After Si Jin and Er Fu got up, they discovered that Mother, who had been sleeping on the upper bunk, was gone.
At first, the two thought Mother had gotten up early to fetch water, as she was always the earliest riser in the household.
But when they saw Eldest Brother return from the well and Eldest Brother's Wife calling everyone to breakfast, and still no sign of Mother, they realized she was missing.
Tian Wenmo pointed at the tree where the animals were tied:
"The Horse is gone, Da Huang is gone too. Mother wouldn't have gone down the mountain alone, would she?"
Tian Dazhuang and Tian Sangui grew anxious and immediately stood up:
"San Gui, let's go together."
Eldest Brother's Wife also hurriedly said:
"I'll go get the emergency bundle."
Tian Erfu clenched her fists, worried:
"Eldest Brother, Third Brother, do you know the way out of the mountains? When we entered, Paternal Cousin Uncle removed all the markers. It's been so long since you've walked these paths; what if you get lost?"
Tian Dazhuang and Tian Sangui fell silent:
"Just because we don't remember the way, does that mean we shouldn't go help Mother?"
Tian Erfu's expression darkened:
"Of course we must help, but your safety is also important. Why didn't Mother take you with her? Isn't it because she feared you'd fall into the hands of the Rebel Soldiers? You're going to help, not to cause more trouble."
Da Zhuang and San Gui were frantic, unable to think calmly. At this point, Tian Sijin offered a suggestion:
"Second Sister is right. We need to ask for help. I'll go find Brother Huzi. He often hunts; he must know the way."
Everyone nodded in agreement. Third Brother's Wife also stood up, supporting her belly:
"I'll go speak to my brothers and ask them to accompany you out of the mountains."
Eldest Brother's Wife added:
"I'll go find my father. The more people, the better."
Tian Dazhuang grunted heavily in affirmation:
"I'll go find the Village Chief and ask for his help to figure something out."
Tian Wenmo said:
"The rest of you stay home and prepare food and supplies."
After everyone was assigned their tasks, they all hurried off.
Tian Sijin was swift-footed, and since Hunter Xu's shack wasn't far, she was the first to find Xu Hu:
"Brother Huzi, help!"
Her shout made Huzi, who was still eating an orange, shove the whole fruit into his mouth and mumble:
"What's wrong, Si Jin?"
Hunter Xu also stood up and looked over:
"Si Jin, what happened?"
Tian Sijin gasped for breath:
"My Mother... my Mother went out of the mountains alone."
Hunter Xu walked over urgently:
"What? Why would she go alone?"
Remembering what Qin Sang said yesterday about being willing to hand everyone over to Butcher Hu to vent his anger, Hunter Xu thought of the worst possible outcome:
"Did she go to find Butcher Hu?"
Tian Sijin, having caught her breath, nodded:
"Yes, my Mother went to find Butcher Hu... She said she wants to... kill him, to stop him from burning the village."
Hunter Xu's brow furrowed tightly:
"Nonsense! How can a woman like her kill someone?"
As he spoke, Hunter Xu turned and bent to enter the shack. Tian Sijin anxiously explained the situation from behind:
"...We don't even know when Mother left. Probably in the middle of the night. She took the family Horse. My eldest and third brothers want to find her, but they don't know the way.
I had no choice but to come beg you for help, Uncle Xu. Uncle Xu, could you..."
Before Si Jin could finish, she saw Hunter Xu emerge from the shack with a bow and arrows and a Broadsword, strapping them on:
"Huzi, let's go."
Tian Sijin was so moved she nearly cried, thanking him profusely:
"Uncle Xu, thank you! But you need to wait for my eldest brother. He went to find the Village Chief."
At the same time, a furious roar erupted from the Village Chief's House:
"How could you all sleep so soundly? You didn't even notice your Mother taking the Horse and running off?
What are you still standing around for? You Gen, quickly ring the gong and gather the able-bodied men of the village!"
Tian Dazhuang's face was pale with anxiety. Scolded by the old Village Chief, he offered no excuses, even wishing he could slap himself.
Tian Yougen acknowledged the order and went to fetch the gong. Soon, the sound of the gong echoed throughout the entire camp.
People rushed out one after another. Some families still held pottery bowls, all unclear about what urgent matter had befallen the village.
The Village Chief stood on a large rock. When almost everyone had gathered, he loudly explained the situation:
"...Now, Da Zhuang's Mother, not wanting to implicate everyone, has secretly returned to Tianjia Village alone, intending to find a way to kill Butcher Hu and his men. It's extremely dangerous.
I've gathered you all here to go out of the mountains and bring Da Zhuang's Mother back. If conflict has already broken out, we must assist her.
What Butcher Hu wants to burn are all our houses, the entire Tianjia Village. Now, every single one of you, men sixteen and older, go home immediately and prepare food and weapons. Assemble here in the clearing in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, and we depart."
The Village Chief had no intention of hearing opinions. By forcefully ordering everyone to assemble after a cup of tea, he aimed to prevent anyone from backing out and shaking morale.
It was also to buy a little more time.
After everyone had gone home to prepare, the Village Chief turned to Tian Dazhuang:
"Da Zhuang, I can't guarantee how many will come. If some don't show, don't hold it against them. The important thing is to take the men and bring your Mother back as soon as possible."
Tian Dazhuang had no objections:
"Village Chief, I understand. Thank you, sir. I'll go home and prepare now."
"Mm, go on. Be safe on the road."
Before Tian Dazhuang reached home, he bumped into Heizi talking to his sister:
"Such a big matter, and not one of you informed us? Do you consider us outsiders? If I hadn't overheard Si Jin talking to Uncle Xu, I wouldn't even know."
Tian Erfu explained:
"This is, after all, Tianjia Village's affair. You..."
Heizi said with some annoyance:
"Alright, fine, I won't argue.
Since Aunt is in danger, we won't stand idly by. I'll go back and gather my brothers."
As he spoke, Heizi turned and saw Tian Dazhuang hurrying back. Heizi asked:
"When are you setting off?"
"In the time it takes to drink a cup of tea."
"Good."
Without another word, Heizi finished speaking and ran towards his family's shack.
Not long after, Hunter Xu and his son arrived with a group of men in a hurry. Each carried bundles on their backs, Broadswords at their sides, axes tucked in their belts, and wooden spears in hand.
Si Jin, Er Fu, and the others handed prepared water skins, dry rations, and food to the villagers one by one, their eyes red:
"Thank you, Paternal Cousin Uncle."
"Thank you, Paternal Cousin Uncle."
"Thank you..."
The villagers declined:
"Er Fu, Si Jin, what are you doing? We're all from the same village. Your Mother went out for all our sakes. This makes it seem like we're strangers."
"Yeah, we've been worried Butcher Hu wouldn't come into the mountains. Turns out your Mother has the guts. Are we men less brave than your Mother?"
"We brought our own rations. Quickly take these things back."
Tian Sijin said loudly:
"Paternal Cousin Uncles, please don't refuse these things. The mountain road is long; the round trip will take two or three days. How will you have strength if you don't eat and drink your fill?
We have more supplies at home, so don't worry. We only ask that you eat well, so when the time comes, you can help us sisters chop Butcher Hu a few extra times."