Zhao Chunhua let out a cold snort, a trace of contempt flickering in her eyes. She was curious to see just how many herbs this group truly recognized—and how they would handle the villagers they had deceived.
She chose not to reveal herself right away. Instead, she remained hidden to the side, quietly observing. For now, finding herbs was no longer her priority.
Over the past few days, she had already gathered a considerable number of herbs along the mountain paths and transplanted them into her space.
After several trials, she discovered that the plants in this mysterious field grew several times faster than those outside.
In just two days, she had harvested a large quantity of seeds.
She now possessed a small medicinal herb garden. Though limited in variety, it consisted mainly of common remedies used to treat colds and fevers.
But it was more than sufficient for the village's current needs.
"I feel a chill down my spine… like something is watching us."
Bai Xiaowei scratched her neck, frowning in confusion.
"Now that you mention it, I feel it too," Zhu Fangfang said, her voice uneasy.
Zhang Laosan chewed on a piece of wild grass and waved it off. "You're overthinking it. There are no ghosts or monsters out here."
Zhang Defu shot his wife an annoyed look. "Stop imagining things."
After being scolded, the two women fell silent, not daring to argue.
Still, the unease lingered.
It felt as though unseen eyes were fixed on them from the darkness.
From a distance, Zhao Chunhua watched as Bai Xiaowei and Zhu Fangfang suddenly stood and paced in restless circles.
To avoid drawing attention, she withdrew into her private space.
Within that special realm, the wheat she had planted earlier had already ripened.
Golden waves stretched as far as the eye could see, lush and full, while the air carried a light, refreshing scent of grain.
At the sight, Zhao Chunhua felt a quiet joy bloom in her chest.
She set down her backpack, retrieved her tools from the cabin, and began harvesting the golden field.
Once the wheat was gathered, she moved on to collecting herbs, placing them neatly into her basket.
After finishing her work, she washed her hands by the spirit pond, then bent down to drink directly from the clear spring.
The sweet water flowed into her mouth, instantly restoring her energy.
Zhao Chunhua felt completely refreshed.
However, when she returned outside, she found that the group had already left the spot where they had been resting under the tree.
A trace of disappointment flickered through her, but there was nothing she could do. Carrying a basket full of herbs, she headed home.
"Mom, you're finally back!"
The moment she stepped through the door, Zhang Dajun rushed forward and threw himself into her arms.
Fortunately, Zhao Chunhua stood firm, only swaying slightly before regaining her balance.
"You naughty boy—are you trying to scare me?" she said, gently patting his head.
Only then did she notice his reddened eyes. Something was clearly wrong.
"What happened? Did someone bully you?" she asked, though she found it hard to believe anyone would dare.
Zhang Dajun wiped his tears with the back of his hand and sniffed before speaking through clenched teeth. "Uncle and his people said… that you might've been taken by a wild animal in the mountains."
At that, Zhao Chunhua's gaze shifted toward Zhang Defu and the others, who stood off to the side, watching as if it were a show.
Meeting her eyes, they merely shrugged, looking unconcerned.
"We heard wolves howling up in the mountains and hurried back down," they explained. "We thought you were still there… maybe something really had happened. After all, your luck has never been good."
Zhao Chunhua looked at them for a moment but said nothing.
She had already taken note.
Now was not the time to argue..
Not seeing Zhang Tianbao or the pregnant Xie Lanqin nearby, Zhao Chunhua looked around and asked, "Where are Tianbao and the others?"
"After hearing you were missing, he took the villagers up the mountain to search for you," Zhang Dajun replied quickly.
Zhao Chunhua frowned. "How long has it been?"
"About an hour," someone answered.
For some reason, those words made her heart tighten, and even her eyelids began to twitch uneasily.
Her instincts had always been sharp.
Without another word, she dropped everything she was carrying and ran toward the mountain.
"Where are you going?" the villagers called out in surprise from behind.
"To find my family!" Zhao Chunhua shouted without turning back.
Zhang Dajun hurried after her.
But before they had gone far, they saw a large group of people stumbling down the mountain in disarray. Their expressions were grim, their movements frantic—and among them, someone was being carried on a stretcher.
The moment Zhao Chunhua saw the blood-soaked figure, her heart clenched.
She rushed forward.
"Mother—save Tianbao! He's badly hurt!"
Xie Lanqin, her eyes filled with tears, clutched Zhao Chunhua's arm desperately.
But as soon as she spoke, her strength gave out and she nearly collapsed.
Fortunately, Zhao Chunhua caught her in time.
"Careful," she said firmly. "Don't fall."
But Xie Lanqin could barely stand, let alone care for herself.
"I'm fine. Mom, please check on Tianbao first… he doesn't look like he can hold on much longer." Xie Lanqin wiped her tears as she spoke.
Seeing her like this, Zhao Chunhua couldn't bear it. Besides, she was blocking the way.
Without hesitation, Zhao Chunhua picked her up and carried her over to Zhang Xiuer, whose eyes were also red.
"Take care of your sister-in-law," she said, before immediately turning back.
She bent down to examine Zhang Tianbao.
The sight of blood all over the ground earlier had truly frightened her.
But now, having calmed down and taken a closer look, she realized his injuries were not as severe as they had seemed.
His ankle was sprained.
Most of the blood on his body came from scratches caused by thorny bushes, though there were also two deeper cuts on his calves.
Fortunately, she had brought some hemostatic herbs with her from her space.
She quickly grabbed a bamboo basket, chewed the herbs into a paste, and applied them to the wounds. Then she instructed Zhang Heizi to find a clean cloth, tear it into strips, and wrap the injuries.
After finishing, Zhao Chunhua wiped the sweat from her forehead and said to the anxious crowd, "It's nothing serious—just a sprained leg."
"Then why hasn't Tianbao woken up yet?" Xie Lanqin asked nervously.
Deep down, she still doubted whether Zhao Chunhua's modest medical skills were truly enough to save people.
But there wasn't even a proper doctor among them, and Xie Lanqin was overwhelmed with anxiety.
If anything happened to Zhang Tianbao, she would lose her only support.
The thought that the child in her womb might become fatherless before even being born made her face turn deathly pale.
Noticing her condition, Zhao Chunhua quickly stepped in to comfort her.
"He only hit his head and fainted. He'll wake up soon," she said gently. "Don't frighten yourself like this. What if you upset the baby?"
Hearing this, Xie Lanqin trembled slightly, forcing herself to steady her breathing and endure.