Chapter 496: Chapter 496

Song Moting did not take the usual path back to the ravine in front of him.

On the way up, he had to follow the direction in his mind and the simple markers he set himself. Retracing the original path would avoid danger. Of course, another more direct and therefore more convenient route was now available to them.

Song Moting estimated that they could save at least several days, possibly more.

They had to choose between waiting for rescue and rescuing themselves.

On the other side of the ravine, the rustling sounds disappeared, evidence of some small animal, which also proved that it wasn’t a cliff.

His gaze surveyed everything.

They had no way back. If they didn’t move forward, they could only wait helplessly at the bottom for rescue, not knowing when it would arrive.

What Song Moting had not voiced was that if too much time passed, the steepness of the mountain could increase the difficulty, and for everyone’s safety, rescuers might abandon the search, especially since they had been there for at least three days and nights.

Typically, if a rescue doesn’t succeed within a week, it is abandoned.

Who can guarantee they will be found?

But the ravine is a natural barrier!

The four of them, an elderly person and a woman, plus two strong men couldn’t guarantee they’d get everyone across.

Not even Song Moting, who knows what’s beyond?

It’s best to be fully prepared before going.

Song Moting broke off the shrubs growing on the rocky wall, damp and likely hard to catch fire, but what else could they do without trying?

Maybe thick smoke would be a good signal, but only if it didn’t choke them before help arrived.

When Fan Jianguo woke up, he smelled a delicious aroma and his eyes stung, making it impossible to keep them open.

It was pleasure mixed with pain.

A feeling of being unsure where he was.

Jiang Xiaoxiao fed half a bowl of porridge to her grandmother.

Mrs. Fan tightly grasped Jiang Xiaoxiao’s hand, "Xiao Xiao, stop it, Grandma’s full. You must hurry up and go! You and Xiao Song have been busy for so long without catching a breath."

Her heart ached for her granddaughter and grandson-in-law.

If it wasn’t for Song Moting and Jiang Xiaoxiao, they might very well have died.

Mrs. Fan felt distressed but suppressed her sorrow, knowing they all might die now.

She couldn’t bear for the children to die.

"We ate! Don’t worry, we’re not starving."

They had truly eaten.

Jiang Xiaoxiao cooked a big pot of thick porridge with vegetables, and after eating a big bowl, everyone felt rejuvenated.

Food brought energy and vitality.

Song Moting was weaving the vines he found into ropes; the ropes they brought weren’t long enough for everyone.

The firewood didn’t produce as much smoke as expected. After observing, Song Moting was disappointed to find that this was a huge pit, with space above so open that the smoke quickly dissipated, making it impossible for anyone to notice.

In short, the self-rescue attempt failed.

"Uncle! Have some food."

Seeing Fan Jianguo wake up, Song Moting served him food.

The items were just excuses, the backpack was full of excuses.

Fan Jianguo ate heartily without any concern for how the backpack managed to fit a pot.

His father didn’t get to eat a bowl of hot porridge before leaving.

Fan Jianguo’s tears flowed.

Silently swallowing, it was the most bitter meal of his life.

Old Mrs. Song held Tang Yuan, the silly boy sleeping heavily, sweetly laying a hand beside his own head.

"How about it? Have they been found?"

It had been five days without any news, and the first thing the old couple said to each other every day was this.

Old Sir Song sighed, "No! I’ve already made calls and want to go on-site to check! But after heavy rain, landslides occurred, many roads are cut off. We can’t get up there, rescuers have already been injured, and if they still can’t be found, orders to retreat have been given."

In just a few days, the old man’s white hair had turned completely and painfully conspicuous.

"That won’t do, a real retreat and... they... they can’t!"

The old lady urgently wanted to change the old man’s mind; her grandson and granddaughter-in-law.

The Tang Yuan in her arms cried out as if he had been frightened.

"Don’t scare the child, I know! Moting and Xiaoxiao are my grandson and granddaughter-in-law, how can I not be worried? But those people’s lives count too, we can’t watch others risk their lives for them."

The old man looked heartbroken at Tang Yuan, crying in sobs.

The old lady silently said nothing, gently coaxing the child.

"Tang Yuan, you have to be good, listen, your parents will come back soon."

Tang Yuan seemed to understand Great Grandma’s words and gradually quieted down.

The old lady’s tears fell.

The old man sighed, wanting to say something to console the old lady, but his own eyes were red too, wanting to cry.

The feeling of white-haired sending off black-haired is so hurtful.

The old man wished he were the one dying.

They are still young with bright futures ahead.

Children are still so small, needing their care.

But why did these two children leave and not return?

What the rescue team said, he understood clearly. Whether it’s terrain or timing, no one is hopeful about the rescue ahead.

Their hopes of surviving are slim.

After the landslide, many pits were even buried.

Any slight misstep would truly leave these two children without a resting place.

He knew clearly he didn’t want to believe it because they are his grandson and granddaughter-in-law.

He would rather believe they are alive somewhere, waiting for rescue.

But people must face reality. As a soldier hardened by experience, he had gone through so much life and death, especially this time.

We cannot let other people’s lives be risked for theirs.

He had already ordered that if they couldn’t be found by tomorrow, all rescuers should withdraw from the mountain.

Because there was going to be heavy rain again, it could cause another landslide.

The dead wouldn’t be just two or three; it would be more.

Mrs. Song and Song Qinghe entered and saw this very scene.

Fang Xiaohui held the child, and Song Mohuan gazed at his wife and child with deep affection.

The evident joy made Mrs. Song unhappily avert her gaze.

This son was growing more useless now.

The past few days, some nerve seemed wrong, treating his daughter and wife like treasures.

These days he didn’t go out to mess around but stayed home quietly with his wife and child.

Although Mrs. Song disliked seeing her son being soft and emotional toward his wife, as long as he doesn’t go out causing trouble and stays at home.

He could do whatever he wanted; she would turn a blind eye.

If this daughter-in-law could tether her son’s heart to the family, then she finally found a use despite being otherwise useless.

"Dad, Mom! How is it? Is there any news about Moting and Xiaoxiao now?"

Although Song Qinghe looked down on his son, blood ties are bonds.

After all, that’s his biological son, and ignoring it would be something even he couldn’t get over himself.

The old man coldly glanced at him and shook his head.

Fang Xiaohui lowered her head, hiding the slight curve of her lips.

Jiang Xiaoxiao is finally going to die!

This time won’t she surely perish?

The heavens were aiding her; with Jiang Xiaoxiao and Song Moting dead, Grandpa and Grandma would change their minds!