Chapter 19 Chapter Eighteen

That night, Yi Su didn't say why, and slept downstairs.Lihua didn't come downstairs after the captain left.Fan Shitian went upstairs and gave Yi Su the bed made of dining tables. Esu woke up very early, what happened last night made her uneasy, and she missed James and his group, wondering what was going on with them.There are voices upstairs.But she didn't want to go upstairs to visit her father, because Fan Shitian and Lihua might still be asleep.She walked out of the inn and took a walk. She couldn't help but wonder what would have happened if Lihua hadn't stepped forward last night.James had only been away from her for one night before this happened.Why did the captain take a fancy to her?Is it because he doesn't want to offend Fan Shitian?She still felt hot when she thought about it, isn't Ewha's way of doing it right?She couldn't make a judgment either.

Seeing the lime kiln, she wanted to go to have a look. It rained last night and the road was still a little wet. Cai Shan and A Xue had already woken up. The kiln house was a big room with several sleeping bunks against the wall.Buckets, shovels, and brooms were piled in the corner.An unpainted table, without drawers, with a candle on it, was the only piece of furniture in the room.There were two narrow slits in the wall near the roof, through which a ray of light came in. You sleep here?Yi Su asked.Looks very comfortable.If I had known, I would have slept here too. Is the bed upstairs bad?

I didn't go upstairs to sleep last night. Why? I couldn't go upstairs. Miss, Ah Xue called Miss Yisu, as if she was already a servant of the Duan family.I never saw anything like it last night in my life.I'm so worried for you.The other lady really surprised me, she saved you and everyone else. The tone of her voice and the smile on her face showed that she was still agitated by the events of last night. She's not Yi Su wanted to say that she was not a young lady, but stopped when she reached the point of her mouth. Is Mr. Fan married to her? not yet. I thought they were married, they were so affectionate.

When they got back to the inn, everyone was already downstairs.The proprietress is setting the table for breakfast. The proprietress took a quick look at Pear Blossom. Pear Blossom wanted to look natural, but she knew she couldn't. There was an awkward silence at the breakfast table.Then, Mr. Duan said to Yi Su: I have already thanked the pear blossoms.She saved us all, especially you, she is your benefactor. Yi Su opened his mouth and spat out a thank you, his face flushed immediately. Have I done any great good?Lihua said, half as a joke, half accepted everyone's gratitude. My son-in-law would especially like to thank you.Mr. Duan said.

I beg you, Lihua said: Can you help me?Don't mention this stuff again.Otherwise, eight of you, if each of you thank me, wouldn't you want my life? Fan Shitian changed the subject. I think it's God's will, let's not talk anymore.It's unfortunate but it's over.The captain has promised us safe passage.Lihua said that when we went to the patrol team, she handed out the business card by herself. Cai Shan came out of the kitchen. He told me he was sending two soldiers to escort us across the road. This is of course better. We didn't dare to have such high hopes.

Soon after breakfast they set off down the mountain.A kilometer out of Pilingzhang, on a tree-lined path leading to a limestone cliff to the left, they saw a reservoir overlooking terraced fields below.On the opposite side is Wutong Mountain, which looks peaceful and solemn under the cloudy October sky. From where they stood, it was only one kilometer to go down the slope to the fields, passing rice fields and several farmhouses, and arrived at Yantian Cave by the sea. Lihua and Cai Shan came out of the patrol, followed by two soldiers in grass-green military uniforms.She waved to everyone, brimming with joy of victory.

Here they come.She said happily: This is something a man can't invite with a gun. The mountain road has many twists and turns, and the red soil is very slippery, making it difficult to walk.Everyone's shoes were covered with red mud.Between the little Sanyou and the big Sanyou, there are more dangerous bends; Mr. Duan almost slipped, but luckily Yi Su held him up. The scenery of the valley is soft and beautiful, and Wutong Mountain is majestic and majestic, which is pleasing and charming on such a dreary day.It's a pity that everyone is too busy to walk and have to carefully bypass puddles and protruding rocks, and have no time to enjoy the scenery.They walked silently along a narrow terraced field ridge.Because of the rain last night, a babbling brook ran from one field to another, sometimes across the path in front of them.

