However, those who have climbed mountains know the experience well, it may look like the summit is close, but the actual climb is quite far. There’s a saying that goes, looking at the mountain kills the bull’s hope.
The houses in the village that Lin Xiwang had pointed out to Yang Ruxin didn’t seem far, but in reality, it was a decent walk. They had been climbing for a quarter of an hour now and were still not close.
"Our place is poor, men can’t find wives, and women are unwilling to marry into here, so we go out and buy them..." Lin Xiwang didn’t hide anything. He wasn’t sure if he was too naive or if he found Yang Ruxin too amiable and told her everything he knew, "But these purchased women don’t want to stay, they all think about running away, so they have to be tied up with ropes. After having a child, they will be released because a woman who has had a child generally won’t run away, but there are exceptions... If a woman who runs away is caught, she will be beaten and then chained..."
Yang Ruxin’s brows furrowed slightly.
"Old Ganzi’s wife has only been bought a month ago and has already run away three times. It’s uncertain whether she can get away this time..." Lin Xiwang sighed, "Last time, they broke her leg. When she ran away yesterday, she was still limping..."
"Do you have a wife?" Yang Ruxin could only sigh. She wasn’t a fairy; she couldn’t save so many suffering women. She had to solve her own troubles first, then she shifted the topic.
Lin Xiwang then became somewhat shy, scratching his head: "I am still young, and besides, I have no money to buy one... But my mother, before she died, told me not to buy a wife. She wanted me to leave the mountain after mourning her death. She said there are many opportunities outside the mountain. She believed if I worked hard, I wouldn’t starve to death. She even said that if I was diligent, perhaps a girl would take a fancy to me and I’d find a wife. She told me to treat my wife well..."
Yang Ruxin’s eyes flashed briefly: "You had a good mother."
"Yeah, my mother was different from those women. She also got lost and ended up in the mountains. Later, she met my father and decided to stay by choice..." Lin Xiwang smiled faintly, "Then they had me. But later, my father died after falling off a cliff, and my mother died of illness three years ago..." He paused for a moment and cut a vine at the front with his knife to make it easier for Yang Ruxin to pass without bending down, "So, I am alone in my family... However, after the New Year’s over, I would have completed the three-year mourning period for my mother. Then I will leave for the outside world... Ruxin, can you tell me about the world outside the mountain..."
Yang Ruxin told him about the scenery and the people outside the mountain. In the meantime, she also learned about the situation of this village called Bone Village. Finally, the two of them stood at the entrance of Lin Xiwang’s home, a journey that had taken them a full half an hour.
And this so-called home was just two thatched huts. Luckily, situated in a valley surrounded by mountains and many trees, the temperature here wasn’t low despite it being winter and it didn’t feel cold.
Yang Ruxin looked around at the doorway, estimating that even the nearest neighbor would be about a quarter of an hour’s walk away.
"Ruxin, this is all I have at home." Lin Xiwang asked Yang Ruxin to sit inside, then went to the inner room and brought out two sweet potatoes, "But they’ve cooled off, I’ll reheat them for you..."
"Little Ganzi." Just then, someone called from the doorway, "I saw you come in just now, hurry up and come out..."
"Little Ganzi, what’s up?" Light glanced at Yang Ruxin, signaling for her not to go outside, then hurried out himself.