"Xiu Gege, how much longer until we get home?"
She didn’t know how long she had slept yesterday, nor how long he had carried her on his back.
Xiu Xi helped her sit up and raised his head to look around: "Soon."
Ruan Jiaojiao nodded her head, looking at her small hand being held by him, and obediently followed behind him.
Finally, before noon, they emerged from the front mountain and arrived at the entrance to the village of the Sixth Brigade.
At this time, many people were still working in the fields, and initially, as the two of them walked along the road, disheveled, no one noticed, until someone did and immediately drew a crowd of onlookers.
"My God, isn’t that the Ruan family’s little girl?"
"Jiaojiao? You’re Jiaojiao, aren’t you?"
"She actually made it out by herself?"
"..." A group of people surrounded Ruan Jiaojiao, gawking at her as if she were a novelty, clicking their tongues in amazement, making it difficult for Ruan Jiaojiao and Xiu Xi to move an inch.
Those with quick tempers had already turned around to go to the Ruan family to spread the news.
The Ruan family was now plunged into a deathly silence, nearly everyone had given up hope. At this moment, when they heard someone say they saw their family’s little girl at the village entrance, Ruan Jianguo ran out like a madman, followed closely by others.
Ruan Jiaojiao and Xiu Xi were escorted by everyone along the way back to the Ruan family’s home, and halfway there, they saw the people of the Ruan family running towards them like crazy.
"Jiaojiao!" shouted Ruanlin Family’s matriarch, followed by earth-shattering weeping.
Ruan Jianguo stepped forward to push the crowd aside and took Ruan Jiaojiao into his arms, clinging to her tightly, the nearly six-foot-tall man sitting on the ground sobbing, his body shaking.
"Jiaojiao! Jiaojiao!"
Except for Ruan Jun, who was not there, the other eight brothers all gathered around, rubbing their eyes red with tears.
Ruanlin Family’s matriarch couldn’t even walk anymore, being helped over by Du Qing and Wu Le, half-dragged. She snatched Ruan Jiaojiao from Ruan Jianguo’s arms, tears streaming down her face: "Jiaojiao, my dear, you nearly scared me to death, I thought you... I was almost ready to follow you!"
Ruanlin Family’s matriarch cried to extremes, holding Ruan Jiaojiao and refusing to let go, not even Ruan Jianguo could touch her.
Ruan Jiaojiao was hugged so tightly she could barely breathe, yet she couldn’t bear to push them away, and tears followed down her face, moved by their emotions.
The Ruan family members huddled together outside, weeping, while onlookers couldn’t help but feel teary-eyed themselves, several of them silently wiping their eyes. Finally, Du Qing came to his senses and pulled Ruanlin Family’s matriarch up: "Mom, mom, pull yourself together. Jiaojiao is back, let’s quickly take her home and see if she’s hurt anywhere."
Upon hearing Ruan Jiaojiao might be injured, the Ruan family instantly snapped to attention, as did Ruanlin Family’s matriarch. She tried to pick up Ruan Jiaojiao, but the overwhelming joy and sorrow drained her strength, and it was Ruan Jianguo who picked up Ruan Jiaojiao in a fireman’s hold.
The family hurried home.
From under Ruan Jianguo’s arm, Ruan Jiaojiao looked back and saw Xiu Xi standing alone, his head buried, looking extremely forlorn. Her heart ached, and she tugged at the front of Ruan Jianguo’s shirt.
Ruan Jianguo looked down at her, his voice tender beyond measure: "What’s wrong, baby?"
"Dad, it was Xiu Gege who saved me. Bring him with us."
"Xiu Gege?" The crowd turned around as if they had only just noticed Xiu Xi standing behind them.
"Let’s go, come to my house." Ruan Hao, who was still fairly composed despite his red eyes, turned back to say to Xiu Xi.
Xiu Xi, watching Ruan Jiaojiao being held by Ruan Jianguo, and seeing that she was also looking back at him, finally took steps to follow.