Chapter 32: Return My Life

They were no longer safe living here. If someone with malicious intent targeted them, these two weak women, one old and one young, would have no means of self-defense.

After examining the location where Xiang Wentian and the others had placed the stones, Wen Jiuyue completely entrusted the decision-making to Xiang Huaixin and Bai Changpu. She knew they understood these matters better.

Her role was to provide logistical support and assist as much as possible.

When Xiang Huaixin and Bai Changpu returned, they were wearing the “fur-lined” coats Wen Jiuyue had made for them.

Wen Jiuyue was extremely skilled. She cut the cured roe deer hides, added a layer of cotton batting, used blue polyester lining, and dark gray poplin for the outer layer, creating long padded coats similar in style to military overcoats.

They were warm without being bulky, making Xiang Huaixin and Bai Changpu reluctant to wear them. Only after Leng You’s persuasion did they carefully put them on.

Leng You sighed as she watched their departing figures.

Years of hardship had not diminished their inherent bearing, especially Xiang Huaixin’s commanding presence, which was unmatched by ordinary people.

This was why, despite the coldness and occasional malice of the people in Daheishan Village, they dared not bully the two of them too much.

Seeing that Wen Jiuyue was cutting out another men’s garment under the kerosene lamp, Leng You stopped her.

“Grandma Wen, Grandpa Xiang and Grandpa Bai now have warm coats and can endure for a while. You should make a coat for yourself now. Otherwise, once the snow stops, the temperature will plummet, and you won’t be able to handle it with those clothes.”

“No, no, my clothes are fine, I’m not cold. I’ll make my own after I finish yours,” Wen Jiuyue smiled, shaking her head, and prepared to cut again.

“No! You must listen to me, or you’ll catch a cold! Wait!”

Leng You jumped off the kang, put on her shoes, ran to the cupboard, measured her height, and then pulled a stool over.

Standing on the stool, she opened the cupboard, searched, and took out a piece of blue-black polyester and a piece of light gray poplin.

“Youyou, Grandma Wen doesn’t need to make one, or just a close-fitting padded jacket will do,” Wen Jiuyue waved her hands repeatedly.

“She must make one, using these two pieces of fabric. Polyester for the lining, poplin for the outer layer, sturdy. Hmm… the light gray will look good on you.”

Leng You forcefully took the fabric from the kang and placed it in front of Wen Jiuyue.

“Really not… Sigh! You stubborn child.” Seeing Leng You’s stubborn expression, Wen Jiuyue finally nodded in agreement.

“Make the coat first, then the padded jacket and trousers. After you finish yours, then make ours,” Leng You emphasized again.

“Okay, okay, okay, I’ll listen to you, little thing!” Wen Jiuyue’s nose felt sour. She rubbed Leng You’s head, quickly lowered her head, and pretended to organize the fabric.

…

The following days were exceptionally busy.

Leng You and Xiang Wentian went to the county town every morning, either to sell their processed herbs or game. After returning from the county town at noon, they went to the valley to dig herbs and hunt.

The reason they didn’t sell game every day was because Xiang Wentian suggested: one, to avoid flooding the market with game, which would lower prices; two, it was easier to arouse suspicion.

Selling herbs frequently wouldn’t cause this problem, as they were rare varieties of high quality. People could go without game, but if they were sick, they needed medicine.

If anyone asked, they could say it was from relatives in another province, who asked them to sell it on their behalf.

However, after selling herbs twice, Leng You and Xiang Wentian realized that selling herbs was much more profitable than game.

Therefore, they spent more time digging herbs and hunted less.

They weren’t worried about depleting the herbs. Just the two of them, in this deep valley over twenty li long, had enough to dig for ten or twenty years.

While Leng You and Xiang Wentian were busy making money, Xiang Huaixin and Bai Changpu were busy collecting large stones.

Daheishan Village was surrounded by mountains on three sides. If there was one thing plentiful, it was stones. They didn’t need to quarry them on the mountain; they could easily find suitable building materials at the foot of the mountain.

Wen Jiuyue was responsible for the food, occasionally helping to collect or unload stones, and finding time to make cotton clothes and quilts for everyone.

Amidst this busyness, the snow finally stopped, but a new legend emerged in the village in the past two days.

Bai Changpu was again invited by the Leng family to treat them.

The Leng family had obediently followed Bai Changpu’s instructions and drank coptis water for several days, until the entire family was rushing to the toilet.

Leng family’s Goushengzi and Xiaodanzi seemed to be fine, having returned to their usual lively selves.

But Leng Tiezhu’s wife, Leng Shugen, and Ma Dahua were still bedridden, though their spirits seemed better; at least they no longer howled all night, claiming ghosts were catching them.

Leng Tiezhu had been village head for many years, so he had more experience and was more resilient. Although he also felt weak after drinking the coptis water, he persevered.

Everything seemed to be improving, but last night, the “black figure with flames” reappeared.

The week-long blizzard finally stopped yesterday evening. By night, the long-hidden moon emerged from the clouds.

The bright moonlight reflected on the snow, making the outside look clean and bright.

The Leng family had only dared to go to the toilet together during the day for the past few days. After dinner, they didn’t dare go out anymore, using chamber pots indoors.

As the family was admiring the snow scene through the window, a familiar black shadow, etched into their memory, suddenly flashed past the window.

The Leng family: “…”

They were frozen in place, as if their acupuncture points had been pressed.

The shadow flashed past again, accompanied by a faint, eerie voice—

“Return my life… Return my life… Return my life…”

The Leng family: “…”

Their hair stood on end, and they couldn’t even speak.

Then, a strong stench spread throughout the house.

In the east room, Leng Tiezhu’s wife, Shi Sanyue, had soiled herself. Even the self-proclaimed mentally strong Leng Tiezhu was pale and trembling like a sieve.

In the west room, Leng Shugen had urinated himself, Ma Dahua had defecated, and Goushengzi and Xiaodanzi had both urinated and defecated.

Only Leng Shugen and Ma Dahua’s eldest daughter, nicknamed Dadanzi, was staring blankly, unaware of what had happened.