Chapter 268

Hong Family Hollow was a small village tucked between two mountains, occupying a sizable area with a swift river flowing by the side of the hollow. It was home to seven or eight families, nestled against the mountains and by the water.

Because Song Jiyun had offered a substantial reward, most of the residents of Hong Family Hollow had also entered the mountains, leaving only two girls around ten years old, watching over about ten toddlers, barely taller than a table, playing in the threshing ground.

Upon seeing Song Jiyun and Zheng Quan, the two girls timidly kept the toddlers close, though a plucky little boy ran over, sucking his finger and blinking his big round eyes, and asked Song Jiyun articulately, "Did you also come to our hollow to look for someone?"

Song Jiyun liked the child's bright appearance and wanted to give him candy, but, unfortunately, she hadn't brought any, so she simply had Zheng Quan give him two copper coins and smiled, "Take this to buy some candy."