Chapter 53

Although it was still early spring and the vegetation in the north had just begun to sprout, many places in Yunnan were still lush with green trees, a benefit of the warm southern climate.

After leaving Dali City, the group first went to a nearby military base, took a brief rest, and then set off for the village where Lan Fenghuang and She Lin lived. This village was the closest to Shenluo Valley, and some of the materials needed to make the antidote could only be found there.

It was still early, so traveling was more suitable. If it were night, it would be a bit dangerous. In Yunnan, if a wild animal ran out of the forest, you shouldn't be surprised. Therefore, people rarely traveled on unprotected roads at night, even by car.

This was a dirt road, and perhaps because it had just rained, it was very bumpy and hard to drive. Fortunately, She Lin and Wang Zhigang's vehicles were military off-road and jeeps, making it easier to navigate such roads. If they had driven other cars, they would probably have been stranded on the road today.

"Brother Zhang, put on the combat gear we prepared. In this place, wearing military uniforms makes it easier to move, and civilians recognize soldiers," She Lin said to Zhang Tianyuan in the back seat. "Also, use the walkie-talkie to inform the people in the front car to change their clothes. Once we get to the village, we won't stay long. We might have a meal, and after Phoenix prepares the antidote, we'll leave."

"Sure thing!" Zhang Tianyuan liked to take charge of things he was good at, but for things he wasn't familiar with, he was more willing to listen to the advice of professionals. After all, She Lin was a local and a former soldier, much more experienced than he, a northerner.

He opened the canvas bag, took out the clothes, and changed with Xu Gang. Of course, some items didn't need to be changed immediately, such as night vision goggles and lighting equipment, which would be used at critical moments. Essentially, changing clothes and taking the guns was enough.

As for the clothes for Liu Mengxun and the other two girls, they had already been placed in Wang Zhigang's car. Although changing clothes in the car wasn't very convenient, it wasn't impossible. Besides, Liu Mengxun and the others weren't overly shy, so they could change quickly without fully undressing.

The car soon arrived at the village. Indeed, seeing military vehicles, the villagers were very热情, all inviting them to their homes for a meal. In the end, everyone went to Lan Fenghuang's house, where her parents prepared a simple home-cooked meal.

"Wow, how did you make this golden pork?" Mu Ying asked, seeing Lan Fenghuang's mother bring out a large plate of golden pork.

"This is called 'fire-roasted pork,' a specialty of our area. In the past, it was only made during festivals or important events, but now that life is better, we make it occasionally for everyday meals. It goes well with rice and tastes very good," She Lin explained.

Since Lan Fenghuang was preparing the antidote, She Lin, being the local, naturally had to explain things, regardless of whether he liked talking or not. He couldn't let the guests feel neglected.

"How do you make it? I want to try it at home," Mu Ying said, who enjoyed cooking, which was probably one of the reasons Xu Gang liked her.

"First, you slaughter a fat pig and roast it with straw or rice stalks by a well. One person uses a basket to fan the wind to help the fire, while another person uses two sticks to stir the straw, making sure the entire pig is charred black. Then, you rinse the pig with well water and use a butcher's knife to scrape off the burnt hair. After scraping, the pig turns a golden color and emits a fragrant aroma. Finally, you cut the pig into pieces for cooking or curing into ham. This is the 'fire-roasted pork' we often eat," She Lin explained, having made it himself many times.

"This pork has a fresh and delicious taste without the fishy smell of boiled pork. I must try it at home!" Mu Ying nodded and took another bite, finding the taste indeed very good.

After the meal, Lan Fenghuang's mother served tea to the guests, treating them very well. Many villagers came to see them and even brought carved plums.

During the Tang Dynasty, it was a custom to give carved plums as gifts when visiting relatives and friends. Carved plums are named for the patterns carved on the green plum fruit. They have a fresh, crisp, and sweet taste, with a hint of sourness that refreshes the palate, quenches thirst, and invigorates the spirit. They are a great snack to bring on a trip.

The group rested in Lan Fenghuang's village for the night. First, it was getting late, and entering the forest at night was dangerous. Second, the antidote wasn't ready yet, and they had to wait for it to ensure everyone's safety.

Since Lan Fenghuang's house wasn't very large, the group was split up. She Lin, Wang Zhigang, Xu Gang, and Professor Wang went to She Lin's house, while Zhang Tianyuan stayed to guard Liu Mengxun and Mu Ying.

Originally, She Lin wanted to stay, but as the host, he couldn't stay at someone else's house and leave his guests at his own. That wouldn't be proper.

Wang Zhigang wasn't familiar with the girls and didn't feel comfortable, while Xu Gang admitted his shooting skills and strength were inferior to Zhang Tianyuan's. Professor Wang was even less suitable, so the task fell to Zhang Tianyuan.

Liu Mengxun and Mu Ying were perhaps tired and fell asleep early, but Zhang Tianyuan was quite alert, using his phone to browse the internet for a while, despite the poor signal.

Just as he was about to sleep, there was a knock on the door.

It was Lan Fenghuang.

"Can I come in?"

Zhang Tianyuan couldn't keep the host out, and it was a different era now, so he didn't worry about gossip. He could just leave the door open.

However, as soon as Lan Fenghuang entered, she closed the door and leaned against it, ignoring Zhang Tianyuan's expression. She said, "We're leaving for Shenluo Valley tomorrow, and the future is uncertain. We might not come back. I've never been with a man before, and I've never found the right one. I... can you take me?"

Zhang Tianyuan was stunned. He had never encountered such an assertive woman before, which made him nervous. But as Lan Fenghuang was about to unfasten her belt, he quickly stepped forward and held her in his arms.

He gently patted her back and said, "Silly girl, everything will be fine. We will all come back alive. There's no need for this."

Lan Fenghuang tried to break free but found Zhang Tianyuan's strength greater than hers. She became more emotional, and her feelings for Zhang Tianyuan deepened. Sometimes, girls are simple; when they find someone they think is right, they want to give everything. Lan Fenghuang had searched for over a decade and never found a man who could match her strength, but Zhang Tianyuan surprised her.

"If we come back alive, will you agree to my request?" Lan Fenghuang looked up at Zhang Tianyuan, her eyes filled with a pleading look.

Zhang Tianyuan sighed and said, "I won't agree, but I won't refuse either. We have many more opportunities to get to know each other. Once you understand me better, if you still think I'm good, then we can decide. Right now, you're just acting on impulse."

Lan Fenghuang wanted to argue but was stopped by Zhang Tianyuan. "Listen to me, go back and get some sleep. We're leaving for Shenluo Valley tomorrow."

"Alright, here are the antidotes I made. Distribute them to everyone tomorrow, one gourd per person." Lan Fenghuang knew that forcing the issue would make Zhang Tianyuan dislike her, so although she was still reluctant, she had to let it go.