If she keeps following them closely, how can she find any prey?
She smiled but did not respond to Ge Dejun’s remark.
The sun shone down, filtering through the gaps in the leaves overhead, as if fragmented into tiny pieces of gold.
The air in the mountains was exceptionally fresh, and a gentle breeze carried a faint scent of flowers, lifting Chiang Xiao’s spirits even higher. For some reason, she had a gut feeling that this time there would be a great find.
Soon, they reached the spot where they had picked mushrooms last time.
Chiang Xiao realized that she was climbing much faster this time than before.
Moreover, Ge Dejun and Xu Linjun’s pace was also fast.
Initially, they had slowed down to wait for her, but as she kept up with light footsteps, not seeming to struggle, they became surprised and let go.
Their pace was naturally faster than Chiang Songhai’s.
Additionally, since Chiang Xiao and Chiang Songhai had already checked this part of the path before and knew there was nothing of interest, Chiang Xiao led them forward without delay or stops, heading straight upwards.
"Last time, Grandpa and I found a large patch of mushrooms here, let’s see if there are still any left," Chiang Xiao led them towards that spot.
Suddenly, a rustling sound came from the bushes, and Xu Linjiang, with his quick reflexes, thrust his bamboo stick at it.
A dark grey snake was flicked away, sent flying into the distance.
Chiang Xiao was startled and patted her chest involuntarily.
"It’s okay, Little, that snake is not venomous," Xu Linjiang hastened to reassure her.
Chiang Xiao said, "It just gave me a little scare."
At that moment, Ge Dejun turned around somewhat disappointedly, "There are some mushrooms here, but not many."
Chiang Xiao looked up and saw that indeed, there were mushrooms sprouting in the place she had picked them before, but they were sparse and small in quantity and size.
No wonder Ge Dejun was somewhat disappointed.
Chiang Xiao’s tone grew more animated, "Uncle, I had just picked mushrooms here not long ago. To have this many growing now is quite good, and it shows that this patch of land is suitable for mushrooms, right? If we wait a few more days before coming back, we will definitely be able to pick a lot!"
Listening to her, Ge Dejun also felt she was right, and his disappointment was quickly cast aside.
"Little’s got a clear head!" he couldn’t help but praise her.
Chiang Xiao cheered up.
It was rare to be complimented.
"Grandpa is always so worried about this and that. He wanted us only to come this far. But what do you think, Uncle, Auntie’s husband?"
Chiang Xiao looked at them expectantly.
They had come all this way without much to show for it; were they supposed to just turn back now?
That was what Chiang Songhai had told them to do, but Chiang Xiao definitely didn’t think that way!
She was determined to delve deeper into the mountains!
With each trip, she would explore a little further in. Making money always involved some risks. Considering the state of their household now, being frightened by this and that, unwilling to take any risk, how would they get by?
Of course, she had to bring along these two allies.
Ge Dejun and Xu Linjun exchanged a glance, and having made up their minds, they said to Chiang Xiao, "Little, we want to go deeper, are you scared? If so, we can escort you down the mountain first, and your Auntie’s husband and I will come back up. If we find something, we’ll share with you. What do you think?"
Of course that’s not okay!
Chiang Xiao quickly shook her head, "No, that won’t do. I want to go in with you. Uncle, don’t worry about me; I’m very agile. Maybe you can’t even keep up with me. How about this? I promise that if there’s any danger, I won’t worry about you guys, I’ll turn around and run. Just looking out for my own safety, how about that?"