To an outsider, seeing the two of them trailing behind a group of people, it would certainly look like they had run into some acquaintances. It was likely that no one was thinking about them anymore during the journey.

Cheng Ying felt much more settled. As for Chi Wu’s worries about being lost, Cheng Ying never even considered it.

What a joke; could she get lost? She wouldn't have survived all these years for nothing.

Chi Wu and the others followed the group for half an hour, eventually trailing them right into the village. A man in his forties spoke up, “Young folks, visiting relatives?

Whose children are you? Do you know the way?” Cheng Ying replied, “Uncle, we are going back to our village, from Dahe Township.

Is this right?” The old man stopped the vehicle. “Oh, young lady, you’ve taken the wrong way.” Cheng Ying said, “Ah, wrong?” The old man confirmed, “Exactly.

You need to go back the way you came. When you hit the paved road, follow it that way, and you’ll get there.” Cheng Ying asked, “Go back?

So going forward won't work?” The old man chuckled, “Haha, it does lead there, but it’s a long detour. You two would have to ask around for quite a while, but it’s not too far; you’ll reach the main road soon enough.” Chi Wu breathed a sigh of relief; not having to backtrack was a blessing.

They both glanced behind them—there truly was no one following. Cheng Ying said, “Thank you, Uncle,” then got back in the vehicle, and the two happily drove away.

Cheng Ying hoped she had just been scaring herself, but taking a detour to avoid unknown dangers was absolutely necessary. Cheng Ying and Chi Wu asked for directions all the way until they finally returned to the main road.

Chi Wu’s legs felt utterly weak. Cheng Ying offered, “I’ll take you for a bit.” Chi Wu clutched the sack, but he didn't have Cheng Ying’s easygoing attitude—not afraid of dirt or dampness.

He held the bag tightly against his chest, not letting go. Cheng Ying thought to herself, Looking at his demeanor, whatever’s in there must be good stuff.

What a slow mind this kid has. But since there was no one else around, she let it go.

This trip had clearly terrified the child. Cheng Ying tried to comfort herself that way, yet her own heart was still fluttering with uncertainty.

There was no firm ground beneath them. So many people hadn’t had enough to eat these days.

Going out to find some grain—it wasn't impossible. Otherwise, why would the township hold those public sentencing meetings?

Those being sentenced were all bad people, weren't they? Cheng Ying poured all the physical strength she had built up over the last six months into pedaling the bicycle.

Her speed was brisk. She strained with every muscle.

Cheng Ying pedaled for over two hours straight until the sun disappeared and the moon came out. Only then did they spot the familiar township.

Cheng Ying’s legs felt numb; she didn't even know how she managed to get off the bike. The two stood on the dirt road of the township.

Cheng Ying hugged Chi Wu, overwhelmed, and started crying. Was it easy for her to make it back alive?

Chi Wu reached out to touch her tears and said, “I’m with you.” Cheng Ying said, “No rush. Let’s find a spot to eat the dry rations first.

I’m exhausted.” This was spoken after her emotions had stabilized. Chi Wu nodded, “Mmm, we can’t let our guard down.” Cheng Ying thought to herself with annoyance, How embarrassing.

“Hmph. Once I get rich later, the first thing I’ll buy is a car, so I never have to suffer like this again.” Chi Wu found a large stone by the roadside and motioned for Cheng Ying to sit.

He took out the water canteen and the dry rations. He sat by the sack, and they began to eat.

Whenever a passerby approached, Chi Wu watched them as if they were thieves. Cheng Ying thought, Let’s hurry up and go.

We’ll be safe once we get home. The people in the township were different from those in the village; the night was dark, yet people were still wandering around.

Cheng Ying felt deeply resentful. Chi Wu said, “Stop crying.

I’m here. It’s fine.” Chi Wu said this as he relaxed, wiping tears away, but it sounded thoroughly unreliable.

