Chapter 104: Chapter 102: Encirclement, Take Them All

Xiao Chenxing and Hongguo didn’t say a word, just silently picked up their weapons. Xiao Chenye looked at Wen Ran’s back, worried, gritted his teeth, “Let’s go!”

The whole family joined the melee, and with the negative buff brought by the mushrooms, the bandits were clearly taken care of.

No one let down their guard, everyone carefully searched the bodies, and Wen Ran made some mushroom powder, mixed it up and gave each person more than half a bowl.

“Alright,” Wen Ran wiped the sweat off her forehead, “That’s it, tie them up.”

Hongguo stirred the lamb soup, “Sis! The lamb is stewed to perfection.”

“Got it!”

The aroma of the lamb soup was enticing, and after this interruption, Wen Ran’s stomach started growling.

“Let’s eat first,” Mrs. Xiao panted, “We’ll have the strength to handle them after we’re full.”

“Okay!”

Fresh lamb stew—so tender, the meat stewed to softness, they devoured more than half of the pot.

None was wasted, they cooled it down and planned to take it with them when they left.

“What should we do with these people now?”

Mrs. Xiao was troubled, “Leave them, they’ll wreak havoc when they wake up. Killing them…”

From the bottom of her heart, Mrs. Xiao didn’t want to do it. The Xiao Family was decent, they weren’t suited for such violence.

“Let’s take them with us, no matter what they did, we can’t handle it. We’re going to find Brother Three.

When we hand them over to him, let them decide what to do.”

Xiao Chenye, usually silent, spoke concisely, “I just took a look, there are three flat carts here that can fit everyone.”

Wen Ran agreed eagerly, “Take these cows and sheep too! And the horses.”

“Take them.”

Might as well.

It’s a reward for bravery, but if the military zone requires handing them over…

Then hand them over!

At least they ate a young lamb, not too bad.

Mrs. Xiao was also holding back, almost emptied the little felt bag, especially the two iron pots, those were treasures, whether for her daughter or to take back.

Scarce resources.

“Are you okay?”

Xiao Chenye and Wen Ran were handling the horses and flat carts outside, seeing Wen Ran lively, he was still worried, “How did you manage?”

His face was hard to describe, “That one calling for mom…”

“Poisonous mushrooms, eating them causes hallucinations.”

Wen Ran smiled cheekily, “Same as last time when trying to trick the wolves, but failed.”

This time, she found closure.

“Didn’t you eat it too?” Xiao Chenye became nervous, “Dizzy? Any discomfort?”

“Huh? Me?” Wen Ran blinked, wanted to say she didn’t eat, but…

“It’s fine,” she reassured, “I ate very little, just a bite or two, I’ll sleep it off on the road.”

Everything was ready, then they encountered a new problem.

Everyone looked at each other, Mrs. Xiao was confused, “Which way do we go?”

Good question, better not ask next time.

The vast prairie, sparse population, no way to ask directions, Mrs. Xiao anxiously twisted Mr. Xiao’s ear, “It’s all your fault, I told you to go according to the time, but you wouldn’t listen, buzzing like a fly.

We came early, and now no one’s picking us up, can’t even find our way back.”

Mr. Xiao cried out in pain, “Ouch ouch ouch, dear, have some dignity, the kids are watching!”

“If you want dignity, why not have some brains?! If you hadn’t buzzed like that, changed the time on a whim, we wouldn’t have come three days early and met all these troubles!”

“I saw you were anxious, alright, alright, I was wrong, even if you twist off my ear, it won’t help.”

The younger ones looked at the sky, the ground, just not at the playful old couple.

Xiao Chenye’s lips curled slightly, “What should we do now?”

Wen Ran rubbed her chin, “Where’s the old man who drives the cart?”

“Tied up in the carriage.”

“Wake him up, let him lead us.”

Xiao Chenye’s eyes lit up, “You’ve got to hand it to you, you’re quick-witted, wait here, I’ll get him out.”

With few carriages and lots of people, moving the old man from the crowd took considerable effort.

He had eaten little stew, a bowl of water woke him right up.

Opening his eyes, gaze dazed, Wen Ran discreetly dipped her finger in the bowl, secretly used some spring water, and had Xiao Chenye pour it into him.

Casually he added, “A sip, to wake him up.”

“Okay.”

Two minutes later, the old man was awake.

Earlier so boastful, now sobbing profusely.

“Alright, stop wailing, lead the way, get us there, we can speak well for you.”

The old man hesitated, “Can we do that?”

Wen Ran quietly drew out her dagger, concisely, “Can, can’t, live or die, it’s up to you.”

“…I’ll lead the way.”

The journey was bumpy, by the time they reached Xiao Chenyue’s settlement, it was twilight.

Looking at the little girl on the bed, neck stiffened, crying out loud, Xiao Chenyue’s eyes were full of tenderness, “Oh, Chenguang, if you’re not free tomorrow, I’ll go to the station to pick up mom and dad.”

“No need,” Xiao Chengguang said while eating, “I’ll go.”

“You’re busy lately, aren’t you?”

“It’s not safe for you, especially with a child,” Xiao Chengguang frowned, explaining, “Lately don’t run around, prairie drifters are committing crimes, haven’t caught them yet.”

“Huh?” Xiao Chenyue was worried, “Then mom and dad…”

“It’s fine, I’m here, don’t worry.”

The siblings hadn’t settled it when a neighbor appeared, bursting in and knocking on the door with a grin, “Aren’t you two still eating?

Your family is already here, lots and lots.”

Xiao Chenyue: “?”

Xiao Chengguang: “?”

They were confused, six people weren’t exactly a lot.

Xiao Chengguang grabbed his coat, Xiao Chenyue hurriedly dressed the child, casually asked, “How many people?”

“Twenty or thirty!”

Twenty or thirty?!

The siblings were astonished.

No way.

Even counting the family of four, plus Xiao Wen and Hongguo, it’s just six.

Not right.

With Xiao Chengguang holding the child, Xiao Chenyue raced ahead, tears pouring seeing their parents standing at the village entrance.

Tears fell like beads from a broken string, sobbing, couldn’t even call mom and dad, “Mom~”

Mrs. Xiao looked at her daughter, too moved to speak.

Good good, not mistreated, her face plump.

Mother and daughter cried together, only Xiao Chengguang, his eyes on the horses that couldn’t fit, and ten horses, five sheep, two cows following behind.

Xiao Chengguang: “…”

He looked at his brother, “What did you do?”

“Ran into some troublemakers,” Xiao Chenye said casually, “So, seized their hideout, even brought the people back for you.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep