The bearded man and the guy smoking Hongtashan cigarettes came over to check when they heard the gunshot. Yang Shiqi said, "I'm going to pee. If you want to kill me, just fire another shot!" You can't be too weak in the hands of these desperate criminals, or they'll treat you even less like a human being.
Longhair cursed, "Pee right here! What are you doing behind the tree? Do you think I'd be interested in a delicate little thing like you? Damn it, I'm about to go to America to have some big sex, you can beg me but I won't."
Yang Shiqi blushed, "You try peeing in front of everyone and see! You have no morals at all!"
Longhair probably really needed to pee, because when he pulled down his pants, his penis was exposed. The tip looked like a big mushroom head, while the lower part was relatively short. The whole thing was swaying back and forth, which was quite frightening. Urine gushed out from the big mushroom head: "How about that? I peed, you pee like that too!"
Yang Shiqi turned around and continued walking behind the tree: "I am a human being, not an animal. Only dogs urinate in public like this!"
Longhair was so angry he was trembling, almost urinating on the people next to him, scaring them away. He didn't even bother to pull up his pants, and was about to teach Yang Shiqi a lesson with his gun, but was stopped by Big Beard. "Behave yourself! Let him pee. He can't pull any tricks. If we delay any longer, we'll run out of time."
While pretending to unbuckle her belt, Yang Shiqi cursed, "Good luck! I didn't see that damn bastard's thing, so I'll just pretend I saw a horny donkey..."
Actually, Yang Shiqi didn't want to pee at all. Seeing that no one was following behind her, she quickly fastened her belt and looked around. It was an uphill road with dense trees. If she used the terrain and her running shoes to jump down, she could reach the bottom of the slope in at most two jumps. It would take them at least thirty minutes to catch up, because it took them an hour to get up this road.
It was time to escape. Yang Shiqi had considered running away before, but the roads were relatively straight back then. With her physical strength, even if she used the excuse of needing to urinate, she wouldn't get very far and would be caught up soon. So she had been waiting for an opportunity. Now that she encountered such complex terrain with trees blocking her way, it was time to run away.
Yang Shiqi tried on the last running shoe and felt it should be fine. So she pushed off the ground hard and launched herself forward. Running shoes are effective whether you use one or two, but when she bounced with only one, her direction seemed to deviate. Yang Shiqi hadn't paid much attention in her studies and had no concept of calculating this deviation. Moreover, her mastery of running shoes was the worst among all users, and she had little experience in controlling her center of gravity. Originally, she was aiming to bounce through the gap between two trees, intending to leap out and go straight down the slope. However, after deviating from her direction, Yang Shiqi headed straight for the thick tree trunk. After a painful cry of "Ouch!", she slid to the ground while clinging to the tree trunk.
Yang Shiqi felt a sharp pain in her head and fainted. The impact was too strong. She had been worried that one shoe wouldn't have enough bounce, so she had maximized the power. The force of the impact caused a large bump to immediately appear on her forehead. It was a miracle she didn't suffer a concussion. When Yang Shiqi regained consciousness, she was already tied up again and being carried forward like a pig. She wondered what expressions the people who came to check on her would have when they heard her screams. They would probably think that Yang Shiqi had gone crazy and was just idly running into trees for fun, or they might even think she was trying to commit suicide. That's why they needed to tie her hands and feet even more. If their target died, their future would be over.
Yang Shiqi stopped thinking about escaping because she realized that her other running shoe was also missing. It must have fallen off when she slid down from the tree, and these guys didn't have the patience to put it back on for her. She was doomed. Apart from the bulletproof vest, she seemed to have no other advantages. As for the X-ray glasses, Yang Shiqi wasn't used to them, so she always kept them with Major Wang and only took them out when she needed them. Besides, the X-ray glasses were useless at this time.
As evening approached, the group continued down the mountain and finally came to a flat area, which looked like a small basin. A small village of a few dozen households was scattered in the basin. A bumpy street stretched from the center of the village and disappeared into the depths of the dense forest ahead. Because the trees were so lush, the sunlight could not penetrate, and although the sun had just set, the end of the road was already pitch black.
