“Uncle, let’s get out of the mountain!” Lu Xiao Shu urged.
Miao Chu He quickly got up from the ground before helping the limping Tong Yi up as well. Then, he asked Lu Xiao Shu how she got out of trouble.
Lu Xiao Shu simply said, “That bad guy fell down the slope by himself. So, I came back and saw the others already left while leaving you both here. Uncle, let’s go back quickly! We need to report this as soon as possible. The unlucky guy fell towards the northwest and I tied him up with some rattan. I’m not sure when he’ll come around. We should get the authorities to take him back. Who knows if we can find out where the other three are!”
“Good idea! Damn those barbarians! Who knows if they’ll hurt others in the future?” Miao Chu He shivered at the thought. He nodded and supported Tong Yi as they left.
In the past few days, Tong Yi had suffered a lot and was always tied up which restricted his blood vessels. Now that the tied ropes were untied, his body was weak and he was scared out of his wits as he trembled from head to toe when he stood up. How on earth could he walk? Worried about himself, he burst into tears.
“There, there. There’s nothing to be afraid of, Yi Er.” Miao Chu He gently comforted him, eventually carrying him on his back. Tong Yi was stunned, but he leaned on Miao Chu He’s back obediently while putting his arms around Miao Chu He’s neck.
Lu Xiao Shu took the opportunity to say, “Uncle, you can slow down. How about I go ahead first? Perhaps I can be faster in calling for help!”
“Do you— know the way?” Miao Chu He hesitated. After all, this was a desolate area.
“Yes, I do! It might be secluded here, but we just have to follow the path! How could I forget when I just walked the path moments ago?” Lu Xiao Shu nodded.
“Alright, fine. Be careful on your way!” Miao Chu He nodded.
“Then, I’ll be off. You should be careful too!” Lu Xiao Shu smiled sweetly, skipping and hopping off. Not long later, her little figure disappeared from Miao Chu He’s sight.
Once she was out of his sight, she huffed coldly and ran in the direction of the three men. They were talking of doing dirty acts, therefore, she was determined to teach them a hard lesson! Want to run away after taking the money? Think again!
Miao Chu He carried Tong Yi as they staggered and limped down the mountain. Since Lu Xiao Shu went to report it already, he was not in a hurry anymore. He could not even if he wanted to. The path was treacherous and he was carrying a kid that was not that little anymore. How could he go fast in that state?
Because of that, Lu Xiao Shu planned to take care of those three, get off the mountain, and inform the Tong Family before them.
The Tong Family was shocked, happy, and anxious at the same time upon hearing the news. They sent someone to report what happened, while Master Tong and Lu Zhong personally brought some servants to provide support. Coincidentally, when Miao Chu He showed up at the office with Tong Yi, the Tong Family arrived at the same time.
Seeing his son’s pale and gaunt complexion, Master Tong could not help getting a little teary. He rushed forward to carry him down from Miao Chu He’s back. As Tong Yi suddenly saw his family, he finally accepted that he was in safe hands. Throwing himself in his father’s arms, Tong Yi cried his heart out, almost making Master Tong’s tears fall as well. It was not easy but Lu Zhong and the others kept comforting them until they finally stopped crying. Together, the group returned to the Tong Family’s manor.
It did not take long before the authorities arrested the four bandits and returned the 32,000 silvers to the Tong Family. Of course, Master Tong did not take back all the money. He used 5,200 silver as a reward for the officers, making them extremely happy.
Even if Master Tong was a proud man, he had no choice but to owe Miao Chu He a huge favor. In addition to Mistress Tong’s nagging, Master Tong half-heartedly approved of his daughter’s marriage and drank the late customary marriage tea served by the couple.
Tong Yu Er was crying tears of joy as the matter that had been gnawing at her mind for many years had finally been settled. At the same time, Miao Cui Lan and Lu Zhong were very happy for them too.
Master Tong might be a difficult man, but after this incident, he was just a typical man. Very soon, he got closer with the Miao Family and of course, he loved his grandson very much!
Everyone was happy, except Lu Xiao Shu who had to suffer a chastising.
Lu Zhong and his wife knew that she was naturally curious, but they never expected her to follow Miao Chu He up the mountain. They both turned pale with fright while Miao Cui Lan was so angry that she almost gave her a beating. Luckily, Miao Chu He stopped her and talked her out of it.
Lu Xiao Shu stuck her tongue out. Eventually, she admitted her fault under her mother’s pressure. At the same time, she promised to never do that again. Only then did they let it go. Lu Xiao Shu was sullen as she thought: There’s no one that I can share my heroic secret with! This sucks!
She was not one to suffer alone. So, once Lu Qi was back, she proudly told her brother about what she did.
Lu Qi was dumbstruck after hearing it. He glanced at her, “Did you want to die? There really is nothing you don’t dare to do huh? Do you think this is a joke? Do you know who those people are? You’re just a girl, and what if something bad—”
Thus, she was scolded again!
In a blink of an eye, winter was here. The wheat and preserved cabbages had been planted. Slowly, farming became an idle task.
After a few snowstorms, everyone was even more reluctant to go outside and they stayed home by the fireplace most of the time as they chatted among themselves.
