Chapter 725: Chapter 725

After eating the bird eggs, Ladi’s belly felt warm, and she began to have a slight liking for Zhuzi.

"Zhuzi, you’re so capable, why not climb up and get a few more bird eggs?"

Ladi complimented Zhuzi.

Of course, she knew she didn’t have that ability. If she could climb trees to get bird eggs, she would have done it long ago.

Zhuzi looked troubled, "Alright, there’s still time today, but when it’s time to gather pigweed, you have to help me cut a bit more."

Ladi nodded, "Don’t worry, once I finish eating the bird eggs, I’ll go help you cut pigweed, and you can rest here for a while."

Gathering pigweed wasn’t a big task; if she could get a few extra bird eggs by cutting more pigweed, she was happy to do it.

Zhuzi nodded, "We’re out of firewood, why don’t you go collect some more? Let Gou Dan follow me to learn how to climb trees. If he doesn’t learn to get bird eggs, I can’t be the only one climbing up every time. If your brother learns to get bird eggs, you’ll always have them to eat in the future."

These words immediately moved Ladi.

She looked at Gou Dan with bright eyes.

"Gou Dan, you should learn to climb trees with Zhuzi. Once you learn, we’ll have bird eggs to eat in the future."

Tang Yuan looked at the tree with difficulty, "I can’t climb trees."

What he wanted to say was that he was only three years old — wasn’t it difficult for him?

But Ladi’s face turned stern, "What do you mean you can’t? If Zhuzi can learn, why can’t you? Zhuzi isn’t much older than you. Hurry up; if you can’t learn to climb trees, I’ll whip you with Dad’s belt when we get back."

Raising her fist in a threat.

Ladi was indeed a true reflection of her father.

Baozi’s last bit of guilt disappeared completely.

"Alright, alright, with all the time you’re wasting talking, you could’ve collected the wood already. I’ll take Gou Dan and head that way. We’ve already checked the trees here, and there are no more bird eggs. Let’s try over there; there might still be plenty in that forest."

Pointing towards the woods over there.

Ladi nodded, worriedly glancing at Gou Dan.

"Make sure you watch over my brother."

Baozi nodded, "Okay, you go collect more wood. What if I find two nests of bird eggs and there are over twenty? This little bit of firewood won’t be enough to cook them."

He started off with Tang Yuan in tow.

Ladi hurried to collect firewood.

She was determined to secure some food, no matter the effort.

Baozi pulled Tang Yuan along, walking faster and faster, and they quickly disappeared into the forest.

"Don’t talk, let’s get moving quickly."

Baozi had been wandering the mountains frequently, under the guise of gathering pigweed and firewood, he had explored the entire mountain.

In truth, this village was indeed remote, nestled deep in the mountains. Without crossing several peaks, one couldn’t escape this village.

Yet, to escape on foot, even adults could get lost in this jungle, let alone they were just children.

Baozi had a plan, the only one he could think of: to venture deeper into the mountains. While the deep forest posed dangers, he had found a hidden tree hollow nearby, concealed by dense shrubs, unnoticed by anyone. Tʜe sourcᴇ of thɪs content ɪs N()velFire.net

The two of them would first hide in the tree hollow, waiting for the adults to search for them for a couple of days. When they thought the two had likely escaped and gave up the search, they would move.

Of course, he had also stashed quite a few bird eggs in the tree hollow.

To provide some food reserves for the two of them.

Though he knew this action was risky, there was no other way. They couldn’t simply stay there indefinitely.

Tang Yuan vaguely understood as he held his brother’s hand, quickly darting into the forest.

Although he didn’t know what his brother was planning, he knew this was not his home.

His brother was certainly taking him away.

As soon as they slipped into the tree hollow, they heard Ladi’s heart-wrenching cries from the forest.

"Gou Dan! Gou Dan! Zhuzi, Zhuzi! Where are you?"

Tang Yuan looked at Baozi, "Brother, Ladi is actually very pitiable. If I get lost, she’ll definitely be beaten when she gets back!"

Baozi glanced outside, "We can’t afford to be kind-hearted. Who are we anyway? You must understand, we were sold here. If they catch the two of us, our legs would be broken.

If you want to be stuck here forever, then you can go save Ladi."

It wasn’t that he was heartless; he had long witnessed acts of kindness only to be betrayed. Though just four, he had experienced more than many adults.

Tang Yuan kept his mouth shut; he wanted to go home.

The two hid in the thicket, uncertain of the time, only knowing they mustn’t go outside.

Because throughout the forest were the shouts of many people, likely the entire village was mobilized to search for them.

Initially, they could hear many villagers shouting. Gradually, the voices grew fewer and fewer, eventually fading completely.

Nonetheless, Baozi dared not relax his vigilance, unsure if those people had set a trap.

Pretending to stop the search would make it easier to catch them once they ventured out.

He had encountered such ambushes before.

Though so young, he was already battle-hardened and experienced.

This kind of escape from traffickers was something he had done before. Often, he didn’t escape because he had nowhere to go.

Leaving the traffickers, he had no place for food or shelter; better to stay and at least have food and warmth.

But now it was different; he needed to escape with his brother.

They had to return home, find their parents.

When hungry, they ate raw bird eggs.

Baozi had amassed over twenty eggs in the hollow, with each eating only two per sitting.

Yet, even so, the eggs wouldn’t last two days. By the second day, their stomachs were already empty.

Tang Yuan glanced outside, "Brother, there’s no one outside now. Let’s go."

"Better wait a bit more; what if they’re waiting outside for us to come out? It would be disastrous."

Suddenly he paused, "You’re sure there’s no one outside?"

Baozi inwardly berated himself for being foolish, having forgotten Tang Yuan’s unique gift that allowed him to see things others couldn’t.

Tang Yuan nodded vigorously, proud of being useful. At least with his brother, it was always his brother helping him.

His brother was doing so much, while he felt like a fool with no purpose.

Now he could finally make himself useful.

Baozi led Tang Yuan out of the shrubbery.

The glaring sunlight made them involuntarily close their eyes. Having been without light for two days, the brightness outside suddenly seemed overwhelming.

They had to lie low in the thicket, taking quite some time to adapt to the outside light.

Baozi led Tang Yuan and, using the skills taught by Song Moting, began to find their direction.

Their father had told them many things during training, that the sun’s rising and setting could help determine direction, so as long as they headed east, they could return home.