We returned to where we had come up, taking the ropes from the two men and tying them together. They had lived in the jungle for years and always carried a rope more than two meters long, just in case.
The two men had come to check if we had been completely eaten by leopards or swallowed by pythons. They didn't expect to encounter us after only a few steps.
We took off their clothes and exchanged them with ours. They were wearing grass-green military uniforms, which would provide good camouflage.
They put on our clothes, then held onto the rope and sent each other down.
I said, "Brother, bear with us for a moment. Someone will surely look for you if you don't return later."
They both looked miserable. We had their clothes and weapons, so they dared not utter a single word of protest.
I called Wen Siqiang and urged him to quickly figure out something to eat, and then capture an informant to leave.
We retraced our steps. This time, the road was very quiet; we didn't encounter any soldiers who had come in.
Wearing their sweaty uniforms was very uncomfortable. In truth, our own clothes weren't much better; after the ordeal of the previous night, they were also reeking.
We slowly approached the tents, which were close to each other. I told Wen Siqiang to pull down his cap brim, walk in boldly, and not let them see through us.
It was mealtime, and everyone was rushing with their plates towards one of the tents. We had no plates, and going empty-handed would surely give us away. So, we looked at the nearby tents to see if any were unoccupied.
After getting their food, the soldiers ate outside, and most of the tents were empty.
We swaggered into a larger tent. Inside, there was a row of ground mats. We looked around and indeed saw two empty plates placed on the ground.
However, they were quite dirty, probably just thrown there after eating without being washed.
We were so hungry that our stomachs were sticking to our backs. We didn't care about cleanliness at that point. We picked them up, wiped them with our sleeves, and quickly went out, catching up with the soldiers ahead and following their steps into the tent that served as the mess hall.
Upon entering, we saw a large barrel of rice. Following their example, we scooped a few shovelfuls of rice into our plates and then joined the queue at the food serving station.
The person dishing out the food was grumbling and urging us to hurry. He even shook the ladle after serving the food, as if afraid of giving too much.
In reality, there was just stir-fried green vegetables and stir-fried celery with a little minced meat, and even that was a meager portion.
We didn't dare be picky. We quickly held up our plates and ran out.
We hurried a few steps and found a secluded spot, squatting down to quickly fill our stomachs.
There was no soup, and we didn't dare eat too quickly, as choking would be no joke.
Although very hungry, neither of us dared to swallow large mouthfuls. Their rice was cooked very dry and a bit hard, cooked in those large iron pots. Each grain was distinct, like coarse sand.
I mixed the stir-fried dishes with the rice to make it easier to swallow.
I heard the sound of a gathering whistle, as if something had happened. It was likely that the two men who went out to search for us had not returned, and soldiers had been dispatched to find them.
This was because I saw two small teams running towards where we had come from earlier.
We hid in the bushes, where people outside wouldn't easily find us, but we could see the outside.
I told Wen Siqiang, "When they discover we're missing, they'll surely search the mountain. Let's leave here quickly."
As I spoke, I quickly took a few bites, urging Wen Siqiang to hurry.
It seemed that capturing an informant wouldn't be easy. Let's leave here first and then make plans.
We ran down the slope for two or three hundred meters. Based on my memory from yesterday, we had been climbing uphill, so by following the downhill path now, our general direction should be correct.
Even though our eyes were covered, I could estimate from the time that it was about three to four li, not too far.
Since they were managing and protecting this poppy field, being too far away would render their efforts meaningless.
We stumbled downhill and had reached the foot of the mountain. Judging by the time, we should be able to see the poppy flowers.
However, we searched for a long time but didn't see any flat areas; it was all mountains connected to mountains.
We had gone the wrong way.
I couldn't discern the direction. It wasn't morning, and relying on sunrise could help determine east, south, west, and north. Now the sun was almost directly overhead, making it difficult to distinguish.
Then again, even if we could tell east, south, west, and north, it would be useless, as we had no idea which direction the poppy field was in.
In the mountains, one only needs to remember the path; direction is meaningless.
I asked Wen Siqiang, "Do we still need to cross a mountain?"
Wen Siqiang replied, "We definitely need to cross a mountain, but which mountain?"
I said, "Let's just go in the direction we came down and cross this highest mountain."
Wen Siqiang said, "I don't think it has to be a high mountain. They wouldn't set up camp so far from the poppies. Perhaps crossing a small hill would suffice."
What Wen Siqiang said seemed reasonable. When they set up camp, they would first consider safety and then proximity, as being too far would be inconvenient for troop deployment.
We found a relatively low slope and climbed it.
The path on this mountain was clearly trodden, indicating that many people frequently used it. It seemed Wen Siqiang's guess was correct; this path likely led to the poppy field.
We reached the summit, panting. The vegetation was too dense, and we couldn't see the area below at all.
Fortunately, there was a clear path leading down the mountain. Without pausing, we hurried down.
Thanks to those shovelfuls of rice, although a bit dry, they truly sustained our hunger and gave us the strength to run.
The slope wasn't steep; within a few minutes, we reached the foot of the mountain. Stepping out of the bushes, our eyes suddenly lit up. This was indeed the poppy field we had come to yesterday.
I didn't dare act rashly and checked for sentries. We split up to scout and checked repeatedly, but found no signs of sentries.
Only then did we tentatively walk out. We quickly found the place where we had been ambushed yesterday. I stood there, oriented myself, and then pointed to a mountain path not far away, saying that was the way.
Wen Siqiang didn't voice any opinion this time; he just nodded and followed me.
I remembered this place clearly; it was where the guide had parted ways with us yesterday. There was a large banyan tree, which I recalled vividly.
I said, "This is it. Let's get ready to go."
Only then did we both breathe a sigh of relief. Taking this path out, we didn't encounter any garrison. Moreover, after walking a few more li, we would reach a small town, where we would be completely safe.
We took off the military uniforms. Wearing them was too uncomfortable. Once we started sweating, they stuck to our bodies, and we probably developed heat rash.
I said, "Let's throw away the uniform jackets first and then the guns when we get out of the mountains."
Fortunately, we both had kept one of our own shirts, so we wouldn't be bare-chested after taking off our jackets.
We found a mountain spring stream, washed ourselves, drank plenty of water, and then set off.