"We've arrived at Xiahe Village! Everyone, let's hurry up and camp there!" Big Beard shouted from the front. Long Hair took the lead and ran even faster. The loads that had been carried by several different people also started running, almost making Yang Shiqi shake to death.
The bearded man seemed to know the people of Xiahe Village well. When they saw him arrive with his men and guns, no one panicked. The villagers went about their business as usual, and even the children stood at the village entrance playing as usual. Some even went up to touch the guns of the team members.
The bearded man walked with a smile toward the largest house in the center of the village. It was a brick and wood structure, not very sturdy, but well-suited to the terrain. An old man in his fifties came out to greet him and said, "Bearded man, quite a few people have come this time. It won't be easy to get through the border post."
The bearded man said bluntly, "That's why we brought more people and guns, because it's not easy to get through. What, Dad, are you scared?"
The old man twirled his fingers and said, "Money makes the world go round. Who would turn down money?"
The bearded man took a bag from his subordinate behind him, then grabbed a handful of things and threw them over. The old man's face lit up with joy; they were gold jewelry. It seemed that even in the most backward places, the concept of money still existed. Ever since the emergence of private ownership, humanity has had greed, and even after the struggle to achieve communism, it has not been eradicated. How tragic.
The old man touched these things and smiled even more sweetly, "Let us treat you guests well."
The bearded man said, "Not only do you need to treat me well, but you also need to find me some helpers. Some luggage must be brought along, because without ammunition my brothers and guns will be useless. It would be best to bring two more villagers who are familiar with the terrain of the dense forest, so that we won't be too panicked when we need to detour if something unexpected happens. This time we must ensure that everything goes smoothly. If we succeed, all of this is yours."
As he spoke, the bearded man threw the entire bag to the old man, whose weight made the old man stumble. He was so happy that his jaw almost dropped. "No problem, no problem. I have helpers, they'll do it as long as you pay me. I also have guides, I guarantee I'll find you the most experienced ones."
As night fell, a roaring bonfire was lit in the village. Whole sheep were roasted over the fire, oil sizzling and dripping into the flames, igniting even higher fires. The bearded team members and villagers held hands, like tourists celebrating together. Even Yang Shiqi was untied and joined in the revelry, though three team members with guns always followed behind her.
Yang Shiqi didn't find a chance to escape even after the party ended. In fact, she had already figured out that this was probably the last Chinese village on the border. In this remote place where the emperor had no jurisdiction, even if she escaped, she probably wouldn't escape being caught again. Thinking that she might soon be in a foreign country, Yang Shiqi felt inexplicably sad and burst into tears. However, her voice was mixed with the sounds of the party and didn't cause any ripples.
Yang Shiqi spent the night being watched by three men in shifts. At first, she was too embarrassed to sleep, as no one could sleep when a man was watching her so intently. But in the middle of the night, Yang Shiqi was so tired that she finally fell asleep. However, she was woken up by someone pushing her before dawn. This time, they didn't tie her up because the path into the dense forest was too rugged, and they couldn't carry her.
Looking at the dense forest gaping open like a dark maw in the morning light, as if it were about to swallow Yang Shiqi whole, she almost burst into tears. "Zhao Qiang, you bastard, if you don't come to save me, I'll die right here!"
Volume 2 [313] The Porters
The village chief assigned a total of ten men to Big Beard, eight of whom were porters to carry tents, food, weapons and ammunition for their team. The other two were guides. Big Beard and his men knew the way if they only took the familiar route, but if there was any trouble at the border post ahead, they would have to take a detour. Only these two guides would know the way.
The total distance is only about 70 or 80 kilometers in a straight line. The general terrain involves crossing a mountain, entering a valley, then crossing a mountain pass and going down a steep slope to reach the destination, which is a foreign drug cultivation base. There are helicopters that can take Yang Shiqi directly away, and Big Beard and his gang will also receive their commission there before heading to the United States to enjoy their newfound wealth.
Although it's only a 70-80 kilometer climb, the dense forests and valleys along the way are sparsely populated and have no paths to follow, making the journey even more difficult. It would take at least four or five days to get through, otherwise there would be no need for tents and food, let alone those eight porters, who were paid extra by Big Beard.
