"You all hurry and go, this tunnel leads straight to the back mountain. Follow the mountain path downward and soon you’ll see a fork in the road. Take the left one, not the right. Keep going down the left path, and six hours later you’ll reach the road to the farm.
If I rember correctly, you can reach the farm within two days and one night. These are the rations I’ve saved up over the past few days, including so dried at. I couldn’t prepare any more, so just go. The clothes you have on are all you need.
I can’t help you any further. Take advantage of them being asleep and leave before they find out."
The old man forcefully shoved the supplies into their hands.
Jiang Xiaoxiao took them out, finding stead buns and potatoes inside. These past two days, those people had moved all the food and vegetables from the kitchen into their room, clearly fearing the group would sneak so food when they weren’t looking.
The fact that the old man was able to stash these supplies away ant he went to great lengths.
"Old sir, I still don’t understand why you are helping us. We t by chance. If you could escape, why don’t you just leave on your own? Why leave these supplies for us?"
Jiang Xiaoxiao finally voiced the doubt that had been troubling her for days.
She couldn’t understand why this old man would protect her, even now urging them to leave while he stayed behind.
It simply didn’t make sense.
This was also what Song Moting was thinking.
They truly feared it was a trap.
The old man grabbed Jiang Xiaoxiao’s hand.
Song Moting fought hard to resist the urge to act.
"Young lady, I know you don’t rember . You did a good deed without leaving your na, but I rember you. Do you recall how a bowl of wontons in the county town let an old beggar at the door eat a warm al inside?
Later, I worked in that wonton shop, but the owner eventually passed away. The shop was taken over as state property, and I couldn’t stay there anymore, so I ended up on the streets, back to being a beggar.
Who knew I’d be discovered by these people and forcibly brought up the mountain, never expecting to run into you here.
From the start, I recognized you and kept thinking of ways to help you escape. This escape route was originally my plan for getting myself out, but as you know, I’m just an old beggar. Even if I escape, reaching the farm is another matter.
At least here, I can still keep my life. Besides, these people know I’m a beggar and won’t really do anything to . Enough talk, young lady, you all hurry and escape! Get as far away as you can."
With that, the old man cleared the way.
He urged them hurriedly.
Jiang Xiaoxiao suddenly understood.
She suddenly rembered that winter when she and her sister and brother-in-law reported to the power plant and that bowl of wontons.
The good deed she did at that mont.
An unconscious act of kindness.
Never thought she would encounter that old man again, and it turned out that the old man was helping her instead.
She glanced at Song Moting.
The old man urged, "Quickly go, quickly go. If they find out, there’ll be trouble. I’ve drifted around for years and know this place best. In a couple of days, it’s bound to snow again. You should reach the farm by then.
Hurry up and go! Listen to the old man, the faster you leave the better. Don’t delay at such a ti. These people are already on edge."
With that, he shoved the two of them into the tunnel, where they crawled out.
They looked at the open view outside. Indeed, it was behind the small house, hidden behind two side-by-side large trees.
The large trees closely hugged the house, making it unnoticeable.
At this ti, you couldn’t see everything around; all that was visible was the snow-white mountain.
......
As dawn broke, the old man got up and started a fire.
The silent old man boiled water and gave himself a clean bath.
The previously grimy old man now looked neat and orderly.
He knew that he had let Jiang Xiaoxiao and Song Moting go, and when the others ca to deliver food, they would sooner or later notice.
By then, there wouldn’t be any good outco for him. Still, they probably wouldn’t kill him, at least not for now, but a beating was inevitable.
He had been a coward for years.
His children cut ties with him, and his wife divorced him, all to distance themselves from him.
Living in such humiliation all these years, he had truly had enough.
Might as well make a clean break this ti.
He no longer wanted to live this way.
Before he died, he had at least done sothing to repay the kindness of the young girl, making his life worthwhile.
Of course, he would stall as long as he could, hoping they wouldn’t realize that Jiang Xiaoxiao and Song Moting had escaped.
The longer he dragged it out, the farther they could go, and the safer they’d be.
Soone outside was unlocking the door.
"Old Wang, hurry and cook. The boss is hungry. The shredded potatoes you made yesterday were good, continue with that. Also, get them to dig a piece of at out of the snow for stew at noon."
"Okay, I got it."
The person didn’t enter but left things at the door before turning and leaving.
Old Wang exhaled in relief and began to busily prepare breakfast, glancing around to see that at least another hour had passed.
Then, he carried the things inside.
Hu Zi glanced at Old Wang.
"Why is it just you? Where are the other two? Are they throwing a tantrum again, not wanting to eat my food? Tell them to co out. I’ve got sothing to say. Are they fed up with living?"
Hu Zi was furious.
Old Wang quickly explained, "They wouldn’t dare do that. They’re out digging for at. They’ll stew it as soon as they return, and prepare a good lunch for you gentlen,"
With this, Hu Zi’s irrational anger subsided.
"Fine, since they seem sensible, we’ll keep them around a few more days. You’re free to go. Just note that breakfast is not provided today. From now on, you’ll only get one al a day. Make it last; there isn’t enough food to waste on freeloaders."
The old man nodded and bowed, agreeing as he left, but was stopped by Ma Laosan.
"Hold on, Old Wang. You actually washed your face and took a bath today! You’re looking surprisingly tidy and neat. Sothing’s off. You don’t usually do this. So, what’s going on today?"
Obviously, Ma Laosan was more observant and noticed sothing awry.
His remark made others pay attention and they surrounded the old man, turning around him.
Indeed, while his clothes were dirty, his face and hair were clean.
"Sothing’s wrong. Did anyone see those two this morning?"
Hu Zi turned to his subordinates and asked.
"No!"
"Damn it, what were all of you doing? Find them imdiately. Those two have probably long run off. Otherwise, this old man wouldn’t act like this. Looks like he’s pulling a last-ditch effort on !"
He slamd the table, frightening his two subordinates, who grabbed guns and rushed toward the back house.
The old man knew it had co to this.
The sky outside was already bright, and the sun was up.
His only consolation was that he had delayed long enough, they had likely gotten far away by now, even if they found the tunnel.
They would probably not be able to catch them.
Children, I hope you reach the farm safely, and live a smooth, healthy life. This is the only way I can help you.
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