Chapter 163: Into the Mountains to Rescue Someone

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“Ben is such a stubborn, proud child. With Xiang staying at the Benevolence Hall, he went everywhere trying to raise money for her lodging and medicine. All he wanted was for her to stay there without a guilty conscience, without feeling inferior to anyone.” Looking at Xiang, who sat in a daze, her mother wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and spoke to Xie Qingtang.

In truth, during all the time Xiang had been staying at the Benevolence Hall, Xie Qingtang had never once asked Ben for medical or lodging fees. He came once a week, and each time he was the one who insisted on paying.

Xie Qingtang had guessed that Ben was a man with a powerful sense of pride, so she had voluntarily waived many of the expenses. She had not expected that, for a mountain man like him, even the reduced amount would still be an unbearable burden.

“Ben is such a fool. Why did he have to go into that man-eating forbidden zone? If our family truly had no way to let me keep staying at the Benevolence Hall, I could have gone home. Why would he risk his life like that? If something happens to him, what will become of me and the child in my womb?”

Hearing her mother’s words, Xiang finally began to come back to herself. She murmured through her tears, which streamed down her cheeks in a torrent. Her eyes were so red that they looked ready to shed blood.

Watching the family weep together, Xie Qingtang felt a deep ache in her heart. In this world, every illness had a cure—except poverty.

Yet Ben was one of those poor men who possessed immense backbone and would not lightly accept charity from others. That was something Xie Qingtang had not anticipated. Had she known what kind of man he was, she should have told him from the beginning that they could put the expenses on credit. Then he would never have gone into the forbidden zone to gather herbs and ended up trapped there.

“Xiang, stay here and take good care of yourself and the baby. I’ll have Zhou Jinfan prepare your daily pregnancy medicine. Uncle, Auntie, I’ll go into the mountains with you. I managed to come out of the forbidden zone alive once before, so I can go in again and bring Ben back.”

Looking at the family, still huddled together in tears, Xie Qingtang finally made up her mind: she would enter the forbidden zone once more and rescue Ben.

The moment she said this, the entire family froze. Then Xiang asked excitedly, “Doctor Xie, are you serious? You’re really willing to enter the forbidden zone and save Ben?”

But once the shock had passed, Xiang realized how dangerous it would be. She lowered her head slightly and said, “Doctor Xie, I’m truly grateful that you want to enter the forbidden zone for my husband, but it’s far too dangerous. You barely survived your last trip in there. Please, forget it.”

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Seeing how simplehearted and kind Xiang was, Xie Qingtang sighed inwardly and comforted her. “Don’t worry. I know what I’m doing. Since I managed to come out alive last time, I’ll make every possible preparation before going in again. Even if I can’t bring Ben back alive, I’ll at least drag his body out and leave you with something to remember him by.”

At those final words, the entire family began weeping again. Xie Qingtang knew she had sounded far too pessimistic, but Ben had been gone from the forbidden zone for an entire day and night. His family had surely already prepared themselves for the worst.

“Boss, shouldn’t we tell President Gu about this? He could send a few people in with you. At least you’d have someone to watch your back.” The moment Zhou Jinfan learned that Xie Qingtang intended to enter that dangerous forbidden zone again, he asked her this.

After a moment’s hesitation, Xie Qingtang shook her head. “If something happens while I’m in there alone, it’ll be easier for me to retreat. If I take an entire group with me, they’ll only become a burden.”

“Boss, how can you think that way? If something unexpected happens in the forbidden zone, wouldn’t it be safer to have a few well-trained people there to help you?” Zhou Jinfan immediately tried to persuade her.

Before Zhou Jinfan could say anything more, however, Xie Qingtang’s grandfather had already told Gu Xiujin everything and asked him to send several well-trained people to accompany her into the forbidden zone.

The rear courtyard was not large, so the commotion from Xiang’s family naturally reached Xie Qingtang’s grandfather. He had therefore learned that his granddaughter intended to risk her life by returning to the forbidden zone to rescue Ben.

Thus, by the time Xie Qingtang had packed her medicine chest and brought along a gas mask, Gu Xiujin had arrived at the Benevolence Hall with a team of men.

“Why are you here?” Xie Qingtang asked in astonishment, immediately turning to glance at Zhou Jinfan.

Zhou Jinfan hurriedly waved his hands, signaling that he had not arranged this.

At that moment, her grandfather emerged, seated in a wheelchair and pushed by Zhao Xianglan. He spoke to Xie Qingtang earnestly. “Girl, I know I can’t stop you from going to rescue Ben, but at least let me have some peace of mind. I absolutely will not allow you to go alone.”

“All right, Grandpa. I understand.” Xie Qingtang nodded helplessly. Knowing that he was only concerned for her, she did not refuse.

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Sitting in his wheelchair, Gu Xiujin looked at the somewhat stubborn young woman and said, “The last time you went into the forbidden zone, you went alone. This time, you won’t be able to leave me behind.”

“I never intended to leave you behind. It’s just that this happened so suddenly, and we need to depart at once. Ben may still be saved.” Xie Qingtang’s expression was solemn.

Gu Xiujin did not waste any more time. Everyone got into the vehicles, and they sped toward the mountain village. The vehicles they had brought this time could travel unhindered even along the rugged mountain roads. They hurried back to the village as quickly as possible, but by the time they arrived, night had already fallen.

Xiang’s parents said to Xie Qingtang, “Doctor Xie, it’s already dark. Wouldn’t it be better to wait until tomorrow morning before going up the mountain to look for Ben?”

“Every moment counts when a life is at stake. The longer Ben remains in the forbidden zone, the greater the danger. We should go now. Gu Xiujin, you brought lighting equipment, didn’t you?” Xie Qingtang turned to him.

Gu Xiujin nodded. Li Zhao and the bodyguards took numerous searchlights from the trunks of the vehicles. The group then set off up the mountain in a grand procession, searchlights in hand. A villager who knew the mountain paths well led them to the entrance of the forbidden zone.

When they reached the entrance, the villager stopped at once, fear written across his face. Seeing his terror, Xie Qingtang said to Li Zhao, “Li Zhao, have one of the bodyguards escort this gentleman back down the mountain.”

“All right.” Li Zhao nodded.