Chapter 281- - 282 Tracking
The next day, early in the morning at 4 a.m., Xia Xiao got out of bed to prepare breakfast.
Despite still feeling a bit sore, she got up quietly, careful not to wake Gao Jiaxing, and upon leaving the room, she entered her space to drink some spring water before returning to cook breakfast.
In the room, Gao Jiaxing turned over, reaching out his hand and found it empty. He immediately sat up and called out, "Xiaoxiao."
Gao Jiaxing quickly got out of bed and headed outside, seeing light in the kitchen, he exhaled softly and walked over.
"Why are you up?" Gao Jiaxing asked.
"I’m making breakfast," replied Xia Xiao. "Brother Gao, you should go back to sleep."
"I can’t sleep anymore now that you’re up," Gao Jiaxing said, squatting down beside the stove to tend the fire.
Xia Xiao poured a warm glass of water for Gao Jiaxing, "Have some water."
Gao Jiaxing took it, nodding his head. He suddenly felt thirsty too, so he poured himself another bowl of water to drink.
It was past 4 a.m. when Xia Xiao finished preparing breakfast. Seeing that no one else had woken up yet, she and Gao Jiaxing ate together. They left some charcoals burning to keep the stove warm, then returned to lie down in bed.
Back in bed, neither could fall asleep. Having drunk the spring water from her space, Xia Xiao felt much better and quite refreshed.
Earlier, Xia Xiao had also added the spring water to the warm water she had given Gao Jiaxing to drink.
"When are we going to the county town?" Xia Xiao asked.
"Can’t you sleep?" queried Gao Jiaxing.
Xia Xiao shook her head, "I can’t."
"Then let’s go now, I’ll carry you," Gao Jiaxing offered.
"Alright," agreed Xia Xiao, finding the idea feasible. Everyone was busy now, and it would be difficult to borrow a bullock cart. So it was just as well that they go now.
The couple immediately got up. Xia Xiao went to prepare water bottles, one for her and one for Gao Jiaxing. Gao Jiaxing said, "One water bottle is enough. Carrying two is inconvenient."
Xia Xiao thought for a moment and ended up taking just one bottle, into which she added some spring water.
As they stepped out of the room, everyone else was up. Zheng Xianghong asked, "Where are you two heading?"
Gao Guoqiang spoke up, "You don’t need to go to work, just stay at home."
"We’re planning on making a trip to the county town, might not be back until evening. Just going for a walk," Gao Jiaxing said.
"Alright then, go for a walk," agreed Zheng Xianghong with a nod.
Sun Yuhua was in the room feeding the child, while Gao Jiazhi came from the kitchen saying, "Breakfast is ready, did Xia Xiao make it?"
Xia Xiao nodded, "Yes, breakfast is ready."
Gao Guoqiang said, "Then have breakfast before you go."
"We’ve already eaten, go ahead and eat. We need to get going," Gao Jiaxing responded.
"Take some food with you," Zheng Xianghong hurriedly suggested.
Gao Jiaxing shook his head, not wanting to.
Xia Xiao also shook her head; they had money and tickets with them and were not afraid of going without food.
Then Xia Xiao and Gao Jiaxing said their farewells to the family and set off.
"Brother Gao, why aren’t we taking the main road?" Xia Xiao asked, puzzled. The main road would afford easier travel than the small path through the woods.
"There are people on the main road, some head into town early in the morning. It’s better for us to take the small path. If you get tired, I can carry you, and we won’t worry about being seen," he explained.
Xia Xiao nodded in agreement. Moreover, she had already brought Shitou along.
If someone were to inform on them, Shitou would warn her.
Along the way, when Xia Xiao grew tired, Gao Jiaxing carried her. After a while, she would ask to walk again, not wanting Gao Jiaxing to get too exhausted.
By the time they arrived in the county town, the sky was already bright.
"Brother Gao, where shall we go for a stroll?" Xia Xiao asked.
Gao Jiaxing shook his head, "The county town is too small, it’s hardly bigger than a palm and there’s nowhere to stroll. Xiaoxiao, do you want us to go to the provincial city instead?"
