Chapter 16

Around eight o’clock that evening, Zhong Xing returned to the small kiln at the Lin household, where he and Yu Hangyuan had been given lodging. His clothes were soaked with snow, and he was chilled to the bone. Just as he changed into dry clothes, he heard a faint voice from outside the door.

“Brother Zhong Xing, are you there?”

Zhong Xing opened the door and saw Jiang Jiang standing there, her hair loose and her face swollen and bruised. The sight startled him, and he quickly crouched down to examine her injuries.

“Jiang Jiang, what happened? Who hit you?”

Gently, Zhong Xing tucked her hair behind her ear, revealing her red and swollen face with faint red veins visible beneath the skin. Her skin was bruised and broken in some places, showing clear signs that the person who struck her hadn’t held back.

“Brother, can you take me to find my father?” Jiang Jiang asked softly, looking up at him.

Over by the kitchen, Old Madam Lin was still seething. Jiang Jiang didn’t want to go to He Guijuan for help, feeling lost and unsure of what to do, so she stood there, nervously clutching the corner of her shirt.

She knew Old Madam Lin despised her. Since her arrival here two days ago, she had worked tirelessly every day, hoping to make herself less of an eyesore in Old Madam Lin’s eyes.

“It was Old Madam Lin who hit you?” Zhong Xing’s voice shook with anger.

During his time here, he had already heard bits and pieces about Jiang Jiang’s past and had learned that she had recently been adopted by Lin Youqing and his wife.

At first, he felt relieved that fate had finally granted Jiang Jiang a family to care for her. But seeing her like this now, he realized that her life in the Lin family was far harder than he had imagined.

Zhong Xing was furious. How could Old Madam Lin be so heartless, hitting a child like that?

“Come on, let’s go. I’ll get justice for you,” he said, a surge of anger rising within him as he lifted Jiang Jiang in his arms, ready to confront Old Madam Lin.

“Brother, please don’t go,” Jiang Jiang pleaded softly. “I don’t want any more trouble. I just want to find my father… Will you come with me?”

“Alright, alright, I’ll take you to find your father.”

But where would they even start looking at this hour?

From Dongxi Village to the Luling Commune was a long stretch, and with the avalanche, numerous parts of the road were blocked by snow. Where could Lin Youqing be?

Zhong Xing quickly went back into the kiln to gather supplies, stuffing biscuits, matches, and rope into his bag. He also filled a military water canteen and then headed out with Jiang Jiang.

The path from Dongxi Village to the commune was entirely buried in snow. When he returned, the village chief had already accounted for everyone, and those trapped by the snow were rescued. Only the damaged homes would need repair in the morning.

The night was pitch-black, with a faint white glow from the moon reflecting off the snow. The mountain air was so frigid it could freeze a person. Holding a flashlight, Zhong Xing shivered against the biting wind that seemed to blow in from every direction.

Ahead of him stood a solid wall of snow blocking their path. Getting over it would be impossible, especially with a child in tow.

“Brother Zhong Xing, I remember there’s a small path down by the base of that mountain over there. It should let us go around,” Jiang Jiang said.

The so-called “small path” Jiang Jiang mentioned was barely even that. What remained were faint traces of a long-abandoned trail, where wild grass grew taller than a person and spread thickly in every direction.

Branches tangled overhead, and navigating through it would be challenging. The ground was covered in layers of decayed leaves, and any careless step could easily plunge them into a hidden pit.

The snowy terrain was difficult to traverse, so Zhong Xing crouched down and said, “Come on, Jiang Jiang, hop on. I’ll carry you.”

Jiang Jiang shook her head. “Brother, I can walk on my own.”

But Zhong Xing insisted, so Jiang Jiang climbed onto his back.

“Lie down with your face against my back so the branches won’t scratch you.”

The freezing wind bit against her, and the side of her face that Old Madam Lin had struck was now numb with cold. Jiang Jiang rested her head against Zhong Xing’s back, using her hands to shield her face.

