Chenxi had a few people with shovels start digging. The ground was a bit hard, making it very difficult to dig.
Moreover, the kudzu roots were quite deep, and it took everyone an hour of effort to dig out a small pile. Chenxi then ordered the digging to stop. This small pile was enough for ten people to eat. That was enough for the bet. If they wanted to eat more in the future, the whole group would have to come. With just these people, how long would it take to dig it all out?
Moreover, judging from the sky, it was already around 6 PM. If they didn't hurry back now, the danger would increase significantly once night fell. Originally, if they couldn't find it today, Chenxi had already planned to light a fire at night and have someone take over the patrols. But now it seems unnecessary. If they go back now, it will be around dark by then. You have to know that they have been searching for more than five hours. If they go back and stop searching, they should be able to return to the group in about two hours.
The group hurried back, but Chenxi still held them back. Although they hadn't encountered any ferocious beasts on the way here, it didn't mean they wouldn't on the way back, especially since they were already deep in the mountains.
She left marks when she came, which made the way back much easier.
But when the group was halfway there, they encountered a pack of wolves, five wolves, who were so hungry they were skin and bones.
When Shenxi saw the wolves staring at them with gleaming eyes, her scalp tingled. She had encountered wild wolves in her previous life, but that was under protection. Now, facing them directly, especially a hungry pack, they were not to be underestimated. She had some martial arts skills and could at least ensure her own safety, but these young men, apart from the hunters, knew no martial arts. If attacked by the wolves, they could be injured or even killed.
The wolves retreated a few steps; Shenxi knew they were still somewhat afraid.
Wolves generally don't attack humans unless cornered. Although these wolves were skin and bones, they were extremely intelligent. Faced with an opponent they might injure and gain no advantage from, their most likely course of action was to retreat. She gently instructed the young men to remain silent and refrain from any movement for the time being.
Shenxi stared at the wolf pack, his mind racing. Could he get his hands on the five wolves without losing any of his own men?
Even a skinny wolf is meat!
These wolves seem to have failed to gain anything in the deeper mountains. Wild animals are territorial, and they must have learned their lesson from going in.
In a very soft voice, Chen Xi asked Zhao Rong, "How good are your skills? Can one of you take on a wolf?"
Zhao Rong shook his head: "Zhao Peng and I are okay, Zhou Ren and Zheng San can handle one, but Cui San and Xiao Kong will have a hard time handling one unless they fight to the death."
The ferocity of a hungry wolf is different from that of a non-hungering state. Even hunters do not want to risk their lives. Shenxi knew that Zhao Rong meant to kill the wolf without much injury to himself.
"Alright, these wolves still need to be killed, otherwise they'll be a menace if they come in later."
“You and Zhao Peng, each kill one, Zhou Ren and Zheng San, together kill one, Cui San, Xiao Kong, and the others, together kill one, and I'll deal with one.”
Zhao Rong glanced at Chen Xi with some confusion and surprise, but didn't ask anything further, instead nodding slightly.
After the mission was given, the wolf pack was about to flee when Chen Xi gave the order, and everyone began to move.
But the wolf pack was already intimidated, and after two wolves died there, the other three ran away for their lives.
After that, they didn't encounter any further trouble. Everyone kept praising Chenxi for her clear mind and martial arts skills; one of the two wolves they had just killed was killed by Chenxi.
"Xiaoxi, when did you learn kung fu?"
A young man from Shenjiazhuang asked a question, as they didn't usually have much contact with Shenxi and had never heard that Shenxi knew kung fu.
Shenxi smiled, "When I was traveling with my father, I met a martial arts master who taught me kung fu for a period of time."
The young man who asked the question stopped asking, because everyone in the village knew that Shenxi had gone on his travels with his father. Shenxi's father would go on two or three trips a year, each lasting about a month, during which time the children in the village would have a holiday.
The other young men were very envious. People with kung fu skills are very attractive to young people. If Chenxi weren't a girl, the young men would probably be seeking her out as an apprentice by now.
By the time everyone returned safely to the group, it was already dark. The old village chief was extremely excited. He had thought they wouldn't be able to come back today. Seeing that they had brought back two wolves, a rabbit, and some tubers, all of which were edible, he was even more gratified.
The Wang family patriarch's face was grim; he knew he had lost this time.
But he wouldn't accept a girl as the village chief!
Shenxi then said, "Everyone can eat first, and then we can discuss the next steps. We have found enough food to last for a while."
Upon hearing that there would be food available for a period of time, everyone became even happier.
"But what if there's no water?"
This man had shamelessly asked the village chief for water, even though his water jug had been stolen by the refugees earlier.
Not to mention him, even Chenxi and the others are out of water.
Chenxi calmly picked up a smaller kudzu root and said, “Don’t worry, everyone. This root contains about half water. Even in this drought, it still has plenty of moisture. We can eat it raw to replenish our water, or we can squeeze out the water and grind the residue into powder. When we need to eat it, we can soak it in water, eat it dry, make it into cakes, or cook it into porridge.”
“There should be plenty of this in the mountains. The patch I found is enough to feed us for at least half a month.”
As Chenxi was speaking, a woman couldn't wait and broke open the smallest piece of kudzu root, which was indeed moist.
Everyone cheered, as if they had obtained some treasure.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
