Dazhuang, who was nearby, grabbed Siwang, who was unaware of the situation, and ran away.
The snake, its color almost identical to that of the withered leaves, relentlessly slithered and caught up.
Ye Wenxue's expression changed, and she rushed forward, slicing off the snake's head with a wood-chopping knife.
The bloodied snake head flew a long way and landed right in front of the listless, resting goose.
After Ye Wenxue stepped forward to confirm that the snake was dead, Dazhuang, along with the still-shaken Siwang and Sanyuan, cautiously approached, wanting to look but not daring to.
They calmed their wildly beating, frightened hearts, and hesitantly used a branch to lift the snake carcass and put it into the basket behind them.
Under the trembling gazes of Sanyuan and Siwang, they both forced a smile:
"It's also a meal of meat."
Ye Wenxue had no objection.
Even if neither of them picks up the meat, she'll still take it with her; it's meat after all.
She didn't mind.
Sanyuan and Siwang are not bold enough.
Sanyuan was especially afraid of snakes. He instinctively took a few steps back to keep his distance, but then he was afraid there might be other snakes in the forest, so he froze in place and dared not move.
Da Zhuang took out a cloth bag from his pocket and stuffed a few half-brown, half-green chestnuts into each of the three little ones to calm their nerves. He then kicked the menacing snake's head far away so it wouldn't frighten anyone anymore.
The kick didn't scare Ye Wenxue and the three little ones, but it did scare the goose.
As if just coming to its senses, the goose squawked and broke free of the small branch it was tied to, along with the rope, and ran away quickly, its feet slapping against the ground.
Siwang, who was happily munching on a chestnut, was stunned for a moment, then raised his voice as if to burst into tears.
Ye Wenxue reacted quickly and immediately called the children to follow:
"Last time the goose ran away, we found wild eggs. Who knows what it might have found this time? Quick, everyone follow."
Shuangshuang and Sanyuan responded immediately.
Dazhuang patted Siwang's head and half-dragged him forward: "Come on, let's catch the goose again!"
Siwang's eyes lit up, and he quickened his pace to catch up.
It's deep in the mountains and forests, and the roads are difficult to travel.
The goose running ahead would occasionally stop, peek out its head, and honk a few times to point the way.
Ye Wenxue became even more certain that this goose had some abilities and might be trying to take them somewhere.
Thinking about it this way, Ye Wenxue couldn't help but show a hint of schadenfreude on her face.
If the village head's family knew how useful the goose was, they would probably be kicking themselves and wishing they could snatch it back.
Following the calls of the geese, they walked around dense forests, across dry streams and exposed sandy soil, until Ye Wenxue's family finally stopped in front of a cliff.
The towering cliffs blocked the way from three directions.
The goose seemed to be tired from running for too long, squatted down on the ground, looked at Ye Wenxue's family, and then called out twice towards the cliff.
Ye Wenxue put down the carrying pole, took two steps forward, and frowned slightly: "This is not easy to climb. We need to see if there are any small paths around us."
Dazhuang put down the dry rations on his back and the things in his hands, wiped his sweat, and spoke:
"Mother, you stay here and guard our belongings. I'll go take a look around the neighborhood."
Ye Wenxue looked Da Zhuang up and down, who wasn't even as tall as her shoulder, and felt a little worried.
But then I thought, we can't keep our children tied down forever; we have to give them opportunities to grow.
She nodded reluctantly: "Okay, if you encounter any danger, just shout, and I'll take them there immediately."
Dazhuang grunted in agreement, then left, saying, "Mom, don't worry."
Ye Wenxue watched as the strong and thin figures disappeared into the distance.
Looking back at the goose squatting on the ground, its head drooping and lifeless after being scolded by Shuangshuang and Siwang, it continued to look up at the towering, difficult-to-climb boulder cliff in front of it.
Sanyuan squatted to one side, quietly trying to dissuade Shuangshuang and Siwang:
"The wild eggs we eat were found by it. I don't think it was intentionally trying to escape, so let's not talk about it."
Shuangshuang ruffled the goose's head and blinked innocently, "I saw Fourth Brother talking to the goose, and I was curious."
As for Siwang...
He was young and didn't have many thoughts; he was simply angry that the goose had suddenly run away and startled him.
After resting for fifteen minutes in front of the giant rock cliff, Dazhuang ran back beaming, pointing to the other side of the cliff:
"Mom, there's a path hidden behind a rock over there. If you follow it, you'll reach a valley surrounded by several mountain peaks. There's lots of green grass and trees inside. I didn't dare go too deep, but it looks quite safe and secluded."
Ye Wenxue was also delighted and patted Dazhuang on the shoulder:
"You've worked hard. Let's go and take a look in the valley."
Where there are green trees and wild grass, there is water. The valley is quiet and secluded, and no one will notice it. It may be a good place to stay.
The family followed the path pointed out by Dazhuang, and after rounding an inconspicuous stone, they arrived at the so-called 'path'.
Although it is a small path, it is not narrow. One side is close to the cliff, and the other side is close to the precipice. The path is covered with withered yellow grass that is half a person tall.
Dazhuang walked in front, picked up a kitchen knife, and was about to cut the weeds to clear a path when Ye Wenxue stopped him:
"Take a detour if you can, and don't leave any obvious traces. If others notice, this place won't be very safe."
Dazhuang was persuaded and carefully led the three little ones forward.
The kids have been used to playing in the fields since they were little, so they walk with ease and crouch down to burrow into the grass.
Ye Wenxue, worried that Xiao Yuanyuan might be uncomfortable from the weeds, tightened the swaddling clothes to prevent her delicate skin from being exposed.
After walking along the overgrown path, the view suddenly opened up.
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