Reborn in 1985, starting from the mountains of Northwest China

"Brother Yang, what brings you here? Come in and have a seat!"

Chen Feng quickly went to meet him and helped Old Yang walk into the yard.

Old Yang waved his hand, didn't go inside, and just stood at the gate of the courtyard, his face wrinkled and his eyes full of anxiety.

"Chen Feng, I need to speak with you urgently."

Chen Feng's heart skipped a beat when he saw his expression.

In the middle of the Lunar New Year, in the countryside where superstition prevails, anything that could make him so anxious must be extremely difficult.

"What is it? Please tell me."

Old Yang opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, he sighed.

"Do you remember my nephew? The boy who chopped firewood when you came to my house before the New Year."

Chen Feng thought for a moment and vaguely remembered it.

Old Yang's nephew is named Yang Chengwu. He is in his early twenties, tall and thin, and doesn't talk much.

When Chen Feng arrived that day, he saw him carrying firewood that was half a person's height back from outside, covered in sweat. When he saw Chen Feng, he smiled shyly, put down the firewood, and went into the kitchen to boil water.

Old Yang's voice trembled slightly: "He went into the mountains, and it's been three days. He hasn't come back yet."

Chen Feng frowned.

"Going into the mountains? It's the first month of the lunar year, the snow hasn't melted yet, what would he be doing going into the mountains?"

Old Yang's eyes reddened, his lips trembled, and he couldn't speak for a long time.

Chen Feng quickly helped him up: "Brother Yang, don't rush, tell me slowly."

Old Yang took a deep breath and calmed himself down.

"He...he did this to treat my leg."

Chen Feng was stunned.

"Treatment for the legs?"

Old Yang nodded, his voice hoarse.

"You know my leg condition. I've seen several doctors, and they all said I need good medicine, which would cost over ten yuan just to get the prescription. Where would I, an old man living alone, get that kind of money?"

Chen Feng was naturally aware of this; Ta Xue had sold the car to him because she couldn't afford to treat her leg.

He paused, then raised his sleeve to wipe his eyes.

"Chengwu, that kid, he doesn't say it, but he's anxious inside. Before the New Year, he told me, 'Uncle, I heard there's ginseng in the old forest up north. I'll go try my luck and dig some up to exchange for money to treat my leg.' I scolded him then and said he wasn't allowed to go. You can't just walk into that old forest like that!"

Chen Feng's heart sank.

Could this ginseng be the one from Lin Xiuniang's family?

But thinking about it, it makes sense. There's no such thing as a secret that stays hidden forever.

What he knows, others will naturally find out as well.

Old Yang didn't pay attention to Chen Feng's expression and continued talking to himself, "I thought he listened to me."

"The day before yesterday morning, I got up and found he wasn't there. There was a note on the kang (a heated brick bed) saying he had gone into the mountains and would be back in three to five days, and that I shouldn't worry."

His voice trembled more and more.

"It's been three days, and he still hasn't returned. I've been asking around for days, and I finally found out he went to Wufeng Mountain..."

"I don't know anyone there. After thinking it over, the only person I know is your wife in that village, plus my leg..."

He looked down at his left leg, and tears finally fell.

"My legs are too weak to walk on mountain paths; I'm anxious but powerless. The other hunters in the village either haven't returned yet or aren't familiar with the area. After thinking it over, the only one I can think of is you..."

After hearing what Lao Yang said, Chen Feng did not immediately chime in.

Wufeng Mountain.

It was around the third or fourth day of the Lunar New Year when he went up the mountain to look for ginseng.

Even now, he still remembers the shoe that was left behind after the bear carried it away.

And those pools of blood buried in the snow!

Not many people know about this during the Lunar New Year, since it's considered unlucky.

But now, Lao Yang says Yang Chengwu went to Wufeng Mountain.

Chen Feng raised his head and looked at Old Yang.

Old Yang was still standing there, half of his body leaning on his cane, his eyes full of pleading.

He hadn't known Lao Yang for long, but he would come over to see Taxue every few days. He wouldn't go inside, but would just look at her from afar and laugh to himself.

But now, the wrinkles on that face are even deeper, and the eyes are so red they look like they're about to bleed.

He wanted to tell Old Yang that there were bears in the mountains, and that a stranger had even died there...

The words were stuck in his throat, but Chen Feng couldn't utter a single one.

Chen Feng suddenly remembered his past life.

At that time, he went south to work and lay alone in a basement, unable to afford medicine.

He lay there for three days without anyone knowing, not even himself.

Fortunately, the landlord came to collect the rent and found him burning up and nearly dying.

They rushed him to the hospital and even paid for his medical expenses so he could slowly recover.

At that time, he thought to himself, "Luckily, the landlord helped me out."

He lacked ability in his past life, and he hasn't had an easy time in this one either, but overall things are slowly getting better.

Chen Feng recalled the kindness of his landlord in his previous life, and also thought of Yang Chengwu, that simple-minded boy.

I finally made up my mind.

"Uncle Yang."

Old Yang thought the plan was going to fall through again, when he suddenly heard Chen Feng's voice.

"There are bears in those mountains."

Old Yang's face turned pale instantly.

Chen Feng continued, "I went up there on the third day of the Lunar New Year. A stranger from out of town died; a bear carried him away. All that was left was a shoe and a few pools of blood."

Old Yang's legs went weak, and he almost fell over.

Chen Feng caught him.

"Brother Yang, I'm not telling you this to scare you. I just want you to know that this trip might not yield any results. And even if we do find them, they might not be alive."

Old Yang's tears started flowing again, streaming down the wrinkles on his face.

He opened his mouth, as if to say something, but it felt like his throat was stuffed with cotton, and he couldn't squeeze out a single word.

After a long while, he finally spoke in a hoarse voice.

"Then... never mind..."

Old Yang understood that in this freezing cold and icy place, who would risk their life to find someone?

He turned around with difficulty, leaning on his cane.

"Uncle," Chen Feng's voice came from behind, "I'll go."

Old Yang turned around abruptly, his eyes filled with disbelief.

"What...what did you say?"

Chen Feng looked at him and repeated himself.

"I'll go."

Old Yang's lips trembled, and his tears flowed even more fiercely.

"Chen Feng, you... there are bears in those mountains..."

Chen Feng nodded.

"I know."

"That outsider is dead..."

"I know."

"You...you..."

Old Yang was speechless, he just looked at Chen Feng, at this young man.

Chen Feng walked up to him.

"Uncle, it's not for any other reason. It's just that I remembered the way that kid smiled at me when he was carrying firewood."

He paused.

"Good people shouldn't have died there."

Old Yang stared blankly at him, then suddenly grabbed his hand tightly.

"Chen Feng, I...I..."

He couldn't speak, he just held Chen Feng's hand, tears streaming down his face.

He had a lot to say, but he didn't know what to say.

His family was poor, and they couldn't even offer him gold, silver, or appliances as a reward...

Chen Feng patted Lao Yang's hand to reassure him.

"Uncle, you go back and wait. I'll pack up and head into the mountains right away."

Old Yang nodded, "Do your best and leave the rest to fate."

He let go of her hand, leaned on his cane, and walked outside, but after taking two steps, he turned back.

"Chen Feng, you...you be careful."

Chen Feng nodded, watching as Old Yang's figure disappeared into the distance.