Everyone fetched water and drank their fill before slowly retreating. Some of the more agile ones even managed to catch some pheasants or rabbits, and two brothers even managed to catch a roe deer! However, it was just too hot, and chasing after the animals while hunting made it impossible to run any further, so they returned to the camp to rest.
During the break, Liu Qiang told them about the yams. Everyone was very excited. When they went into the mountains, they all brought their own tools. When they saw food, they couldn't wait to go over. They felt that they would only feel at ease after digging it up!
Liu Qiang, Liu Nan, and Xie Tianqi led everyone to dig for yams! Xie Baotian, along with the Lu and Wang families and several Liu brothers, transported the dug yams home.
They thought they wouldn't be able to carry much at once, but they found a thick wooden stick and made it into a carrying pole. Each of them carried four bundles of yams. Xie Yushu was worried that they would get tired and asked them to carry less, but no one listened. They all felt that they would feel at ease if they could get the yams home as soon as possible!
Anyway, all the dangers are here. At worst, they can walk for a while and then rest for a while. In the end, they are still one step ahead of others!
Xie Yujiao didn't come today, saying she was too tired to get up yesterday. She came with Old Man Xiao, Xiao Yong and his wife, and their two sons, Qingsong and Qingbai. Qingsong and Qingbai are twelve and fourteen years old, respectively. They look and act a bit like Xiao Yong. They don't talk much, but they are efficient at their work, much better than Xie Yujiao!
Xie Yushu didn't go dig yams today. Other people's families had more guests, so they could dig more and carry it back. But she was alone and had to carry water, so digging this much was already her limit! She combined the three bundles of yams she had dug yesterday into two bundles, planning to go back with them tomorrow morning.
After tidying up, Xie Yushu wandered around the nearby woods and found several hornets the size of plates. These hornets were effective at stopping bleeding from external wounds, so she collected some and took them back.
Seeing that no one else had returned, she took another nap. The days of running around and the long-term malnutrition had left Xie Yushu exhausted. Now that her food and drink problems were temporarily solved, she just wanted to rest!
He slept until sunset. Xie Tianqi and the others who had dug yams gradually returned, gathering in groups of three or five to roast their yams.
Xie Tianqi and Xie Baoshu, uncle and nephew, each dug up three more bundles. The Xiao family members also dug about three bundles each, which is the amount that a normal person could dig up!
Some people with weaker constitutions and less strength only managed to dig up two bundles, while others with stronger strength dug up four bundles. In one afternoon, that patch of yams was completely wiped out, even the dried-up yam beans were picked clean! It's estimated that this patch of yams has been completely eradicated, but fortunately, this mountain is very large, and there must be more than just this one patch of yams!
Unlike when they arrived at noon, everyone seemed like a different person. They no longer had numb and dull expressions. Although they were still thin and looked like refugees, everyone's eyes were bright and they talked excitedly about their harvest that day, as well as their plans for tomorrow, such as how to hunt wild animals, etc. They were full of hope for life!
However, plans can't keep up with changes!
Just as everyone drifted off to sleep with wonderful dreams, Xie Yushu, who was on night watch, suddenly felt the hairs on her body stand on end! Almost simultaneously, she loudly alerted the others on night watch.
"Something's up! Everyone be alert!"
Liu Qiang, tell your brothers to get up! Be on guard!
As soon as Xie Yushu finished speaking, Liu Qiang immediately got up and called a few people to quickly grab torches and look around while banging on shovels and other tools to wake up the sleeping people!
Everyone was tired and sleepy, and most of them were sleeping soundly. Suddenly, they heard a voice muttering something and then fell asleep again!
"Xie Baoshu, Xie Tianqi, Xiao Dayong! If you don't want to die, get up now! Wake everyone up!"
Seeing that none of the Xie and Xiao family members had moved, Xie Yushu disregarded the distinctions of seniority and hierarchy and called out a series of names, which brought all three of them back to their senses!
"My dear niece, what's wrong?"
Sis, what's wrong?
Second son's wife! What's wrong?
"Something's wrong! Wake everyone up right now!"
Xie Tianqi obeyed Xie Yushu's orders unconditionally. When Xie Yushu told him to call for help, he immediately shouted and shoved.
"Get up, everyone! Something's happened! Get up right now!"
"Ouch! What bit me!"
"Oh my god! Snakes, so many snakes!"
Suddenly, the people on the perimeter shouted!
"Watch out, everyone! A swarm of snakes is coming down the mountain!"
Oh my god!
Oh no! What do we do? There's a snake! There's a snake!
Run!
In an instant, everyone snapped to their senses and panicked!
Some people ran away immediately, while others didn't forget to grab the yams and water!
At this point, most people just wanted to get out of this terrifying place as quickly as possible!
However, before they could run a few steps, they screamed and turned back!
"There are wolves, lots of wolves!"
We're surrounded by wolves!
"Ah! A tiger! What do we do! Are we going to die here! Waaah! I don't want to die!"
Is that...that black bear?! What do we do? Will we ever be able to get out of here...?
Everyone was terrified, and screams filled the air!
"It's all your fault! Leading us to such a dangerous place is like sending us to feed the beasts! What were you thinking! Now it's your turn to stand in front and let us get out of here!"
A man from Xiejia Village angrily pointed at Xie Baoshu and shouted!
Xie Baoshu was so angry he was trembling.
"How dare you! How can you say such a thing without any conscience? We made it very clear from the beginning that the water source in this mountain was monopolized by wild beasts. Trying to get water is like snatching food from a tiger's mouth, and your life is in the hands of fate! You yourselves said you were willing to take the risk, so why are you blaming us now!"
"Then why are you fine when you're fetching water and hunting, but we're in trouble when we come? You must have offended these creatures while hunting, and now you're dragging us down with you!"
"Shut up! If you utter another word, I'll chop you up!"
Xie Yushu drew her short knife and swiftly placed it against the man's neck! Her fierce gaze and the cold blade silenced him instantly!
Liu Nan and two other members of the Liu family also drew their arrows, aiming at the group of people who had been incited, and said fiercely.
"We all came in here to survive. Everyone knows what it's like in these mountains. Since you came in, it means you accepted the danger. Now, if anyone tries to sow discord, don't blame us brothers for being ruthless and killing them first!"
After all that, the troublemakers behaved themselves!
They were already terrified and wanted to find someone to take the blame for their misfortune so they could vent their fear. Now, after being intimidated by Xie Yushu and the Liu brothers, they became obedient! For a moment, there was complete silence!
Taking advantage of the break, Xie Yushu said loudly
"Only by uniting as one can we defeat them and gain a chance to survive! Fighting among ourselves will only hasten our demise!"
If you have a weapon, grab it; if you don't, pick up a torch! All animals are afraid of fire, so if you have fire in your hand, they won't dare come near you!
Watch out for snakes under your feet!
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