through the back gate and, under the cover of night, went up the mountain behind the village. The sounds of bandits echoed from afar. Fan Xiaoxiao glanced back and saw that the eastern end of the village was engulfed in flames, and she could still faintly hear the screams and cries of peasant women.
She turned her head and continued walking towards the back of the mountain. She finally had a vague understanding of this cannibalistic era—hunger, riots, and widespread turmoil—life was truly unbearable. If the Fan family's house hadn't been far from the village, and if it hadn't been for the kind advice of Granny Wang next door, would they have survived to this day?!
It felt like a stone was pressing on her heart. She held back her anger and forced herself to follow behind Fan Shi.
"Er Ya, can you handle it?"
Madam Fan glanced at her with some concern, worried that she might not be able to hold on.
"I'm fine. Sister, I remember there's a river after you go around the back mountain. Is the canoe that your brother-in-law hid still there?"
Madam Fan nodded and pushed aside the thatch blocking her way: "Yes, I sometimes go fishing."
The bandits down the mountain had already pushed open the Yu family's courtyard, and their angry curses, mixed with foul language, echoed up the mountain.
"Damn it, wasn't there supposed to be a woman with a baby in this household too?! She ran away?!"
"The stove is still warm! The person hasn't gone far!"
"Boss! The back gate is bolted! They escaped through the front gate!"
"Don't let them escape! We've been ordered to bring all the women and children from this village back!"
"Look, there are still oxcart tracks here! Haha! Did they think we came on foot? A bunch of stupid women! Let's go, brothers! Let's catch up and have some fun!"
After the horses' neighing came the thunderous sound of hooves. Fan Xiaoxiao, walking behind, heard it all. She rubbed her sweaty palms, wondering if the Wang couple ahead had heard her. If not, then she was truly guilty today.
The tracks left by the oxcart were from Granny Wang's house, leading in a different direction from theirs. If the bandits followed the oxcart in that direction, it would be difficult for them to return and catch them.
So she deliberately left the main gate slightly ajar, then used a thin thread to lower the bolt on the back gate. Sure enough, the bandits chased after the oxcart.
Thinking of this, Fan Xiaoxiao pursed her lips, her heart filled with unease—what if Aunt Wang and her husband didn't heed her words…
Fan, who was walking ahead, stopped with a surprised "Eh!" Little Bao peeked out, and after seeing who it was, called out in a soft voice, "Grandpa Wang! Grandma Wang!"
The two figures in front of her paused and turned around. Sure enough, it was Aunt Wang and her husband! Fan Xiaoxiao breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing that the two were unharmed, a huge weight was lifted from her heart.
"Auntie? Aren't you..."
Madam Fan was walking at the front and didn't hear the conversation of the bandits below. She was a little confused; hadn't Granny Wang and the others escaped? How come they were also in the back mountain?
"Let's talk as we walk."
Uncle Wang weighed his bundle and glanced at Fan Xiaoxiao at the back. The group continued walking, and Aunt Wang, holding Xiaobao's hand, explained to Fan Shi:
"We owe this to your sister. She came up to us just a few steps away and told us that the bandits definitely had horses, and that we shouldn't take the oxcart to the back mountain to cross the river. We thought that made sense, so we abandoned the oxcart, went home, and came out from the backyard. To prevent those beasts from noticing, after I came out, the old man locked the gate and climbed over the wall."
After saying this, Aunt Wang gave Fan Xiaoxiao a grateful look. This made Fan Xiaoxiao blush deeply, and even the roots of her ears felt hot.
The rest of the journey was uneventful. After walking for about half an hour, they reached the riverbank. Madam Fan pulled out the hidden dugout canoe, while the Wang couple also pulled out a small boat from the reeds.
"Fan family girl, do you know how to row a boat?"
Fan Xiaoxiao, who was called upon by Uncle Wang, shook her head. Uncle Wang then said to Aunt Wang, "Go help Fan's mother row. This girl from the Fan family is riding in our boat. The bandits should have caught up with Dahuang by now, and they might have realized what's happening. It'll be faster if you two women row together!"
That was true; the oxcart was slow, and it was only a matter of time before they were overtaken. Without hesitation, the group boarded the boat as Uncle Wang had arranged.
After they had sailed more than three miles from the riverbank, Uncle Wang looked at Fan Xiaoxiao, who was sitting obediently on the boat, with a cold gaze.
"Girl, you'd better not have any bad intentions."
Thunder rumbled in the sky, and finally, the rain began to fall.
(End of this chapter)
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