Lin Fang and Zhou Yuan would visit them from time to time, so there was never a moment of dullness in their lives.
That day, while staring at the frozen river, Lu Xiao Shu thought of the time when they went catching wild ducks at the reed pond at the Zhou Family’s house. Hence, she suggested going ice skating on the vast frozen lake.
Naturally, Lin Fang enthusiastically agreed. As long as it was something Lu Xiao Shu suggested, he seemed to have never refused.
On the other hand, Zhou Yuan was slightly hesitant. He could not help but comment, “Will it be very dangerous? I’ve never been there during winter… Who knows if the ice on the lake is thick enough? What if—”
“What are you afraid of? Perhaps you can stay on the shore and watch!” Lin Fang said disdainfully.
Lu Xiao Shu added, “Don’t worry. After snowing so much recently, it would be weird if the ice isn’t thick enough! We don’t get a lot of chances to play like this in a year. It would be such a pity if we missed it!”
Lin Fang chuckled and glanced at Zhou Yuan’s figure naughtily. He grinned, “For us, the ice will definitely be thick enough, but oh! I don’t know if it’ll be alright for you…”
Realization struck Lu Xiao Shu as she glanced at that plump body of his. She could not hold her laughter back.
Zhou Yuan’s blushed heavily, pointing at Lin Fang angrily as he stuttered, “Why you, you, you—”
“Fine! We’ll go! Xiao Shu, you have to be careful and don’t cause any trouble!” Xiao Xue said.
She knew that her sister would go anyway with or without her. So, it would be better for her to follow in case anything happens. At least that way, she could somewhat have control over the situation.
Seeing that Xiao Xue switched the topic and helped him divert his embarrassment, Zhou Yuan was happy again. He huffed and rolled his eyes at Lin Fang without giving him any more attention. Since her sister agreed to it, Lu Xiao Shu grinned and nodded. With that, they sat in the carriage and headed to the lake near the reed pond.
After getting off from the carriage, all they could see was a vast lake with a completely frozen surface. It was flat and smooth like a mirror while being as clear as a crystal ball. The frozen lake reflected the sunlight as it sparkled and shined. There were reeds nearby and mountain peaks far away. Everything was under layers of snow and together with this huge flat crystal lake, it looked like a scenery from heaven.
The group felt as if they were seeing a different world. “How beautiful!” Xiao Xue breathed out with a smile. It was also very cold that her cheeks were flushed but her eyes sparkled.
Beside her, Zhou Yuan stared at her with a silly look on his face. He murmured, “Erm, Xiao Xue. Do you like this place? If you like it, I can give you the entire place…”
Xiao Xue was enjoying the beautiful view in an absentminded state, but she was suddenly shocked by his offer. She turned towards him and frowned slightly, “What nonsense are you talking saying?”
“It’s not nonsense! I’m telling you the truth! If you like it—”
Xiao Xue did not wait for him to finish his sentence before walking off.
Zhou Yuan felt rather wronged. He sighed lightly before quickly following her. He was very serious about it. As long as Xiao Xue liked it, he could give her more than a reed pond. Even if it was the entire Zhou Family’s manor, he could give it to her. Erm, if she married him, everything that the Zhou Family owned would already be hers…
It was a pity that even though he had put in so much effort for her, Xiao Xue still had no interest in him even after such a long time. Although she had nothing to say about him and Lin Fang’s regular visits, she practically never spoke to him alone before. She had always been indifferent towards him, making him very gloomy.
“Xiao Xue! Xiao Xue! Come over quickly!” Lu Xiao Shu waved her hand and grinned.
Xiao Xue smiled gently and walked over to her.
“Xiao Xue! Let’s go to the middle of the lake to play!” Lu Xiao Shu pulled her arm and she beamed.
“I think we can forget about doing that! I thought we’re here just to see if the ice was thick enough…” Xiao Xue was a little afraid. The thought of the deep lake under the layer of ice set her off and it took away her sense of security.
“But we came all the way here!” How could Lu Xiao Shu give up so easily? She laughed and dragged her onto the frozen lake.
“Xiao Shu!” Xiao Xue had no choice but to follow her.
Even though they were not wearing ice skating shoes, the sisters were waddling and swaying on the mirror-like frozen lake. In spite of themselves, they slid further away across the ice.
Lu Xiao Shu kept laughing out loud while Xiao Xue was amused but irritated at the same time. She smiled, “Gosh! You scared the hell out of me!”
“Xiao Xue, let’s go over there! Look there, where it’s near to the forest, maybe we could pull a chicken out of the snow like pulling carrots out from the ground!” Lu Xiao Shu pointed cheerfully at the shore opposite them.
“You and your nonsense! There’s no chicken that stupid!” Xiao Xue chuckled.
“Why not?” Lu Xiao Shu explained, “Last year when I followed Mr Wu into the mountains to hunt, it snowed heavily like this. There were chickens looking for food in the snow. When they saw us, they couldn’t hide fast enough, so they burrow themselves in the snow!”
The sisters chatted and laughed. Soon, they got further away from the shore.
