Xiao Shan had confirmed that Xue Niang recognized him, which only deepened his confusion about her identity.
When had she ever met him?
He had always stayed in the border town, returning to the capital only once a year. Each visit was brief, lasting only a few days for reporting duties. The longest stay was about a month, two years ago. It was during that visit that he had seen a figure resembling Xue Niang in a peach grove.
However, he remembered clearly that the woman had not turned around at all, completely unaware of his presence behind her.
Xue Niang's menstrual cycle this time had not caused her too much suffering. After the initial few days of fatigue, she was able to get out of bed. According to Qu Linglong's prognosis, the first few cycles might be difficult, but they would become regular and smooth later on. Her body appeared to be recovering well.
Xiao Shan did not go to build houses for the past two days. He had been taking care of Xue Niang and fixing the leaky parts of their home. On the fifth day, the village chief came to visit.
With a troubled expression, he recounted the events. It turned out that yesterday, a few villagers, unable to make ends meet, had decided to band together and head into the mountains. By today, they had not returned. Their anxious wives had come to him for help.
After much deliberation, the village chief thought that while they had lived at the foot of the mountains for generations, Xiao Shan was the most familiar with Qingyun Mountain. Moreover, he was skilled in martial arts and could retreat safely even if he encountered wild beasts. This was why he had come to Xiao Shan's home.
"Xiao Shan, I am at my wit's end. Several lives are at stake, and each of them has a family to support. Can you help? It won't be for nothing; every household in the village will contribute some grain to you. What do you say?"
Faced with the pleading gaze of an elder who cared for his villagers and the prospect of several lives being lost, Xiao Shan, despite his aversion to meddling, could not stand by and do nothing.
"I don't need the grain. Let me be clear upfront: anything can happen after spending a night in the mountains. If we encounter a wolf pack, there might not even be bones left. I will only be responsible for following the tracks. If it leads into dangerous woods, I will not venture further."
Xiao Shan's words were not only for the village chief but also for Xue Niang, who had been listening nearby, her brow furrowed with worry.
The village chief was too grateful to speak. "I understand. You are only responsible for the search. Whether they live or die is their fate. Tell me how many people you need to go with you, and I will find them."
Xiao Shan thought for a moment. He asked the village chief how many villagers had gone into the mountains in total. The mountain forest was dangerous, and more people were not necessarily better, especially ordinary villagers without martial arts skills; they would only be a burden.
He did not know about the others, but Liu Zhuzi and Liu Chengshan were reliable. At least they could follow orders when something happened.
"Tell Zhuzi and Chengshan to go into the mountains with me. We should be back by tomorrow evening at the latest."
This meant they might have to spend a night in the mountains.
This was common for the Xiao Shan of the past. However, lately, Xiao Shan had not been hunting much, and Xue Niang had grown accustomed to him being home every day. Upon hearing that he would not be back tonight, she felt a pang of emptiness.
But this involved several lives, and she could not ask him not to go.
After seeing the village chief off, Xiao Shan pulled Xue Niang into the house.
"Don't worry, I said that deliberately to avoid trouble. Even if we go into dangerous territory and encounter fierce beasts, I won't be afraid. Don't worry, you know I'm not even afraid of tigers."
"What if you encounter a whole family of tigers!"
Xiao Shan chuckled. "Didn't you say before that one mountain cannot accommodate two tigers? Don't worry, tigers hunt alone."
"You said you wouldn't go into dangerous territory."
"Yes, I said that. I won't. Lock the door securely tonight. I'll be back tomorrow." Xiao Shan frowned. He knew Xue Niang was worried, and it warmed his heart. He was also worried about her.
"I need to take Xiao Hu with me. Otherwise, should I ask Wang Xiulan to come and stay with you for the night?"
"No, I'm not afraid."
How could she let someone else sleep in this bed? This was her and Xiao Shan's bed.
Xiao Shan agreed to Xue Niang's wishes, gave her a few more instructions, and then went out. He reappeared from somewhere with a bell, which he hung on the door.
"If there's any movement, the bell will ring. And this dagger, keep it by your bedside." Xiao Shan placed a dagger under Xue Niang's pillow. He grew more uneasy as he spoke. "I'll have to make some mechanisms later. When I'm not home, they can help ward off intruders."
Just then, Liu Zhuzi's voice was heard from outside.
"Hurry up and go. Perhaps if you find them quickly, you'll be back tonight."
"Then I'm leaving." Xiao Shan leaned down, meeting Xue Niang's gaze for a moment, then kissed her cheek. "Your stomach really doesn't hurt anymore, does it?"
"It really doesn't hurt. Hurry up and go, they're calling you." Xue Niang lowered her head and nudged him, but he didn't move.
"Don't worry, they have families to support, and I have a wife to support. I won't put myself in danger."
After saying this, Xiao Shan left. Xue Niang looked up and only saw the corner of his clothes disappear through the door.
She heard Yutou's voice outside, wanting to follow Xiao Shan up the mountain. However, Xiao Shan did not agree. He distributed defensive weapons to Zhuzi and Liu Chengshan. Xiao Hu barked, and their voices gradually faded into the distance.
"Xiao Shan, when you come back, when you come back, I will..."
"Xue Niang, Xue Niang, are you there?"
It was Xu Daniu's voice.
"Xue Niang, I found a good spot. There are many mushrooms growing there. Do you want to go?"
"Yes!"
Xue Niang loved eating fresh mushrooms, especially in soup. She could barely stomach other soups with added astragalus, but she could drink several bowls of mushroom soup.
Xue Niang found a small basket, changed into more practical clothes, and secured the door before heading up the mountain with Xu Daniu.
Shortly after she left, Wang Xiulan arrived. She had sewn a few more menstrual pads for Xue Niang and brought them over, but she saw that the fence gate was propped shut with a wooden stick, and the house door was locked.
Wang Xiulan knew that Meng Youliang was building houses for Xiao Shan and that Zhuzi and Chengshan had gone up the mountain with him. She had intended to chat with Xue Niang but found that Xue Niang was not home and she didn't know where she had gone.
Wang Xiulan could only take the menstrual pads and return home.
Meanwhile, Xue Niang followed Xu Daniu up the mountain. The mountain path was not difficult to navigate. The place Xu Daniu mentioned was certainly in the shallower parts of the forest, with traces of people having walked there.
As they neared their destination, Xu Daniu suddenly knelt before Xue Niang.
Xue Niang was startled, thinking she had tripped over a stone, and quickly helped her up. "Daniu, are you alright?"
Xu Daniu grabbed Xue Niang's hand. Her hands, rough and tanned from years of labor, were a stark contrast to Xue Niang's smooth and delicate ones, like fine mutton-fat jade. The comparison solidified Xu Daniu's resolve.
If she followed Xiao Shan, she would surely be pampered and kept fair-skinned and tender. That man, strong and capable, could easily support two women.
Moreover, she wasn't unwilling to do any work.
She could manage the household impeccably, cook, and wash clothes. She could do all of that without Xue Niang needing to. She could also bear him children.