Chapter 366: Crossing the River

Those looking for Yang Qing only learned from the returning tractor driver, after Yang Qing had been on the run for three days, that the person had gone into the mountains.

They also learned that Yang Qing was leading a group of people.

A brief investigation of the surroundings revealed who had fled.

Then many people were mobilized to pursue the investigation.

Long Wu and the others, all old hands, gave them no chance, and most of the route they took were desolate, little-used paths.

Along the way, Liu Yan had her eyes covered and her mouth blocked; she only felt the number of people dwindling, until finally only one person was pulling her along, and they walked for many days straight.

Only then did Gui Lao Qi drag Liu Yan into a village.

Then he dumped the starving Liu Yan onto the stone mill at the entrance of the production brigade office.

He untied the rope and fled.

Liu Yan lay on the stone mill, resting for half a day, and heard no other sounds.

Instead, she heard a few dog barks.

She sensed something was off.

She struggled to stand up, and as she did, the rope on her wrist loosened.

She staggered for a moment, then pushed hard, and her hands broke free.

Was she free?

Then her heart tightened again; wouldn't they be trying to silence her by killing her?

She rolled on the spot—thud—and hit the wall.

Her head struck the wall.

Hiss……

Ignoring the headache, she used her numb hands to pull the rag from her mouth and the rag from her eyes.

The surroundings were dark, but still a bit glaring.

By the faint starlight, she saw the earthen house and the stone mill.

In the distance an owl wailed, and nearby she faintly heard sleep-talk.

All around was empty, save for the dark, gloomy village.

Liu Yan plopped down onto the ground.

She had been released.

Before she could even feel glad, a cat's cry startled her.

Perhaps her sudden appearance frightened the cat.

She shrank her body.

She buried her head between her legs, and a feeling of injustice welled up.

Beaten, intercepted, abandoned—this life, the more she thought about it, the more miserable it seemed.

She didn't even know how she would be scolded when she went back.

Her pistol was also lost—that was the Type 59 she had struggled to obtain.

She cried herself to sleep, utterly exhausted and hungry.

It wasn't until dawn that a shout woke her.

Afterward, our female guard personnel finally returned to Jingcheng.

The place where she appeared was still in Jingbei, yet Ye Cheng had shown traces of Yang Qing?

Yang Qing's whereabouts became even more puzzling.

Director Wang guessed that both pieces of news were false, merely to cover for the real Yang Qing.

In the Taihang Mountains.

The farther Qin Huairu was from Jingcheng, the more she missed her child, feeling that her decision had been a bit rash.

Having abandoned her child, she wondered if she was still a woman.

Liu Ru Yan saw Qin Huairu's worries and offered comfort.

"Once the bow is drawn, there's no turning back; wishing for more won't help."

"Why not think of Gangdao? I hear it's very advanced, with high-rise buildings everywhere."

"Once you're there, with Yang Rong looking after you, you'll be living the good life."

"If you really want to see your child, you'll have to put effort into Yang Rong's child."

"His wife and child are also in Jingcheng."

"If they get a chance to come out, they might be able to bring your child out."

Hou Liu glanced at Liu Ru Yan, but didn't say anything more.

Long Wu's movements never ceased.

Their group.

Hou Liu brought the Widow Liu and his own unmarried daughter, three people in total.

Gui Lao Qi brought his wife, a son, and an unmarried daughter; the son also had a wife and two children, making seven people altogether.

Long Wu brought his wife, three sons, and two unmarried daughters—one of those daughters was someone he had abducted because she was married and didn't want to leave. The two older sons were married, each bringing two wives. The eldest son had one son and one daughter; the second son had one daughter. All together, their family numbered twelve.

Their entire party added up to twenty-three people.

That is, they had money and had printed many national tickets; Gui Lao Qi was resourceful, so they could still eat enough along the way.

Occasionally, during rests, they also went hunting.

(At that time, the Taihang Mountains had tigers, bears, wild boars, wild dogs, foxes, and wolves.)

Long Wu's family members, male or female, all possessed some skill.

Hunting in the mountains, fishing in the rivers — needless to say.

Qin Huairu followed them all the way, learning many skills for marching and fighting.

This woman herself is also from the countryside; her stamina is not bad, and she barely keeps up with the troop.

Along the way, Long Wu also taught her a few things in passing.

Yang Qing forged various documents all the way, speaking a clumsy dialect, and managed to reach the Yellow River bank without danger.

Upon arriving here, he was in a dilemma.

Swim across?

Is this the Yellow River or the flood season?

Cross the bridge? There are checks everywhere.

Eventually Yang Qing prepared to steal a boat.

Taking advantage of the darkness, Yang Qing felt his way to a small dock, where several wooden boats were moored.

A boat with a canopy was swaying on the water.

From inside the boat came the sound of a fight.

It was a man beating a woman, the woman crying miserably.

Yang Qing's blood surged; such a scoundrel who bullies women must be punished.

The woman being beaten kept crying 'Father!' repeatedly.

It seems the situation has become very urgent.

Yang Qing whispered, jumped onto a boat, then used that boat to feel his way toward the boat where the tragedy was unfolding.

When he drew near, the man began to shout loudly.

Can't wait; this man is about to erupt in killing.

As an embodiment of justice, how could Yang Qing turn a blind eye?

He gripped the wooden stick in his hand and lifted the gauze curtain.

By the faint candlelight, he accurately located the man's head; the stick whistled as he struck.

"Ah——"

The man let out a loud cry, with a plop, fell onto the woman.

The woman widened her eyes; startled by the sudden appearance of Yang Qing, she gasped, her eyes rolled back, and she fainted.

Yang Qing looked at the two naked people, pale and bare, with no blood spattered about.

He knew he had been rash this time; next time he must press on with renewed vigor.

He kicked the two apart, making a thudding sound.

Only then did Yang Qing get a clear look at their faces.

The man had dark skin, about forty years old; the woman had a lovely appearance, about twenty years old.

Yang Qing scratched his head, feeling a bit agitated.

At that moment the woman slowly woke up.

She opened her eyes and saw Yang Qing's piercing gaze.

She opened her mouth again to cry out.

Yang Qing didn't mind her sticky, messy state and clapped a hand over her mouth.

He gave a sly smile.

"Woman, you don't want people to know about this, do you?"

The woman's tears fell instantly, her face turned pale, and she nodded vigorously.

A pleading look.

Only then did Yang Qing release his grip.

Afterwards he found a rope and tied up the man.

The woman tightly shut her mouth, afraid that making a sound would provoke him.

After she had put on her clothes, Yang Qing then inquired.

"Can you punt the boat?"