chapter 20

The rain had already stopped, the clouds had also started to disperse slowly as the winds blew, so it seemed that it wouldn’t be raining again tonight, and they could start cooking with a peace of mind.

The noodles they had cooked in the afternoon clearly hadn’t been able to satisfy these people, so although the only ingredients they had brought were ham sausages and a packet of chicken wings that had been frozen into ice cubes but had now melted, and for condiments there was only salt, they decided to have a barbecue.

Huo Ran found a stove in the earth that someone else had already set up, taking care of the ashes that had been left inside: “I’ll go look for some wood, we can find dry ones where it hadn’t gotten wet in the woods.”

“Still going to the woods?” Kou Xiao asks from inside the tent, she had insisted on only coming outside when the food was done, just in case the villagers suddenly returned to outrage her modesty*.

[*tl note: the term used would more accurately be ‘rob’ but I don’t think that’s how this phrase works… it was meant to be an extension of kou chen saying he thought there was gonna be a robbery]

“Mn, it’s okay, just looking around the edge of it, we’re only roasting some sausages and chicken wings, there’s no need for a lot of fire,” Huo Ran says, “And for cooking the noodles we use the stove.”

“I’ll go with you,” Kou Chen follows up very quickly, and in addition he swiftly takes the baton he had placed on the ground in hand.

“You…” Huo Ran hadn’t even finished speaking before he gets cut off.

“You can take the trekking pole,” Kou Chen flicks the baton, swaggering over towards the woods extremely arrogantly, “This thing is more useful in my hands than yours.”

Huo Ran doesn’t speak, taking the trekking pole and following behind him.

What Kou Chen had said made a certain amount of sense, not only did he have a long history in fighting, his history in getting hit was even longer, after all at 4-5 years old he had already been beaten into getting nailed on the railing and had even almost gotten made into sausages, his experience in life was already plentiful. 1

Actually if it weren’t for those somewhat abnormal villagers in the woods, looking for some dry tree branches on the edge of the woods wasn’t a problem at all, if Kou Xiao were willing, she could totally come over by herself to pick them.

But at this moment, Huo Ran had the sort of illusion where he was holding off danger to serve the community as he picked the branches.

“Are these types alright?” Kou Chen uses the baton to separate a pile of tree branches, pointing downwards as he asks.

“Yeah, some you can break and see, the ones that are damp outside but dry inside are also fine,” Huo Ran says.

Kou Chen had abundant enthusiasm, it was probably that the temptation of barbecue was greater, it didn’t take long for him to collect a bundle, carrying it back to the campsite.

Huo Ran also carries the pile of dry branches he had collected up, and as he was leaving the woods he pauses his footsteps, turning to look into the woods once again.

When he was in the wilderness he wasn’t afraid of ghosts, after all there were no ghosts in the wilderness, but at this moment he kept feeling a little unsettled: he didn’t know whether it was because he had brought a few noobs along this time, or because of the villagers earlier, but he occasionally felt that there was someone peeking from behind.

But breaking camp and switching locations at this time wasn’t practical, nor was it safe, the next place that they could set camp up at was at least a 2-hour distance away.

Old Yang had already started boiling water for the noodles, and was a little worried seeing the branches they had carried back: “Some are damp, can they still light?”

“They can, no worries,” Huo Ran takes two tiny wooden strips and a small metal tube out from his bag.

“What’s this? You even brought firewood?” Kou Chen was a little curious.

Kou Chen had one great virtue, that is that although he would act all that, he would absolutely never act like he knew something when he didn’t, as long as it was something he had never seen before, he would definitely ask.

“Come, I’ll demonstrate for you, you can use this when you front next time, these are called ‘song ming’*…” Huo Ran waves the wooden strips in his hands.

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“Wait,” Kou Chen swiftly takes the song ming and small metal tube over, using his phone to take a photograph, “I’ll take a photo first, after you use it in a bit I won’t have anything solid anymore.”

“Song ming, also called ‘song shu ming zi’, mountain pine split into small strips, it has a particularly large amount of oil, especially good for starting fires, also easy to bring along,” after Huo Ran finishes speaking he takes the metal tube back from him, giving it a press, and a flame shoots out from the front, “This is a regular lighter, a large-size lighter.”

Huo Ran lights the song ming, then lights the tree branches, and very quickly the fire starts up.

“Fuck,” Kou Chen looks at him.

Huo Ran waits for half a day but doesn’t hear the later part of his sentence, so he looks at him with furrowed brows: “This isn’t too good is it?”

