Across from them were a few men, looking to be in their thirties or forties, carrying hoes without any clear destination.
Bai Zhi and Wu Wa suddenly stopped, and the suspension bridge continued to sway non-stop. They immediately grabbed the chains with their hands, waiting for the bridge to come to a halt.
Xiao Qi could finally take a breath. After coming to a stop, he slowly steadied himself using the chain.
The men approached, noting their thin clothes and the many items they carried.
"Where are you folks from, and why have you come to our poor, remote area?"
This place was poor, exceptionally poor, the kind nobody wishes to visit.
"It’s Sister Goh Fei who sent me here. She said her home was extremely beautiful, with birds singing and flowers fragrant, and that one could also catch wild boars, rabbits, and pheasants. I wanted to see it for myself. Uncle, do you know where it is? I’ll give you one hundred yuan if you take me there?"
Bai Zhi’s eyes sparkled as she said this, casually taking out money – she had both fifty and one hundred yuan bills. Their eyes lit up. Ah, this is a little girl from a wealthy family.
And quite a pretty one too.
This money, they would have to work so much to obtain it. She’s such a fool.
"Alright, we’ll take you there."
Just for the sake of the money that little girl had shown, they had to take her there.
As for that feeble man at the back, shivering and not daring to step forward, oh, he’s of no use.
"Goh Fei, ah yes, we know her, she’s from our village. Our village is surrounded by mountains, and there’s plenty of delicious food to be had. Let’s go, we’ll take you over there."
The leader of the men quickly agreed. Bai Zhi didn’t hesitate and handed him one hundred yuan. The other two got fifty each.
Behind them, Xiao Qi’s heart ached a bit – that was his salary.
But Xingxing had said, "You can’t catch a wolf if you’re afraid to lose your child. If you’re stingy with money, you can’t open up the road."
So that’s what it meant.
"Wait for me, sister, little sister..."
Feeble Xiao Qi was still trembling.
Bai Zhi looked back at Xiao Qi with a bit of disgust.
"Why are you dilly-dallying when we’re out to have fun? I can’t wait anymore; I want to experience nature, I want to eat wild chicken, I want to climb mountains, climb trees, I want to let myself be free."
Bai Zhi was as excited as an inexperienced little girl who had never seen the world, almost deliriously happy.
"Sister, should we wait for brother?"
Wu Wa looked timidly at Bai Zhi, somewhat cautious.
"Wait for what? He will be here in a while. What are you afraid of, these uncles are our own people, right, uncle?"
Bai Zhi shot Wu Wa a glare and then smiled warmly at the leading man.
"Of course, we’re all family here," the man replied with an especially loud smile, as if it were a hearty, joyful grin.
"Uncle, how much further?"
Bai Zhi looked at the endless path, feeling tired and didn’t want to walk anymore. She sat down on a rock beside her, then suddenly stood up again, showing clear disdain.
As for the two behind her, they were also exhausted. City folks, that’s their problem – too finicky.
"Don’t worry, we’re almost there. How did you get here?"
They’re not used to walking, yet they made it all this way.
He couldn’t help but remain cautious.
"We met a man driving a tractor in the county town who brought us here. He was especially nice. He only charged us five hundred."
When Bai Zhi mentioned the five hundred yuan, and how effortlessly she spoke of it, the corners of their mouths twitched.
Five hundred yuan, to speak of it so casually, these people really were not simple at all.