This bamboo forest in the suburbs has a long history and pleasant scenery. It is adjacent to several hills, which can be used for climbing and enjoying the scenery.
When Zheng Xiu arrived, it was still dark, and several teachers in the school were discussing how to continue the search and rescue.
Zheng Xiu stepped forward to explain her identity, and one of the teachers said: "We have searched inside and outside the bamboo forest, and there is indeed no one. It's just that the nearby small hills have not been checked. I discussed with several teachers and we will form a team of two and search separately."
Zheng Xiu nodded, "I will join in too. I came in a hurry. Can you give me a lantern?"
"This..." The gentleman was quite hesitant, "It's getting dark, I'm afraid it's not convenient for the eldest girl, why don't we go and look for them, you wait here for news." There
was still no news about the two children, how could Zheng Xiu stay here, and insisted: "I won't drag you down, just let me go with you."
These gentlemen were indeed in a difficult situation. They had already lost Zheng Juren's son, and if something happened to his eldest girl, they couldn't afford it.
Xue Zhi also arrived at this time and said: "Young lady, follow me, we'll be in a group, I'm quite familiar with the terrain around here."
Zheng Xiu nodded in agreement. Compared with a few weak gentlemen, Xue Zhi, who was strong and experienced, was naturally more likely to find someone and more reassuring. Moreover, if the two children were afraid to come out because they felt they had been in trouble, they would not hide anymore when they saw them.
Without saying much, they divided into groups, marked the hills, and set out separately.
After climbing the mountain, Zheng Xiu realized that these hills were not as easy to climb as they looked. It was already spring, and the grass and trees were lush. Because there were few people, the roads were not clear. In addition, it was dark and she could not see the road under her feet, so she stumbled as she walked.
Xue Zhi asked her to hold the lantern behind him, and he walked in front with big strides, holding a short knife in his hand. When he encountered bushes or dead branches blocking the way, he used the short knife to cut through them and open a path for Zheng Xiu behind him.
"Ayu, A'shao..." Zheng Xiu walked along the way, calling the two children.
Not long after the two walked, it was completely dark.
Xue Zhi suddenly stopped and asked her, "Do you want to take a break?"
Zheng Xiu shook her head and said, "Just keep walking, don't worry about me."
Xue Zhi nodded and quickened his pace.
The two searched along the way, and Zheng Xiu suddenly stepped on a branch, stumbled, and almost fell. Xue Zhi heard the noise, turned around and helped her. She quickly grabbed him and managed to stabilize her body, but she felt a burning sensation at her ankle.
"What's wrong?" Xue Zhi was concerned.
Zheng Xiu gritted her teeth and said, "Nothing."
Xue Zhi didn't say anything more and continued to move forward.
They walked for about half an hour. It was quiet all around, and only the sound of wind blowing through the trees could be heard.
"Take a break," Xue Zhi said, "It's going to rain soon."
As soon as he finished speaking, raindrops as big as beans began to fall.
In this heavy rain, people's vision was even more obstructed, and the lantern in Zheng Xiu's hand was directly extinguished.
Although Zheng Xiu was anxious, she had no choice but to hide in a cave with Xue Zhi.
Xue Zhi picked up a few dry branches at the entrance of the cave and went in to make a fire, comforting her: "If Ayu is with A Shao, then there will be absolutely no problem at the moment. This mountain is not high, and there will be no ferocious beasts. A Shao has been following me around since he was a child, so staying in the mountains for a few days is definitely not a problem. There is a lot of rain in the mountains, and it stops quickly. We can continue after a break."
Zheng Xiu nodded, but she still felt uncomfortable.
Xue Zhi made a fire and let Zheng Xiu warm her body by the fire, while he himself avoided it and went to the entrance of the cave.
Zheng Xiu had been sweating all over after walking all the way, and she was already cold because of the rain. Now she felt a little more comfortable by the warm fire.
"Come over and warm yourself by the fire."
Xue Zhi said with his back to her, "I won't be in the way."
Zheng Xiu also insisted, "Warm yourself up, or we will fall down before the child is found."
