An orphan girl from a farming family: Everyday farming in the mountains during natural disasters

"No, I can't, don't!"

Chen Yuzhen's face was full of resistance and panic. She struggled to get up, but because she was weak, she collapsed into Li Benfu's arms.

Xia Qingyue stood up and walked over, then squatted down, "Aunt, this is not my shelter, it's another safe place, don't get excited."

After hearing this, Chen Yuzhen instantly became quiet, tears fell from her eyes and slid down her dirty face. She asked unsurely, "Really?"

"real!"

"So, your worry about knowing my shelter and telling others about it won't happen!"

Xia Qingyue took Chen Yuzhen's hand and patted it gently, with tenderness in her eyes.

Chen Yuzhen and others who were imprisoned in the dungeon of the village were severely tortured and witnessed the death of their relatives. Under the double oppression, it was difficult for anyone to withstand and not tell what they knew.

None of Chen Yuzhen's friends knew where she was hiding, so even if they beat or killed her, they couldn't tell the truth.

Chen Yuzhen and his wife were determined not to let Xia Qingyue take them to her shelter, for fear that if something unexpected happened in the future, they would not be able to help but tell it.

Only because they don't know can they remain speechless.

"That's good." Chen Yuzhen's body softened and she smiled with relief.

"Auntie, please drink some water and eat something first." Xia Qingyue brought steamed bread and water.

"Let me do it." Li Benfu took the food and fed his wife himself.

Chen Yuzhen had been hungry for a long time, but her body was very weak and she had difficulty eating. She slowly finished two steamed buns and drank half a glass of water.

"Uncle, aunt, these are some potatoes and some wild vegetables that I brought for you. They can be eaten either steamed or boiled.

I'll leave this clay pot for you to use. We don't have any extra ones, otherwise we could have brought a few more over."

Xia Qingyue poured out more than ten pounds of potatoes from the backpack.

She helped the Li family in every way she could.

Although she had a lot of food, she didn't want to give it all to help the Li family.

She still firmly believed in the saying that knowing everything is like playing with fire, which is dangerous and fatal.

"Qingyue, you have helped us a lot and brought us so much food. What are you going to do?" Chen Yuzhen was deeply moved. She sat up straight and said, "Food is more important than life now. We can't accept it!"

Li Benfu also said: "Yes, Qingyue, take these foods back with you. I will go out to find food tomorrow. I have hands and feet, so I won't starve to death!"

"Uncle, aunt, listen to me, this is not much to eat, it's just a token of my appreciation.

After what happened tonight, that group of people will definitely look for us all over the mountains and forests. It is very dangerous to go out at this time, and you are injured.

Why don't you listen to me and stay in the cave to recuperate and take good care of your body, and then we can make a long-term plan later."

After these words, Li Benfu and his wife fell silent.

After a while, Chen Yuzhen said, "Okay, Qingyue, I'll listen to you. We borrowed these grains from you, and we will pay them back later!"

It’s okay if you don’t have to pay it back.

Xia Qingyue smiled and asked them to drink the medicine while it was hot. She also explained that fresh herbs were for external application, while dried herbs were for making soup.

"I'll come back early tomorrow morning to bring you more water. You can rest tonight."

Li Benfu said, "Qingyue, are you going back tonight? There are ferocious beasts in the forest at night. It's very dangerous."

“There are wild wolves in the forest. They are very ferocious and can kill people with one bite. I saw a wild wolf bite someone to death two nights ago!

Qingyue, can you just rest here for one night?" Chen Yuzhen said with worry.

Xia Qingyue thought about it and decided not to take the risk.

Listen to people's advice to eat a full meal.

"Okay, I'll go to the river to fetch water tomorrow morning!"

"I'll go with you, and pick up some wooden barrels, basins, cabinets, beddings and other household items." Li Benfu's spirits had almost recovered, and his eyes were full of fighting spirit.

Hearing this, Xia Qingyue and Chen Yuzhen looked at Li Benfu in confusion.

Li Benfu explained: "When I was knocked unconscious at the base, I woke up just in time to see them loading our daily necessities onto a cart and dumping them into a hole in the ground.

I suspect they've done this before and there's something useful in the hole."

Xia Qingyue's eyes lit up, full of anticipation, "Let's go look for it together tomorrow."

Maybe you'll get lucky and find some good stuff.

After drinking the medicine, Li Benfu and his wife felt sleepy. Xia Qingyue took out mosquito repellent ointment and asked them to apply it all over their bodies. After that, they went to sleep.

She tidied herself up and found a flat piece of sand to lie down on.

Heihei curled up and slept beside her.

The grass was softer, but she was afraid there might be bugs in it.

The firewood was burned down to only two whole sticks left, and the light and shadows were swaying.

The bright light attracted some midges that flew around the firewood pile.

Li Benfu and his wife slept in each other's arms.

Xia Qingyue was not sleepy. She had applied mosquito repellent ointment on her body. There was a strong smell of cool ointment all over her body, and no mosquitoes dared to approach her.

She turned over and lay on her side, facing the fire. Even at a distance, she could still feel the heat of the fire.

It is hot, but with the light there is a sense of security.

I am obviously very tired, but I just can't fall asleep.

In addition to being familiar with her bed, she was in an unfamiliar environment and could not completely relax.

She tossed and turned, watching the light of the fire gradually dim until it went out and the surroundings fell into darkness.

During this time, Li Benfu got up three times, all to check on Chen Yuzhen's condition. In the second half of the night, he breathed a sigh of relief and murmured, "The fever is finally gone."

After an unknown amount of time, Xia Qingyue closed her eyes and fell into a deep sleep.

Even though she went to bed late, Xia Qingyue was still woken up by her biological clock. It was almost five in the morning, and she got up before it got light outside.

Li Benfu stood up with her.

It was obvious that Li Benfu woke up early and was waiting for Xia Qingyue.

The two men discussed it in a low voice and decided to go to the earth cave first to find some containers such as wooden barrels and basins that could hold water, and then go to the river to fetch water.

They originally wanted to leave the cave quietly without disturbing Chen Yuzhen's rest, but Chen Yuzhen woke up and chased them out of the cave, telling them to be careful.

After parting, Xia Qingyue and Li Benfu left the cave and covered the cave entrance with weeds before leaving.

Li Benfu stared at the hole. "It's not safe to leave this hole open. We need to install a wooden door as soon as possible and cover the surface with a layer of soil the same color as the mountain soil."

"Let's go. I remember the route they took that night."

Li Benfu walked in front to lead the way.

They first crossed the river and went around to the rear of the camp where the Li family had originally lived.

They were very careful along the way, especially when they were close to the camp.

The two men and the dog had just passed through the woods more than a kilometer away from the camp when they heard a rustling sound in the bushes nearby, as if something was moving.

Heihei was the first to notice something was wrong. He protected Xia Qingyue and growled with his teeth bared.

Xia Qingyue and Li Benfu looked at each other, and as they became tense, the grass leaves began to vibrate, as if something was about to come out.

"Qingyue, retreat quickly!"

Li Benfu reached out and pushed her behind him, and he rushed forward with a big rock in his hand.