"But don’t we need to pick up the photographs? Won’t it delay us if we go to the provincial city?" Xia Xiao hesitated.
"Don’t worry, as long as we come back early, we’ll be able to get them."
So Xia Xiao and Gao Jiaxing took a bus to the provincial city. It was a three or four-hour trip, and they couldn’t stay long in the provincial city, but being with Gao Jiaxing felt different after all.
After three or four hours, Xia Xiao and Gao Jiaxing arrived in the provincial city. They wandered everywhere without a specific destination.
When they reached the place where bicycles were sold, Gao Jiaxing said, "When we have an industrial ticket, we should buy one too; it will be more convenient to get around."
"Okay," Xia Xiao replied.
She wanted to buy one, but she couldn’t right now. She would have to wait some more.
"Brother Gao, when you return to the military, will you go back to the same place?" Xia Xiao inquired.
Gao Jiaxing nodded, "For the time being, I’ll have to stay there, but I’ve heard that there will be a change of location. When the time comes, I’ll write to you."
"Will it be very far away?" Xia Xiao wondered if there was a possibility he would be sent to places like the plateau, high mountains, or deserts.
If he went there for training, it would be much tougher.
"I don’t know, but I hope that when you’re having our child, I won’t be far away so I can come back to see you," Gao Jiaxing said.
At that thought, Xia Xiao also felt a bit reluctant to part.
After wandering around the county town for a while, and considering the time, it was almost time to head back. Xia Xiao and Gao Jiaxing took the bus back to the county town.
The hours on the bus were exhausting and very demanding.
Xia Xiao felt a sense of fatigue and was thankful for the spring water in her space, which allowed her to replenish her strength from time to time.
"Xiaoxiao, Liu Haihua is up ahead and is currently walking this way," Shitou warned.
Xia Xiao paused and quickly pulled Gao Jiaxing aside to avoid her, watching as Liu Haihua walked past.
Upon seeing Liu Haihua, Gao Jiaxing’s expression turned serious. Xia Xiao said, "Brother Gao, what is Liu Haihua up to? Should we follow her?"
No sooner had Xia Xiao finished speaking when they saw someone already following Liu Haihua from a short distance away. Gao Jiaxing said, "It’s Hong Xing."
"What are they doing? Following her?" Xia Xiao was now wondering if Hong Xing was stalking Liu Haihua or if they were together.
"Stay here, shall I go have a look?" Gao Jiaxing suggested.
"No way, I’m going too." Xia Xiao didn’t want to be left behind.
"Then let’s go together." Gao Jiaxing immediately followed Hong Xing with Xia Xiao.
They soon stopped at a house. Liu Haihua knocked on the door, and an aggressive voice responded, "You again, what do you want?"
"Comrade Wang Yuncai, is Wang Xueyong in?" Liu Haihua asked.
"Get lost, don’t come looking for my brother. He doesn’t know you," Wang Yuncai snapped back, clearly showing strong aversion toward Liu Haihua.
Not just the hidden Hong Xing, but even Xia Xiao and Gao Jiaxing raised an eyebrow, surprised that Liu Haihua was seeking out Wang Xueyong and recognizing Wang Yuncai’s voice as well.
"Comrade Yuncai, I’m here to see your brother, not you, you..." Liu Haihua felt quite frustrated.
With a *bang*, before Liu Haihua could finish speaking, Wang Yuncai had already shut the door.
Liu Haihua stomped her foot in front of the door, who could have thought that Wang Xueyong had such a difficult sister and that Wang Yuncai was so annoying.
Liu Haihua used to fancy Luo Mingzhe, but she and Liu Yue were good sisters after all. Out of loyalty, Liu Haihua didn’t continue to harbor feelings for Luo Mingzhe, and since she married Ge Lai, she felt even less worthy of Luo Mingzhe.
But ever since she met Wang Xueyong, Liu Haihua’s heart had fallen once again, even though Ge Lai wasn’t all that bad, and even looked better than Wang Xueyong.
But in Liu Haihua’s eyes, who was Ge Lai? Just an orphan raised on handouts, a beggar—he used to be her subordinate, nothing more.