Chapter 495: Chapter 495
Her body suddenly felt light, and the scene before her eyes seemed strange, shrouded in hazy darkness.
But suddenly, a face appeared in front of her, someone she recognized.
But it’s the younger version of Grandfather.
She saw those distinctly dark eyes, that steadfast outline; she knew how gentle and soft that smile was. At this moment, she wanted to reach out and touch his hand, feel his warm body temperature, and hold Grandfather’s hand to ask if it doesn’t hurt anymore.
But her hand couldn’t move, her entire body couldn’t move.
She heard a low voice, the familiar voice echoing.
Looking at him, she felt a special emotion, a feeling she thought she’d never have again.
She wanted to tell him, she tried to tell him, "Grandfather, please come back!"
But it grew darker in front of her, she was losing sight of him.
Then light appeared, a bright and clear light behind him, growing brighter, turning him into a shadow amid the strong light.
She saw something, something both beautiful and terrifying, unreal. She knew it was here to take him.
"Xiao Xiao, Grandfather is gone. Take good care of your Grandma, reassure her not to worry about me. I am fine, it’s safe and quiet here. Let your Grandma live happily, I will watch over her. I’m doing well, it wasn’t painful at all.
You’re a good child, Grandfather knows your intentions. Take care of your parents, take care of your Grandma, I’m leaving."
A powerful force pulled her away, taking her elsewhere, but she couldn’t feel the distance, the speed, or even the sensation of movement.
It was more like a transformation, as if she changed in an instant to something entirely different.
Jiang Xiaoxiao saw the light disappear, Grandfather gradually faded, becoming transparent, disappearing bit by bit into the glow.
Her consciousness ceased to function, her whole being sinking into darkness.
In the moment of opening her eyes, tears welled up, overflowing down her cheeks, she smiled through the light of her tears.
Grandfather was gone, those living must keep on living, striving to help others continue living.
For Grandma, for parents, for more people, and for herself.
Song Moting watched Jiang Xiaoxiao open her eyes, finally released the grip on her hand, touching her cheek, the joy of regaining what was lost made his eyes ache.
Jiang Xiaoxiao saw the scruffy Song Moting through weak light, on his rugged face was worry, almost crushing her into his embrace the moment she regained consciousness.
He leaned towards her, his cheek pressed against the top of her head.
She clung tightly to him, tears burning in her eyes.
His solid body safely, completely against hers, felt so powerful, she’d never want to let go of him.
On this tormenting day, the pain was almost heartbreakingly unbearable.
She had lost Grandfather; if anything happened to her too, what about Tang Yuan?
"Shh," he whispered. "It’s okay now, nothing will happen."
"Grandfather is dead,"
She sobbed against his chest.
"I saw Grandfather die with my own eyes. I was too late, I know I should have come earlier, but I was late."
He gently stroked her hair.
Personally, Grandfather’s death didn’t cut him to the bone like it did Jiang Xiaoxiao, but he was her family, that grief tormented Jiang Xiaoxiao, making him empathize.
He began to let her lean against the stone wall, softly comforting her.
"But! Xiao Xiao! Grandma and Uncle are in bad shape, you’ve been asleep for three days and nights, we must save them."
Jiang Xiaoxiao trembled.
Scanning around, in the darkness, only shadows could be seen but no people, just faint breathing.
"I’ve slept for three days and nights?"
In the past, surgeries made her sleep, now even grief began to affect her?
Three days and nights would delay many things.
"Yes! Both Grandma and Uncle are unwell, Grandma is in a coma, Uncle has a fever. These days I can barely keep us alive by using clothes to filter muddy water to feed you. The rain has stopped, but rescue hasn’t arrived; no one knows we’re here."
This is most depressing.
Song Moting glanced at the pit entrance, pitch black without light.
This pit is quite deep, how long it will take for someone to find them is unknown.
Now he finally felt what Jiang Xiaoxiao once felt when she alone took care of him and the tractor driver!
A strong loneliness, helpless desolation, and the inability to deal with a bad situation.
He wanted to save everyone, but even surviving was a problem.
His confidence was completely shattered, he felt completely useless.
Except for catching some insects and occasionally a stray mouse for sustenance, he had no way to take care of them, let alone rescue them.
They might all die together here.
She fell silent again, conserving energy.
Quietly, she took out peach juice and handed it to Song Moting, "Give it to Uncle and Grandma."
Song Moting didn’t say a word, turning to take care of Fan Jianguo and Grandma.
Little by little the juice went down, both of them began from a difficult sip to gradually big gulps, finally a whole bottle of peach juice went down, and they both fell deeply asleep again.
Song Moting hunched back to Jiang Xiaoxiao’s side, "It’s best you’re awake. Please watch over Grandma and Uncle; I’ll go up to explore again. I checked the previous days, all dead ends; today I’ll check the last route. If again..."
He didn’t continue, but Jiang Xiaoxiao understood. If there’s no way out, they’ll be trapped alive here.
"Wait, don’t rush, eat something before you go."
Jiang Xiaoxiao handed him tomato and cucumber, the only things they could eat raw. Rice and flour without making them into finished products were impossible to eat; now they couldn’t even find firewood to cook. She could manage to cook something if possible.
Song Moting silently ate, without refusing. He needed strength to find a way.
"If there’s still no way, find some firewood, we have pots, we have grain, we won’t die; we can still wait for rescue. Don’t take risks, I want you to live well, for us all to live well."
Jiang Xiaoxiao advised him, handing him his entrenching tool.
"I know," he said gloomily.
Her advice was not out of conflict, just stating the enormous task in front of them.
And the best suggestion.
Once spoken, Jiang Xiaoxiao expelled it from her thoughts, committed wholeheartedly to fulfill it, their sole purpose now.
Song Moting examined her face with sharp eyes: weak and pale.
His big hand gently brushed her strands, turning swiftly to climb up.
Jiang Xiaoxiao crawled to Grandma and Uncle’s side, the dampness in the tunnel made her cold and uncomfortable, reaching for Grandma’s body, luckily it was warm.
After a simple check, Jiang Xiaoxiao confirmed Grandma and Uncle would soon wake up.
She began to look around, thinking about how to use what’s in her space.
She had food, but couldn’t eat it.
To survive, eating raw rice and flour was a method.
But before that, she wanted to find a way to make fire.
With fire, there is hope.