Yang Shiqi cursed and swore the whole way, but no one paid any attention to her. Three people took turns watching over her, even when she went to the toilet. Yang Shiqi was really desperate to relieve herself. They couldn't let her do it under the men's gaze, even though she considered herself a man, she wasn't one after all.
At first, the sun was scorching hot, making people sweat profusely. But the deeper and darker the forest became, the less hot it was. However, the path underfoot was still difficult to walk on. Sometimes it was a meter or two deep layer of decaying leaves, which could kill a person if they fell in. Sometimes it was a vine-entangled bush. I only walked less than five kilometers in the morning. At this speed, I estimated that I would walk less than five kilometers in the afternoon. It would take me four or five days to get through.
The bearded man impatiently fanned himself with leaves to stifle his sweat. Although the sun was no longer scorching, the air was still a bit stuffy. "Everyone, rest here for a while and have some food. We'll continue our journey in half an hour!"
Hongtashan went to find Big Beard and said, "Brother, this group is too big, so the speed is not good. If this continues, we will definitely delay the transaction time."
The bearded man said helplessly, "Then what good ideas do you have? If we want to speed things up, we have to wait until we pass the border post tomorrow, otherwise it won't be safe. We're just hoping for a safe trip this time. As long as we can bring the person back smoothly, we won't have to worry for the rest of our lives."
Hongtashan said, "If only we had a flying vehicle, we could fly over the dense forest in the time it takes to smoke a cigarette."
The bearded man sighed, "The other side only gave us three aircraft. We have one left to save for a critical moment. What if we use it now and the soldiers at the border post see it and shoot it down? Even if we use it now, its flight range isn't enough."
Hongtashan said, "Then let's talk about it after tomorrow."
Yang Shiqi kept wiping away her sweat. Her health was terrible. She used to be able to take eight showers a day, but now she was covered in sweat and smelled terrible. Yet she didn't dare to open her neckline too much. Although her breasts weren't big and she didn't even need to cover them up, they were still different from a man's. If they were exposed, people would definitely notice something was wrong. And given Changmao's exhibitionist personality, who knew what might happen?
"Wipe your sweat," a porter said, standing next to Yang Shiqi and handing her a damp towel he had used to wipe his brow.
Yang Shiqi was a little stunned. The porter's figure seemed familiar, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. She took the towel she had just taken from the porter's neck and wiped her face. The smell was also somewhat familiar, but not the kind that she disliked. Otherwise, she wouldn't use other people's towels. What was wrong with her today? Everything felt familiar. Could it be that she was going abroad and was feeling particularly nostalgic?
"Have something to eat," the porter said kindly, taking out two steamed buns from his load. He took one for himself and handed the other to Yang Shiqi. She took them casually, but she had something on her mind and couldn't eat. The porter, however, ate with relish. His hair was a mess, and his face was covered in ash, making him unrecognizable. His clothes and pants, though intact, were patchy with black and yellow stains, and were extremely dirty.
Yang Shiqi sighed, holding a steamed bun. The porter, sitting on the ground beside her, said in a hoarse voice, "You seem to have something on your mind."
Yang Shiqi thought to herself that she might not be able to hear Mandarin again in the future, so she thought it would be good to chat a bit more. She said, "Yes, didn't you see that I am their prisoner? How could the people in your village do this? This is aiding and abetting evil."
The porter said, "There's no other way. You have to do anything for money. Aren't you the same?"
Yang Shiqi was disgusted by the porter's words. She retorted, "You're talking nonsense. I've never lacked money, so I would never do anything against my conscience for money."
The porter said, "So you'd do something against your conscience if it weren't for the money?"
Yang Shiqi thought for a moment and said, "Maybe, but it depends on what it is."
The porter said, "For example, asking you to betray your family?"
Yang Shiqi was taken aback: "What do you mean? Who are you?"
The porter said, "I am who I am. It's nothing special. I ran away because I disagreed with my family. This time, I plan to go abroad with the team and never come back. What about you?"
