Chapter 19
Chapter 19: There’s Movement
This question left Xie Changqing confused. “Huh? Of course. Why are you suddenly asking this?”
“Uh.” Nuomin lowered her eyes, somewhat hesitant. “Because when Xie Yu was here, your mother married over…”
Now that Xie Yu had run away, Tana might very well return to her family home.
When that time came, wouldn’t Xie Changqing go back with her?
Xie Changqing made a sound of understanding and shook his head. “We won’t go back. My mother said she doesn’t want to return.”
When they had returned here and discovered Xie Yu had fled, Xie Changqing had sounded her out about it.
In fact, compared to Xie Yu running away, starting over from scratch was actually a relatively good situation.
Tana’s family wasn’t actually good to them…
Before, when Xie Yu was around, they still put on a smile.
If they knew Xie Yu had run away, Tana wouldn’t be able to handle going back.
“They would devour a widow’s property.” Xie Changqing said frankly. “So I’m going to establish this household. In the future, we’ll put down roots in our ranch.”
Hearing his words, Nuomin let out a long breath of relief. “That’s wonderful!”
She looked at him somewhat embarrassedly and smiled. “I won’t hide it from you—I’ve been worried you all would leave…”
After all, their ranch currently had no veterinarian and far fewer people.
If Xie Changqing also ran away, their ranch would very likely be merged into another ranch.
“We won’t.” Xie Changqing said very seriously. “I like our ranch. This place makes me feel peaceful inside.”
Although Ranch Leader Uncle Qiaoba was a bit too kind, that wasn’t a problem.
Compared to the scheming and backstabbing of the Sixth Ranch, Xie Changqing preferred their more humane approach.
“That’s certainly true.” Nuomin couldn’t help but frown as she spoke. “Ugh! You don’t even know how annoying those people from the Sixth Ranch are…”
Speaking of this, she really had endless things to say.
The Sixth Ranch was most famous for their ranch leader’s pair of sons.
“They’re twins, and boy, are they troublesome.”
They often fought, and they especially liked to drag other ranches into it.
No matter what it was, they had to compete over it.
They even competed over women, even if they didn’t really like them.
“Tsk, anyway they’re both really annoying. You’ll understand once you see them.”
Xie Changqing smiled and nodded, mounting his horse. “Come on, let’s go back. It’s getting dark.”
Since they were going to gather medicinal herbs tomorrow, he needed to pack and prepare tonight.
“Prepare?” Nuomin was somewhat puzzled.
“Well… there might be wild animals in the mountains.” Xie Changqing felt that although he hadn’t encountered any, it was better to be prepared.
In case they met wolves or something, they should at least have some ability to fight back.
Nuomin frowned, pondering. “That’s true. But Xie Yu’s old hunting rifle… he took that with him too…”
She sighed as she spoke. “Our ranch only had two guns—one with my father, and the other was given to Xie Yu.”
After all, veterinarians often had to go places to treat animals, so that rifle was obtained with great difficulty specifically to protect him.
Who would have thought Xie Yu was such an ungrateful wretch…
Listening to this, Xie Changqing also felt it was quite a shame. “Sigh…”
To be honest, he really wanted a hunting rifle too.
“Don’t worry. I’ll have my father think of a way for you later.” Nuomin flicked the reins and rode forward. “I’ll find you a sharp dagger first.”
“Alright.” Xie Changqing remembered Menggen and that dagger flashing coldly in the dark night. “A dagger would be good too.”
Anyway, he didn’t know how to shoot. Even if he had a gun, he’d need to learn first.
A dagger was indeed more suitable for him right now.
The next day when they set out, Nuomin had indeed brought him a dagger.
However, different from what they’d discussed, Sangtu also wanted to come with them.
“Just you few going makes us uneasy.” Qiaoba frowned and gave the dagger to Xie Changqing. “Sangtu knows this area well. He’ll lead you—it’ll be safer.”
Moreover, Sangtu had brought a longbow.
He smiled and waved his hand. “If we encounter big birds, I’ll shoot one down! I also brought some salt!”
Thinking about roasted bird, Xie Changqing couldn’t help but swallow.
So they set off together.
Qiaoba followed them for quite a distance before reluctantly turning back.
He couldn’t help it—he was just too worried.
This was their ranch’s only hope!
Xie Changqing rode Lightning in the middle, surrounded by the others in a protective formation.
He actually felt it wasn’t necessary, but he couldn’t argue with them.
Riding swiftly without other livestock slowing them down, they quickly reached the foot of the mountain.
There really were many medicinal herbs here, all growing extremely well.
“There’s a spring on this mountain that flows down to the river ahead, so the medicinal herbs along the way all grow very well.”
Xie Changqing dismounted and looked at this lush green expanse with excitement. “They really are excellent—so robust.”
Regular medicinal herbs didn’t grow this well.
Dandelions, licorice, cistanche…
The variety was quite rich, so much so that Xie Changqing almost couldn’t believe it. “Are these really wild?”
“Huh? No.” Sangtu was puzzled, then smiled. “At first this patch of dandelions was indeed wild…”
Later, when veterinarians came to gather medicinal herbs, they discovered this area was very suitable for medicinal plant growth.
So some came and planted licorice, others came and planted gaha…
More and more were planted, with increasing variety.
Anyway, it was all this wilderness—they could grow freely.
Every year when they came to gather medicinal herbs, they would unconsciously clear the weeds.
So they just grew better and better.
Like now, Sangtu was clearing weeds. “I don’t recognize medicinal herbs, but I know these grasses for feeding sheep, haha…”
Xie Changqing nodded and was especially careful when gathering the herbs.
Basically, he would leave some of each variety behind.
While they were gathering medicinal herbs, they suddenly heard some commotion from the mountain.
“Rustle rustle…”
Xie Changqing and the others instinctively looked back and saw birds startled into flight from halfway up the mountain.
“Eh? What’s that?” Sangtu frowned.
“I’ll go look!” Having helped scout during this winter migration, Haiert was bolder now and was about to ride up the mountain.
But Sangtu stopped him, giving him a knock on the head. “What are you running around for!? We came to gather medicinal herbs today!”
Don’t make trouble!
Haiert covered his head and laughed, but remembering Uncle Qiaoba’s instruction to protect Xie Changqing at all costs, he obediently stayed put.
Just as he looked toward Xie Changqing, he noticed Xie Changqing’s eyes were fixed intently on the mountain. “Hmm? What’s wrong?”
Following Xie Changqing’s gaze, his eyes met a pair of green-glowing eyes. “…”