Transmigrated as Cannon Fodder — I Rise to Female Lead Through Hard Work-Chapter 55: Deep in the Mountains

"Don’t worry, sister-in-law, my brother handles things swiftly. The couple’s house will definitely be approved soon, unlike some people who have been talking about applying for two years without any progress," Anmin immediately chimed in.

Yi Roujing was startled, has it really been two years since the application was made?

Ding Jianshe’s face flickered with surprise, his hanging hands clenched tightly, and his brows slightly furrowed as he looked at Yi Roujing and Anmin, with a hint of malevolence. Yi Roujing noticed and was a bit taken aback; he didn’t seem like a good-natured person, completely different from the way he spoke just now.

Anmin was so frightened she took a step back. Yi Roujing reached out to pull her back, meeting Ding Jianshe’s gaze fearlessly, "If I hadn’t witnessed with my own eyes how your family treats your wife in coed brawls, I wouldn’t have spoken up today."

"A wife’s status in her husband’s family and her well-being largely depend on her man," Yi Roujing continued, "I can tell your wife values you a lot; she endures everything, reporting only good news and hiding the bad from you."

"But you need to open your eyes and see how she’s living at home. You can tell something’s off just by the clothes she wears. Are you going to let this continue?" Yi Roujing stared straight at Ding Jianshe until he looked away.

Sure enough, Yi Roujing felt a bit disappointed. Ding Jianshe wasn’t stupid; clearly, he knew what kind of life Hu Ailing had in her in-laws’ home, especially when he wasn’t around, yet he pretended not to know.

Yi Roujing didn’t want to say more and glanced at Hu Ailing, the humble woman who pursed her lips slightly, her face as stoic as ever; she must know, too.

Willing to take the hit, she was performing a one-woman show after all. Yi Roujing smiled self-deprecatingly, "Sorry for the intrusion, we’ll be leaving now."

Yi Roujing pulled Anmin past the three of them, and on the way home, Yi Roujing didn’t say anything, making Anmin feel a bit uneasy.

"Are you okay?" Anmin asked with concern, "Hey, there are families more chaotic than theirs. Don’t let your sympathy get the best of you and end up feeling bad yourself."

"Feel bad for what?" Yi Roujing turned her head, showing no sign of sadness, and Anmin pouted—she had misunderstood.

"Am I a fool? They’re willing; I’m an outsider worrying for them. I’m no Holy Mother Mary," Yi Roujing laughed, "Just feeling a bit too ’kind’ like I once was."

"Who’s Holy Mother Mary?"

"Who? I don’t know," Yi Roujing feigned ignorance just right, earning an eye-roll from Anmin. But seeing her still able to joke around, she wasn’t too worried.

"But Ding Jianshe does seem a bit strange," Anmin pondered, "I’ve seen him a few times before, and he lives close to us, but he’s never had this kind of look—somewhat scary."

"Stay away from their home in the future," Yi Roujing advised, "Anyway, he’s going to the county to work; he won’t be around for long."

Anmin nodded.

"By the way, how much do you think those Lingzhi can sell for?" Always optimistic, Anmin’s attention quickly jumped to something else.

"Hmm..." Yi Roujing calculated the modern and this era’s prices. The Lingzhi she prepared was top-notch, pure wild, and old. Even in modern times, it would still be a valuable herb, "It should fetch a few hundred at least."

"That much?" Anmin’s eyes lit up, "Then, then let’s go ’treasure hunting’ again this afternoon?"

"Hmm." Yi Roujing nodded, "But you have to stick close to me; the mountains are still dangerous."

"I know, I know." Anmin was lost in joy and didn’t think deeply about how being with Yi Roujing could ensure their safety.

Until...

"Sister-in-law, will we die here?" Anmin, looking at the surrounding wolf pack, turned deathly pale, clutching Yi Roujing’s arm tightly, or she would have collapsed to the ground.

Anmin thought of many things, the only consoling thought—the recent lunch with its fragrant stir-fried snake meat, still savoring in her mouth—at least if she died, she’d be a full ghost.

And that Xia Xingchen didn’t come with them, staying instead with Mr. Qi and Jie on the small hill, sparing them involvement.

Yi Roujing wasn’t interested in listening to Anmin; her eyes and ears were fully alert, not daring to relax for a second. If it were just her, she could escape even encountering a wolf pack, but with Anmin tagging along, ensuring her safety was no small matter, leading to some regret about bringing her into the mountains.

It wasn’t their luck that the wolves found them; they had intruded into the wolf pack’s den, explaining why the wolves around them were baring their teeth at them; in an animal’s eye, territory invasion is a grave offense.

Yi Roujing, holding a sickle, showed no fear on her face, which caused the surrounding wolves to hesitate. Yi Roujing suddenly noticed something odd—the wolves, although surrounding them, were mostly stationed by the cave entrance. What was inside that prompted such protective instincts?

"Ooo—"

Suddenly, a mournful howl emanated from the cave.

"Ooo—" Around them, every wolf raised its head, lamenting in unison.

"They seem to be crying," Anmin whispered.

The wolves at the cave entrance parted to the sides, and a larger, more robust wolf emerged from within. Yi Roujing felt her heart sink further, her brows furrowing even tighter—this was the alpha wolf, very formidable. She shielded Anmin as they retreated several steps; if they were to flee, now was the time when the wolves’ attention was elsewhere.

Yi Roujing’s intended movement halted upon seeing the wolf cub in the alpha’s mouth. She realized why the wolves were mourning, likely thinking the cub had died.

Yi Roujing advanced with Anmin, directly approaching the alpha. Anmin, terrified, clung to Yi Roujing’s advance with all her might but failed, instead dragging herself forward awkwardly.

"Are you crazy?"

"I can save it," Yi Roujing said firmly, pointing to the cub in the alpha’s mouth with unwavering determination.

"I can save it," Yi Roujing repeated. Although animals don’t understand human language, they have some spirit, which Yi Roujing banked on by approaching the alpha.

The alpha, uncertain if it understood, studied Yi Roujing for a long time before finally placing the cub on the ground, about the length of a thermos, likely only a few months old.

Yi Roujing handed the sickle to Anmin, squatted to carefully examine the cub’s body—its throat swollen, it wasn’t breathing.

Yi Roujing’s brows knitted tightly. The situation was urgent. She looked around, used the sickle to cut a slender bamboo, and took the sickle, slicing off both ends. Choosing a short, knot-free section, she rinsed it with the warm water they brought, then aimed the sickle at the cub’s throat.