The last section of the road has several dangerous bends.The road twists and turns, winding down a steep slope of rock and shale. They walked up a long slope, steep and slippery, with many puddles.Yi Su supported her father, walking carefully on a dry narrow road, sometimes stepping into puddles was unavoidable.A Xue and Xiao Ya'er walked together, several feet in front of them. pull him!cried the grandfather. At this time, Mr. Duan slipped and fell into a puddle.His fall set off a series of falls.Xiao Ya'er, who was walking in front, slipped, but Ah Xue missed her and rolled down the cliff.

Oh!A Xue let out a loud cry, and then jumped up. Little Ya'er fell down!Isu yelled. Everyone was stunned as they watched the two tumble and fall down the steep slope, one rolling over the other alternately.A Xue had already grabbed Xiao Ya'er, hugged him tightly, and rolled down the rocky slope. The rest hurried along the path.Fan Shitian and Cai Shan ran ahead, followed by two soldiers. Running to the ground where Xiao Ya'er and A Xue's figures had disappeared, they saw a stone wall falling straight down.Below, Ah Xue was lying in the rice field, half of her body submerged in the water, beside her, Xiao Ya'er was struggling to get up, crying loudly.

Do not move!Here we come!Yi Su shouted loudly. Old Mr. Duan was splattered with mud all over his body, and he was extremely anxious.Little Bud!Here we go!He shouted and wanted to run, but Yi Su stopped him. Ishida, hurry up!He shouted at Fan Shitian.Cai Shan has already run forward. The rest moved forward slowly and anxiously, fifty feet to the left, before they found the stone steps leading to the level ground below. Ashe lay there with bruises on her head and blood streaming down her face, still speechless from the fall.But Xiao Ya'er was not injured at all. They first carried Xiaoya'er to dry land, then Fan Shitian and two soldiers lifted Axue up and gently placed her on the side of the road.

