Chapter 40: After the Accident, Another Accident

The soil was quickly dug open, the exposed cavity expanded, and the children's voices grew clearer.

Lao Qian lay there shouting, letting the children inside report their names one by one.

All five children were present, none missing.

Several families' adults gathered behind, hearing their children's names, their faces lit up with hope.

Booming thunder sounded, Lao Langzhong stood under the eaves, his dull eyes lifted to the sky.

"Thunder is rare at this time of year."

"The rain sounds even heavier; I wonder what's happened."

The rain was too heavy, a thin mist of water rose in the courtyard, and Mu Nan Zhao felt an inexplicable unease.

He went to the main hall and took an oil-paper umbrella, saying, "I still want to go have a look; trouble you, Old Jiang, to watch the house."

Lao Langzhong heard the sound of the umbrella opening and did not speak up to stop him.

On the west side of the back hill, the silt was finally dug through, revealing a small opening.

Lao Qian had someone hold a torch to light the inside, and he happily saw the situation within.

The five children huddled together, curled up right below.

The children looked up toward the light, some wailing loudly, others excitedly calling for their parents.

But for the adults outside, it was far from time to celebrate; rainwater had poured into the cavity, the water level had risen to the children's bodies, and they must be pulled up quickly.

The opening can currently accommodate only one person at a time.

Lao Qian wanted to go down himself, but Gu Xixi stopped him.

"No, look at the soil around the opening—it's loose, wet, and slippery; if you go down and accidentally touch it, it might collapse again."

Lao Qian anxiously said, "If we can't go down, what else can we do?"

Gu Xixi took a torch and shone it up and down, left and right inside the cavity.

"Gouwa! Gouwa!"

A boy lifted his head—it was Qin Dasao's son.

He was usually a ringleader among the kids, often leading his companions to climb slopes, climb trees, chase dogs and shoo chickens, giving Qin Dasao plenty of worry.

At this moment it was clear he was bold; he wasn't crying and asked, "Are you Aunt Xixi?"

"It's me," Gu Xixi replied, asking, "Are you hurt?"

Gouwa shook his head. "No, I'm fine!"

"How are the others?" Gu Xixi continued, asking, "Is anyone hurt, or does anything ache?"

Gouwa conferred briefly with the other four children, then looked up and said loudly, "No! We've been in the cavity the whole time, nobody fell, we just can't get out, and soaking in the water is freezing."

Seeing Gouwa remain calm under danger, Gu Xixi felt more confident.

"Aunt has given you an important task—do you dare to accept it?"

Gouwa sprang to his feet, chest out, declaring, "Whoever doesn't dare is a puppy!"

Soon someone brought a thick hemp rope; Gu Xixi used the torch for light, aimed, and slowly lowered the rope into the cavity.

The collapsed dirt on the left formed a slope.

Although the soil was loose and slippery and the slope steep, if it were just the children's weight, aided by the rope's pull to steady their footing, climbing up was still quite possible.

Unfortunately, there was nothing nearby to anchor the rope.

All they could do was wait until the rope's end reached the bottom, then a strong man wrapped the upper end several times around his waist and took a firm horse stance.

Additionally, two strong men stood before him, one on the left and one on the right, gripping the rope.

Meanwhile, the children inside were not idle; under Gu Xixi and Gouwa's direction, they lined up.

Lao Qian solemnly confirmed, "Is everyone ready?"

"Ready!" the children, Gu Xixi, and the three men replied in unison.

Gouwa first pushed the youngest girl up the slope, saying, "Remember what I just told you—don't rush; as long as each step is firm, keep your grip on the rope, and push upward, you can climb."

Gu Xixi reached out from the opening, smiling at the little girl, "Don't be scared, Aunt is here to catch you."

The other three companions also shouted encouragement from behind.

The little girl had tears in her eyes, yet she bravely climbed up.

Gu Xixi's hand closed around the small hand, and her heart inexplicably softened.

But she did not relent; she pulled hard, freeing the girl's whole body from the opening.

Zhang Shen stood by to catch her, immediately taking the little girl into her arms.

Everyone cheered, "We did it!!"

The first successful rescue was followed quickly by the second, third, and fourth.

Gouwa went last and also climbed up safely.

Qin Dasao clung to her son, sobbing uncontrollably, "Quick, let me see you."

But Gouwa was quite pleased, grinning and saying, "Mom, I told you—since I brought up the rear, everyone could climb up; aren't I awesome?"

Qin Dasao was amused by his tone, poked his forehead with a finger, and said, "Just look at what you can do."

"Wasn't it Aunt Xixi's idea? How did it become your achievement?"

Gu Xixi said, "I dare not take credit; it's thanks to everyone's good cooperation and full effort."

Lao Qian laughed heartily, "And the children deserve credit too."

"At the critical moment, each was braver than the last—our Huachi Du Cun kids are all splendid!"

Gu Xixi was looking at Lao Qian when she suddenly felt a strange shadow above her head.

She instinctively looked up, not yet seeing what it was, when something slammed into her and flung her away.

It all happened in an instant.

The surroundings were first silent, then gasps of cold air rose and fell one after another.

Gu Xixi fell to the ground, a person still heavily pressing on her.

Her whole body ached; she couldn't tell whether it was from the collision or the fall, so she first struggled to lift a hand and pat the person on her.

Hey, are you okay?

After a moment, Mu Nan Zhao's voice came: "I won't die."

He tried to rise, but even a slight movement made his brows furrow tightly.

Gu Xixi realized something was wrong, struggling to lift her head: "Are you injured? What exactly is this?"

Beside them, a large stone lay there unexpectedly.

Thanks to Mu Nan Zhao, who, while avoiding the stone's landing spot, pushed it aside a few inches with his arm.

Otherwise, both he and Gu Xixi would have died or been seriously injured.

Qin Dasao and Zhang Shen were the first to react, rushing over to help Mu Nan Zhao up.

Xiao Chen, how are you?

Mu Nan Zhao slowly exhaled, making himself appear not too out of the ordinary.

I'm fine.

As he spoke, he lifted his gaze to the top of the cliff.

Just now, a person's shadow clearly flashed above; this is probably not an accident.

Zhang Shen saw that Mu Nan Zhao seemed truly unharmed, then went to help Gu Xixi.

But Xixi herself sprang up, merely glanced at Mu Nan Zhao, then with a stern face pulled him away.

Hurry back, my two pots of tea trees have been soaking too long and will rot.

Zhang Shen didn't know the real reason Xixi was anxious to go home, but she stayed behind, instructing Qin Dasao and the others.

The child soaked in cold water and also got frightened.

When we go back, we must give them a hot bath and have them drink hot ginger soup.

In the Gu clan's small courtyard, Old Doctor Langzhong was still standing under the eaves.

Gu Xixi dragged Mu Nan Zhao as they just approached, and Old Doctor Langzhong tilted his ear, frowning.

Quick! Get him inside and lay him down!