Seeing Chen Shuning standing fully unharmed before him, He Chaoyang felt relieved, but also a surge of anger. He tightened his grip on Chen Shuning's shoulder and scolded him with a stern face, "Do you know this is practically the outer edge of the deep mountains? How dare you come here all by yourself? Aren't you afraid of being carried off by a tiger?"
The two were very close at this moment, so close that Chen Shuning could smell the sweat and faint tobacco scent on He Chaoyang's body.
This was the first time in Chen Shuning's life that she had spoken to a man at such close range, especially in such an ambiguous and quiet environment.
The deep concern in He Chaoyang's words made Chen Shuning blush and her heart race.
Unconsciously feeling a little guilty, he muttered to himself, "This isn't my first time here, I don't know the way. Besides, that guy was chasing me like a madman, so I ran here in a panic."
Chen Shuning dared not admit that she had gotten so engrossed in mushroom picking that she had unknowingly wandered off, especially since all the mushrooms she had gathered were stored in her spatial storage, and there wasn't much left in her bamboo basket...
Wait, the bamboo basket...it seems she threw it away when she ran away!
Thinking about how that was the culmination of most of her day's work (she had almost forgotten that she had actually put most of it into her spatial storage), she realized...
She was also thinking of making some roasted chestnuts for Chunni and the others when she got back to show off her skills. Her younger brother also loved chestnuts, and she was planning to send some back home in a few days.
I wonder where she put that basket of chestnuts?
Thinking of this, Chen Shuning couldn't help but cover her face and wail, "Waaaaah, my chestnuts!"
Seeing Chen Shuning covering her face, He Chaoyang initially thought she was injured somewhere, but after hearing what Chen Shuning said, he was speechless.
I was originally going to give the little girl a good talking-to. She dared to run around alone on her first time going up the mountain, and now that such a dangerous thing has happened, she's still thinking about those chestnuts.
Does she know what she just went through?
These people are all desperate criminals. Even the local public security bureau isn't entirely confident in dealing with them and has to ask the stationed troops for assistance in their capture.
After meeting them, this girl acted as if nothing had happened and was still thinking about food. He really didn't know what to say to her.
He wanted to say a few words of reprimand, but seeing the little girl's flushed face from running too fast, and her pitiful look of heartache over those chestnuts, He Chaoyang swallowed the words of reproach that were on the tip of his tongue.
The words that came out were a reassuring tone, deliberately softened: "Don't worry, you didn't lose your chestnuts. I saw them on the way here. I'll find them for you when we get back."
Seeing He Chaoyang's attitude, Chen Shuning knew that he had probably escaped a scolding today, and it seemed that He Chaoyang did not intend to pursue the matter any further. Only then did Chen Shuning lower his head and quietly stick out his tongue.
It seems I've managed to get past this hurdle. If He Chaoyang isn't pursuing it, does that mean he won't tell my older brother what happened today?
Although the eldest brother in the original owner's memories left home early, he was very strict with his younger siblings.
If he really finds out what happened today, given his older brother's personality, he'll definitely write her a letter and give her a lecture, and he won't help her cover it up.
Chen Shuning wasn't afraid of what they would say about her; she just didn't want them to worry about her. Her going to the countryside was already taking up enough of her parents' energy, as evidenced by the fact that her family would send her money and things every month.
Because of the original owner's personality, Chen Shuning now doesn't dare to say that she can take good care of herself, and they won't listen to her if she tells them not to send her anything.
So she really didn't want to cause any more trouble for her family.
Thinking of her family far away, Chen Shuning had to admit that although they hadn't spent much time together, she hadn't even met her parents and younger brother, whom she had only spent a few days with, nor her older brother in the Southern Military Region, nor her older sister in the border region. Yet, they had shown her no less care and concern, and she really missed them.
Distracted, Chen Shuning didn't notice that He Chaoyang's hand was still on her shoulder until she heard the rustling of leaves again.
He Chaoyang, who was the first to react, reluctantly let go of the person and turned to ask, "Have you caught everyone?"
A fully armed young soldier approached and, as soon as he stood still, gave a crisp military salute and replied, "Reporting to the battalion commander, seventeen were on the run, fifteen have been captured, one is dead, and one is still at large."
He Chaoyang nodded slightly in satisfaction, pointed to the burly man who had lost consciousness and said, "The one who escaped is over there. Take him back to the troops and then cooperate with the local police to escort him down the mountain."
Without a word, the young soldier replied "Yes" and walked towards where the burly man was lying. Then Chen Shuning saw the soldier, who was over 1.8 meters tall, lift the burly man, who weighed no more than 200 kilograms, with one hand, and carry him back in the direction they came from, as if he were carrying a chicken, without any effort.
This action astonished Chen Shuning, who stared wide-eyed at the soldier's retreating figure with adoration, her eyes sparkling.
"Have you seen enough? If you have, hurry down the mountain. It's dangerous here."
Only when she heard that sinister voice did Chen Shuning snap out of her infatuated expression. However, she still recklessly turned to look at He Chaoyang, her eyes full of curiosity, and asked, "It's okay, you're here, Brother He. What was that soldier's name? How was he so strong? How did he lift such a big person up with one hand?"
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