Yang Shiqi didn't answer or press further. The porter might have a tragic past, but that was none of her business. Right now, she was considering how awful her grandfather had been, and whether she should betray him. Actually, "betray" was a bit harsh; she could just never speak to him again. But she didn't know if she'd ever see him again. If she did, she'd definitely give him a good scolding. What did it matter if he was an elder? Did that give him the right to disregard her feelings and act recklessly?
"Let's go, let's go, get up and get going!" Hongtashan shouted to the group to set off. Big Beard was still at the front. This road was not too difficult because one or two groups of people traveled it every month. They just needed to trim the newly grown branches.
As Yang Shiqi walked, she looked around curiously. This was a tropical rainforest, with a rich variety of plant species, many of which she couldn't name. There were also some cute animals, but she didn't have time to stop and play with them. The three armed men behind her were urging her on. Even so, she hadn't walked more than five kilometers in the afternoon. By sunset, there was still a long way to go to the planned campsite. It seemed that she definitely wouldn't be able to pass the border station tomorrow morning.
The lead guide said to the bearded man, "Uncle Beard, we can't continue on this road. Without the sun, it's hard to tell which way is which, and it's easy to get lost if we can't see our surroundings clearly. That would take even longer, and you know there are dangers in this forest."
The bearded man asked, "Is it safe to camp here?"
The guide looked around and said, "That's about right. There's nowhere better than this further on."
The bearded man said, "Alright, everyone, let's camp here and be careful with fire. I don't want to get burned to death by the fire I started!"
Whether it was the porters or the eighteen team members, everyone was exhausted. When they heard that they finally didn't have to travel today, they all breathed a sigh of relief and threw down their things to collapse on the ground. The porters were alright, after all, they were all mountain people and had rested well before today. But these team members had been under mental stress for several days in order to complete the mission and had traveled for two more days than the porters, so they were the most tired and their vigilance was at its lowest.
Yang Shiqi, holding up her pants with one hand, walked towards the tree: "I'm going to relieve myself." The three team members were sitting on the ground resting. They looked at each other, meaning that the other should keep watch, but in the end, no one moved, letting Yang Shiqi go behind the tree by herself. She had already walked so far, they figured she wouldn't dare to wander around on her own, otherwise she would be doomed.
Yang Shiqi couldn't hold back any longer. Seeing that no one was following her, she ran behind a tree and pulled down her pants. It was a pity she hadn't developed male genitalia; otherwise, she would have really wanted to be a man, so that her grandfather's and father's wishes would be fulfilled. But there was nothing she could do; she was a girl, and that was an unchangeable reality. No matter how small her breasts were, no matter how long her beard was, no matter how prominent her Adam's apple was, her genitals were still female and would never protrude like a boy's.
After fastening her belt, Yang Shiqi wasn't in a hurry to go back. She looked around. Although it was already dark, there were already fires lit in the camp, and solid fuel was being used to boil water and cook. By the light of these fires, Yang Shiqi could vaguely make out the situation. There were trees everywhere, some as tall as thirty or forty meters. Although she had no idea which way to go, as long as she found a place to hide first, she should be able to escape back by following the trail after they left tomorrow when they couldn't find her!
Yang Shiqi began to crawl into the bushes. She had to find the best hiding place in the shortest amount of time. She couldn't be too far away from the camp, or she was afraid she wouldn't be able to find any trace of the camp tomorrow and would starve to death if she got lost in the dense forest. She also couldn't be too close to the camp, or the camp would be found easily and she would still not be able to escape the clutches of the enemy.
Yang Shiqi was secretly delighted as she was about to disappear from the camp's sight when suddenly someone emerged from the bushes in front of her and bumped into her. Both of them simultaneously clutched their foreheads and screamed, immediately attracting the attention of the campers. Thumping footsteps echoed for a long distance, and various weapons of all lengths were pointed at the two on the ground. "What are you doing?"
Only then did Yang Shiqi realize that the person she had bumped into was the porter who had given her steamed buns during the day. The porter stood up, looking aggrieved: "I was taking a dump. I didn't see him clearly when I came out and bumped into him. It hurts so much. I don't know if it will leave any lasting effects."