With a flashlight held between his teeth, one hand supporting Jiang Jiang and the other using a stick as a makeshift cane, Zhong Xing trudged through the dense undergrowth and snow-covered path.

They searched the snowy mountainside for hours. Fatigue set in as their legs sank unevenly into the snow with each step. The battery of their flashlight was nearly drained, flickering faintly. Zhong Xing tapped the flashlight to coax more light out of it, and just then, Jiang Jiang’s sharp eyes spotted what seemed to be a figure lying in the snow not far ahead.

“Dad…”

Jiang Jiang opened her mouth, wanting to call out, but fear kept her silent. Zhong Xing had warned her earlier that speaking too loudly could trigger another avalanche.

Zhong Xing noticed the figure, too, and quickly headed toward it with Jiang Jiang in tow.

“Secretary Lin, are you alright?” he called out quietly.

Lin Youqing was clutching his stomach in agony, his chronic stomach issues flaring up intensely. The pain was excruciating, and for a moment, he thought he might be hallucinating as he saw them approach. “Xiao Zhong… Jiang Jiang?? How… how did you find me?”

“It was Jiang Jiang who guided me here,” Zhong Xing explained. “We followed a nearly overgrown path through the brush. Secretary Lin, is your stomach bothering you?” He rummaged through his bag and pulled out a packet of calcium milk biscuits. “These are energy biscuits. Try eating some; they might help ease the pain a bit.”

Jiang Jiang broke the biscuits into small pieces, feeding them to Lin Youqing bit by bit.

Lin Youqing affectionately patted her on the head. He had encountered the avalanche just as he was on his way back.

Luckily, he knew some survival techniques and managed to avoid being buried in the snow. He had intended to return to the commune, but both the path forward and the path back were blocked by snow.

As night fell, the temperature had dropped drastically, and although he tried to keep himself moving, his chronic stomach ailment flared up, causing such intense pain that he couldn’t straighten his back.

After eating a few biscuits, Zhong Xing remembered the water canteen he had brought. He took it out and felt the water inside—it had gone completely cold. Jiang Jiang carefully opened the canteen and poured a bit of water to give to her father.

“Dad, the water’s a little cold. Just hold it in your mouth for a moment before swallowing.”

Despite the near-freezing temperatures, Lin Youqing’s forehead was beaded with cold sweat, and Jiang Jiang’s heart clenched as she realized how much pain he must be in.

Lin Youqing’s pain finally eased a little with something in his stomach.

“Jiang Jiang, what happened to your face?” he asked, his gaze settling on her swollen cheek, his expression immediately darkening.

Jiang Jiang froze for a moment, then said, “It was… a tree branch that scratched me.”

“It was Old Madam Lin who hit her.” Zhong Xing couldn’t help but say.

Noticing the guilt and pain in Lin Youqing’s expression, Jiang Jiang shook her head and whispered, “Dad, I’m fine. It doesn’t hurt at all.”

“Where’s your mother?” Lin Youqing asked, gently touching the swollen side of her face. As her father, he felt he had failed his duty. His wife had been hit by his own mother, and now his daughter had endured the same.

“Someone in the village was trapped under the snow,” Jiang Jiang replied. “Mom stayed back to help organize the rescue with the team.”

“So you two just ran out here alone?” Lin Youqing asked, his brows furrowed.

“I left a note for a classmate. He’ll explain everything to Doctor He,” Zhong Xing reassured him.

“It’s too dangerous to stay here any longer,” Zhong Xing added, glancing at the two of them. “The night is only getting colder, and breathing will get harder. Secretary Lin, let’s head back to the village. Jiang Jiang, can you walk on your own?”

Fortunately, they had partially cleared a path on their way over, so retracing their steps back to Dongxi Village would be manageable.

Jiang Jiang nodded. “I can do it.”

“Then take the flashlight,” Zhong Xing said, handing it to her. He then turned to Lin Youqing. “Secretary Lin, let me carry you.” Lin Youqing pressed a hand to his stomach and took a steadying breath. “Cough… I’m feeling much better. I can walk; just help me along the way.”