Ruling the Historical Romance Novel as the Female Supporting Character-Chapter 208: Eyes Watching from the Shadows

"Uncle Gao! Uncle Gao! Sister is calling you."

Gao Huabin wiped the sweat from his forehead and stood up, a bit dazed as he looked at the little girl in front of him. He was only twenty-four, and Su Yijia was twenty, so why was he an "uncle" while she was a "sister"? Did that mean Su Yijia and Qin Kaize were considered a different generation too?

"Yaya, you should call me Brother Gao, okay?" Gao Huabin bent down, trying to coax her.

"No! You’re Uncle Gao." Yaya held tightly to the Big White Rabbit candy in her hand, firmly insisting. Sister had said he was Uncle Gao, so he would always be Uncle Gao.

Gao Huabin wanted to say more, but his rugged face paired with his awkward attempts at coaxing made him look like a big bad wolf trying to deceive Little Red Riding Hood. Seeing him get closer, Yaya’s face showed a hint of fear. She immediately turned and ran to her little friends.

Feeling a bit embarrassed, Gao Huabin scratched his head and obediently carried the bamboo basket back to Qin Kaize and Su Yijia.

"Did you catch anything? How many did you get?" Su Yijia looked at him expectantly.

Her hopeful gaze put pressure on Gao Huabin, who had caught very little. Qin Kaize’s slightly stern look made him feel even more inadequate, like a student with poor grades.

"I didn’t catch much, just a dozen or so," Gao Huabin said with a wry smile. As soon as he showed his teeth, Qin Kaize’s deep and complex gaze fell upon him.

"I’ll keep fishing and make sure to catch enough for Sister-in-law," Gao Huabin said firmly. He couldn’t believe he would be outdone by a bunch of kids.

However, Su Yijia thought that if he continued fishing, they might not have enough to eat until dinner.

"We forgot to bring the pot and stove. You stay with Kaize, and I’ll go back to get them," Su Yijia decided. She thought it best to cook the crayfish they had first. Once the children smelled the aroma and tasted a few, they’d be motivated to catch more, allowing her to share the delicacy with the villagers.

"Let me go," Gao Huabin insisted, putting down the bamboo basket. Last night, their group had discussed the importance of ensuring that Su Yijia and her grandparents were never left alone. This way, they wouldn’t need to split their protection detail, which would significantly increase their safety.

Seeing his determination, Su Yijia considered suggesting they go together. However, hearing the children’s laughter by the river, she decided against it. The river was dangerous, and since she had invited the children, she felt responsible for their safety.

"Remember to bring the snails we soaked yesterday, the pliers, and the seasonings next to them," Su Yijia instructed, listing everything to avoid multiple trips. The snails needed to be soaked to remove the sand before they could be eaten.

"Got it!" Gao Huabin replied cheerfully, running back to the Educated Youth Center.

Shortly after he left, Su Yijia felt a new, probing gaze among those watching them. Although it disappeared quickly, none of the eight people on their side seemed to notice. If they had, at least two of them would have followed the gaze’s owner to investigate their intentions.

Su Yijia pressed her lips together, a dark shade clouding her eyes.

"What’s wrong?" Qin Kaize asked, his concern evident in his voice.

"Someone was watching us just now," Su Yijia said in a low, serious tone. Seeing the confusion on Qin Kaize’s face, she added, "The gaze felt malicious. I don’t know if our people missed it or if they saw it was someone familiar from the village and didn’t think much of it."

If it was the latter, it might just be someone envious of their leisure. But if it was the former, they were in deep trouble.

"When Gao Huabin returns, have him look into it," Qin Kaize said, his expression darkening.

About half an hour later, Gao Huabin came back, laden with supplies.

"Sister-in-law, check if everything’s here. I even brought firewood," Gao Huabin said, setting down the items neatly.

Su Yijia glanced over everything and nodded. She then whispered, "Go ask our people if they noticed someone in the woods watching us. Find out who it was."

"Alright." Gao Huabin’s demeanor turned serious as he headed into the woods. He returned shortly after, his face even grimmer.

"They didn’t notice anyone," he reported.

Su Yijia glanced at Qin Kaize. His expression had turned stormy, like dark clouds gathering before a tempest.

Gao Huabin hesitated before asking, "Could it have been a mistake? Maybe it was one of our own?"

It wasn’t that he didn’t believe Su Yijia; it was just that the people guarding them were their most trusted and skilled. If they hadn’t noticed anything, it could be a serious problem, suggesting their potential adversary was far more dangerous than they’d thought.

"No, if Yijia says there’s a problem, then there is," Qin Kaize asserted firmly.

Gao Huabin’s concern deepened. "What do we do? Requesting reinforcements will take at least five or six days."

By then, it might be too late.

Su Yijia bit her lip in thought, then made up her mind. "I need three wild chicken hearts."

Her sudden statement puzzled both men.

"I need three wild chicken hearts to make Great Strength Pills," she explained. "We can’t wait for help. We need to strengthen our current team. I brought all the other ingredients, but I need the hearts as a catalyst. Just so you know, the pills cost eight hundred each, which is the base price."

"Understood! We’re lucky to have you, Jiajia," Qin Kaize said, his heart swelling with gratitude as he looked at her.

Su Yijia blushed and looked away, embarrassed. "I’m doing this to protect those close to me. I don’t know anything about your bigger plans," she muttered defensively.

She had a streak of heroism in her, but not overly so. If it weren’t for their precarious situation, she wouldn’t have revealed her ability to make the Great Strength Pills. Even now, she planned to have Qin Kaize handle everything once he was well again, ensuring the pills would be properly accounted for.