Chapter 257: Where Exactly Is That Crooked-Necked Tree?

She didn't even have time to go home for a meal, following Ding Surong at a moderate distance up the mountain.

After reaching the halfway point, she would look left and right every few steps, and kept muttering on her lips: "Where exactly is that crooked-necked tree?"

Liu Chuxue heard those words clearly and couldn't help but silently repeat "crooked-necked tree" in her mind.

Suddenly, something occurred to her. Good heavens, could it be the tree she had kicked and snapped in half that day?

The beams, purlins, and rafters for the new house her family was building had all been borrowed from the brigade; afterward, she would set aside time each day to cross the mountain, find a suitable tree, chop it down, and bring it back.

There was a crooked-necked tree at the cliff mouth ahead; that day, while she was resting beneath it, she never expected there to be a snake on the tree. Had she not reacted quickly, that snake would have bitten her.

In a fit of rage, she had kicked that tree until it broke, dragged it back, split it open, and used it as firewood; the tree used to heat the stove in the warm room at home yesterday was that very one.

Sure enough, Ding Surong kept circling around here and never moved to another spot.

It seemed her unnecessary action that day had not been in vain; after venting her anger and preparing to leave, she had thought that if the remaining half-stump was left there, someone passing by might accidentally trip over it, which would be troublesome, especially since the cliff was right beside it.

Out of safety considerations, she had directly taken an axe, split that stump into firewood, and carried it down the mountain; perhaps because she had been thirsty after finishing work that day, she had taken some water from the pool in her space to drink, then used the remainder to wash her hands, so now the wild grass around that stump had grown very lush, and she thought it would be difficult to find the place.

After all, the wild grass in that area grew most vigorously, looking nothing like a place where anyone had worked.

But now the problem arose: she was alone on the mountain, insisting on searching for the crooked-necked tree in this very area—what for?

【3】 Seeing that it was getting late, thinking her parents would worry if she stayed any longer, and figuring she could come back again in the afternoon after eating, she decided.

Seeing that the time was growing late, she thought her parents would be getting anxious if she stayed any longer, and decided that after eating, she would come over again in the afternoon.

Just like that, when she arrived home, her mother was already somewhat anxious: "You child, you went to the clinic to deliver vegetables; how did it take so long? Your father and I were just about to go look for you."

Liu Chuxue quickly draped Mao Jin over the clothesline: "I met a classmate on the road and asked her about school matters, so I came back late."

Upon hearing it was a serious matter, Liu's father said: "Alright, as long as nothing happened, you're back, so hurry up and eat."

At that moment, Chunxiao came rushing back from outside with Zhui Feng: "Mom, I didn't see my second sister."

Just as she finished speaking, she saw Liu Chuxue sitting by the dining table: "Second sister, you're back; how did I not see you?"

Liu Chuxue smiled and patted the small stool beside her: "I came back via the small path over there; where did you go looking for me?"

Chunxiao pouted: "Oh dear, then we must have taken different paths; I waited for you at the village entrance."

After saying that, she added: "Second sister, you should hurry to school tomorrow; I heard from Yunfei's older brother that in another week, you will have your graduation exams."

Liu's father grew anxious now: "Yes, yes, yes, we can't delay any longer; we shouldn't have listened to you today; we should have let you return to school. How about you go to school this afternoon?"

Liu Chuxue saw them all looking at her: "Don't worry; during this time I've been at home and haven't fallen behind on my textbooks, so it won't affect the graduation exams."

Liu's father was still somewhat uneasy, repeatedly hesitating to speak: "Father, just rest assured; if the college entrance exam weren't suspended right now, I would definitely get into a good university for you; what a pity."

This fellow Chunxiao jumped in: "Given my second sister's academic performance, getting the graduation certificate is no problem; Father, just stop worrying unnecessarily."