Xue Zhi then turned around and moved closer to the fire.
Under the flickering firelight, Zheng Xiu's pretty face became softer. Xue Zhi didn't dare to look at her, so he lowered his head and stared at the fire, adding two branches from time to time.
They sat there for about a quarter of an hour, the two of them looking at each other in silence.
The sound of rain outside gradually subsided.
Xue Zhi stood up and looked outside, then came in and said, "The rain has subsided, but the mountain road will definitely become more difficult to walk on. Rest here, young lady. I'll pick you up after I find this mountain."
Zheng Xiu was unwilling to do so, and quickly stood up and said, "I'll go with you." However, as soon as she stood up, she couldn't help but gasp. She had been walking and felt fine, but now she felt that her ankle was so painful that she could hardly support herself.
"Are you injured?" Xue Zhi's eyes darkened, "Where does it hurt?"
"I just twisted my foot, it's not a problem." Zheng Xiu said as she was about to go out, but after taking two steps, she fell to the ground.
... This body is not her own after all. It was the original Zheng Xiu who had been pampered for many years. She had never left the house for many years and was extremely pampered.
"Sprained your ankle?" Xue Zhi asked with a frown.
Although Zheng Xiu was reluctant to admit it, she had to nod now. She pulled up the hem of her skirt, took off her shoes and socks, and checked her injury. Her ankle was swollen as big as a bun.
The white and tender instep of her foot was eye-catching, like a piece of fine white jade. In comparison, the redness and swelling at her ankle was even more shocking.
Xue Zhi glanced at it and looked away.
"Young lady, you can't go on like this. Leave it to me. You wait here."
"I..." Zheng Xiu wanted to say something, but she saw Xue Zhi, who was a few steps away from her, suddenly rushing over.
"Ah!" She screamed in fear.
Xue Zhi rushed to her side, and when he stood up again, he had already grasped a black snake with strange patterns in his hand.
The black snake was as thick as a thumb, and it looked like something Zheng Xiu had never seen before, and it was hissing and spitting out its tongue.
Zheng Xiu couldn't help but feel cold on her back. If Xue Zhi hadn't reacted quickly...
Xue Zhi killed the black snake in no time and threw it out of the cave. He said seriously, "I'm worried about you staying here, young lady. You'd better come with me."
Zheng Xiu nodded with a lingering fear, put on her shoes and socks, and stood up with a struggle.
Xue Zhi squatted in front of her and said, "Come up."
Zheng Xiu looked at his broad shoulders, then glanced at her ankles, and without hesitation, she lay on him, "Then I'll trouble Xue the Hunter."
"No problem." Xue Zhi carried her on his back very lightly and went out of the cave.
The rain outside had turned into a drizzle, and he relit the lantern and let Zheng Xiu hold it in his hand.
Zheng Xiu was actually still a little embarrassed, and her face was already flushed. However, what made her most anxious was the safety of the two children, so she didn't have that much time to think about other things.
Xue Zhi didn't say much, and walked steadily again. After walking for about half an hour, Zheng Xiu asked, "Do you want to take a break?"
"It's okay, it's not heavy." Xue Zhi said, and lifted her legs up again.
The two searched all the way and had already climbed to the top of the mountain. Only the other side of the hill was left to search.
Zheng Xiu also felt that the probability of the two children on this mountain was getting smaller and smaller, and she became more anxious. However, the weather was not good, and it rained heavily again. Xue Zhi
once again found a cave to rest.
This cave was much smaller than the previous one. After accommodating the two people, there was no other place. The current situation, however, was not impeccable. After
being drenched by two consecutive rains, Zheng Xiu was already in a panic.
Xue Zhi started a fire, went outside to look at the sky, and came back with a calm face and said: "I'm afraid this rain will last for a long time."
Zheng Xiu nodded, "I hope the others have found A Yu and A Shao."
Xue Zhi said "hmm".
Zheng Xiu sneezed, and he lit the fire in the cave a little more vigorously.
The two sat face to face, and his eyes simply had nowhere to go.