Kou Chen freezes, then starts laughing: “This fucking face of yours is too good for bewitching people, it actually also isn’t anything simple*.”

[*tl note: personally confused by this sentence, I think he means that huo ran is more than he seems..?]

“Let’s roast,” Huo Ran breaks into a smile, “There are a few toothpicks over there that others have discarded, use those.”

“Ones that others have used?” Old Yang was a little hesitant, “That’s so gross.”

“Do you lick the toothpick when you eat roast?” Huo Ran asks.

“Am I sick, licking the toothpick…” Old Yang laughs.

“Then what’s there to be grossed out about,” Huo Ran takes a few individually-packed antiseptic wipes out, “Wipe them, there aren’t any other pollutants here, they’re just burnt black, if there are any bacteria when we start roasting that’ll be about it for them.”

“Come on,” Kou Chen excitedly picks a few toothpicks that others had tossed into the cracks of the rocks up, “I’ve never eaten such a shabby barbecue before.”

However, because the tools were shabby, the flavour of the roast also turned out to be rather shabby, the sausages were alright, they didn’t need condiments, but the chicken wings that only had a bit of salt sprinkled onto them didn’t taste so good.

After Kou Xiao had caught a whiff of the roast, she squirmed out of the tent, asking for a chicken wing, and after taking a bite she sighs: “If this was eaten in a barbecue place, we could get the boss to make it free.”

“If only there were a bit of chili powder,” Old Yang also sighs.

“The flavouring from the instant noodles,” Huo Ran says, “Wasn’t there a packet left after we ate this morning, use that to sprinkle on them maybe.”

“Ai so clever, as expected of the King of Soloing Wilderness,” Kou Xiao praises him, and along with Old Yang she starts to sprinkle some instant noodle flavouring onto the chicken wings.

“No wonder He Hua only roasts sausages,” Kou Chen says quietly, “There’s no way to eat anything else roasted huh.”

“Mn,” Huo Ran grins.

“After the fight I haven’t seen her again,” Kou Chen says, “Would she blame me for being a busybody? Affecting her sausage-roasting for supper?”

“If she wanted to continue roasting, there wouldn’t be anyone to mind her though,” Huo Ran also speaks quietly, “This issue had to be resolved, if we hadn’t stood up for her, Li JiaYing’s group would’ve kept at it all the way, others would then follow and not bother, how disgusting is that, ‘none of my business’ is the scariest.”

Kou Chen gives him a look.

“What,” Huo Ran asks.

“Pretty upright huh, lad,” Kou Chen says.

“Not as upright as you, I hadn’t thought to bother before, I only followed because you started it,” Huo Ran says, “Now that I think about it, it still feels pretty awesome.”

“Mn,” Kou Chen nods.

After finishing the roast and noodles, Kou Xiao brings the pot and bowls over to edge of the water to wash, nagging as she washes: “What kind of person am I? I’m a young miss, why do I have to squat here washing the dishes when a bunch of fools are satisfied after their meals? The key point is, I actually know how to do dishes?”

“I’ll help you,” Old Yang walks over smiling.

At this time the sky had already started to darken, Huo Ran takes the battery lamps out from his bag, hanging them onto the two tents, and when he looks back he sees that there are human shadows moving in the direction in which they had come.

His heart first felt a wave of anxiety, but very soon he sees that the person in front was carrying a backpack, and he heaves a sigh of relief.

“People are coming over!” Kou Chen bounces up to him extremely nervously.

“Trekkers,” Huo Ran says, “They’re all carrying backpacks…”

“Hello——” someone from the group of incoming people timely makes some noise, even raising their arm and waving.

“Hello ah——” Kou Chen also waves his arm.

Coming over were six people, three sets of couples, at a glance one could tell they were all newbies, setting their tents up at the air inlet, and even after 10 minutes not a single tent had been pitched.

“You’re not going over to help?” Kou Chen glances at Huo Ran who was munching on chocolate next to him.

“Not going,” Huo Ran says, “Don’t you see the guys trying their best to perform? What would be going on if I went over, putting people on the spot in front of their girlfriends, that’s no good.”

Kou Chen starts laughing: “You’re fucking putting it in such a nice way, you’re just enjoying the process of noobs having their hands full.”

“That’s you,” Huo Ran also laughs, “We’ll see, if they’re not done after 20 minutes I’ll go over to help.”

After 20 minutes, they were finally able to pitch two tents, starting on the third one, Huo Ran gets up and stretches, glancing towards the woods.

