RYEY – Chapter 168 Isn’t Cheng Qiao a Woman?

“I’m taking everything, but it’s still not enough. The round trip is over two thousand kilometers, so if I don’t take enough supplies back, I feel like the mission isn’t complete.”

“Right now there’s nothing left. If there is, I’ll contact you. By the way, since you’re my elder brother’s comrade, you should come to my house for a meal sometime.”

Li Huan refused outright. What kind of joke is that? Even if you’re my elder brother’s comrade, I’m not going to expose Cheng Qiao. Supplies are always available, but you still need a proper time and excuse to get them.

“I see. I need to hurry and deliver these supplies, so I won’t go this time. I’ll come next time when there’s an opportunity. Here, I’ll write down my address.”

Hearing that he could contact them next time there were supplies, Qin Guoqing quickly pulled out money and a pen from his bag. He handed the money to Li Huan first, then wrote down his address and solemnly gave it to him.

“Guoqing, how could my elder brother let you come here to buy things? Don’t you have them over there?”

“We do, but not much. So we need to prioritize the common people. Brother Li Bing said you might have some connections to get supplies, so my father sent me.”

“Your father?”

“My father is the one connected to Brother Li Bing.”

Qin Guoqing made a gesture. Li Huan understood, and at the same time, his heart finally relaxed. If they could even involve their own sons, it was clearly meant to reassure him and his elder brother.

Li Huan truly admired Li Bing. He and Cheng Qiao had been so careful, yet they didn’t escape his notice. From now on, he would need to be even more cautious.

It turned out that after Li Bing returned to the garrison, the logistics team was in a frenzy over the shortage of nutritional supplies. He remembered seeing his younger brother and Shouhou making trades.

He had quietly climbed a tree and noticed the volume of their trades was considerable. So he cautiously spoke to his leader. If the leader approved, it could be a win-win situation.

But if the leader disapproved of secret trades, he wouldn’t say anything further. He could not cause trouble for his brother and sister-in-law, or he’d be the disgrace of the Li family.

Upon hearing that Li Bing had a channel for hard-to-get nutritional supplies—though perhaps expensive and with uncertain quantity—the leader thought, “Even a tiny bit is meat,” and could hardly wait.

“Li Bing, I know this channel must be through your friends, and all such trades are done secretly. I understand your concern, so I’m sending my son Qin Guoqing to make the purchase.”

Li Bing knew immediately that the leader was reassuring him. By sending his own son, any problem would also involve his son—ensuring Li Bing could feel secure.

Li Bing relaxed and gave Qin Guoqing Shouhou’s address. He knew Shouhou cooperated with his brother, which is why Qin Guoqing could easily find him and then meet Li Huan.

Li Huan and Shouhou accepted the money and helped Qin Guoqing load the supplies onto the waiting van. The van was small, and the supplies filled it completely.

Qin Guoqing blushed. Seeing so many supplies, he was too excited and forgot he had disguised himself and come in a small van, not a big truck.

“Thanks, Brother Huan. I hope we can meet again in the future.”

Hearing Shouhou call Li Huan “Brother Huan,” Qin Guoqing imitated him. He got into the van reluctantly, started the engine, and felt reassured about Li Bing’s brother.

After the van left, Shouhou admired Li Bing’s meticulousness. He could have bypassed him and contacted Brother Huan directly, but then Shouhou wouldn’t have received his cut. Li Bing strictly followed the rules.

Li Huan sighed and told Shouhou, “Luckily, Qin Guoqing was recommended by my elder brother, or we would have lost out this time.”

“How so?”

“Don’t underestimate this young guy. His skills are not small. Even together, the two of us couldn’t beat him.”

“Really? I can’t see it.”

Shouhou was startled. At first, he didn’t believe this outsider could carry so many goods. Only when Qin Guoqing pulled out a wad of cash did he realize Li Huan was telling the truth.

Li Huan gave Shouhou two hundred yuan. Happily, Shouhou rode his bike away. In a few days, when the hunting team descended the mountain, they would have another income.

Cheng Qiao came out holding little Cheng Li. Without speaking, they understood each other. Li Huan was preparing to write a letter to Li Bing.

“Qiao, if supplies are really tight over there, should we…”

“Let’s wait and see. If using supplies can ensure my father’s safety, I’m willing.”

“Alright, but I have a condition. You must protect yourself first. No rash moves, understand?”

Cheng Qiao nodded. Her son was still young, and her greatest revenge had yet to come. She couldn’t expose herself recklessly.

Three days later, the Xiangyang Village hunting team was officially formed. Everyone was fully armed, carrying baskets on their backs, holding machetes, and some even carrying sticks to beat the ground ahead.

There were quite a few people this time. Even Chai Jianmin joined the hunting team—everyone wanted meat. Unfortunately, the female educated youth wanted to join but dared not violate Li Huan’s rules.

When everyone saw Cheng Qiao, they looked at Li Huan in surprise. Weren’t women prohibited from joining the hunting team? Could it be that Cheng Qiao wasn’t a woman?

“Village chief, didn’t you say women couldn’t join the hunting team? Isn’t your wife a woman?”

Xu Laidi was the first to speak up. Zhaodi hesitated, taking a step back. She couldn’t believe Li Huan, a second-rate man, would be so foolish as to contradict himself.

Cheng Qiao smiled and greeted everyone, then followed Ye Jun up another path. At this point, everyone realized their misunderstanding—she was going up the mountain to gather herbs with her master.

Li Huan gave Xu Laidi a cold sidelong glance. It wasn’t particularly harmful but extremely insulting. Xu Laidi’s face turned red like a monkey’s rear. Seeing Cheng Qiao slowly ascending, a vicious thought flashed in her mind.

Today Cheng Qiao didn’t carry her precious son up the mountain, so she would find a way to sneak into the Li household, steal the little brat, and throw him into the river.

Thinking of this, Xu Laidi’s flush faded, replaced by a cruel glint in her eyes. Zhaodi stood nearby, clearly seeing everything and guessing her thoughts, secretly thrilled.

Li Huan didn’t notice Xu Laidi’s expression. He walked ahead with Wang Xiangyang, while Chen Weidang and a few older men brought up the rear. Everyone kept a certain distance as they slowly ascended.

Zhaodi initially wanted to check for wild vegetables on the slope. If none were found, she would pick up dry twigs and firewood to take back. But because of Xu Laidi’s glance, she secretly followed behind her.