Not sure if it was because the fire was too strong, Zheng Xiu felt that her body was too warm, and even the figure of Xue Zhi in front of her was hazy and unclear.
Xue Zhi raised his head and pretended to glance at her casually, but saw that her eyes were blurred and her cheeks were flushed, adding a bit of charm than usual. He quickly turned his head away and stopped looking.
Zheng Xiu sat for a while, and then she felt something was wrong. She reached out and touched her forehead, and smiled bitterly: "I may have a fever."
Xue Zhi said "I'm overstepping my authority" and reached out to touch her forehead.
It was hot.
Zheng Xiu's high fever came on suddenly. She leaned against the wall of the cave, feeling dizzy.
Xue Zhi swept the fire aside, checked the cave, and helped her lie down.
With her lying down, Xue Zhi could only sit outside, with half of his body touching the cave entrance and getting wet in the rain.
"I'm so sorry." Zheng Xiu kept apologizing. When she went up the mountain, she was so anxious that she didn't think too much, nor did she expect that her current body was so fragile. As she spoke, she took out the handkerchief in her arms, "Xue Hunter, please dip some rain water and put it on my forehead."
Xue Zhi responded, took the handkerchief, soaked it in rain water, and put it on her forehead.
Zheng Xiu was beginning to feel a little confused, "Don't worry about me... Finding the two children is important..."
The rain continued to fall, and the moon was at its zenith. How could Xue Zhi just abandon her like this
? "I shouldn't have brought you up if I had known." Xue Zhi sighed helplessly.
Zheng Xiu could no longer hear his words. She only felt as if she was in boiling water, with only a slight coolness coming from her forehead.
Xue Zhi replaced the handkerchief that had been soaked on her forehead every once in a while.
Amid the noisy rain outside, the cave filled with firelight was particularly quiet.
He could finally relax and stare at her recklessly.
Zheng Xiu's dress was not yet dry, and wrapped around her body, outlining her graceful figure. Normally, she was efficient and smiling. But now she was lying there, quiet and weak, which made him want to hold her in his arms and cherish her.
Zheng Xiu had a very long dream. She dreamed of her childhood.
At that time, her grandparents were still there, and she lived with them in the countryside. Although the conditions were not very good, she was carefree. Her grandparents always met her requests, which encouraged her temper and made her more naughty. One
winter night, it snowed and was very, very cold.
She suddenly woke up in her sleep, and then she couldn't fall asleep, and she clamored for snacks.
The small shops in the village had closed long ago, and the only way to buy snacks was to go to the town.
Grandma coaxed her in a gentle voice, saying that she would buy it for her early tomorrow morning.
She refused to give in and said that she would not go to bed unless she bought it.
Finally, Grandpa had no choice but to put on his clothes, get out of bed and put on his shoes, and said that he would go to find the small shop and ask them to open the door.
After Grandpa went out, she waited at home.
Grandma was worried and watched outside the window. There were no street lights in the village, so Grandpa went out with a flashlight.
She didn't know how long it had been, and she felt that she was about to fall asleep again.
Grandpa finally came back and knocked on the window outside.
Grandma opened the window, and the cold wind outside rushed in.
"Nannan, the grocery store won't open. Can Grandpa buy you some tomorrow?" Grandpa stood outside the window and smiled flatteringly.
She cried out "No no no, Nannan wants to eat! Grandpa will go buy it, and you are not allowed to go home if you don't buy it!"
Grandma wanted to get up to open the door for Grandpa, but she hugged Grandma clingingly and wouldn't let her move.
Grandma was afraid of hurting her, so she didn't dare to pry her hands apart. She could only continue to persuade her softly: "Good Nannan, be good and don't make trouble. It's so cold outside, let Grandpa in first, okay?"
She cried even harder and refused to let go.
Grandpa was just outside the window, blowing the cold wind, not angry, just saying in a nice voice: "Good girl, don't cry, don't cry. Grandpa won't go in, okay?"
She was not sensible at that time, but now, she realized how much she had done in her childhood.
"Grandpa, come in! Come in... It's so cold outside, come in..." Zheng Xiu cried in her sleep, murmuring with a hoarse voice.
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