Ai Guo returned carrying a basket of cucumbers and tomatoes, and was eating a tomato as he left the vegetable garden.
He took a tomato from the basket and handed it to An Moxue. Watching Aunt Guo and Aunt Meihua walk away, he said, "Well! You just got back and there's already a constant stream of people. You're quite the character in this village! You're popular with everyone, young and old."
An Moxue took a bite of the tomato and said, "That's right, these persimmons are so big and sweet, and Aunt Guo grew them for us! When I left in the spring, I said I would come back for summer vacation, and Aunt Guo said she would help me plant the garden. Look at all the vegetables in this garden, they were all grown by Aunt Guo. The green beans and eggplants have even been dried. Look how many are hanging in the shed!"
Ai Guo said enviously, "How did you choose such a good place to go to the countryside? Why didn't I come to join you? I've suffered for so many years! Alas! My life is so hard!"
An Moxue watched him wallowing in self-pity, raising an eyebrow and smiling faintly, looking like she was enjoying a good show.
Seeing that she wasn't responding, Ai Guo said listlessly, "Forget it, you're not cooperating at all. But speaking of which, Mo Xue, I've always wanted to go up the mountain, but Uncle Ma won't let me. He said that you can only go when you come back and take me. So, when are we going up the mountain?" He looked at the rolling mountains behind An Mo Xue's house, his heart filled with longing.
An Moxue asked with interest, "Want to go?"
Ai Guo nodded eagerly, "Yes, legend has it that the mountains are full of treasures and food is everywhere. I'd like to see it for myself."
She looked him up and down, but her words were quite blunt: "But do you know there are wild boars in the mountains? Wolves? And tigers! You might even encounter a bear if you go further in. If you run into any of those, you could very well lose your life."
Ai Guohao pointed confidently, "Isn't that what you're here for? Once we're up the mountain, I promise I won't wander off and I'll listen to you completely."
An Moxue asked again, "Are you really going?"
“It’s not easy to come all this way, of course I have to go. I also want to see the two wolf kings you mentioned! Is that alright?” Ai Guo said, glancing furtively at An Moxue.
An Moxue thought for a moment and said, "Go back to Uncle Ma's house, change into long clothes and trousers, and take a wood-chopping knife. We'll set off in a little while and show you the northern forests at night. We'll come back tomorrow afternoon."
Ai Guo took a few steps, then turned back and asked, "What do I need to take?"
An Moxue said, "Uncle Ma will prepare it for you when you get back. Just take it. We'll leave as soon as you return."
She was so excited by what Ai Guo said that she couldn't wait to see Chasing Wind and Lightning.
After Ai Guo left, she picked up the basket and water bottle she used to use when going up the mountain, along with a small iron pot, some salt, and seasonings. She changed into long clothes and trousers, and also changed into a pair of military boots.
Just as they finished tidying up, Ai Guo returned, followed by Old Ma.
Upon meeting, he asked, "What brings you up the mountain at this hour?"
An Moxue blinked and said, "I'll gather a couple of medicinal herbs and some ingredients to improve our meals. You can just wait at home. I'll definitely be back before dark tomorrow with a big fish."
After An Moxue said that, Old Ma didn't ask any more questions, only saying, "There are the most mosquitoes on the mountain at this time of year. Do you have any mosquito repellent packets?"
An Moxue magically produced two more, handing one to Ai Guo and saying to Old Ma, "I prepared them before I came back, so don't worry!"
"Come back soon. Your Uncle Guo will be eager to see you when he hears you're back." After saying that, Old Ma walked out with his hands behind his back.
An Moxue called out with a smile to Old Ma's retreating figure, "I know, I'll make sure you come back safely."
She watched Old Ma leave, then said to Ai Guo, "Let's go too."
Then, the two locked the gate and went up the mountain through a small path behind An Moxue's house.
It was almost the fifteenth of the lunar month, and it was a bright, sunny day. Although it was dark, the woods were still very well lit, and the shadows of the trees fell obliquely on the ground. The two of them could still vaguely see everything in the woods.
Ai Guo found everything fascinating and was filled with excitement. His words were full of wonder: "Mo Xue, it's so bright at night, you can see the road without even needing a light."
An Moxue paused for a moment, then pointed to the round moon in the sky and said, "Yes, look at the sky, how round the moon is, how many stars there are, even in the middle of the night it's as bright as day, so it's cool and quiet to go out at night, just be careful of spiders and snakes in the trees, don't get bitten. But don't be afraid, just stay close to me." After saying that, she continued forward.
Ai Guo followed behind, saying, "It's a bit like when we were kids, it would get dark in the summer, and after we finished eating, we'd go out to play. A whole bunch of us would play hide-and-seek instead of going home. Back then, I thought, 'If only it were always summer nights, we could play forever, not go home, not have to go to school, not even have to sleep, just play all the time. It would be so wonderful!'"
An Moxue sneered mercilessly: "Yes, it would be great if I couldn't get out of bed to go to school the next day and was beaten by Uncle Ai until I screamed!"
Ai Guo pouted, unconvinced, and said, "How many people are like you, who have never been scolded or beaten since childhood? But you were really well-behaved when you were a child. Now that you're grown up, you seem like a completely different person. You're not well-behaved at all."
An Moxue stopped and threatened, "What did you say? Say it again? I estimate that in another half hour, we'll be in the wild boar's range."
Ai Guo's expression changed instantly, and he said obsequiously, "I said you're walking really fast. It would be better if you slowed down, I can't keep up."
An Moxue sized him up, her eyes full of threat, and said, "You better be. Otherwise, the wild boar will show you who's the boss in these mountains. Keep quiet on the way forward, so as not to disturb the wild boar. Once we get past this mountain, we can find a place to spend the night. Let's go!"
Ai Guo looked around at the forest where he had no idea which way was up, and decisively compromised, saying ingratiatingly, "Mo Xue, I'll hunt rabbits for you to eat tomorrow."
Seeing that An Moxue just kept walking forward and ignored him, he said, "If you don't want to eat rabbit, I'll hunt pheasants for you."
An Moxue said, "Shut up, you talk too much. Didn't I tell you not to speak from now on? Are you afraid the wild boars won't find you?"
Ai Guo shut his mouth and made a zipping motion. This time, An Moxue ignored him and continued forward.
In the dark woods, there was the occasional hoot of an owl, the occasional call of a bird, and the occasional chirping of insects.
In the stillness of the night, even the slightest sound is amplified, making the forest seem even more vast and boundless, and adding a touch of mysterious terror.
An Moxue was in front, and Ai Guo was behind. Occasionally, An Moxue would make a gesture to Ai Guo. Finally, just when Ai Guo felt that he could not keep up with An Moxue's pace, she stopped and made a shushing gesture to Ai Guo, which scared Ai Guo into not daring to make a sound.
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