38: Ghost Village Again

The two of them thought they were well-hidden, but little did they know, their figures were spotted as soon as they entered the village.

However, Chang Sheng Village had recently gained many new residents, and with so many people, everyone assumed it was just someone's child secretly running out to play and paid no mind.

“Grumble…”

Xiaodie clutched her flat stomach, struggling to swallow the saliva that had gathered in her mouth.

The feeling of hunger was awful.

“Brother Huzi, can we go now? Xiaodie is so hungry.”

Huzi looked at the rapidly diminishing food on the table. Seizing the chance to leave, he finally gritted his teeth, pulled Xiaodie, and rushed to the table closest to the door at top speed, grabbed a chicken leg and two meat pies, then turned and ran.

“Ah! Whose child is taking food over there!”

“You two, come here.”

This time, the Wanbao Merchant Guild's banquet was for the local villagers of Chang Sheng Village and some prominent figures from Prefecture City.

Food was precious now, so everyone present had sent a representative from their family who could handle affairs, and tacitly, no one brought their entire family.

Qian Dazhuang saw the two children and simply thought they were someone's kids who were hungry. He just called out, wanting to ask for clarification.

Who knew these two children had a guilty conscience and took off running, heading straight out of the village?

At this, the villagers realized what was happening—they were two little thieves.

“Don’t run!”

“Stop!”

Several villagers chased after them.

Huzi and Xiaodie ran desperately, but being young, they were no match for the strong adults, like an eagle catching chicks. They hadn't run many steps before they were apprehended.

Wang Houshi held one child in each hand, smiling with ill intent.

“Little rascals, you stole something and thought you could run?”

Huzi struggled a few times but found he couldn't break free, his eyes reddening with anxiety: “Let us go, I don't want the food, I'll compensate you…”

Xiaodie was so scared that tears welled up in her eyes, pleading with a choked voice: “Uncle, we're not bad people, Xiaodie was just too hungry, it’s all Xiaodie’s fault, boo hoo hoo…” The villagers looked at the two pitiful children and sighed.

These two children were lucky to have come at a good time.

“Consider yourselves lucky, you two rascals!”

If it were in the past, in Chang Sheng Village without Lord Chuping's protection, these two children might well have become sacrifices for the Naked Ghost.

It wasn't that the people were unkind; it was simply a difficult time, and human nature prevailed.

If they could exchange a stranger for a young and strong person from their own village, only a fool wouldn't do it!

*

But now, things were different.

Everyone accepted these two children who had come from outside quite naturally, just as they accepted the refugees from Prefecture City.

Seeing the two little rascals brought back, the topic of their idle chatter naturally shifted to them.

“Looking at them, they're probably children from a nearby village, so hungry they came to steal food.”

“Our Chang Sheng Village isn’t short on food now, so let them eat if they want to.”

“Look, the clothes these two children are wearing are quite good. Although they're rags, the craftsmanship is exquisite; you can tell they were made with care.”

...Huzi and Xiaodie were taken to offer incense to Lord Chuping before being brought back to the banquet, where they ate their fill. Xu Tian and Wang Houshi were then arranged to escort them back.

*

On the way back to Bao Shan Village, Xiaodie chattered away.

Huzi and Xiaodie sat in the ox cart, while Xu Tian and Wang Houshi chatted as they drove.

Xiaodie, full from eating, chattered excitedly without stopping, clearly still savoring the taste of meat.

“Brother Huzi, the uncles and aunties in Chang Sheng Village are so kind! The roasted chicken leg they gave me was so delicious, I’ve never eaten anything so good!”

Xiaodie’s eyes sparkled, and her face held a satisfied smile.

Huzi nodded. Although he also felt the people of Chang Sheng Village were very friendly, he still felt a little uneasy.

He always felt that his and Xiaodie's act of stealing was not good. Although the villagers didn't blame them, he still felt a bit guilty.

“Xiaodie, when we go back, we have to tell Mom and Dad the truth.”

Huzi whispered, “It was wrong for us to steal, we have to admit our mistake.”

Xiaodie pouted but still nodded: “Okay, Brother Huzi, I’ll listen to you.”

Xu Tian heard the children's conversation and turned his head with a smile: “You two little ones are quite sensible! Don't worry, no one will blame you. Our village now has Lord Chuping's protection, and life is better, so helping you is only right.”

Wang Houshi also smiled and said: “Exactly, if you two little ones like it, you can come to Chang Sheng Village to play often in the future. Our village is very lively now, and we're not short on food for you.”

Huzi and Xiaodie felt a warmth in their hearts upon hearing this, and their good impression of Chang Sheng Village grew even stronger.

The ox cart slowly traveled along the country road, and the sky gradually darkened.

In the distance, the outline of Bao Shan Village gradually became clear.

Huzi and Xiaodie looked at the familiar village, feeling a little excited.

“We’re almost home!” Xiaodie said excitedly, “Mom and Dad must be anxious!”

However, as the ox cart drove into Bao Shan Village, Huzi and Xiaodie felt a sense of unease.

The village was eerily quiet, with no lights and no sounds of people.

“What’s going on?” Huzi frowned, a faint unease stirring in his heart.

Xu Tian and Wang Houshi also noticed the abnormality and stopped the ox cart.

Wang Houshi jumped off the cart, looked around, and whispered: “Something’s wrong, why is there no one in this village?”

Xiaodie tightly gripped Huzi’s hand, her voice trembling slightly: “Brother Huzi, where are Mom and Dad? Where are the people in the village?”

Huzi’s heart sank. He pulled Xiaodie, jumped off the cart, and hurried towards his home.

Xu Tian and Wang Houshi exchanged glances and followed them.

Huzi and Xiaodie ran to their doorstep, finding the door ajar and the house completely dark. Huzi pushed open the door and called out: “Dad! Mom! We’re home!”

No one responded.

Huzi’s heart tightened. He rushed into the house and lit the oil lamp. The house was empty, chairs and tables were overturned, and pots, bowls, and ladles were scattered everywhere, clearly having been hastily rummaged through.

“Dad! Mom!” Huzi called out again, his voice tinged with panic.

Xiaodie stood at the doorway, tears already welling up in her eyes: “Brother Huzi, did something happen to Mom and Dad?”

Xu Tian and Wang Houshi also arrived. Seeing the scene inside the house, their expressions immediately became solemn. Wang Houshi whispered: “It looks like the villagers were forcibly taken away.”

Huzi’s heart sank. He turned and rushed out of the house, knocking on doors and calling out to people from house to house.

However, the entire village was empty, as if it had turned into a ghost village overnight.

Xiaodie followed behind Huzi, tears finally falling: “Brother Huzi, where did everyone in the village go? Did Mom and Dad abandon us?”

Huzi tightly gripped Xiaodie’s hand, his voice trembling slightly: “No, Mom and Dad wouldn’t abandon us. Something must have happened…”