Yi Su pressed her pulse, and it beat very fast.She opened her eyelids and patted her face with her hands. Ashe!Ashe!Yi Su called her. Yi Su gently bent her elbow, Ah Xue showed no pain, and Yi Su moved her knee again.After feeling relieved, he helped her sit up, rubbed her face, and patted her face, trying to wake her up. Ashe!Ashe!Yi Su called again. Ashe's eyes slowly opened, and finally he could see things.She sighed. Are you okay, Ash? Where am I? We are all with you.You rolled down the hill. oh!God, this fall is so far!Where's Xiao Ya'er?She asked, looking around, still a little dazed. Her eyes suddenly stopped on Mr. Duan, and she saw Mr. Duan holding Xiaoya'er and standing beside her.She looked at Xiao Ya'er vigorously, and asked: What do you think? he's fine.Mr. Duan replied. Amitabha!Thank goodness!We have fallen so badly!As she spoke, her eyes closed again, and her body shook a bit. Yi Su quickly supported her, took out another clean handkerchief, and wiped her face; a piece of skin was scraped on her cheek, and blood was still oozing out. It is a miracle that Ashue only scratched the skin a little.The backs of her hands and knuckles were scratched in places, and her cheekbone was cut. A hundred feet away, a car passes by.No one paid attention to these muddy people at the foot of the mountain. What a loss to her!Lihua murmured, very moved.If it wasn't for her, the child would have died long ago. Two soldiers helped Axue to stand up. There is a clean pond nearby, you can go to wash it. Near a detour, there is a mountain stream and several small waterfalls.The soldiers told them that this is Yantian Cave.They have reached level ground. They think the scenery here is very good.It's a pity that the sky is gloomy today, Mr. Duan is shivering with cold.He has no clothes to change into. They washed it and it was a lot cleaner.The young soldiers were anxious to go back.Cai Shan said that he knew the way, and it didn't matter if they went back first.He thanked them. Mr. Duan sat on a rock to rest.Yi Su gave him his coat and asked him to change out the cotton-padded jacket, let her wring out the water and blow it dry, and then they can dry. There is no sun in the sky, so they don't know how long they will have to wait here. Yi Su asked Cai Shan if they could start a fire. I don't think it matters, anyway, Old Wu knows we are here. If you are not afraid, we are not afraid either. Ah Xue, Mr. Duan said: You saved my grandson's life, and I am grateful to you from the bottom of my heart.He remembered that he had said the same thing to Pear Blossom this morning. In less than twenty-four hours, Mr. Duan thanked a woman for the second time for saving the life of a member of his family.Normally, these two women were of lower status than him, and he had thought them to be a burden on the journey. When you rolled down, were you afraid?Yi Su asked. I have no idea.Little Ya'er fell, so I quickly jumped down to catch him.I hugged him tightly against my chest and closed my eyes.All I knew was that I was rolling, and I thought, I'm probably going to die this time.I didn't dare to open my eyes, I just felt that my eyes were dark for a while, and bright for a while.I didn't know anything after that. After this time, Mr. Duan said: I will never forget you, you and your husband. Thank God!I haven't done anything good.The lady's husband saved my life, and I haven't repaid the lady yet! Axue's hair was disheveled, her clothes were wet, dirty, and wrinkled, and her body was covered in mud. There were still mud and blood stains on the punctured places on her face.She looked very embarrassed.But when she said this, Mr. Duan felt that her eyes were very beautiful. There is a mountain stream falling straight down from the mountain.By the water, there are dense shrubs and rocks.Overhead, the trees cast shade, their roots protruding from the stones.There are no roads on either side.It is not easy to start a fire.Because the branches and leaves are wet. Now, Cai Shan said: You wait here.You are not visible from the road on this side of the mountain.I'm going to find a few other people now and bring them here. After Cai Shan left, everyone felt a little uneasy and insecure, as if they were lost in the barren hills.Even Lihua, who was happy this morning, now feels uneasy and lacks confidence.Fan Shitian is the only one who never panics, he always thinks about tomorrow.This should be their last day, and it is also the most important day. He hoped that there would be no further complications and mishaps.He was thinking in his heart, how would Cai Shan find James?Can he find him?He saw Mr. Duan was shivering from the cold, he looked so pitiful, and the clothes of Axue and Xiao Ya'er were also sticking wetly to his body.He must find some dry firewood. He walked forward through the bushes and approached a cliff.A brook ran down the cliff, and the water dripped down a black hole.A black hole looks like a cave.He went in and looked inside.A small animal ran in and brushed past his feet.He walked forward carefully, and found that there was a relatively large space inside.It was dimly lit and had a damp musty smell. A pair of dull eyes looked at him from a corner.He stopped abruptly.The pair of eyes moved, but there was no sound at all. who is it?Fan Shitian asked. The eyes were fixed on him, and he moved forward to see that it was a