"Wanwan, I'm sorry, big brother didn't mean to hit you."
Da Lang saw Jiang Wan turn her head away and refuse to look at him. He was anxious and quickly signaled Er Lang to help him say a good word, so that their little sister wouldn't go home and complain. Otherwise, his parents would skin him alive.
Er Lang, gloating, carried Jiang Wan on his back and deliberately said, "Wanwan, don't be afraid. Second brother is here. Second brother will protect you and guarantee that big brother won't hit you again. Later, second brother will testify for you and let dad beat him to vent your anger!"
Da Lang was so angry he wanted to hit someone.
By the time they returned to the camp, it was almost completely dark.
Jiang Pan and Chen Yuezhi stood nervously at the entrance to the mountains, looking out. Seeing figures approaching in the twilight, they hurried to ask, "Is that Da Lang and Er Lang?"
"Dad, Mom, it's us!"
Er Lang, carrying Jiang Wan, ran to his parents and was about to complain.
Unexpectedly, Jiang Wan beat him to it: "Dad, Mom, we rescued a mother and son, and we've brought back some bad news."
The couple quickly swallowed their words of concern for their children and asked, "What happened? Is there someone in these mountains?"
Jiang Wan pointed to the mother and son who had been following them. "You should ask that auntie. She can explain it in more detail."
The woman hurried forward with her child and bowed to Jiang Pan and Chen Yuezhi. "You two are the parents of our little benefactors, aren't you? Thank you for raising such brave little benefactors who saved our mother and son. Please accept our bow."
Saying this, she pulled her son back a step and bowed sincerely to Jiang Pan and his wife.
The couple quickly avoided the bow. Chen Yuezhi stepped forward and gently supported her, saying, "Madam, there's no need to be so polite. When we are out, it is natural to help each other. We don't deserve such a gesture. I just don't know how you and your young son ended up in these desolate mountains?"
The woman's eyes reddened, and tears began to roll down her cheeks. "To tell you the truth, I am the daughter of the prefect of Huaian Prefecture. My husband, Su Ruhai, is the magistrate of Yao County in Jiangnan. My mother passed away, and I was returning to my hometown with my child to attend the funeral. When we passed through Tongzhou, we encountered the heavy rain a few days ago, and the official road was destroyed. So, I asked someone to find a guide to take this path. Who knew..."
At this point, the woman's face turned deathly pale. "We encountered a wolf pack not far ahead. My guards were all quite skilled and could have protected my son and me. But I never expected those beasts to be so cunning and understand the tactic of luring the tiger away from its mountain. They scattered all my guards. My son and I were only able to climb that tree and temporarily save our lives under the escort of loyal servants. If it weren't for the timely intervention of our little benefactors today, my son and I would probably have been devoured by wolves by now."
Thinking of the loyal servants and guards who might have been reduced to mere bones, Madam Cheng couldn't help but cry again.
Jiang Pan, however, asked urgently, "May I ask Madam Cheng, how many wolves were there?"
Madam Cheng's eyes were filled with terror. "Many, at least one or two hundred, or even more."
Jiang Pan's expression also suddenly tightened. He said to Chen Yuezhi, "You take care of Madam Cheng and Young Master Su first. I must go and discuss this with the village elder immediately."
This matter of the wolf pack was too significant for him to decide alone.
Chen Yuezhi's heart also sank. She glanced at the forest, always feeling that a pack of ferocious wolves with bared fangs could rush out of the dark woods at any moment.
However, she couldn't lose her composure now. She suppressed her fear and said to Madam Cheng, "Madam Cheng, please come with me. I see you seem to have some injuries. I happen to know some basic medical skills and can bandage them for you first."
Madam Cheng's face was full of gratitude. "Thank you, Mrs. Jiang."
Chen Yuezhi smiled and said, "Madam Cheng, you don't need to be so polite. I am just a country woman. How can I be worthy of the title of Madam? I look a few years older than you. If Madam Cheng doesn't mind, you can just call me Sister Jiang."
Madam Cheng immediately replied, "Then Sister Jiang, don't be so formal with me either. Call me Sister Cheng."
Chen Yuezhi felt that Madam Cheng was very amiable. She took Jiang Wan's hand and led Madam Cheng and her son into the group.
With two new faces arriving, the villagers were very curious and kept looking at them.
Chen Yuezhi was afraid Madam Cheng would be unhappy, so she said, "Sister Cheng, please don't mind. Country folk haven't seen much of the world, and with the current times, everyone is a bit cautious and timid. They mean no harm."
Madam Cheng smiled and said, "It's alright. It's I who have caused trouble for everyone."
Reaching their carriage, Chen Yuezhi took out her medicine box and went into the carriage to examine Madam Cheng's injuries.
Madam Cheng's injuries were not serious, mostly superficial. There was a scratch on her leg from a wolf's claw that needed careful attention.
Jiang Pan found the village elder and explained the situation. The village elder's face also turned pale.
After a while, the village elder managed to digest the news and then stood up to look at the villagers who were busy roasting their prey.
"Don't spread the word about this matter yet. I'll go and see Madam Cheng first."
Jiang Pan brought the village elder to their carriage. The village elder said, "Is Madam Cheng here? I am the former village elder of Little Mountain Village, and I have come to ask Madam Cheng for some information."
Madam Cheng quickly came out of the carriage, and the village elder bowed to her first.
As the few people were discussing matters, Jiang Lao Er, smelling the aroma of roasted meat, gulped hard.
The roasted meat from last night was really delicious, but unfortunately, there wasn't much of it. So, he decided to wait by the bonfire early tonight to try and snatch some more.
He had only taken a few steps when he heard that Jiang Pan's family had picked up a mother and son from somewhere, and that the clothes on the mother and son looked very valuable.
Jiang Lao Er immediately became interested and quickly turned his feet towards Jiang Pan's carriage.
When he got there, he was shocked by the information he heard.
A wolf pack of over two hundred! And they had already injured the woman's servants and guards! And they could rush towards their group at any moment!
Jiang Lao Er's legs immediately went weak with fear.
Then he heard Jiang Pan say, "This matter is too serious. I will tell everyone later, and we will discuss how to proceed together."
The village elder said, "This is the only way. This matter is too serious, and neither of us can make a decision. Da Pan, your true test has arrived. You must fulfill your responsibility as village elder and lead the people of Little Mountain Village safely out of this wolf's den."
Jiang Lao Er scoffed inwardly. What ability did Jiang Pan, a mere peasant, have to lead over four hundred people safely out of this godforsaken place?
He might even lead them all to their deaths.
However, if this matter were handled properly, it would definitely lower Jiang Pan's status in the hearts of the villagers.
Although doing so would not benefit him, he simply couldn't stand seeing Jiang Pan being smug, nor did he want Jiang Pan to be the village elder and be superior to him.
This time, he had to find a way to pull Jiang Pan down from the position of village elder!