Unexpected Visitors: Fubao's Encounter in the Bamboo Forest

"No, Xiaolei can't spend his whole life doing farm work. He deserves the chance to go to school if it's available. Grandma, Xiaolei, I'll do my best to ensure our family lives well! In the future, we'll buy a big house in the county, have meat and clothes every day, and hire people to take care of the farming!"

The old lady Li was delighted to hear this, seeing her granddaughter's thoughtfulness towards the family. While she hoped for Fubao's success, she didn't want her to bear all the burdens alone. With parents and four brothers in the family, it should be a blessing, not a burden, for a family.

"What's more, Mrs. Li was also keen on avoiding excessive work in the future. She indulgently remarked, 'Fubao, with your kind heart, I only wish for you to grow up peacefully and happily every day. Let the adults handle the rest, including your brother's work.'"

"That's right, Fubao, don't underestimate farm work. If done well, your brother can make a good living selling produce!" Li Xiaolei boasted, his chest swelling with pride.

However, deep down, Fu Bao knew his brother also harbored aspirations for education.

In this era, everyone understands the value of knowledge. Education opens doors to better opportunities and development. College graduates are highly sought-after talents in all sectors, ensuring financial stability without the toil of manual labor. Naturally, Li Xiaolei aspires to pursue education too. Who wants to remain in a remote village for life, relying solely on physical labor and unpredictable harvests?

"Fourth brother, you're amazing!" Fubao praised, concealing her own aspirations and applauding her brother's determination.

Seeing Fubao's attentive gaze, Li Xiaolei suddenly felt invigorated, eager to return to the fields and continue farming without even stopping for lunch!

Mrs. Li happily led the two children back home, ready to enter the courtyard. However, Fu Bao's instinctive glance caught sight of a figure lurking in the nearby bamboo grove, watching them.

As soon as Fu Bao pointed it out, the figure swiftly disappeared into the bamboo thicket, leaving no trace behind. Fu Bao couldn't discern the person's identity, only catching a glimpse of a boyish silhouette.

"Who was it?" Mrs. Li's demeanor shifted to alertness, instinctively shielding Fubao and scanning the bamboo grove, but the intruder had vanished without a trace.

"He's gone. I didn't see who it was," Fu Bao replied, her curiosity piqued by the mysterious observer.

Mrs. Li's heart skipped a beat. She recalled the recent reports of strangers entering the village and abducting children when adults weren't vigilant. There had been three or four such incidents in the past two years. Could it be that her children had also become targets for these criminals?

Suppressing her rising panic, Mrs. Li held Fu Bao tightly and scanned the surroundings warily. She couldn't shake off the unsettling feeling that they might be in danger.

"Let's go inside quickly," she urged, her voice trembling slightly with anxiety. "We'll lock the doors and windows securely. It's better to be safe inside."

The old lady Li's mind raced with fear. Fu Bao was a beloved and well-known child in the village, and that made her vulnerable to those with malicious intentions.

The thought of losing her granddaughter sent shivers down her spine. If anything happened to Fu Bao... she couldn't even bear to think about it.

With trembling hands, she scooped up Fu Bao and grabbed Li Xiaolei's hand, hurrying into the safety of the yard. Once inside, she bolted the wooden door securely. But even then, she couldn't shake off the sense of unease. Determined to ensure their safety, she resolved to have a stronger lock installed and to reinforce the walls when Li Chengyuan returned.

For her precious granddaughter, no expense was too great.

Relief washed over Mrs. Li as Fu Bao reassured her. She hugged her granddaughter tightly, feeling grateful that it was just a false alarm. With a sigh, she nodded, her heart still racing from the scare.

"Thank goodness, it was just your brother. But, Fubao, you must be careful and stay close to us, especially when you see someone unfamiliar. We can never be too cautious," she advised, her voice filled with concern for Fu Bao's safety.