The sky outside the window gradually darkened, and Lijia'ao was enveloped in the tranquil night.
Xu Xinghe slept until the next morning, and when she woke up, she felt a chill in the room.
She got up and opened the window. The sky outside was terribly gloomy, with dark clouds hanging low. The wind whistled past, carrying a biting chill, completely unlike the usual clear and crisp autumn weather.
It is now September.
Autumn comes early in the north; it's usually cool in the mornings and evenings, but you can still feel a bit of warmth at midday.
But today is bitterly cold, as if we entered late autumn overnight, and even the air is damp and sticky.
It looks like it will rain soon.
Xu Xinghe frowned, turned around and pulled out a thick, coarse cloth coat from her spatial storage, which helped her ward off the chill.
She stepped out of the room, the air filled with a faint aroma of rice.
Uncle Li had already prepared breakfast: a pot of steaming hot multigrain porridge with pickled vegetables—simple yet comforting.
"Little girl, the weather is cold and gloomy today, it looks like it's going to rain heavily." Uncle Li said while serving her porridge, "Are you going out today? The mountain roads are difficult to travel in this bad weather."
"Yes, I have something to do, but it depends on the situation. If it really rains heavily, then I won't go." Xu Xinghe took a sip of hot porridge, the warmth sliding down her throat into her stomach, making her feel much better. "Or I can leave earlier and find a place to take shelter before it rains, don't worry."
After breakfast, Xu Xinghe didn't rest and offered to help Uncle Li with the field work.
Uncle Li has another small vegetable garden not far away, where he grows some cabbages and radishes, which are in need of tending right now.
She rolled up her sleeves quickly and efficiently, showing none of the spoiled airs of a city girl.
Uncle Li watched from the side and sighed.
Such a good girl, it's a pity she has to do such a dangerous job.
Otherwise, if she marries into a good family, she'll definitely live a good life...
The damp, cold wind brushed against my face, carrying the scent of earth.
While working, Xu Xinghe kept an eye on the direction of the village entrance, and only felt a little relieved after confirming that no strangers were coming or going.
This sudden bad weather can be seen as both an obstacle and a cover.
The overcast sky and the impending rain would better conceal their movements, making it difficult for the sentries in Shiwa Village to detect them.
They were busy until dark. The dark clouds grew thicker and the wind picked up. A few raindrops began to fall, making a sound as they hit the leaves.
Xu Xinghe helped Uncle Li tidy up the farm tools, went back into the house to wash up briefly, and changed into dark clothes that were easy to move in.
After doing all this, she took advantage of the darkness and the sound of rain to quietly leave the courtyard and head towards the edge of the village.
She's going to Eagle's Beak Cliff.
Although that sloping road is remote and difficult to travel, few people usually go there, let alone on a rainy day like this.
However, it leads directly to the outskirts of Shiwa Village, and the dense forest below the cliff provides perfect cover and allows for a clear observation of the village's activities.
at the same time.
Yi An was sitting at the door of the room, her eyes closed, letting the cold wind blow on her.
He was only wearing a single layer of clothing, yet he seemed completely oblivious to the cold.
"Brother, come inside quickly!" Yi Nian came out of the house wrapped in a thick coat, looking worried. "It's so cold outside, and it's drizzling. You'll catch a cold if you stay any longer."
Yi An slowly opened her eyes, looked towards the door, and shook her head. "Wait a little longer."
"Brother, what are you waiting for? Are you waiting for someone?"
Yi An did not answer.
Ever since he parted ways with Xu Xinghe at the village entrance yesterday, he has felt uneasy.
He never forgot the look in Xu Xinghe's eyes when he looked back as he left Shiwa Village.
That doesn't seem like they want to settle down and stay in Lijia'ao at all; on the contrary, it seems like... they want to go back again!
His intuition told him that Xu Xinghe would definitely go to Shiwa Village again, so he stayed in the courtyard hoping to run into him.
He was a hunter who spent most of his life hunting in the mountains, and he was exceptionally sensitive to footsteps. Not only could he distinguish the sounds of rabbits from those of other animals, but he could also roughly tell who was walking by the weight and frequency of their steps.
Just then.
A faint sound of footsteps passed by on the path outside the courtyard gate, making a very faint sound as they stepped on the damp soil. The sound was mostly masked by the wind and rain, and he would not have noticed it at all if he hadn't been paying close attention.
But Yi'an suddenly opened her eyes and stood up abruptly!
The footsteps were light and graceful; they belonged to Xu Xinghe!
Without the slightest hesitation, he grabbed the hunting rifle leaning against the wall, strode to the gate, carefully pushed it open a crack, and looked in the direction from which the footsteps were coming.
In the dim night, a slender figure was walking briskly along the path. His figure and gait were those of Xu Xinghe, whom he was waiting for!
Without the slightest hesitation, Yi'an immediately turned around and rushed back into the house.
"Brother? Where are you going?" Yi Nian couldn't help but ask, seeing his hurried manner.
Ever since he earned that 500 yuan, my brother has been acting strangely!
Yi'an didn't have time to explain. She grabbed the thick coat from the back of the chair and haphazardly put it on. Then she quickly walked to the corner and picked up the small bundle that she had packed earlier.
It contained dry rations, water, and a sharpened wood-chopping knife, which he used for hunting year-round.
"I'm going out for a bit." He spoke very quickly, tightening the straps of his bundle as he instructed, "Stay home and take good care of yourself. It'll be raining a lot lately, so don't go out unnecessarily. Even if you do go out, wear an extra layer of clothing and make sure you don't catch a cold."
"Brother, where are you going? It's so late and it's raining outside!" Yi Nian stepped forward, trying to stop him.
But Yi An had already opened the door. The cold wind made him shiver, but he didn't stop at all. "Don't ask. Just wait for me to come back at home."
After saying that, he rushed out of the courtyard without looking back and quickly chased after Xu Xinghe in the direction she had left.
By this time, Xu Xinghe had already walked quite far away.
In the dim light and with the occasional raindrops, only a blurry silhouette could be seen.
Yi An slowed down, choosing not to hurry and catch up.
Xu Xinghe is a cautious person. She had refused his company several times in Shiwa Village before. This time, she set off alone late at night, obviously because she didn't want anyone to follow her.
He wanted to join the army and wanted Xu Xinghe to owe him a favor. Now that she was clearly going to Shiwa Village to take risks, it was a good opportunity for him to prove himself.
But he also had a premonition that if he rashly stepped forward, Xu Xinghe probably still wouldn't agree.
After much deliberation, Yi'an decided to follow from a distance.
He was a seasoned hunter, familiar with the terrain, and skilled at concealing his movements, maintaining a distance that was neither too close nor too far, allowing him to keep up with Xu Xinghe's pace without being discovered by her.
It's not too late to lend a hand when the time is right.
The cold rain poured down harder and harder, soaking his hair and coat. The chill seeped in through his collar, making his hands and feet numb.
But Yi An didn't care at all. Her eyes were fixed on the slender figure in front of her, and she followed closely behind, step by step, on the muddy path.
His footsteps were very light, and with the cover of the rain, they were almost inaudible.
Xu Xinghe was unaware that someone was following her; she was focused entirely on getting on her way.
Although she was wearing a raincoat, the rain was falling at an angle, and some of it still soaked her trouser legs, making them feel heavy and cold.
The mountain path was slippery and difficult to walk on, and she trudged forward with uneven steps.
The two walked one after the other towards Eagle's Beak Cliff in the cold, rainy night.
It took about two hours to walk.
The mountains ahead gradually became steeper, and the outline of Eagle Beak Cliff was faintly visible in the dim light.
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