CHAPTER 38: CHAPTER 38: TORRENTIAL RAIN

Sun Chan hesitated for a moment, seeing the lightning above the sky, flashing through the lush trees. She hesitated for a few seconds, and then her worry surpassed her fear. She walked over to the hillside, reached out her hand, and said, "Come on, I’ll pull you up."

The old man was soaked all over, his clothes crumpled and sticking to his body. He was covered in mud, looking extremely embarrassed but spirited. He first glanced at Sun Chan warily, snorted, and said, "Don’t bother about me, go back!" After saying this, he quickly walked forward. Despite the heavy rain and poor footing, the old man indeed moved swiftly, truly admirable.

Sun Chan gritted her teeth, slid down the hillside, and ignoring the mud on her body, continued to follow him.

The heavy rain continued to fall, with the two of them chasing after each other. Soon they walked out of the forest and arrived at the entrance of a cave at the foot of a hillside. This place was very remote, with few people ever coming here.

Sun Chan followed him, panting heavily with chest pain from exhaustion, and her body was numb from the rain.

Sun Chan shouted to him, "Chief, what’s happening?"

The old man was visibly stunned to find Sun Chan still behind him. "You’re still here?"

"Old chief, go back. Everyone is looking for you."

The old man was a bit impatient: "I’m fine! Don’t worry about me! I’m catching a thief!" He supported his knees with both hands, panting, suddenly seeing the old man crouching down, walking towards the cave, grabbing a stone from the ground. Sun Chan was curious about what he was doing, when she saw a young guy dash out from the forest in front, carrying a large bag, running out. The old man rushed over, threw the stone at him but missed, then simply threw himself on the guy.

The two began wrestling on the hillside, covered in muddy water, looking as bedraggled as could be.

The guy struggled continuously. Seeing the old man couldn’t subdue him, Sun Chan ran over and helped the old man hold him down.

The old man shouted, "It’s none of your business, go your way!"

"No! I want to help you!"

"You..."

Sun Chan saw the guy grab a handful of mud and throw it at the old man’s face. She quickly dashed over, grabbed his arm, and the two began wrestling. The old man stood up and kicked the guy in the back, causing him to grunt and fall flat, no longer moving. The bag he was holding fell over during the struggle, revealing a pile of Hericium mushrooms.

Sun Chan had only seen these on magazines and TV. They were precious supplements. In the 1980s, not many were artificially cultivated, so such a quantity of Hericium mushrooms was worth a fortune! It turned out this guy was here to steal Hericium mushrooms from the forest!

"Don’t waste time, pack these things up," the old man said as he went over to catch that guy. Sun Chan hurriedly packed things up, also worried that the old man might get hurt.

The guy pleaded, "Old sir, please spare me. My family is poor. I just wanted to earn some money."

"Shut up! I’ve caught you several times! And look at your watch and clothes, is this how a poor person lives? You’re just taking advantage here! How did you get in here? There’s a military area ahead; we must interrogate you thoroughly, perhaps you’re a spy!"

Sun Chan couldn’t help but laugh, in this era, there’s still talk of spies, the old man was as vigilant as ever.

The guy hurriedly shouted, "How can you say that, you’ve seen me before, haven’t you? I’m not an enemy agent, I’m just a thief, please forgive me!"

Everyone knows from watching movies that enemy agents get shot!

"Ha, letting you go with so many Hericium mushrooms would cost the public huge losses! Follow me!" He said, tightening a belt around the guy’s wrists.

Then a flash of lightning struck again, and two more trees fell to the ground, splitting into pieces.

Sun Chan couldn’t help but scream, but the old man wasn’t afraid. He twisted the man’s arm, walked over, and grabbed Sun Chan’s wrist.

"Let’s go, I’ll take you back. The road here is difficult. Tell me, with such a small courage, how are you a soldier?" The old man held Sun Chan’s hand as they took a detour out of the forest, heading back. Though speaking firmly, he was after all elderly, tired from capturing someone and walking such a long way. His footsteps began to slow. Along the way, he nearly fell several times, saved only by Sun Chan holding him, almost exhausting her.

"You little comrade! With such physical condition, can you even be a soldier? Walking so slowly, you really need to exercise more!"

"Chief, I’m not a soldier..."

"Don’t try to justify. I know you well! You don’t eat enough, only care about maintaining your figure, so that’s why your steps are weak! Without striving forward, only knowing to look good, how can you succeed?"

The old man criticized Sun Chan, leaving her speechless, as she silently carried the bag of Hericium mushrooms and supported him. If he fell, he might break a bone. The young guy kept pleading, but the old man wouldn’t let go, eventually tiring him out.

Meanwhile, everyone at the canteen sat in the hall. Having heard that the old chief was missing, they had also gone out to search, returned soaked without finding him, and could only wait for news here.

Sun Chan had gone out to find him but had not returned, making everyone worried.

With such heavy rain, the vast surrounding forests, and difficult roads, what if something really happened?

Liu Qingshuang was complaining about Sun Chan, "We are all concerned for the chief’s safety, searching everywhere, and yet who knows where Sun Chan has gone, hiding out instead of helping. Such a person should not stay at the canteen!"

Yang Liu retorted angrily, "Liu Qingshuang, have you confirmed everything before you speak? What if Sun Chan went out to search, not slack off, how can you say that?"

"If not slacking, what is it, you’re defending her now, if it’s later found that she wasn’t searching, you’d resign with her?" Liu Qingshuang didn’t believe Sun Chan would search. She wasn’t familiar with the road, and even if she entered, it would likely turn out badly, hopefully scaring her into resigning on her own.

By then her partner could join.

Yang Liu coldly laughed, "Sure! If she indeed went searching, you resign."

Liu Qingshuang bit her lip, glaring at her. Though Yang Liu never spoke of her family background, judging by her attire and meals, she was clearly not from an ordinary family, so it was better to restrain oneself.

After a moment of silence, Yang Liu saw that the rain continued relentlessly, and it was getting dark.

She was becoming anxious, standing up and saying, "No, something must have happened to Sun Chan, I’m going to check."