“Why?” Kou Chen asks very sensitively.

“Not anything,” Huo Ran walks over towards the woods slowly, then stands still to watch, “I’ve been through this place many times, but I’ve never had this sort of feeling before.”

“What feeling?” Kou Chen asks, “Unsettling?”

“Probably the pressure from the burden of 3 noobs’ safety on my shoulders,” Huo Ran nods, “Mn, that’s probably it.”

“It’s not like you’re a guide, or a leader, or an organiser,” Kou Chen says, “Just one of the minors that has come out with us for fun, if anything happens can we blame you… will anything happen?”

“Spraining an ankle or something maybe, this isn’t some high difficulty route or anything, what else could happen,” Huo Ran says.

“You’re worrying about those villagers aren’t you,” Kou Chen watches the woods.

Huo Ran stays quiet.

“Villagers come out to let out cattle, look for game or something like that probably, or like you said, to set up traps,” Kou Chen says, “But those people obviously weren’t, they were holding rods and rope; the rope is the sort for leading cattle isn’t it, but it hadn’t been used before, it was new.”

Huo Ran turns to look at him.

“If they were out to look for cattle or livestock, don’t mention the rope and rods, just based on the number of people there were too many,” Kou Chen says, “Also if they were looking for livestock, why didn’t they ask if we’d seen them?”

“Fuck,” Huo Ran says very softly, “You’re not dumb?”

“When have I been dumb?” Kou Chen points at his own face, “Other than being too handsome, do I have any other flaws? I fucking even give you chocolate for no reason, and you think I’m dumb?”

Huo Ran stares at his face, and only sighs after a moment, turning to walk towards the tents: “That’s enough, pack up a bit then wash your face, while it’s not too cold yet, we can sleep already, we’re getting up early tomorrow, otherwise a day’s journey is too long, we wouldn’t be able to reach the campsite at Old XiKou.”

“That abandoned campsite?” Kou Chen asks.

“Mn,” Huo Ran responds, “Midway we’ll also need to resupply, so we have to make a small detour, but after reaching the campsite it’ll be a lot more comfortable, there’s water, and also houses, the kind that are made up of logs, sometimes there would even be villagers selling some drinks and stuff there.”

“Will there be beds?” Kou Chen asks.

“Wake up,” Huo Ran gives him a look, “It’s been abandoned, abandoned for a long time now, there aren’t even windows anymore, where would the beds come from, it’s just for shelter from the wind and rain, when it’s peak trekking season even a shabby house would have to be fought for.”

The three sets of couples had probably already eaten dinner before, so after they’d pitched their tents they’d all gone into their respective ones and hadn’t come out again.

After Old Yang and Kou Xiao had finished washing up they both sat at the entrance to their tent with their heads raised.

Kou Chen walks over, also raising his head.

“How beautiful,” Kou Xiao says.

“Yeah, how beautiful,” Old Yang says.

“We can see the Milky Way,” Kou Xiao says.

“Mn, and there’s also nebula,” Old Yang says.

Kou Chen rubs his eyes: “Have I gone blind?”

“Get lost,” Kou Xiao says.

“Where did the beautiful nebula and Milky Way come from?” Kou Chen asks.

“There are though,” Kou Xiao says, “In our hearts.”

Old Yang couldn’t keep his laughter in, laughing till he almost chokes.

“You two continue,” Kou Chen turns to walk up to his and Huo Ran’s tent, “Say, are those two sick!?”

“They’re dating though,” Huo Ran was also beside himself with laughter, “You just had to go over to join in the fun.”

Kou Xiao and Old Yang didn’t stay outside the tent for too long, after the sky had completely gone dark the winds started up, the temperature had dropped incredibly quickly, so the two of them had hurriedly gone inside the tent carrying the lamp to chat.

Kou Chen stands in front of the tent, watching the few tents that were either quiet or emitted the sound of whispers in the campsite: “God damnit.”

“Mn?” Huo Ran was plugging his phone into a portable charger.

“It’s a little awkward,” Kou Chen says, “This fucking trip out for a trek, and we actually get to experience this sort of situation, 4 sets of couples, and all have fucking gone into the tents.”

“What’s there to be awkward about, if you’re cold you can also go into the tent though,” Huo Ran says, “Not like anyone’s asking you to keep watch.”

“You think it wouldn’t be awkward after going into the tent?” Kou Chen bends to squeeze into the tent, then sits inside with his legs crossed, “Think about it, these 8 indecent men and women*, right now, in a while, and the rest of the night, what will they all be doing?”

