Chapter 24

At that time, the young men were still fine, but some of the young women had started to shrink back. Yang Xuehua had been hesitant, but seeing Luo Mingzhe and Liu Yue looking at her as if she was dead, she too stood still.

"Why are you all here?" Gao Jiaxing suddenly appeared, looking at Xia Xiao and the others.

"Exactly, why would a bunch of women follow us up the mountain?" A sturdy young man also spoke up, obviously not liking that a group of women were following them up the mountain—they were going hunting, not on a pleasure trip.

Moreover, having a group of women enter the mountain was simply risking their lives.

Nanhua Mountain was known for the presence of wild beasts, and quite a few hunters had lost their lives in the deep mountains. Those who entered the mountain were always on high alert, and having a group of women come along would only burden them.

"Why do you care so much, just let them be. If something happens, it has nothing to do with us," another man said.

"Educated Youth Wang, Nanhua Mountain is the most dangerous mountain in the county. There are beasts roaming around, and many people have lost their lives—it's no joke. You should take the educated young women back," Gao Jiaxing told Wang Aihua, who was the team leader among the educated women. Gao Jiaxing hoped Wang Aihua could persuade the educated women to leave Nanhua Mountain.

"Yes, Wang, Jiaxing is right. We need to be extremely careful once we get there. This is not just for fun. Take the educated women and leave. Later, Jiaxing and I will bring back some game to share with everyone at the big team," said He Xuebing, speaking up. Xia Xiao noticed when he spoke, many of the educated young women looked at He Xuebing, considering his words before nodding in agreement.

Indeed, no matter the era, it's a world that favors good looks, and He Xuebing's face was indeed striking, no wonder it dazzled some of the young women.

Xia Xiao was no exception; she too was quite focused on appearances, although not severely. As long as a person had regular features and wasn't unsightly, she was okay with them. Looking at He Xuebing still dazzled her, but not to the extent where her heart raced uncontrollably like it had a few days ago.

Yet, now Yang Xuehua was also hesitant. Xia Xiao, however, was conflicted; she wanted to go up the mountain, and she was confident that with some space, she could avoid the wild beasts as long as she stayed alert.

Of course, she could sneak away quietly, but the production team was only so big; her unexplained disappearance would not be a small matter, and it would cause panic if everyone started searching for her.

"Why can't women enter the mountain? We are just picking wild fruits and mushrooms, how does that bother you, whimpering like a bunch of women," Liu Haihua already roared at a group of men.

Once she said this, everyone went silent. The previously vocal sturdy young man spoke up, "Liu Haiguo, you should control your sister."

Xia Xiao looked back at Liu Haiguo, the son of the Red Star Production Team's leader, whose status was not much different from Gao Jiaxing's, but he was the polar opposite.

Liu Haiguo was not as good-looking as his sister—he was not only darker and thinner but also short, and his prominent buck teeth made his ordinary features even less appealing.

They were supposed to be siblings, yet they looked more like an elder sister and younger brother.

Xia Xiao just heard a woman from the Red Star Production Team quietly tell another, "Liu Haiguo and Liu Haihua are actually twins, but they don't look like it, do they?"

Xia Xiao then curiously looked at Liu Haiguo and Liu Haihua. Twins, huh? Really didn't look like it. Her impression of twins was always based on those cute and pretty ones from posters, though they sometimes didn't look alike either.

She knew twins could either look alike or not, but seeing such a big difference between Liu Haiguo and Liu Haihua was still a first for Xia Xiao.

"No worries, my sister is tough. Even a tiger wouldn't scare her. If she wants to go up the mountain, let her, just not too deep," Liu Haiguo waved his hand, not as everyone expected possibly advising Liu Haihua to leave.

When Liu Haiguo said this, Liu Haihua smiled smugly and told the other young women behind her, "Let's go, we're going mushroom picking. I've been coming to South Mountain since I was a child; none of you know it like I do."

"Keep boasting."

"Ge Lai, looking for a beating, are you? Itchy skin if you don't get a beating in a day, huh?" Liu Haihua directly glared at Ge Lai, threatening him with a fist, ready to start a fight.

Ge Lai was the young man who had opposed the most. As soon as Liu Haihua finished, some of the informed people in the Red Star Production Team laughed.

"Stupid woman, I let you go. A good man doesn't fight with women," Ge Lai, his face unable to hang on anymore, said, blushing from the laughter.

"Alright, alright. You should be embarrassed arguing with Haihua. Let's go before it gets too late," Liu Haiguo said.

Ge Lai said no more and turned to Gao Jia and Bingzi, "Gao Er, Bingzi, are you coming?"

Wang Aihua smiled at Gao Jiaxing, "We'll just pick some wild fruits and vegetables around the edge, not venturing into the mountain."

"Anyway, I've said what I needed to say. Whether you listen is up to you. If something happens, that's on you," Gao Jiaxing stated. His father was the head of Guangming Production Team, and now a group was following them into the mountain. Gao Jiaxing also disapproved, mainly because Nanhua Mountain was too dangerous.

Gao Jiaxing looked towards the Red Star Production Team and frowned, adding a reminder, "Stay away from Liu Haihua, don't follow her into the mountain. Her ancestors were hunters; she's familiar with South Mountain from childhood, but you're not. If something happens, she can only protect herself."

Anyway, he had already given them a heads-up. Don't blame him if something went wrong.

Seeing Gao Jiaxing coming over, Xia Xiao thought he would pass by, but instead, he stopped and said, "Educated Youth Xia, just stick with Educated Youth Wang and Educated Youth Yang, don't even think about going into the mountains."

Which eye of his saw that she was being unruly? Xia Xiao hadn't even responded when Gao Jiaxing added, "Your eyes start rolling around as soon as you get to the mountain, a clear sign of being up to no good."

Xia Xiao glanced at He Xuebing standing beside Gao Jiaxing, who seemed to be smiling. Even Wang Aihua and Yang Xuehua were covering their mouths, laughing. Xia Xiao gritted her teeth inside; Gao Jiaxing was ruining her image.

He Xuebing chimed in, "Educated Youth Xia, listening to Gao Er is correct."

Xia Xiao pulled a smile, about to speak, when Gao Jiaxing addressed Wang Aihua and Yang Xuehua, "Educated Youth Wang, Educated Youth Yang, Xia Xiao is young and doesn't know better, keep an eye on her. Don't let her wander off and get lost."

After speaking, Gao Jiaxing left with He Xuebing.

Xia Xiao was fuming, glaring at the back of Gao Jiaxing. How could someone speak so unpleasantly?

What does he mean by being young and not knowing better? What about her eyes rolling around as if she's up to no good?