Cheng Ying shot back, “Will you say that when Old Madam finds out and wants to discipline me?” Cheng Ying’s current anxiety was how Old Madam would handle her when she learned the truth. Cheng Ying was already starting to feel a phantom ache in her skin.

Chi Wu’s thoughts were led astray by her, and after serious consideration, he replied, “Then maybe we shouldn’t.” Cheng Ying angrily punched Chi Wu’s back a few times. “You ungrateful wretch!” Chi Wu, who had been eating, sputtered, spitting out his food.

He took a sip of water. “What are you doing?” Passersby would only see a couple bickering playfully like young children.

Who would guess that sitting beneath Chi Wu’s rear were five stacks of ten-yuan bills? When Cheng Ying and Chi Wu set off again, their mindset had improved significantly; at least they weren't jumping at shadows anymore.

Cheng Ying figured this change was partly because they were back in familiar territory; they had been to the township several times now. However, there was a downside: both their arms and legs were somewhat weak, and they felt drained of energy.

They rode the bike as slowly as an old ox. Cheng Ying knew they had both been deeply frightened and were now suffering from exhaustion.

Lacking the earlier burst of energy, the rest of the journey, even fueled by the excitement of five thousand yuan, left them both mentally and physically depleted. By the time they reached home, it was well past midnight.

Cheng Ying pushed open the gate of their yard and felt only one thing: Finally, safety. Finally, I can rest.

Chi Wu collapsed by the door, motionless for a long time before getting up. Cheng Ying felt a pang of guilt toward an eleven-year-old child.

Thinking about it now sent a chill down her spine. Look how tired and frightened she had made the boy.

Cheng Ying called out, “Mom, we’re back!” When Yang Zhi opened the door for Cheng Ying, she saw the two children sprawled on the ground, next to a dirty sack and a cloth bag. Yang Zhi exclaimed, “Oh my, you two are so late!

You should have stayed at your maternal grandfather’s house. Why did you run back in the middle of the night?” Chi Wu shot Yang Zhi a strange look.

“Mom, I’m going to sleep first.” Without even looking at Cheng Ying, he turned and entered the east room. For Chi Wu, all he wanted was a deep sleep.

He didn't want to worry about anything else. This past day and a half had been more than enough for him.

Cheng Ying thought, This kid has matured; he actually knows how to evade trouble. But today was too tiring, and Cheng Ying didn't want to say anything more.

She picked up the sack and headed to the backyard. Of course, she didn't forget to speak to Yang Zhi: “Mom, I can’t sleep at home.

I’m not comfortable outside.” Chi Wu, listening from the east room, would have burst out laughing if he hadn’t been too weak. Isn't it true that you can’t sleep at home?

Yang Zhi looked at her daughter. “Oh?

You don’t usually have this problem. What’s wrong?” Old Madam saw that Chi Wu looked listless and didn't press the issue.

“Go to sleep first.” As for washing up, that could wait until the children woke up. In Old Madam’s view, Chi Wu must have been cycling the entire way with Cheng Ying, and that must have exhausted him.

How much strength could two legs on such a young child possibly have? By the time Old Madam came out, Cheng Ying had already hidden the sack away.

So, Old Madam didn't see the bag. But seeing how similar Cheng Ying and Chi Wu looked, she wondered, Why are these two children dragging back like they were hauling large stones?

“Wash up first; you’ll sleep better.” Cheng Ying shook her head. “Tomorrow.” She just wanted to lie down on the kang.

Two nights and one day—her nerves had been too tightly wound. Yang Zhi started to say something, seeing her daughter’s lethargy.

Old Madam shot her a glare, stopping her. “Then get on the kang and rest.

We’ll talk about it tomorrow.” Cheng Ying nodded and lifted the curtain to enter the room. Cheng Ying felt like she had fallen asleep the moment she lifted the curtain.