[*tl note: he uses the same ‘dog male female’ insult hu yi used to describe his adulterous dad+his mistress]

“Are you thinking a little too much?” Huo Ran was speechless, “They’re all couples, whatever they do has got crap to do with you, yet you’re making yourself feel awkward, if you can’t accept it then you can do it too…”

“Ah,” Kou Chen looks at him, his face full of unconcealed amusement, “Who do I do it with?”

Huo Ran had felt that something was not right after he’d spoken, and now that Kou Chen had said this, he’d instantly laughed himself into coughing: “Why don’t You see if I would do?”

“Forget it,” Kou Chen waves his hand, “You don’t even fucking dare to look at my butt.”

“Get lost!” Huo Ran squeezes into the tent, giving him a shove, “Move aside a bit.”

“Are we starting our night chat now?” Kou Chen was suddenly a little excited, “I haven’t opened that sleeping bag of mine, do I have to test it a little first?”

“The crap are you testing it now for,” Huo Ran carries the lamp inside, hanging it on the roof of the tent, “If you test it now and it doesn’t fit you don’t you still have to use it.”

“If it doesn’t fit then I could still use yours though,” Kou Chen swiftly removes his clothes.

Before Huo Ran has the chance to stop him, he’d already efficiently stripped himself into leaving only a pair of underwear on, then pounced onto his own backpack to start digging through it.

“Can you go measure your IQ?” Huo Ran glares at the half Death God above his underwear, “Do you have any idea how many degrees it is right now? Why don’t you go out and run around naked? Death God’s almost about to be pissed into coming to life* already…”

[*tl note: a pun on the word 气 (qì), which in this context means ‘anger’ as well as ‘air/breath’ (like, ‘breath of life’)]

“Ai fuck,” Kou Chen simply turns his bag upside down to shake after digging through it twice, and all sorts of things immediately fall out, “I’m freezing to death, is this not a thickened tent?”

“It’s thickened! It doesn’t come with heating,” Huo Ran sees at this stance of his, and could only go over to pick the sleeping bag out of the pile of things, quickly unwrapping and shaking it open, laying it out in the tent, “Go inside!”

Kou Chen flies forward, and only uses a second to squirm into the sleeping bag, staying stiffened for two seconds before he extends his body, comfortably stretching inside the sleeping bag, “It’s alright, this sleeping bag is for -15 isn’t it?”

“Mn,” Huo Ran sits by the side, “We don’t actually need to use such a thick one now.”

“I can’t deal with the cold,” Kou Chen happily pulls the drawstring of the sleeping bag tighter, wrapping his face up so only his nose and eyes could be seen.

“And you strip till you’re this bare?” Huo Ran spots a box of chocolate that had fallen out from the bag, reaching to take it over and opening it.

“Ai, stealing*?” Kou Chen who was wrapped in the sleeping bag sits up, sticking his hand out from the gap next to his face, pointing at him, “You dare to steal my chocolate?”

[*tl note: the term would more accurately be ‘stealing (and) eating’, unfortunately there isn’t a verb that combines the two in English…]2

“Mn,” Huo Ran takes one and unwraps it, stuffing it into his mouth, watching him.

“I’ll kill you…” Kou Chen wanted to stretch his hand out of the sleeping bag, but fails to succeed, his hand stuck by his face, “Fuck, does this drawstring have no elasticity? Do I have to undo it if I want to take something at night?”

Huo Ran unzips the smaller zipper on the side of the sleeping bag, reaching a hand in to squeeze his leg.

“Ai? How fun!” Kou Chen retracts his hand, grabbing hold of his hand inside the sleeping bag, “Stealing my chocolate, and even stealing touches of my body…”

“Save some face will you!” Huo Ran pulls his hand out.

Kou Chen sticks his hand out of the pocket, waving at him: “Don’t want it, what good does face…”

He hadn’t finished speaking when suddenly, a women’s voice sounds from outside the tent.

The two of them freeze, and after listening for two seconds they come to an understanding; someone was singing a song, it wasn’t too pleasant to the ears, and they couldn’t tell what was being sung.

“Your sister?” Huo Ran asks.

“When my sister was in uni she was second place out of the citywide Top Ten Singers*,” Kou Chen points to the right as he speaks, “Is it one of the indecent males and females on that side?”

[*tl note: name of a singing competition]

“The sound is this side,” Huo Ran points in the opposite direction.

“In the woods?” Kou Chen asks softly.

“Mn,” Huo Ran looks at him.