Yang Shiqi knew there was no chance of escaping. She glared at the porter, thinking he was a complete idiot. Touching her bumped forehead, Yang Shiqi stood up and explained to the bearded man and the others, "I was relieving myself when he was taking a dump in there. The two of them bumped their heads because they didn't see it. What's wrong with that? You won't let me relieve myself? If you're so capable, then none of you should relieve yourself."
The bearded man shouted, "All of you, get back here! Don't you dare stray this far from the camp! Erzi, Gangzi, keep an eye on him. If he runs off again, I'll kill you both! If anything happens, we'll all be in deep trouble!"
Volume 2 [314] Why did you take so long to arrive!
The guards responsible for watching over Yang Shiqi arrived. They were in a bad mood because they had been scolded by their boss. They forced Yang Shiqi to turn back at gunpoint. Yang Shiqi was filled with hatred on the way. She kicked the porter hard from behind, and he fell headfirst into the bushes. Luckily, there were leaves or something, otherwise he would have fallen flat on his face. Seeing him make a fool of himself, Yang Shiqi finally smiled happily. Even if she couldn't escape life, she still had to live it. It was better to be happy.
Dinner was a very simple meal of steamed rice and canned vegetables. Although Yang Shiqi had no appetite, she still ate a large bowl, otherwise she was afraid that she would not have the strength to escape if she had another chance. However, after eating, she kept her eyes open until she was tired and closed them, but she still did not find an opportunity. The three guards surrounded her in a triangle, and one of them always kept his eyes open. The fire around her was burning brightly, and the light was bright. If Yang Shiqi ran around, she might be shot from behind.
Yang Shiqi didn't know when she woke up. The ground was covered with soft grass, but it was damp and uncomfortable. Yang Shiqi wanted to turn over, but suddenly realized that someone was hugging her from the front. She woke up with a start and kicked. That position was definitely a vital spot. She would be sorry if she didn't kill his ancestors. Yang Shiqi had consulted an expert in the army to use this move to deal with certain perverts. She never thought that she could use it in such an environment.
But before Yang Shiqi could even kick, someone grabbed her ankle, then pulled her even tighter, and covered her ear with his mouth. "Don't move, don't shout, I'm Zhao Qiang."
Yang Shiqi didn't hear the first two sentences at all, but the last two words terrified her. "Zhao Qiang?" Yang Shiqi couldn't help but call out. Fortunately, everyone around her was fast asleep. The three men guarding her were dozing off with their heads on their knees, holding their rifles. One of them clearly heard the whisper, but he opened his eyes, looked around, and then fell asleep again. Although there was an extra porter on Yang Shiqi's makeshift bed, it wasn't a big deal.
Yang Shiqi knew she was in trouble as soon as she called out "Zhao Qiang," so she immediately covered her mouth and relaxed her body, letting Zhao Qiang pull her into his arms. Now their posture was not very attractive, like a couple hugging each other tightly, but it was a frontal hug, not a hug from behind.
Zhao Qiang has no particular hobbies, but this is unavoidable. He was afraid that if he did this, he would disturb Yang Shiqi and it would be difficult to handle. Moreover, it would be more convenient to get close and talk to her this way, otherwise the three people on night watch would notice him immediately.
Yang Shiqi pulled Zhao Qiang up by the hair and looked at him by the flickering firelight. This was no Zhao Qiang at all; it was clearly the porter who had bumped into her earlier that day. Yang Shiqi cautiously stretched out her sleeve and vigorously wiped his face. The dust finally dispersed. No wonder he seemed so familiar; it really was Zhao Qiang!
Yang Shiqi felt very wronged. At this moment, she was no longer the third young master of the Yang family, nor was she a spoiled brat in the army. She suddenly felt that she was just a little woman, a little woman who needed protection. In this vast and dense forest, her life was in danger at any time. She could only cry out to heaven and earth in vain. Zhao Qiang's sudden appearance was like a beacon, like her family, her guardian angel.
"Why did you take so long to get here!" Yang Shiqi whispered in Zhao Qiang's ear, her resentment palpable. That damned Zhao Qiang, he was incredibly quick to save women, but why was he so slow when it came to her? He valued women over friends!
