Along the way, he carefully eliminated any traces of human presence.
Every footprint was meticulously swept away with a branch; every patch of flattened grass was gently lifted and straightened.
Every single leaf that might carry a human scent was cautiously picked up and taken away.
His movements were detailed and focused, without a moment of slackness. Step by step, he cleared the trail all the way to the mountain pass.
He cast one last glance back at the wooded hills, silently praying in his heart that An'an and her family would be safe and sound, before setting off on the road back to Jianyecun.
Wang Jianguo parted the dense weeds, and there his bicycle sat quietly, leaning among them.
He bent down, grasped the handlebars firmly with both hands, and with a strong lift, steadied the bicycle upright.
Next, he walked over to where the pheasants were placed, picked up a piece of prepared rope, tied the feet of the three pheasants together in pairs, and hung them from the handlebars.
The pheasants swayed gently with his movements, as if foreshadowing their impending fate as a delicious meal.
Everything ready, Wang Jianguo straddled the bicycle, pedaled powerfully, and sped off toward Jianyecun.
Along the way, a gentle breeze brushed his face, lifting his hair, while the scenery on both sides rushed past like a slide show.
Yet at this moment, his mind was entirely occupied with preparing dinner for Zhao Shuzhuo and Hé Yǔshuǐ, leaving him no time to spare for the road…
Chapter 405