From Hoarding to Time-Travel: My Supplies Saved Him

Chapter 325: Chapter 326: Saving Someone

"Quick, go get the estate headman and ask him what’s happening! Who would go up the mountain at this hour?" Jin Qianqian frowned and quickly gave the order. "Also, tell him to gather more people. The most important thing is to rescue whoever it is."

Jin Qianqian didn’t think the few guards she had with her would be enough to venture into the unfamiliar, deep mountains. Even if this part of the forest belonged to the estate, the Daqing Mountain behind it was so vast its end couldn’t be seen.

Jiang Shiniu also understood the gravity of the situation. He told the other guards to protect Jin Qianqian well, then ran nonstop toward the estate village.

"It must be that kid from the Xie Family," Li Zhuangtou said, stomping his foot. Without explaining to Jiang Shiniu, he hurriedly started running and shouting, "Everyone, grab your tools! Xie Ermao has gone into the mountains!"

A moment later, a large crowd of people rushed out, each holding either a machete or a hoe. "Mr. Li, why has Xie Ermao gone into the mountains again?"

"He must be trying to get revenge for his father and brother. Who knows if he’s run into that wolf pack again."

"If he’s run into the wolf pack, wouldn’t we just be throwing our lives away by going after him?" Some people stopped in their tracks.

"His father and brother were highly skilled in martial arts and even they couldn’t hold them off. We’re just farmers. We shouldn’t risk it."

Li Zhuangtou said, "What’s the point of saying all this now? Don’t you all forget, whenever you had troubles over the years, you all went to the Xie Family for help. Are you just going to stand by and watch their last descendant die?

"Besides, it’s broad daylight, and there are so many of us. Even if we just try to scare them, we should be able to drive those beasts away."

After saying his piece, Li Zhuangtou didn’t wait for them and took the lead, charging up the mountain.

He didn’t even have time to greet Jin Qianqian as he passed her, but the villagers all cast a few curious glances her way. Jin Qianqian, however, was now completely surrounded by several women.

Jin Qianqian looked at the guards still standing by her side. "You few, go follow them and see. Help out if you can."

Jiang Da Niu hesitated. Lin Dapeng was already protecting the young master, and they couldn’t leave the Madam all alone. If they did, the Master would be the first to punish them when they got back.

Jin Qianqian naturally saw his predicament. "I’m going to walk ahead a bit, take Luo Luo with me, and wait for you back at the estate. You go follow them and see what’s happening, but be careful and protect yourselves too."

This was her estate now, after all. Jin Qianqian didn’t want a death to occur on the very first day she took over.

Jiang Shiniu could faintly see Lin Dapeng’s position. He knew the distance between them wasn’t great, and they were gradually heading toward the village entrance, so they were within a safe range.

Jin Qianqian immediately got moving, leading her people slowly toward the children up ahead. Meanwhile, Jiang Shiniu and the others chased after the group heading up the mountain.

Li Zhuangtou led the way, running and shouting, "Ermao! Xie Ermao, where are you?"

"Answer me! This mountain is huge, how is your uncle supposed to find you?"

He shouted again and again, but the only reply was the echo from the deep mountains.

Jiang Shiniu, who had caught up from behind, pointed in the direction of the sound they had heard earlier. "We heard the sound coming from over there. This way."

Li Zhuangtou changed direction without hesitation. A tenant from behind him asked curiously, "Mr. Li, what’s the story with the new owner?"

Li Zhuangtou shot an apologetic look at Jiang Shiniu. ’This kid, honestly,’ he thought. ’Doesn’t he know when to ask such a question? The owner’s man is standing right here.’

"Our master is this year’s new top scholar, currently holding a Sixth Rank position in the Hanlin Academy. The Madam is an Imperial Merchant, personally appointed by the Holy Emperor," Jiang Shiniu said, holding his head high.

’Don’t be fooled just because the Master is only a Sixth-rank Capital Official for now. No one in the entire Shangjing City dares to look down on him.’

"How impressive," someone exclaimed. "That Madam didn’t look very old just now. Is the new top scholar also young?"

Jiang Shiniu replied, "Our master is just in his early twenties. Of course he’s young."

"Quick, I think there’s movement up ahead," Li Zhuangtou suddenly exclaimed. Everyone stopped chatting, holding their breath and staring forward.

Unexpectedly, the first thing that came into view was the corpse of a wolf. Someone even wanted to turn and run, but their legs had gone soft with fear.

"Ermao," Li Zhuangtou said in a low, trembling voice. "If you’re there, answer your Uncle."

"Uncle..."

"Sounds like it’s to your front right," Jiang Shiniu said, having heard it clearly this time. Gripping his sword tightly, he moved to the front. The scene that followed would be etched in his memory for the rest of his life.

He saw a child, covered head to toe in blood, lying on top of several wolf carcasses. And of those wolves, not a single one was whole.

The overwhelming stench of blood put Jiang Shiniu on high alert. He nudged the stunned Li Zhuangtou beside him. "Quick, have someone carry the boy down. The smell of blood here is too strong."

It wasn’t that he was squeamish and didn’t want to touch the boy. It was that the child’s eyes were fixed ferociously on the sword in his hand. He must have been in a killing frenzy. That savage glint in his eyes even made Jiang Shiniu a little afraid.

"Ermao," Li Zhuangtou, however, had no such reservations. He ran straight over, not noticing the boy’s momentary defensive posture, which quickly collapsed due to exhaustion.

"I told you before, even if you want to avenge your father and brother, you have to wait until you’re older.

"Look at the state you’re in! Quick, tell Uncle Li, where are you hurt?"

Seeing a familiar face, Xie Ermao finally relaxed, but he had no strength left. He slowly closed his eyes.

"Ermao!" Li Zhuangtou panicked. ’What’s wrong with the boy?’ he wondered.

Jiang Shiniu, however, was calmer. He walked over and checked the boy’s pulse. "He should have just fainted. We need to get him down the mountain to a doctor quickly."

He looked around. "Let’s get the child out of here. This is no place to linger."

"Right," Li Zhuangtou, flustered and unsure, walked over, scooped up the child, and started to run stumblingly down the mountain.

Jiang Shiniu couldn’t bear to watch. He handed his sword to a companion, went over, and swung the child onto his own back. "Let’s go."

The other tenants certainly didn’t dare to linger either. In their haste, however, they didn’t forget to hoist the wolf carcasses onto their shoulders. No matter what, it was still meat.

Jin Qianqian and her party also reached the spot where Gu Benluo and the others were gathering wild vegetables, and they started heading back to the estate with the children.

When they got back to the estate, they found many people gathered at the entrance to the main courtyard. The children quickly found their families.

Jin Qianqian didn’t know what the situation was on the mountain and didn’t want to be the subject of so many stares, so she took the child back to the carriage to wait.

Gu Benluo held up his meager harvest of wild vegetables, a wronged expression on his face. "Mother, this isn’t even half of what Brother Tudun and the others gathered."

Jin Qianqian stroked his head and pointed to the pastries she had placed in the cabinet before they left. "Next time Mother brings you here to pick vegetables with them, you can bring these pastries to share."