Rebirth: She is Ready for a Counterattack!-Chapter 111: Lighting the Fire

Gu Xiaoqing and Fang Shaonan checked the doors and windows, all sealed tightly with wooden boards, not the kind of rotten, breaking boards, but very sturdy ones.

The two of them tried to pry them open with their hands, but it was impossible.

Not even a twitch.

There was only one window beside the main door, also sealed shut.

Elsewhere, there was absolutely no possibility of getting out.

Peering through the gap in the window, outside was waist-high weeds. It’s early March, by right, the grass shouldn’t be this tall.

But the wild weeds were flourishing, indicating that this place was truly in the mountains.

Still, on the mountain.

The sunlight outside was abundant.

Gu Xiaoqing felt awful inside.

How to get out.

Time was tight.

Once the traffickers discovered their ropes were untied at night, dreaming of running away was futile.

What Gu Xiaoqing feared most was the unknown variables of the night.

Perhaps Gu Xiaojie would be taken away that night, and with her age being in a significant yet insignificant bracket, past experiences told her that if sold by traffickers, she would likely end up in a destitute mountain village, used to bear children for someone.

That would be the most troublesome.

With her adult mindset, she might’ve taken herself too seriously.

The rash result was putting both herself and Xiao Jie in a very dangerous situation.

Lacking the ability to save herself.

Uncertain whether the clues she left back then were discovered by her parents and the villagers.

Gu Xiaoqing had thought back for a long time, not recalling paying attention to this in her past life.

It seemed that children from a neighboring village were also taken by traffickers, causing quite a stir.

Reportedly, the case was later solved. The place where traffickers held children was a mountainous area in a village, actually just three miles from that village.

But who would go up the mountains for no reason?

Moreover, the traffickers smartly spread fake rumors of wild boar tracks, scaring villagers away, fearing wild boar attacks.

A villager accidentally discovered the place when smoke suddenly billowed from the house, attracting villagers who feared a mountain fire. Many from the village came together, rescuing a houseful of children, but many had already been sold.

These children were from neighboring villages, both young and old.

The youngest was just a few months old, and the oldest was reportedly a sixteen-year-old boy.

The boy was severely beaten by the traffickers.

His family was influential in the city, making the case highly significant, with county police dispatched to thoroughly investigate.

The criminals were swiftly caught.

This became a major event celebrated in many villages back then.

People talked about it mysteriously, yet Gu Xiaoqing genuinely hadn’t remembered this event.

But thinking about it now, Gu Xiaoqing realized this was undoubtedly it.

It must be that Shaonan by her side was the official’s child.

Hah.

Gu Xiaoqing realized she was quite fortunate.

Wasn’t there a smoke story in this incident?

Perhaps trying the original path could lead to rescue.

Yet Gu Xiaoqing was unsure, since Fang Shaonan wasn’t gravely injured now, and if she started a fire, they might not attract villagers but instead burn to death.

With the doors and windows sealed shut, they truly had no way to escape.

What should they do?

Gu Xiaoqing observed Fang Shaonan, a little absent-minded.

Fang Shaonan sensed the girl’s focused gaze, feeling uncomfortable, unaware that the girl might not know that staring at a boy like that was inappropriate.

It was indeed unsettling.

But soon, Fang Shaonan realized he’d misunderstood, feeling Gu Xiaoqing’s gaze was distant, seemingly looking far beyond himself through her eyes.

The focal point wasn’t even on him, as if gazing elsewhere.

Silly self-indulgence.

Fang Shaonan silently scolded himself.

What was he thinking?

This was just a twelve or thirteen-year-old child; what thoughts could she even have for him?

Surely, he’s overthinking.

It was rural here, village children were simple-minded, unlike those in the city who had many thoughts. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

He’s been overthinking.

He poked Gu Xiaoqing with his finger. Gu Xiaoqing snapped back, asking, "What’s up?"

Fang Shaonan pointed at the doors and window, asking, "After checking, what do you think?"

Gu Xiaoqing hesitated and said, "How about we try setting the window on fire?"

The statement lacked conviction.

Gu Xiaoqing herself was unsure.

This could be big or small.

If it went wrong, they could all die here.

Fang Shaonan whistled, startling the children in the dark room.

Gu Xiaoqing also froze; how could he be so unreliable?

"You’re really bold."

In response, Fang Shaonan gave Gu Xiaoqing a sentence.

It could drive someone mad.

Fang Shaonan glanced at the window.

Nodded.

"This idea might work."

Gu Xiaoqing was excited, having never done something so thrilling in both lives combined.

Adrenaline was rapidly increasing.

A slight tremble.

"What if it burns us?"

Still nervous, her voice trembling.

Fang Shaonan looked at the children and said, "No, I’ve checked the wind; it’s not blowing our way, so the fire won’t come in. Doing this has two benefits: first, burning down the window, the fire will alert nearby villagers, leading to rescue. Otherwise, if no one discovers us, once the window burns through, we can also escape."

Gu Xiaoqing nodded, this kid had a better plan than hers.

With an adult mindset, but this was a genuine youth.

Fang Shaonan began handling the wooden boards, "Come help."

Gu Xiaoqing hurried over, and the two quickly turned the boards into strips, stuffing them into the window gap, and gathered waste paper and straw.

Gu Xiaoqing went to the group of kids and said, "Everyone move back, cover your noses with your clothes, but don’t be afraid; we’re thinking of a way."

The children, being very young, immediately complied upon hearing this.

After all, Gu Xiaoqing appeared like a big sister to them.

They hid in the corner, covering their noses, watching the busy duo.

The flames rapidly began to spread, with the help of paper and straw, the fire quickly engulfed the entire window, with red flames leaping, making onlookers anxious.

The entire window was engulfed in flames.