Chapter 283 Red Maiden

He looked at her and said in a gentle and concerned voice, "It's nothing, I just wanted to remind you to wear more clothes tomorrow. It's too cold, don't catch a cold. Let's take a carriage tomorrow, that way it will be warmer."

Li Xi was initially a little anxious, but upon hearing Qin Xiaolin's words, her anxiety dissipated almost entirely.

She nodded and said softly, "Okay, I'll go back now. You should get some rest too."

After saying that, Li Xi turned and left.

Qin Xiaolin watched her departing figure, his smile deepening.

He was quite satisfied with his simple and clean appearance, never expecting that what Lu Yi said was true.

She really liked this outfit. He gently smoothed his sleeves, as if he could still feel the warmth of her touch.

The next morning, Qin Xiaolin waited early at the back gate of the embassy.

He personally selected a spacious and comfortable carriage, which was covered with thick blankets and had hot tea and snacks.

When Li Xi reached the back door, she saw Qin Xiaolin standing beside the carriage, and a warm feeling welled up in her heart. She quickly walked forward, a sweet smile on her face.

The carriage was warm and cozy, filled with the aroma of tea and delicious snacks.

The two sat facing each other. Qin Xiaolin poured a cup of hot tea and handed it to Li Xi, asking with concern, "Are you cold? Have some hot tea to warm yourself up."

Li Xi took the teacup, took a small sip, and felt the warmth instantly spread throughout her body. She shook her head and said with a smile, "I'm not cold anymore. I didn't expect Brother Qin to be so thoughtful."

The carriage moved slowly through the snow, its wheels leaving deep tracks in the snow, as if carving unique marks into this pure white world.

Sunlight pierced through the clouds, scattering across the snow and adorning the world with a picturesque beauty.

Inside the carriage, Qin Xiaolin and Li Xi sat side by side. Both of them had internal energy protecting them, so they did not feel particularly cold despite being in the dead of winter.

They chatted happily along the way, creating a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere.

As evening fell, the carriage finally arrived at Qingyuan Town.

The group found an inn and settled in. It was getting late, so the two decided to rest there for the night and head to Zhongcun the next day.

Inside the inn, the stove was burning brightly, and the air was filled with a faint scent of pine.

Qin Xiaolin and Li Xi sat by the window, watching the snowflakes fall outside, and a strange sense of tranquility welled up in their hearts.

"Although Qingyuan Town is not large, it has its own unique charm," Qin Xiaolin said slowly, taking a sip of hot tea.

Li Xi nodded and smiled, "Yes, compared to the hustle and bustle of the capital, it is much quieter here."

The next morning, Li Xi and Qin Xiaolin decided to ride horses there, leaving the groom at the inn to wait for them.

Sunlight filtered through the sparse clouds, illuminating the tranquil town.

Li Xi and Qin Xiaolin, riding their horses, were also drawn to the tranquility, enjoying the peace and harmony of the early morning.

Zhongcun is about 50 li away from the town.

The two quickened their pace and soon arrived at the village entrance.

The village is nestled at the foot of a rolling mountain range, with a few households scattered among them.

The rising smoke from the chimneys added to the idyllic, pastoral atmosphere.

The two dismounted and led their horses into the village.

When the villagers saw them, they all looked at the two outsiders with curiosity.

The villagers were particularly intrigued by Li Xi and Qin Xiaolin's extraordinary demeanor and their tall, strong horse.

"Oh my, look at these two, they must be distinguished guests from the city!" an old woman who was drying vegetables in front of her door greeted them warmly.

Li Xi smiled and nodded in response, while Qin Xiaolin politely cupped his hands in greeting.

They followed the main road of the village and soon found the village chief's house.

The village chief was a middle-aged man of about fifty years old, with a robust build and ruddy complexion, who looked like a healthy and energetic person.

Upon seeing Li Xi and Qin Xiaolin, a hint of doubt appeared on his face, but he still politely inquired, "May I ask what brings you two distinguished guests here at this time?"

On weekdays, many wealthy people from the city like to come to Zhongcun to hunt, and the villagers are happy to provide food and lodging, which can both entertain guests and increase their income.

However, in the dead of winter, there are few prey in the mountains, the weather is cold, and the roads are difficult to travel, so most people would not choose to hunt at this time.

After hearing this, Li Xi smiled slightly and decided to state his purpose directly: "We two did not come here specifically to hunt, but to find someone."

Upon hearing this, a hint of curiosity flashed in his eyes, and he pressed on, "Looking for someone? In the dead of winter, it's quite unexpected that two distinguished guests would come to this remote place to look for someone. May I ask who you two are looking for?"

Li Xi nodded in thanks, his tone revealing a hint of sincerity: "I heard that your place took in a woman decades ago, and I came all the way from Jingyuan. My maternal grandmother went missing in an accident thirty years ago, and over the years, my maternal grandfather has been thinking of her and searching for her everywhere. Now he is old and his health is not as good as before, so I took on this task to continue searching for my maternal grandmother."

Upon hearing this, his expression turned serious. After a moment of contemplation, he said, "I do recall this matter. Decades ago, a woman did come to our Zhong Village. The villagers, seeing she was alone, took her in. However, she had lost her memory at the time, so I'm afraid..."

Li Xi was overjoyed upon hearing this and quickly said, "Thank you, village chief. If she is my maternal grandmother, it doesn't matter if she has lost her memory. As long as she is still alive, I can take her back."

The village chief nodded and said, "In that case, I'll take you to see it."

He led Li Xi and Qin Xiaolin through the village and arrived at a quiet courtyard.

Although the courtyard was simple, it was kept clean and tidy, exuding a sense of tranquility and peace.

“We all call her Hong Gu. She has lived alone for decades. Villagers usually go to her for treatment when they have headaches or fevers.”

As the village chief pushed open the courtyard gate, he called out loudly, "Hong Gu, someone is looking for you." As he spoke, he led Li Xi and Qin Xiaolin into the courtyard.

A moment later, a woman slowly walked out of the house. She seemed hesitant after hearing the voice, but eventually came out anyway.

Li Xi and Qin Xiaolin took a closer look and saw that the woman called Hong Gu was about fifty years old, but the years did not seem to have left many marks on her face; instead, she exuded a sense of calm and composure.

Her face still faintly reveals her former beauty, a charm that comes with the passage of time, making people turn their heads in admiration.

Hong Gu's gaze swept over Li Xi and Qin Xiaolin, finally settling on Li Xi's face, a subtle ripple flashing in her eyes.

She nodded slightly and asked in a calm voice, "Village Chief, who are these two?"

The village chief smiled and introduced them: "Hong Gu, these two are from the city. They want you to take a look at their illness."