One of the strong men was assigned to find the brigade leader. He rushed down the mountain like a whirlwind and into the village.
His clothes were soaked with sweat. As soon as he entered the village, he shouted, "We've found them! They're in trouble! Come and help them!" The villagers immediately erupted in excitement. Some of them realized what was happening and rushed to find Wang Shengli.
Wang Shengli was tidying up his farm tools in his yard when he heard the news. His head buzzed. He didn't have time to think about how he could have encountered a knife-wielding thug in the peaceful mountains. He knew the situation was urgent and didn't waste a moment.
He quickly called over a strong young man, pushed out his old bicycle, and had him ride it to the commune to report the case.
Along the way, the wheels kicked up clouds of dust. When they arrived at the commune, he jumped off the vehicle, not even bothering to wipe the sweat from his brow, and rushed into the police station office. He breathlessly reported to the staff, "There are thugs on the mountain... there are thugs on the mountain with knives. The people in our village are in danger. Send someone quickly!" He also specifically instructed that the health center must send someone.
After reporting the case, he rushed back to the village without stopping.
Meanwhile, Captain Wang gathered another twenty-odd people along the way. They carried sticks and farm tools and hurried up the mountain with solemn expressions.
As Wang Shengli hurried along, he anxiously asked the people around him, "What exactly is going on? How could there be bandits?" The people around him just shook their heads; they were all quite frightened by this sudden news.
Fortunately, Lin Xiaoxiao had already given them the general location, so they wouldn't be searching for the person like headless flies.
The group trudged through the mountains with difficulty. As darkness fell, the surrounding trees appeared eerie and terrifying in the night, as if countless pairs of eyes were watching them.
The occasional hooting of owls was even more terrifying.
After a difficult trek of nearly half an hour, they finally found the person.
Zhou Cunhua and Lin Mudan originally went to collect dry branches, and they had already collected quite a few. The branches were piled up to the side, and a fire was lit in the middle.
Wang Xue and several other educated youths were not far away, looking around anxiously and helplessly.
Wang Xue had an abrasion on her forehead, and the wound was still bleeding. They simply bandaged the other minor wounds with strips of cloth.
At this moment, they stood or sat, sometimes looking down the mountain, sometimes replaying the thrilling scene of their encounter with the thugs in their minds, their hearts filled with lingering fear.
Looking over there, the hands and feet of the four thugs were all tied up.
Because she didn't want to look into their eyes, Liu Lele even blindfolded them with strips of cloth.
The thugs sat on the ground in a sorry state, some with bruises on their faces, some still unconscious, and some barely clinging to life.
Li Mei and Liu Lele stood guard to the side, one holding a thick wooden stick and the other gripping a knife they had snatched from the thugs. Their eyes were wide open, like two wary leopards, staring intently at the thugs. If they tried to struggle, they would surely make them suffer.
Li Mei's palms were sweaty as she gripped the wooden stick tightly, thinking, "I must never let these bastards hurt everyone again."
Liu Lele gritted her teeth. She never imagined she would face such a scene one day. Her heart was pounding, but a voice inside her was telling her, "Be as brave as Lin Xiaoxiao!"
From afar, they heard a commotion and flickering lights, which immediately lifted their spirits, and they rushed toward the direction of the sound.
Upon hearing the man's voice, they became tense and prayed that it was one of their own.
Li Mei and Liu Lele instinctively gripped their hands tightly. At this moment, as long as Lin Xiaoxiao hadn't arrived, they couldn't let their guard down for a moment, especially since those thugs had just been so fierce.
After Wang Dazhuang and the other strong men arrived.
By the firelight, what one could see was a horrific scene. These people were like frightened birds; if another bad guy came along, who knew what their fate would be?
They had never seen anything like this before in their lives.
I felt they were both fierce and pitiful.
They were relieved to see that it was someone from their own village who had arrived, and that Lin Xiaoxiao was also inside.
Lin Mudan seemed to suddenly lose all her strength and collapsed onto the floor. Recalling the danger she had just experienced, she suddenly felt an urge to cry, her heart filled with mixed emotions.
Upon seeing Lin Xiaoxiao, Liu Lele immediately clung to her without saying a word, like a child who had found someone to rely on. The fear in her eyes then subsided slightly.
Zhou Cunhua then started wailing:
"You've finally come! Help! Help! Waaah! These beasts are going to kill me!"
"Look at my face, and not just my face, I have injuries all over my body..." she said, crying, her eyes filled with grievance and anger.
This scene seems to be contagious.
Once someone starts crying, a second, a third will follow...
They had always lived a peaceful and uneventful life, and this was the first time someone had held a knife to their necks.
Just now, under the threat of the thugs, she thought she was going to die on this mountain, and the feeling of despair still makes her shudder.
*****
Seeing everyone crying and wailing, the villagers quickly stepped forward to calm them down, repeatedly saying, "Don't be afraid, everyone, we're here, you're safe now."
"Yes, it's all over now, don't cry, don't cry."
"You are all amazing. These people have all achieved such great things. You are all commendable."
I heard comforting words.
This gradually calmed them down, who had been feeling anxious.
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