Chapter 703 705. Going Down the Mountain
"Brother Dafa, I'll go help them clean up the prey." Lai San just felt bored staying in this cave, so he might as well do something to pass the time so as to stop himself from thinking about all sorts of things.
"They should be back soon, right?" Lai Dafa glanced at the sky. There was only a little morning glow left. Usually in situations like this, everyone would rush back to the cave before dark.
"Don't run back and forth anymore. If you miss them, you'll end up missing out."
Lai San then squatted beside him to help him light the fire. Even though they had hunted some prey today, most of the meat was used to exchange with the villagers below, and they themselves rarely ate it.
Just like today, there are some wild vegetables and dried vegetables from the mountains, mixed with some grains.
He stirred up trouble and asked curiously, "Brother Dafa, if you could go back to live in the village, would you go back?"
"What if we go back? We are already illegal immigrants. Even if the village is willing to accept us, where will we live and what will we eat?"
Lai Dafa picked up a pinch of salt from the earthenware jar and carefully sprinkled it into the mixed grain paste.
“What if I have a household registration and land?”
Lai Dafa glanced at him and said, "It's not even dark yet, and you're already dreaming.
If it were that good, I would run away immediately."
Lai San was just about to tell him the news he had just received when he heard footsteps outside the cave and realized that everyone had returned.
Because Zeng Xiaowang was injured, everyone didn't come back chatting and laughing like they used to. Instead, the footsteps sounded a bit heavy.
When they entered the cave and saw Lai San, they didn't even say hello like they usually did, but instead hung up the wild boar meat they had prepared in their hands.
"Is Xiaowang awake?" Zeng Dawang looked worried. If he wasn't afraid that he would start to have wild thoughts while sitting here, he wouldn't want to leave the cave.
They are the only two brothers who depend on each other in the family. If Xiaowang can't hold on this time, he will be alone in the future.
"I just went in and saw him. He didn't look very well, but he wasn't awake." Lai San said in a low voice.
"Boss, I want to take Xiaowang downstairs to see a doctor." Zeng Dawang's eyes were full of pleading. He knew that the big guys didn't have much money on them, but this was not a freshly hunted prey. If he could take Xiaowang downstairs, Xiaowang might still have a chance to survive.
Some people followed his words and looked at the wild boar meat hanging on the cave. They knew what he was thinking, but no one said anything at this moment.
This wild boar meat might be their future source of livelihood, but Xiaowang couldn’t wait any longer.
Seeing that Wu Xiaoliu didn't say anything, Zeng Dawang smiled bitterly, lowered his head and said nothing more.
Didn’t Ergou die from a cold not long ago? If it comes to his younger brother, he probably won’t be able to escape the same fate.
Lai San also felt bad, but he had nothing and couldn't help.
Suddenly he remembered what his aunt had said to him at the foot of the mountain. His eyes lit up, "Boss, why don't we all go down the mountain!"
"What can we do if we go down the mountain? There's not even a place to stay. Do we have to go to the town to beg?" Wu Xiaoliu was also feeling annoyed as the number of people under his command was decreasing.
There were originally more than twenty people, but now there are only a dozen left. If the losses continue, they won’t even dare to stay on the mountain.
"No," Lai San quickly told the news that his aunt had found out, "If the news that my aunt found out is true, then we don't have to be bandits in the mountains anymore.
Actually, although we are bandits, we didn't rob anything. Instead of relying on hunting and exchanging food with the villagers to make a living, we might as well go back and live a decent life.
The rainy season is coming soon, and our bodies cannot bear to stay in this cave any longer."
Wu Xiaoliu looked up at him and said, "I'm afraid this is just an excuse for the government to cheat us. It's good enough that the officials don't exploit us. Why would they give us money to settle down?"
Zeng Dawang excitedly grabbed Lai San's hand and said, "Are you serious? The government will really give the An family money first."
As long as he has the money, Xiaowang can see a doctor first, then he still has a chance to survive.
"It should be true. I don't know the details. I'm thinking of trying it tomorrow." Lai San was also a little uncertain. After all, he didn't find out the information himself.
He glanced at Wu Xiaoliu carefully and said, "Originally, my aunt wanted to take me there today, but I want to change the salt for everyone, and I also want to tell everyone and see what everyone thinks.
If you are worried, I will go and take a look first. If it is true, you brothers can go later.
But if I can’t come back, I’ll accept my fate.”
Such opportunities are rare. If he doesn't try, Lai San feels that he will never be able to get over the hurdle in his heart.
Having been hiding in the mountains and forests for long enough, he wanted to live an upright life like other villagers.
"It's not as simple as you say. We are all helpless. If we set up a household and have to do corvée labor, all of us will have to do it."
Being able to live openly is a great temptation for everyone present, but they also have to think about the future.
What good is the land they are given? The various corvee labors are enough to give them a headache.
Lai San, however, thought more openly, "So what? We live in this mountain with no future. No one knows who will be the next one lying in the cave like Xiaowang. I want to go down and take a gamble."
Those who were still hesitating were now silent, and they all felt that what Lai San said made sense.
The future is still unknown, but going down the mountain is more tempting for them.
After a quick dinner, when everyone was getting ready to go to sleep, Wu Xiaoliu finally spoke up, "Lai San will go down first tomorrow to take a look. If the government really gives us land and household registration, then we'll go back."
Hearing that the boss had given in, the people below also breathed a sigh of relief.
But Zeng Dawang couldn't wait any longer, "Boss, I want to carry Xiaowang down the mountain tomorrow."
If it were in the past he would have waited, but given Xiaowang’s current situation, he definitely couldn’t wait.
Wu Xiaoliu: "...It's up to you."
He doesn't have much ability to help now, so he naturally can't say anything to stop it.
On the second day, just after daybreak, Lai San and Zeng Dawang placed Zeng Xiaowang on a bamboo platform that they had built overnight, and prepared to go down the mountain.
Before leaving, Wu Xiaoliu took two pieces of meat and placed them next to Zeng Xiaowang. "If the government doesn't accept it, find a doctor and see if he can get two more prescriptions."
Zeng Dawang nodded heavily, unable to express his gratitude. He could only follow Lai San down the mountain with red eyes.
"Boss, do you think they will bring back good news this time?" The subordinates beside him looked at their backs with anticipation as they disappeared on the path.
"I hope so!" Wu Xiaoliu had mixed feelings.
If he went back to the foot of the mountain and lived a normal life, his position as the boss would be of no use.
He has always been a kind-hearted person. Other mountain leaders have enough food, but they often have difficulty making ends meet.
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com