child, sitting on the ground against the wall of the cave. Who are you?he asked again. The child retracts his feet. He came closer and stood in front of the child, who looked frightened and held up both hands. Don't be afraid, I'm not a patrol. In the gloom, he could vaguely see a thin and frightened face. You didn't come to catch me, did you?The thin voice trembled. No, I am an escaped refugee myself. I heard voices outside just now.Is it the police? no.Is my friend.We have a small child and several women. do you have something to eat Fan Shitian squatted down and made a gesture to reassure him. careful!Don't sit on hedgehogs, they have spines. Fan Shitian moved a little closer.He saw several small black and round animals wriggling slowly because of his intrusion. Hey, why are you hiding here? My parents are dead and I haven't eaten for three days.Uncle, do you have anything to eat? We have something to eat, can you walk? Slowly, Fan Shitian helped him stand up.It was only when they reached the mouth of the cave that he saw that the child had a small oval face and dull, bewildered eyes.He was barefoot in dark shorts, and there were dark red scars on his knees and calves.At most eleven or twelve years old, he was already weak from hunger. Several times, Fan Shitian had to clamp him tightly.Fan Shitian simply picked him up, walked through the bushes, and came to the water's edge. Fan Shitian forgot to find firewood, and the rest of the people were surprised to see him bring back a sickly looking child.The child's jacket was torn, his face was smeared with mud, and his eyelids drooped from time to time, as if he was too weak to open his eyes.He opened a pair of frightened eyes, and when others asked him something, he turned slowly. He was alone in the cave, surrounded by hedgehogs.Fan Shitian said. Where are your father and mother?Mr. Duan asked. I am alone. The child is from the mountains in the northeast of Huiyang, and his parents brought him from Danshui.They have reached the border, but his parents fell down at Yanziya, and he fled here alone.When he reached the banks of the Shenzhen River, a patrol chased him.This was three days ago, and he had been hiding for three days. Fan Shitian took off his bellyband, poured some fried rice into the child's palm.He devoured it all in one go, and even bent down to pick up a few grains of fried rice that fell on the stone and put it in his mouth.Then he drank a little stream water, washed his face with it, regained his spirits, and began to look around. May I have your name? They call me Arwen. Everyone was still looking for firewood, all they wanted was to have a raging fire, boil some water, and eat something. Awen said that there are several caves over there, and maybe some dead leaves can be found to make a fire.Fan Shitian remembered that this place was called Yantian Cave.Arwen went out every night to find something to eat, and walked all the way to the beach.I was hungry and tired during the day, so I hid in the cave to sleep.How far are they from the sea now?Only one or two kilometers.From where they sat, they could smell the strong saltwater, mixed with the smell of wet bark and leaves nearby. There's a hole over there with six or seven coffins in it, not far from here. ah!don't want.Yi Su and Li Hua yelled at the same time.Fan Shitian smiled. Ah Wen's face is really small, with a round chin.His pair of eyes are like two pools of water, shining brightly. I mean to tell you that there is a bench under the coffin.You say, if we move one of them, won't we bother the dead? Will do.Fan Shitian said that this idea is not encouraged. Fan Shitian was very worried.James' group hadn't come yet, and he hoped that Cai Shan would find them smoothly.Mr. Duan was wearing Yi Su's coat, trembling.A Xue and Xiao Ya'er were still wearing wet clothes. Will you show me those caves? Awen stood up happily.He moves as if he is not used to walking, as if looking for his missing leg.Then his steps began to have a wobbly rhythm.He looked back, staring at everyone, a smile spread across his face. Do you think your parents are dead? Of course dead, I saw them fall off the cliff.I was very scared, so I ran to the river. Fan Shitian knew that many people fell off the Yanzi Cliff and died.However, I would rather fall to the bottom of the cliff to my death than be caught back and sent to the smelly cave west of Shenzhen Station.Many people who were captured died in that cave; those who survived were released and sent back to their hometowns. I saw many ghosts.Awen said. real? Yes, I saw it at night. Did you see it with your own eyes? Yes, I saw it with my own eyes.Some are only two feet high.They peeped at the entrance of the cave and left.Some were thirty feet high, and they were walking up and down on the hill, screaming, and the sound was carried far, far away on the hill. what do you do then I?I just hid in the corner of the cave, curled up as much as possible and slept. Are you not afraid of hedgehogs? not afraid.They are great companions.They are huddled together, I think for warmth.They separated for a while, and huddled together for a while, making small noises.They don't care about me, and I don't care about them. They walked to the cave where the coffins were placed, and sure enough, as Awen said, there were seven coffins lined up in a row.These coffins have probably been