Chapter 61: Killing the Body, Destroying the Soul

When Sun Jiabao saw the two of them coming out, he shrank his neck. "Brother Jiang, didn't you tell me to keep an eye on those two bastards?"

"Something happened?" Jiang Xun's brows furrowed slightly.

Lin Jingyue was a bit curious too. What could have happened to those two?

"They got caught. I heard someone from the county arrived recently, trying to set an example, and those two idiots couldn't hold back after recovering from their injuries. They went back to robbing people on the road and just happened to get caught in the act. All their past misdeeds were dug up, too. They won't be getting out any time soon," Sun Jiabao said, a little shaken.

He had hung around with them for a while before, but they looked down on him, so he didn't bother to stick around.

Lin Jingyue and Jiang Xun exchanged glances, somewhat surprised.

Still, they didn't dwell on it—those two deserved what they got.

Lin Jingyue waved her hand. "If they're caught, so be it."

She would find another way with Lin Xinrou. And there was still that ticking time bomb, Sun Tiezhu. She wouldn't feel at ease until Lin Xinrou was suppressed.

That woman was tough as nails—beating her might not work. She had to attack from another angle, something Lin Xinrou valued.

Like Sun Zhiyuan, or the chance to return to the city.

"Thank you for your hard work these past few days," Jiang Xun said, glancing at Sun Jiabao.

Sun Jiabao was deeply moved. "Brother Jiang, it's—it's nothing!"

He couldn't believe his luck to be praised by Brother Jiang.

When he saw Sun Jiabao leave, grinning from ear to ear, Jiang Xun let out a soft chuckle. "We're going into the mountains the day after tomorrow. It's a day off."

Sun Jiabao spun back around. Was he hearing what he thought he was?

"Six thirty in the morning. Don't be late."

"Got it, Brother Jiang! Don't worry, I won't be late!" His grin almost reached his ears.

"Brother, you're going up the mountain? I want to come too." From the yard, Xie Yunzhen hurried over, unwilling to be left behind.

"What are you going for?"

"To have some fun! I don't care, I'm going. I'm not leaving today, I'll stay with you for a couple of days."

Jiang Xun snorted. "Eat, then get lost, or I'll personally send you back."

"…"

Was threatening people all you knew how to do?

The fragrant, spicy diced rabbit was perfect with rice. The cabbage stewed with tofu, a spoonful of lard added, was incredibly aromatic. The sour and spicy shredded potatoes were refreshing and whetted the appetite, and the green pepper scrambled eggs rounded things out. With fragrant white rice and two-grain steamed buns, even city folk would envy this meal.

"I've been craving this for so long," Xie Yunzhen sighed with contentment.

His brother hardly ever cooked at home, and he'd been longing for his food.

He suddenly felt a little regretful—he should've joined his brother's production team, then he could mooch meals off him.

What a fool he was.

"Ignore him, he has these fits at regular intervals," Jiang Xun said, flicking his eyelids as he saw Lin Jingyue glancing skeptically at Xie Yunzhen.

"You get used to it."

…

Lin Jingyue was a bit exasperated but said nothing more seeing Xie Yunzhen's antics.

Everyone at the educated youth point was tormented by the delicious smells wafting over. They all shut their doors, grumbling under their breath.

Once they'd eaten and drunk their fill, Jiang Xun made Xie Yunzhen wash the dishes before letting him leave.

When Xie Yunzhen left, the look he gave his brother was full of resentment, which made Lin Jingyue laugh.

…

Soon, the day off arrived. Jiang Xun and Zhou Yan prepared to head into the mountains. Early that morning, Xie Yunzhen showed up, and Sun Jiabao boldly entered the educated youth point as well.

He now considered himself Jiang Xun’s little follower.

"Comrade Lin, you're coming too?" Xie Yunzhen’s eyes widened when he saw Lin Jingyue coming out with a water bottle strapped to her back.

"Brother, you can't fool around in the mountains."

"Don't worry, I won't be a burden," Lin Jingyue said with a smile.

Sun Jiabao, knowing her capabilities, kept quiet. But Xie Yunzhen was skeptical.

He figured the reason he got thrown over her shoulder that day was because he’d been caught off guard.

"That's not what I meant. There are big animals in the mountains. If something happens, what then?" Xie Yunzhen scratched his head.

"Don't worry. If something happens, she'll be fine even if you aren't," Jiang Xun replied, giving him a sidelong glance.

And he was there, too.

Xie Yunzhen choked, his mouth twitching. "You really are my dear brother!"

"Nope, distant cousins at best."

"…" Such a cutting blow.

Sun Jiabao nearly burst out laughing but didn't dare.

The people at the educated youth point watched them leave, chatting and joking, each with their own thoughts. Malice flashed in Du Jianguo’s eyes. "A woman going into the mountains with a bunch of men—who knows…"

"Comrade Du, if you've got something to say, say it out loud. A grown man gossiping behind people's backs is really shameful." Xia Nan, who was washing clothes, looked up and spoke, her eyes full of disdain.

No one else spoke. Du Jianguo’s face darkened. "What’s it to you? I wasn’t talking about you."

"Heh, if you can talk about Comrade Lin to our faces, who knows what you say about the rest of us behind our backs."

Her words hung in the air, and everyone’s gaze shifted to Du Jianguo.

"Gossiping behind someone’s back is disgusting," Chen Chunlan added with a sneer.

"You—"

Seeing things about to escalate, Luo Jianhua quickly stepped in. "Alright, that's enough. Haven't we been enough of a joke already?"

In an instant, everyone’s expressions grew even more complicated.

…

There weren’t many people in the mountains, given the time of day.

Jiang Xun chose a rarely used trail.

"Do you think we'll run into any big game?" Xie Yunzhen perked up as soon as they entered the mountains.

Opportunities like this were rare—it was so much freer in the countryside.

"If you do, can you handle it?" Zhou Yan laughed. "With your half-baked skills, never mind big game—you couldn't even beat me."

"…That’s discrimination!"

"Brother Jiang, something’s moving!" As the two bantered, Sun Jiabao spoke up.

Everyone went quiet. Jiang Xun and Lin Jingyue halted.

They looked toward a patch of grass. After a rustling sound, a gray rabbit suddenly shot out, lightning fast.

"A rabbit! Brother, catch it!" Xie Yunzhen’s eyes widened, remembering the delicious spicy rabbit from before.

He took off after it.

Sun Jiabao followed, then Zhou Yan.

Lin Jingyue and Jiang Xun… Well, three men chasing a rabbit—how promising.

They left the others to it and kept walking, though at a slower pace.

Three minutes later—

"Brother, I almost got it, the rabbit’s coming… bang—"

The fat gray rabbit, in its frenzy, charged straight into a tree in front of Lin Jingyue and instantly knocked itself out.

…

The forest fell silent, broken only by the chirping of insects and birds.

Jiang Xun, unfazed, picked up the rabbit, gave it a finishing blow, dropped it into the basket, and handed it to Xie Yunzhen. "Don’t run off if you’re useless. Carry this."

Xie Yunzhen took it, dazed, and passed it to Sun Jiabao. "You carry it."

Sun Jiabao happily took it.

"Brother, what just happened?" Xie Yunzhen frowned. "Must have been a fluke. That dumb rabbit just panicked."

…

Whatever you say.

From then on, things in the woods took a turn for the absurd.

"Brother, quick, a wild pheasant—"

Bang! The pheasant crashed right in front of Lin Jingyue.

"Brother, another rabbit! My god, our luck today is incredible…"