A husband found in the village? I bought a regent for a penny!

Gu Xixi said with a smile, "Firstly, now is not the best time to transplant fruit trees."

"Secondly, he was provoked by those relatives and refused to sell a single tree."

"If I were to take advantage of the fact that I helped him and ask to buy saplings, how would I be any different from those who take advantage of someone's misfortune?"

Aunt Zhang nodded repeatedly, "You've thought of everything."

"This child is pitiful enough; we can't let him suffer any more."

Recently, the nights in the small mountain village have begun to feel chilly with autumn. For dinner, Aunt Zhang cooked a pot of soup dumplings.

A clear broth made with wild bamboo shoots and dried mushrooms is so delicious that it's impossible to resist the allure of meat.

Hand-rolled noodles, diced cabbage, and radish are simmered in the soup to absorb the flavor, and finally sprinkled with a handful of green garlic for extra taste.

Aunt Zhang was exceptionally generous today, adding a poached egg to everyone's bowl.

The old doctor repeatedly praised how delicious it was.

Seeing that he looked cheerful and had a good appetite, Gu Xixi knew that Mu Nanzhao was probably alright.

The old doctor ate two large bowls, exclaiming, "Zhang Niangzi's cooking skills are truly superb."

"Not only is the soup delicious, but the flatbread is also thin, chewy, and smooth."

Aunt Zhang's cheeks flushed as she was praised. "Oh, all I can cook are these simple home-style dishes. They're nothing like what you're making them out to be."

The old doctor exclaimed, "It tastes just like the food from my hometown. I haven't had it in years."

Aunt Zhang asked, "Isn't your hometown Stone Village? I've never heard you talk about your past."

Gu Xixi and Mu Nanzhao also looked over curiously.

The old doctor chuckled and mumbled, "I can't remember things from so long ago."

Gu Xixi and Mu Nanzhao exchanged a glance.

It seems the old doctor has quite a story to tell.

Sure enough, the sound of rain could be heard in the middle of the night, and it was still raining when Gu Xixi woke up in the morning.

The sky outside was overcast, and the light inside was dim; it was perfect weather for sleeping in.

Gu Xixi rolled over in bed and asked, "Aunt Zhang, Gu Qingye didn't come, did she?"

This kind of weather is clearly not suitable for going into the mountains.

Aunt Zhang put down the washbasin and said, "I went out to check just now, and she didn't come."

Gu Xixi curled up comfortably. "Then I'll go back to sleep."

Aunt Zhang smiled indulgently, "Alright, you can sleep all you want. I'll wake you up for lunch."

This child is always busy, and today, because of the rain, he has a rare moment of leisure and should take a good rest.

Gu Xixi quickly drifted off to sleep again.

But this time she didn't get to sleep for long.

Old Qian's anxious voice echoed throughout the courtyard, "My niece hasn't gotten up yet?"

"Hey, I can't wait any longer! Who in your family can dig now? Grab a shovel and come with me!"

In her hazy state, Gu Xixi heard Aunt Zhang ask, "What happened? Why are you digging in this heavy rain?"

Old Qian said, "There was a landslide on the other side of the mountain, and several little children were trapped underneath."

"I just heard about it too, and I'm about to go check it out."

The Qian family was walking towards the mountain when they happened to pass by Gu Xixi's house, so Old Qian came in to ask for help.

Upon hearing that a child had been buried, Aunt Zhang immediately went to find a shovel and a hoe.

Hearing the door open, Lao Qian turned around and saw Gu Xixi coming out, dressed neatly.

"Uncle Qian, is the landslide large? Is it a collapse of soil, rocks, or a mudslide?"

Old Qian said, "They said it's at the bottom of the cliff on the west side."

“Someone dug clay in that area before, leaving a hole in the mountain.”

"This time, the loose soil was washed away by the heavy rain and collapsed, burying the entrance to the cave."

Gu Xixi took a hoe from Aunt Zhang and hurried outside without even opening her umbrella.

"If it's just loose soil, we can still dig it up quickly."

At this moment, Mu Nanzhao appeared at the door of the west room, "I'll go with you."

"No!" The old doctor and Gu Xixi said in unison.

Gu Xixi said, "Your cough has just healed, you can't get caught in the rain again."

She smiled at Mu Nanzhao, "The whole village has come out, we don't need you."

The old doctor also advised, "If any child gets injured and is brought here, I'll need your help."

Gu Xixi explained to Lao Qian, "My uncle knows medicine."

"You can bring the injured child to my house for treatment later."

Old Qian, unable to contain his joy, quickly bowed to the old doctor and said, "Thank you!"

When Gu Xixi, Lao Qian, and Aunt Zhang arrived at the back of the mountain, many villagers were already digging in the rain.

Supported by two women, Sister-in-law Qin's eyes were filled with sorrow, and her face was covered in a mixture of rain and sweat.

Gu Xixi asked the person next to her in a low voice, "Is Sister Qin's son here too?"

Several people nodded and sighed sympathetically.

Sister-in-law Qin is a kind-hearted person and well-liked in the village. Everyone felt bad that she had encountered such a thing.

Gu Xixi said no more and joined the digging team.

Aunt Zhang hurriedly followed, "Xixi, slow down, be careful!"

The rain was pouring down harder and harder. Old Qian looked up and wiped the rain from his face, then shouted towards the top of the cliff:

"I see that the soil and rocks above are a bit loose, everyone needs to hold on tight!"

Upon hearing this, everyone dug even faster.

Everyone knew that if there was a second collapse, not only would the people outside be in danger, but the hope of rescuing the children inside would become even slimmer.

The faces of the families searching for their children turned ashen instantly, and sobs and cries filled the air once again.

Gu Xixi was also extremely anxious. Was there any way to speed things up even more?

She looked around and noticed that the muddy water next to her right foot was swirling and seeping down.

In a flash, Gu Xixi quickly moved her right foot and dug hard into that spot.

One, two! A small pit suddenly appeared in the mud.

Gu Xixi stared excitedly at the small pit, waving her hand and shouting, "The soil layer is the thinnest here! Rainwater can flow in, so it might be right in front of the entrance."

Trusting Gu Xixi's judgment, Lao Qian made a decisive decision: "Two strong men, come with me to dig over here!"

Everyone dug with all their might, not even bothering to wipe their eyes when the rain got in them.

Suddenly, amidst the sounds of rain and digging, a child's faint cry rang out, "Mother!"

The others who were digging with Gu Xixi were stunned.

Aunt Zhang asked uncertainly, "Did you hear anything?"

Qin Da Sao, whose face had been ashen, suddenly pushed away the person who was supporting her and stumbled forward.

"Tiedan! It's my Tiedan's voice!"

The others who were a little further away didn't hear anything and thought that Sister-in-law Qin had gone mad with grief. Several women went up to pull her back so as not to delay the rescue.

Then several clearer cries came.

Old Qian's face lit up with joy. "It's crying! It's a baby crying!"

"Yes!" someone exclaimed happily, "Judging from the crying, there's more than one person; they must all be alright!"

Sister-in-law Qin, wading through the mud, rushed toward her husband who was still digging at the other end of the road, laughing and crying at the same time.

"Hey Qin, did you hear that? My son's right here! Come help me!"

Everyone, including Gu Xixi, was even more motivated.

The rain intensified, and no one noticed the sounds overhead...