Chapter 503: Chapter 503

Feng Zhigao sulkily squatted in his own tent, hoping these people wouldn’t really find anyone.

Even if they did find someone, let it not be today. It’s not that he’s malicious; after all, he’s also looking out for his own interests and hasn’t harbored ill will. Regardless, they’ve sincerely and earnestly searched for several days.

But still haven’t found anyone.

His greatest fear is that after their days of hard work not finding anyone, others might find them easily, making their efforts seem inexplicable.

How could they be so unlucky? They could have retreated by night, but now things are .

If the other party truly finds people from the mountains, they genuinely won’t have an explanation.

Of course, he knows in his heart that his team was really committed to the rescue efforts at the start.

After all, this is about saving lives, and not just one; this time they are searching for five people on the mountain.

But as time went by, with the exhaustion of everyone’s physical and mental strength, people grew tired.

So later, many weren’t as careful and diligent, and he just pretended not to notice.

After all, everyone knows that as time passes, the hope of survival diminishes, becoming basically very small.

Even if they were young and healthy on the mountain without food or water, a few days would be fatal.

"Captain, it’s bad news—they’ve found someone!"

Someone shouted from outside.

Feng Zhigao rushed out; it was already chaotic outside.

All his subordinates were now crowded by the roadside, each craning their necks to see what’s happening.

Glancing at the mountain, someone was carrying a stretcher downhill.

Jiang Xiaoxiao tidied up her grandfather’s remains; they couldn’t take the old man.

Song Moting silently calculated the time; they’d been here for at least ten days.

Under normal circumstances, after seven days, people might give up rescue efforts.

After all, based on their experience, surviving without food or water for seven days in the wilderness is far from easy.

If people chose to retreat, it would be understandable.

They could only think of ways to cross the gorge themselves, hoping to find a way out. Song Moting tried everything in the past days.

Attempting to climb up the rock face proved futile.

The rock face seemed to have many footholds at first glance, but only after climbing did they realize it was like a pot with a big belly.

The higher they went, the fewer places were available to support them.

Song Moting and Fan Jianguo could only carry one woman each; the old man truly couldn’t be taken out.

After crying for a long time, the old woman resolved to make a decision.

She instructed them to gather firewood and cremate the old man on the spot, then carry the ashes out, wrapped in something; they couldn’t let the dead impede the living.

This was the preparation for gathering wood.

Jiang Xiaoxiao was carefully tidying up grandfather.

The old woman wiped the old man’s face, tidying while murmuring.

"Old man, take your time on your journey. Wait for me down below; when I’ve watched Xiaoxiao’s child grow up, I’ll come find you and won’t keep you waiting long."

"All these years, your kindness to me, I know in my heart. How could I have known this time would be our last farewell in life and death? Old man, this is our fate. Go peacefully, don’t worry about the family."

"Xiao Song, light the fire!"

The old woman looked at the old man while speaking, her inner sorrow known only to herself.

Jiang Xiaoxiao tightly gripped her grandmother’s hand, which was icy cold and slightly trembling.

The old woman’s heartache was beyond words.

Jiang Xiaoxiao cried, hugging the old woman tightly.

Song Moting raised the torch,...

"Song Moting...Jiang Xiaoxiao...Fan Jianguo..."

Song Moting suddenly looked up, Fan Jianguo and Jiang Xiaoxiao also quickly raised their heads.

From the place above where it seemed there was only a sliver of light came the sound of many voices shouting.

Song Moting cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted loudly.

Jiang Xiaoxiao lay on the stretcher, a garment covering her head, just like the others.

Feng Zhigao watched the group from the mountain come down, one stretcher after another carrying five people down one after another.

His heart felt completely defeated.

They hadn’t found the people after searching for so long, yet others found them after barely half a day’s effort.

At the time, the leadership above wouldn’t say it was luck; they’d only think it was negligence.

Fan Xiuying and Jiang Laoshi were being criticized harshly by Fan Jianfeng.

"What exactly are you two good for? You promised to take care of our parents—is this how you take care of them? Now you’ve lost them, Fan Xiuying, what are you thinking? I said long ago we should bring our parents home. You insisted on keeping them in the city.

Now look, perfectly good people are gone. Now even our brother is gone, I see you’re not well-intentioned at all. You want to wipe out our entire Fan family."

Fan Xiuying was so furious her hand trembled.

"Brother, you have to speak with conscience. How have I treated our parents over the years; don’t you have any idea? This incident with our parents—do you think it was my wish? When things go wrong you point fingers at me, repeatedly saying I lost our parents.

If you truly cared, why didn’t you take our parents back directly yourself all these years? Every time you just talk, but when it’s time to go, you don’t say a word, practically wishing for our parents to stay in the city and never return.

It saves you two’s food and trouble. Don’t think I don’t know how sister-in-law has been treating our parents all these years. If you have the guts to shout at me here, go up the mountain and find mom and dad yourself.

Jianguo’s neither alive nor dead right now; do you think I feel good? My own daughter and son-in-law are now on the mountain, neither alive nor dead. What more do you want? What do you want from me? Are you satisfied if I die on the mountain?"

Fan Xiuying shouted, the situation had long exceeded expectations; she never imagined Jiang Xiaoxiao would go up the mountain secretly upon hearing the news.

Now it turned into a situation where none could be found, neither her daughter, nor son-in-law, nor brother, nor parents.

Fan Xiuying truly wished she herself were gone too.

She’d rather die herself than have her closest ones harmed.

Now it was truly suffocating, and her brother came to cause trouble.

He wished to devour her.

Jiang Laoshi supported his wife; since this enormous incident occurred, Fan Xiuying hadn’t eaten much and immediately fell ill with fever.

It was hard to bring her back.

But the brother-in-law came again, constantly finding fault with them.

"Brother, I know you are anxious over mom and dad’s situation, but this is your own sister. She’s also their daughter. How has Xiuying treated our parents and family over the years? You should know. If you accuse her , you’re losing your conscience.

As her brother-in-law, I should not speak to you , but if you continue to cause trouble, then get out. This is our Jiang family’s place, not your Fan family’s place. Don’t flaunt yourself here.

If you’re truly capable, go up the mountain and find them now, don’t waste words with me; what kind of man only talks all day!"

Jiang Laoshi was furious for the first time, speaking openly against his brother-in-law.

Fan Jianfeng was taken aback by the scolding.

Is this brother-in-law crazy?

Never happened before.