Chen Xiaosang looked at her father, who was trying his best to stay calm, and then at her mother, who was running to the kitchen in a panic. She sighed inwardly. It seemed that she had to find a way to make money.
As a famous pharmacist in the apocalypse, the fastest way for her to earn money now was to collect herbs and make medicine.
While her parents weren't paying attention, she sneaked out of the house and walked towards the back of the mountain.
Ordinary herbs grew in the deep mountains and forests. With her small arms and legs, she naturally did not dare to enter the lush areas of the mountain. She could only walk around the periphery of the mountain.
After walking for about half an hour, a white sea of flowers at the foot of the mountain came into view. She let out a gasp and quickly walked forward. She reached her neck and plucked a flower to bring it closer to her eyes.
Indeed, it was the honeysuckle. After being processed into a medicinal herb, it had a wide range of uses. It had tenacious vitality and could bloom all year round. Even in the harsh environment of the apocalypse, it grew well.
Chen Xiaosang was delighted. She took off her coat and tucked it into a pocket. She pulled down the branches of the honeysuckles that were taller than her and threw them into her clothes. Soon, she had a small pocket.
The weeds in the flowers were extremely tall and had already reached her waist. She had to pull the weeds as she walked forward.
Her small hand had just pushed away a weed when she saw something in the corner of her eye. She looked over and froze when she saw a snake that was currently only three meters away from her.
Chen Xiaosang clenched her fists. Her palms were wet with sweat. She was thinking about how to escape.
This snake was two meters long. Judging from its scales, it was a pit viper. Whether it was its toxicity or the strength of its entanglement, she could not resist it.
Chen Xiaosang and the snake looked at each other. The snake stuck out its tongue arrogantly, as if it was mocking her weakness.
The two parties stood still for a few breaths. Then, the viper lost its patience. It opened its mouth and pounced at Chen Xiaosang.
Chen Xiaosang quickly stuffed the cloth bag she was holding into the snake's mouth and tried to run away.
A whoosh sounded in her ears, and an arrow glowing with silver light appeared in front of her, accurately piercing the snake's body.
The viper loosened its mouth and struggled violently.
Another silver arrow shot over, shooting off two of the viper's fangs. The viper fell to the ground, curled up, and wriggled.
Before Chen Xiaosang could retreat, she was suddenly picked up.
She turned her head and met a pair of dark and deep eyes. She could not help but shiver as her body felt cold when her eyes met those eyes.
In the next moment, she was placed on the ground far away from the snake.
Chen Xiaosang was still in shock. She patted her chest and looked up. She saw a young man in front of her.
He was dressed in gray, and his sleeves were tied with gray cloth.
He held a bow in his left hand and placed his right hand on the quiver behind his back. He grabbed an arrow and stared at the poisonous snake struggling in the flowers.
When the snake in the grass stopped struggling, the young man retracted his right hand and placed the bow behind his back. He turned to look at her and frowned slightly. "Why did you come to the foot of the mountain?"
Chen Xiaosang recognized him. He was Shen Dalang, who had just come to Chen Family Bay last year.
He was obviously warm-hearted, but his eyes revealed a coldness that rejected people and made him feel incredibly distant.
His family did not have any land and could only rely on hunting for a living. He did not interact much with the villagers.
However, Chen Xiaosang could clearly feel that Shen Dalang was different from the children in the village. Although his skin was slightly dark, it was the healthy wheat color that modern people paid attention to.
His facial features were exquisite and three-dimensional, his eyebrows were deep, and his eyes were cold but lively.
Chen Xiaosang was stunned. She blinked her round eyes for a while before looking away.
She, a person who had experienced the baptism of life and death in the apocalypse, a famous apothecary in the apocalypse, was actually staring blankly at a ten-year-old youth?
How embarrassing! It was too embarrassing!
Chen Xiaosang hid her embarrassment and pointed at the white flowers not far away. "I'm picking flowers."
Shen Dalang glanced in the direction she was pointing at and then turned back to look at Chen Xiaosang.
She was so small that she only reached his waist, yet she still dared to come to the foot of the mountain alone.
If he had not noticed that something was wrong, she would have been bitten to death.
Shen Dalang's eyes flashed when he thought of the viper pouncing on her. "It's dangerous in the mountains. I'll bring you back."
After saying that, he lifted her up and sat her on his shoulder. He held Chen Xiaosang's knees with both hands to prevent her from falling.
Chen Xiaosang did not expect him to do this. She quickly held his head to steady herself and exclaimed, "I don't want to go back. I want to pick flowers!"
It was clearly a statement to express her stance, but it was soft and coy when said, making people's hearts soften.
Shen Dalang restrained the cold air around him, but his voice was icy cold. "No, let an adult bring you if you want."
"But I want flowers." Chen Xiaosang pouted.
The adults would never bring her here. If her parents knew, they would never let her out.
Shen Dalang stopped in his tracks, and his already cold eyes turned even colder.
He wanted to send her back directly, but he turned around and walked to the flowers. He picked a honeysuckle and stiffly handed it to Chen Xiaosang. Then he turned to leave.
Chen Xiaosang was confused. He was clearly a man with a cold face, so why did he pick a flower for her?
However... He was a ten-year-old boy, but he was coaxing her, a several decades-year-old auntie…
No matter how she thought about it, it was strange.
No, it was not easy for her to get out. She could not go back just like that.
"I want a lot of these flowers," she said hurriedly.
Shen Dalang stopped in his tracks once again, and she muttered in his ears, "Put me down. My clothes are still in the flowers. Moreover, snakes can be sold for a lot of money. Don't throw them away casually..."
His face turned even colder. He wanted to send this troublesome child away immediately, but he stopped in his tracks. He placed Chen Xiaosang down, then put down the bow, arrow, and prey.
He took out the hemp rope hanging on his body and grabbed Chen Xiaosang, who was running toward the flowers and tied her behind him with the hemp rope.
Chen Xiaosang blinked and asked, "Why did you tie me up?"
"There are snakes on the ground." Shen Dalang responded coldly. He tightened the rope and tied a knot. Chen Xiaosang was now firmly tied to his back.
Ignoring Chen Xiaosang, he took out the arrow from his sleeve and walked into the bushes. He picked up Chen Xiaosang's clothes and stuffed them into her arms. Then, he turned around and threw the flowers into the quiver.
Chen Xiaosang's hands were not idle. Whenever he stopped to pick a flower, she would pick one for herself.
When the quiver was filled with flowers, Shen Dalang coldly handed it to Chen Xiaosang. "Is this enough?"
"Not enough." Chen Xiaosang took the sleeve, poured the flowers into her pocket, and returned the empty quiver to him.
Chen Xiaosang was secretly happy when she saw him continue to pluck his clothes with a cold face.
This silly boy was obviously very soft-hearted, yet he still pretended to be cold. Just how likable could he be?
Hearing the sneaky laughter behind his ear, Shen Dalang pursed his lips even tighter. He just wanted to quickly pick the flowers and send this little troublemaker away.
The two of them were much faster than one person. Soon, Chen Xiaosang was carrying a full cloth bag of honeysuckles.
Seeing that she had about enough, Chen Xiaosang waved her little hand and said happily, "We can go back now."