Zhao Qiang felt unbearably itchy, and it was incredibly awkward for him to be holding a man like this! But in order to speak, he had to press Yang Shiqi's head down to his face and whisper in her ear, "Didn't we already meet in the village?"
Yang Shiqi pressed Zhao Qiang's head down to her face again, "Take me away right now."
Zhao Qiang said, "That won't work."
Yang Shiqi said, "Why not? I lost my hopping shoes, otherwise I would have left already."
Zhao Qiang said, "If we leave now, we won't be able to find their hideout. Wouldn't all the suffering you endured before have been for nothing?"
Yang Shiqi said, "Oh, I see. No wonder you blocked my way this evening. You bastard, you were planning to use me as bait!" Yang Shiqi pulled Zhao Qiang's ear without any politeness.
Zhao Qiang grabbed her hand: "You, can't you be a little gentler? What are you afraid of, you're a grown man? Haven't I been by your side protecting you all along? I wanted to tell you last night when we were having a party in the village, but you just stood there and ignored me. So I had no choice but to talk to you during the day to get your attention, and then wait until everyone was asleep before I dared to come and find you at night."
Yang Shiqi had no recollection of anyone talking to her last night! She was probably weeping bitterly at that time, thinking that she was in a foreign country and might never see her family again in her life.
"I'm scared, what am I scared of! These damned bastards dared to kidnap me, I'll teach them a lesson!" Yang Shiqi said as she lowered her head to touch Zhao Qiang's trouser leg, forcing her head to burrow into Zhao Qiang's arms. Zhao Qiang pushed her away forcefully, "What are you doing!"
"Where did you hide the compression gun? I'll blast them to pieces!"
Zhao Qiang had no choice but to grip Yang Shiqi's hands tightly and clamp her legs between his own. "Don't be impulsive. It's not the right time yet. Don't you want revenge?"
Suddenly, Yang Shiqi felt a lump in Zhao Qiang's lower abdomen. The image of a hairy man urinating flashed through her mind. Could it be that he does that down there too? Yang Shiqi asked herself inexplicably, and suddenly felt extremely ashamed. What was this? She had never felt this way before. Now she suddenly felt that she was too womanly, especially being forced to clamp her legs together by Zhao Qiang. What kind of position was this?
Zhao Qiang thought Yang Shiqi was frightened by him, so he loosened his grip and whispered, "Your grandfather is also looking for you. We didn't find you on the highway. Later, your grandfather told me to wait in Xiahe Village. I didn't expect to actually find you. But considering that we haven't found the mastermind behind this group, I disguised myself as a porter and sneaked in. We just need to follow them to their destination, and then we can go on a killing spree. You have a bulletproof vest, so your safety should be relatively high. This is called 'nothing ventured, nothing gained.' Don't you have the guts?"
Yang Shiqi suddenly didn't want to think about it anymore, as if her tense nerves had finally relaxed. She said weakly, "Okay, you decide. Anyway, you've always been in charge of things between us... Did you talk to my grandfather?"
Zhao Qiang nodded. "He should still be searching along the highway. How did you get off the highway?"
Yang Shiqi said, "I don't know either. When I woke up, I was already on the provincial highway. Later, we climbed a mountain. I thought about running away halfway through, but damn it, I only had one running shoe left, which caused me to bump my forehead and get a big bump." As she spoke, Yang Shiqi took Zhao Qiang's hand to touch the bump on her head, feeling wronged. The swelling hadn't gone down yet, and on top of that, Zhao Qiang had bumped into her in the evening. It was truly miserable. Yang Shiqi felt extremely wronged and hugged Zhao Qiang's neck, sobbing softly.
Zhao Qiang touched the bump on Yang Shiqi's forehead, then Yang Shiqi hugged him and cried. He was so embarrassed. If it were a woman, he would definitely be overjoyed, but in his mind, Yang Shiqi was a man. Although she looked a bit seductive and hugging her made her seem like a woman, she wasn't actually a man.
"Don't you know how to coax me?" Yang Shiqi complained.