As for getting onto the kang, she didn't even know how she managed it. Old Madam watched the two children fall asleep the moment they lay down.

She thought, They must have been out having the time of their lives. How wild must they have played to be this exhausted?

She turned to Yang Zhi, who had followed her in. “You go sleep.

I’ll take care of them.” Yang Zhi replied, “Mom, I can do it. It’s already midnight.

You should rest.” Old Madam insisted, “No need. You sleep.

Aren’t you going up to the mountain to dig seedlings early tomorrow morning?” Yang Zhi murmured, “Yes.” Old Madam poured a pot of hot water and went into the room with a towel to wipe the children’s faces and feet. Only after making them clean did she climb onto the kang to sleep.

The noise of undressing Cheng Ying and Chi Wu was considerable, yet neither child woke up. Old Madam even rubbed Chi Wu’s calves vigorously for a while.

If Cheng Ying had seen that, she would have been furious. I wasn’t idle either!

My legs are cramped too! Why don't I get that treatment?

Cheng Ying and Chi Wu slept until noon the next day. Old Madam had cooked them cold noodle soup, though it was still a mix of white flour and corn flour.

Cheng Ying and Chi Wu each ate an entire basin, which made Old Madam worry they would burst. “Did your maternal grandfather not feed you both?” Cheng Ying looked up.

“How could that be?” Chi Wu kept eating without a word. Cheng Ying can explain it away.

Let her talk. Cheng Ying realized the helplessness that came with telling more lies: one lie demanded another to support it.

It seemed she needed to confess everything to Old Madam quickly. But at the moment, Cheng Ying lacked the courage.

She decided to secretly finalize the land lease first. The money was spent; it couldn’t be recovered anyway.

Cheng Ying was resolved to be stubborn to the end. After watching them finish eating, Old Madam went to bring food to Yang Zhi and the others.

“You two rest well at home. Don’t just think about running off, understand?” Cheng Ying replied, “Yes, I understand,” her tone exceptionally obedient, even more so than usual.

In Chi Wu’s eyes, this was all an act. He felt disdain, but unfortunately, they were now in the same boat; they couldn’t separate.

Once Old Madam left, Chi Wu asked, “Where did you put the money pouch?” Cheng Ying said, “In the backyard.” Chi Wu panicked. “Do you think it’s winter?

Don’t let rats get to it!” Cheng Ying shot up instantly. The two rushed to the backyard and dragged out the sack.

Thankfully, the rats hadn't made off with it. Cheng Ying glared at Chi Wu, annoyed that he had just ruined the calm atmosphere by getting nervous.

Chi Wu sighed in relief when he saw the money. It was good that everything was fine; that money had not been easy to come by.

But the moment they looked at the money, they both became troubled again. They were worried without money, but they were even more worried with it.

This money felt hot in their hands. Chi Wu asked, “What should we do?

Are we just going to give it to the team leader like this?” Cheng Ying countered, “It won’t work if just the two of us go. We need signatures, and our signatures won’t count.” Chi Wu’s biggest headache was, “Where are we supposed to keep this money from now on?

It’s driving me crazy!” Cheng Ying looked at Chi Wu and suddenly burst into laughter. “Hahahaha!” Chi Wu frowned.

What’s so funny? He was genuinely annoyed.

Cheng Ying wiped her tears. “In the future, I’ll focus my ambitions right here.

Your ambition is so high, you’re already worrying about having nowhere to put your money.” Thinking about it, that was quite a lofty goal. Chi Wu was exasperated.

He was truly worried about Cheng Ying, yet she was laughing. Chi Wu said, “The village needs five hundred.

If we pay it out yearly, that’s only fifty yuan a year.” Cheng Ying glared at him. “Then we’ll just buy it outright.

Permanently!” Chi Wu, having just emerged from the collective era, stared, unable to comprehend. They had just fought off the landlords, and now this girl wanted to aim for becoming a great landlord?

“How is that possible?”

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