He approached her and saw that she did not look well. He quickly placed the herbs into the bamboo basket and rushed over to ask if she was alright.
An Jiuyue shook her head.
“I don’t know why, but I feel a little on edge. I’ve never felt like this before.”
She had never felt so panicked in her two lifetimes. It was as if something was about to happen. However, she could not put her finger on it.
She had settled her business with Old An. There was nothing else, right?
“Let’s not dig for herbs anymore. Let’s go back.”
Qian Jiyun made a prompt decision and carried the small bamboo basket on his back. He bent down and carried An Jiuyue in his arms before heading home.
Still feeling panicked, An Jiuyue did not bicker with him.
Her intuition told her that something was about to happen, but she really could not put her finger on it.
On the other side, Zhou’er and Xing’er were sleeping soundly in the cradle under the treehouse. Qian Yiyun was carrying Lu’er and playing hide-and-seek with Qian Yizheng and Qian Yirong.
Yan Nuo had been coming over during the day and going elsewhere to rest at night.
However, it was dangerous outside, and An Jiuyue could not put up with this arrangement anymore. Hence, she asked him to arrange two long benches together while they ate so that he had somewhere to sleep.
Therefore, Yan Nuo was also around to accompany the children and do some housework.
“Rong’er? Rong’er?”
After playing hide-and-seek for a while, Qian Yiyun found Zheng’er, but she could not find Rong’er.
She called out a few times, but no one answered.
Oh no!
“Yan Nuo, stop doing that for a while. Hurry up and look for Rong’er. He’s missing.”
Qian Yizheng and Qian Yirong were very sensible and obedient. They would not ignore her calls.
When she noticed Rong’er had disappeared, she even asked Zheng’er to call out to him together. However, no one responded.
She knew Rong’er was not close by.
“Missing? How can that be?” Yan Nuo asked.
He had been cutting open a fish. Without waiting for Qian Yiyun to reply, he washed his hands and prepared to look for him.
Just as he was about to leave, he remembered the other children at home.
He turned around and instructed Qian Yiyun, “Miss, take Zheng’er and the others back to the house. I’ll go look for Rong’er.”
“Alright, hurry up and go,” Qian Yiyun quickly replied.
Beside her, Qian Yizheng stared at Yan Nuo with his big eyes.
He wanted to look for his younger brother too, but he knew he was still a child. They needed the adults to look for Rong’er—not him. He would only cause trouble if he went.
“Uncle Yan Nuo, you must find Rong’er.”
“Alright, Zheng’er. Be good. I’ll definitely find Rong’er,” Yan Nuo replied and turned to leave.
…
In the forest, Wang Xing’er carried Rong’er with an arm and covered his mouth with another hand to prevent him from making a sound.
She felt she had been dragging the little boy with her for a long time. Although she was exhausted, panting, and about to collapse, she still thought they were not far enough.
She continued walking and walking.
Rong’er struggled in her arms. He wanted to bite the hand that was covering his mouth.
However, he recalled that she looked sickly green.
His mother had told him to stay away from people who looked unwell. He must not get close to them because they might have contracted the epidemic disease.
He was already in close contact with her in this situation. However, he knew not to bite through her skin—it would put him in more danger.
