Chapter 35 : Still breathing, still alive

While the two of them were playing, Xiao Hechuan had already picked a bag of wild apricots.

“Wife, Lanlan, come here quickly and help me.”

Hearing his call, the two sisters hurried over. Xiao Hechuan picked the apricots and threw them on the grass, and the two of them were responsible for picking them up.

Wild apricot trees can’t grow too tall, so they only bear a few fruits. There were also some that were not fully ripe. Xiao Lanlan didn’t let them be picked, saying they should be allowed to grow longer.

Soon, the first tree was finished, followed by the second, making a total of three wild apricot trees.

Rather than calling them wild apricots, it was more reasonable to suspect that someone had passed by and sowed the seeds several years ago, and then planted the trees and ate the fruits.

Otherwise, how could there be so many apricot trees bearing fruit steadily in the mountain stream?

Xiao Hechuan climbed up the tree swiftly, while Jiang Sui and Xiao Lanlan waited below. The mountain stream was actually a maple forest, with dense leaves that blocked out the sun. The sunlight above shone through the treetops and leaves, casting patches of light and shadows.

Jiang Sui looked up and suspected that someone must have lived here before.

Such a beautiful scene, and in autumn, when the maple leaves turn red, it would be beyond words.

Apricot blossoms fall in April, and apricots ripen in May. There was also a small pond. It would be so pleasant to build a small wooden house here.

As she looked around, Jiang Sui noticed a piece of white at the foot of a maple tree. It looked like a white cloth, covered by fallen leaves, and it wasn’t very clear.

Looking closer, it felt like there was a person lying there. Her heart skipped a beat, and the romantic thoughts in her mind turned into fear.

She quickly pulled Xiao Lanlan’s arm

“Lanlan, look, is there someone lying over there?”

When Jiang Sui said this, Xiao Lanlan immediately felt a chill run down her spine.

“Fourth sister-in-law, don’t scare me, I’m timid!” She grabbed Jiang Sui’s arm and pressed herself against her.

“Really? If you don’t believe me, look carefully.” Jiang Sui was also a little scared and pointed to the place not far away.

Together, their combined courage was less than that of an egg.

Finally, Xiao Hechuan jumped down from the tree. He frowned and scratched his head

“I’ll go take a look. I’m brave.”

As he said that, he walked over, and Jiang Sui told him to be careful.

After walking over, Xiao Hechuan squatted down and saw that it was indeed a person, lying on his side, with wet clothes, probably dampened by the morning dew.

His hair covered his face, and he was wearing white clothes. Judging from his stature, he was a man, about the same height as Xiao Hechuan.

“How’s it going, Fourth Brother?” Xiao Lanlan asked from behind.

Xiao Hechuan raised his hand towards the back

“It’s really a person!”

Xiao Hechuan reached out and pushed aside the hair that was blocking the person’s face, revealing a pale and handsome face with many scratches on it, probably caused by leaves and branches.

His white clothes were bleeding in several places, and there was blood everywhere where the clothes were torn.

Logically speaking, Xiao Hechuan should have been afraid, but he didn’t feel scared at all. He was very calm. Maybe he was just that brave.

Jiang Sui and Xiao Lanlan came over and saw the scene. Xiao Lanlan was so scared that she dared not speak, her face turning pale.

Jiang Sui was fine, although she was frightened, her reaction was not as strong as Xiao Lanlan’s.

And with just one glance, Jiang Sui immediately recognized the person on the ground.

It was a young man, the same man she had seen getting off the carriage when she and Mother Xiao left Jishantang that day.

She clearly remembered that the people in Jishantang had called him the Second Young Master.

How could he be here? He’s so injured. Judging by his appearance, he must have fallen. I don’t know if he’s still alive.

Jiang Sui patted Xiao Lanlan’s hand to comfort her, then squatted down and reached out to feel the young master’s breath.

Still breathing, still alive.

“Fourth sister-in-law, is he still alive?” Xiao Lanlan asked worriedly.

“Still breathing, still alive.”

“What should we do?” Xiao Lanlan panicked. She never thought she would encounter something like this when she came out to pick wild apricots.

Jiang Sui quickly calmed down and weighed the situation in her mind.

This man must not be an ordinary person. If we rescue him today, it will be a great favor, and it could benefit the Xiao family in the future.

As expected, this person must be an important figure in Jishantang.

What’s more, saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda. Since he’s still alive, we can’t just stand by and watch him die.

“Let’s take him back first. After all, he’s a human life, and we can do a good deed.”

Xiao Lanlan nodded. She wasn’t heartless, so she naturally agreed with Jiang Sui’s proposal.

As for Xiao Hechuan, he was already on board as his wife had spoken.

“Hechuan, you’re strong. You carry him.”

“Okay!” Xiao Hechuan agreed readily.

Once the three of them had made their decision, they worked together to help the man.

“Be gentle. We don’t know where he’s injured. If he has broken bones and we’re not careful, he might be useless for the rest of his life.”

Judging by the scene, it seemed this person had fallen from a height and likely broken some bones. Bone fractures are serious. If not treated properly, they could lead to permanent disability.

It was just getting to dusk. The downside of the Xiao family moving to a new house was that it wasn’t as lively as before, but the upside was that no one would see what they were bringing into the house.

To get to the mountain, you had to pass by Xiao’s house, but now their new house didn’t have to pass by anyone else’s.

Xiao Hechuan carried the man all the way back, carrying more than 100 kilograms on his back, which delayed him for half an hour and left him exhausted.

When they arrived, Mother Xiao was shocked. Goodness, they always brought something back from the mountains, but this time, they brought back a person half dead.

The previous times were surprises; this time, it was a shock.

Xiao Yi was also confused, but as the only man at home, he took the initiative to take charge.

“What’s going on?”

He was relatively calm. When he saw the man’s serious injuries, he helped move him to his eldest brother’s room, as the other brothers were all married, and it would be inappropriate for them to share a room with a strange man.

Jiang Sui explained the situation, and when Mother Xiao saw the injured young man, she recognized him as the young man from Jishan Hall that day.

This young man was handsome and had a good temperament, making him quite memorable.

“This… isn’t this the young man from Jishantang that day?” Mother Xiao looked at Jiang Sui blankly.

Jiang Sui nodded and said calmly:

“Mom, it’s him. I recognized him. That day, I heard the people at Jishantang call him the Second Young Master with great respect. I think he must be an important person in Jishan Hall. I couldn’t just stand by and watch him die. Besides, I thought saving him would be a big favor and beneficial to our Xiao family. It makes sense emotionally and practically. Saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda. We will be rewarded in the future.”

Jiang Sui is not a selfless person. If a person has no selfishness, they are not human but a god.

But even gods cannot be without selfishness. This idea is neither shameful nor superficial.

It’s not that I’m expecting real monetary rewards, but having more friends means having more options, so when problems arise, I will never be left without help.