sitting there for several years.This is a local custom. When the family members of the deceased are unable to transport the coffin back to their hometown for burial, they temporarily place the coffin in a cave. It's hard to say what a person will do when he's at a loss.Fan Shitian didn't want to go back empty-handed. If Mr. Duan or Xiao Ya'er fell ill, it would endanger everyone's safety.Fan Shitian's thinking is as calm and precise as a scientist.He thought, should he take the bench under the coffin?Still carrying a sick old man on his back, risking crossing the river and crossing the border. It doesn't matter.Seeing that Fan Shitian was standing still, Ah Wen said to Fan Shitian: "The people lying in these coffins are all quiet and good people. Once, I thought someone was chasing me, so I hid under the coffin!" did you spend the night here No.When it was getting dark, I hid here for half an hour.When that person is gone, I will run up the mountain.Do you think the dead are unhappy? No, I really don't think so. The coffin was big and heavy.Some were cheap pine, some mahogany, but all were nailed together of strong diagonal planks.They chose a smaller coffin, probably able to pull out the bench underneath. Come, help me, I will carry the coffin, you will draw the bench. Would you like to say a few words, please forgive the dead!Awen asked. Fan Shitian looked at him lovingly and said: You should do it. Arwen patted the coffin lightly, knelt on the ground, and clasped his little hands together. Dear ghost whoever you are.I'm just a refugee, a little kid.Many of us are by the river, cold and hungry.Please forgive me, we are not trying to violate you.We just want to use your bench to make a fire.sorry for bothering.OK?okay? He stood up and said: He said yes. Did he say that? He didn't say it was bad, did he?He was very quiet and didn't move.He doesn't care. Be careful now.Take your time.Fan Shitian said.Standing with his legs apart, he lifted the coffin from the bench.Arwen pulled the bench, moving only a few inches at a time.Fan Shitian thought to himself, if Ah Zhao was here, he would have pulled out the bench in no time. Now, pump up!He said. Arwen pulled out the stool hard, but not fast enough.The coffin fell, turned sideways, touched the stool, and fell to the ground with a loud crash.The other end of the coffin was still leaning against the stool. Fan Shitian pushed hard, and the whole coffin fell to the ground, and there was a loud bang and it shook. Oh!Did you hear anything?Awen asked. No. I heard it. You can only imagine. Fan Shitian thought it was a little naive and ridiculous to go out with a child to steal things.Of course he wants two benches. Each of them carried a bench between them and went back the same way. Everyone was very happy.They knocked the two stools apart on the stones, and at once a fire was kindled.The fire crackled and they put some wet twigs on it. It was almost three o'clock in the afternoon, and the fire was especially lovely on this bleak October day.Lihua and Fan Shitian help keep the fire burning.Every time the flames rose and made a thin crackle, they threw twigs into the fire.They stood around the fire, content to enjoy the soft hissing of the leaves in the fire. Yi Su asked her father to take off his coat, stand close to the fire, and wring out the hem of his wet clothes.When he was dry on one side, he turned his back on the fire.Axue also helped Xiao Ya'er do it. Dad, how do you feel now?Yi Su asked. much better!Mr. Duan said.Yi Su could tell that her father was very tired and his face shrank from the cold. Burning wood and hot ashes stabilized the fire. It's time for them to come back.Fan Shitian said.They didn't know how far Cai Shan went to find James and the others. Dad, take off your coat and put on my coat.You can't dry it like this. Yi Su helped her father take off the padded jacket, and wrapped her own coat around him.Then she bent down, leaned close to the hot ashes, and dried it bit by bit, watching the heat slowly coming out of the padded jacket, touching every part of the clothes until she was satisfied. Ashue's face was red and hot now.She squatted in front of Xiao Ya'er, leaned over to chat with him softly, while turning his body.There was a look of pride on her face.Old Mr. Duan saw it and thought to himself, it was a lucky thing that they saved Ah Xue's life. Axue, Mr. Duan said, let Xiao Yaer come to me, and you can warm up the fire yourself. Fan Shitian was restless.He walked away to see if there were any shadows of James and the others.He came back disappointed. Suddenly they heard a sound like a child's voice.The sound came from the most unexpected place, above the mountain stream. Fan Shitian raised his head immediately, and a figure jumped down from the mountain, jumping from one stone to another.It's Ah Zhao!Cai Shan and the others followed slowly. Let's all go forward to see it together. Thank God they are all safe.Yi Su murmured. Ashe opened her eyes wide, looking at a person walking behind. That's my sir!And who were those three people with him? These people gradually approached, they were covered for a while, and then exposed for a while, walking slowly down the mountain stream.Obviously, Cai Shan took them another way. I could see the smoke half a mile away.Azhao arrived bouncing and bouncing.Cai Shan said that this is very dangerous.