Chapter 135: The Children’s Traps

Chapter 135: Chapter 135: The Children’s Traps

"Okay, fine then."

"Alright. Let’s each go back and tell our parents we’re going to play somewhere else for a bit before we come back."

Sometimes, you just have to be impressed by how nimble and creative kids’ minds are.

They really think of everything.

The kids stood before their parents, recited their little speech, and immediately got permission. ℯℯ𝘭.

Looking after kids at home could be a pain. It was a rare chance to get out and relax, so if they wanted to go play by themselves, that was perfect.

With permission granted, the kids immediately gathered by the stream and quietly began pulling ropes from their hiking packs.

Along with all sorts of cutting tools.

This was a special kind of rope. Climbing rope isn’t thick, but it’s incredibly strong; you could never break it by hand.

Carrying their tools, the little troop snuck into the forest.

"We need to climb a tree to make a big trap, but I don’t know how! What do we do?"

"Do any of you know how to climb trees?"

Sun Xiaopang asked fearfully, gazing up at the tall tree.

"Let me! You coward!"

Mengmeng looked every bit the part of the group’s leader.

"So, did you remember how to make the trap that man showed us?"

"I don’t remember... I only know that you twist it left for a slipknot."

"Huh??"

"Wrong, wrong! Twisting right makes the slipknot, and twisting left makes a dead knot. Ye, you remembered it wrong!"

Another kid immediately piped up to correct them.

"Oh, right, right. Twisting to the right makes the slipknot."

"Don’t worry, I learned how to do that part too."

Mengmeng puffed out her chest and patted it proudly.

"Sun Xiaopang, you’re the biggest, so you get rocks. Ye, you find grass and branches."

"We’ll need them to hide the trap."

Mengmeng methodically assigned the jobs, then got down on the ground herself and started wrestling with the climbing ropes.

Her mind was quick, and she easily remembered all of Jiang Fan’s steps.

The biggest challenge for her was actually climbing the tree, which was a good four or five meters high.

The bark was gnarled and dusty.

To be honest, Mengmeng was a little grossed out by it. But when she imagined the looks of pure admiration on everyone’s faces after she caught a big tiger, she couldn’t help but let out a laugh.

Sometimes, that’s all the motivation you need.

Following Jiang Fan’s example, Mengmeng started making the trap while two other kids assisted her.

The only difference was that Jiang Fan had pulled a few thin cords from the climbing rope to make his trap.

Mengmeng, however, used an entire climbing rope. After making the loop, she held the other end of the rope in her mouth and started climbing up the tree trunk.

She would climb for a bit, then rest by stepping on a branch jutting out from the side.

By the time she climbed to the top and threw the rope down, more than ten minutes had passed.

For a child, this was simply incredible.

"Mengmeng, you’re so amazing!"

"So are we only making one trap today?"

"No way! Mengmeng is so awesome, we should make at least three traps. The more traps we have, the better our chances of catching a tiger."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, let’s make three! We have plenty of rope!!"

"Then I’ll go find more rocks!!"

"I’ll go find more branches and grass too."

The smile on Mengmeng’s face froze a little. She had only wanted to make this one trap, but when she saw the expectant looks and heard the admiring words from her friends...

’If I back out now, they’ll definitely look down on me, won’t they?’ Mengmeng thought.

Taking a deep breath, Mengmeng gritted her teeth and began the arduous task of making the traps.

It took a full three or four hours to finish all three traps, which she buried so well that no trace was left on the ground.

When it was all finished, the children, exhausted and panting, lay on the ground. Before they knew it, they had all fallen asleep.

Mengmeng slept the soundest of all, her snores the loudest.

...

Meanwhile, at the other end of the forest, three figures in masks and hats were sneaking in.

"Boss, is this really a good idea? Will we be able to get away?"

The short man walking on the far right asked.

"Don’t worry, I’ve already checked. The families of the kids who came here this time are all either rich or powerful."

"As long as we grab one, we can get a huge ransom."

"The world is a big place. You think there won’t be a spot for the three of us then?"

"So many cops couldn’t catch us before. You think they can catch us here?"

The man they called Boss said disdainfully, a scar cutting across one of his eyes.

"Yeah, and getting a taste of those little girls is fucking amazing."

The sleazy-looking man on the right chuckled.

"You’re fucking asking for it, I’m telling you."

"This time, our target is just money. If anything goes wrong, I’ll be the first to bury you alive."

Scarface said viciously.

"Relax, Boss. I get it, I get it."

The sleazy man flinched and didn’t dare say another word.

"Alright. Both of you, be careful."

The men followed a path through the forest, heading toward the camp.

Jiang Fan and Yin Ruxue looked at each other, then checked the time.

"Why aren’t those little rascals back yet?"

"It’s getting late. They must have lost track of time playing. We should go find them, make sure nothing’s happened."

A few of the parents heard Jiang Fan, exchanged glances, and nodded in agreement.

When they found them, they discovered them all lying on the ground, fast asleep.

They were covered in dirt, like little beggars who had just crawled out of a coal pit.

Especially Mengmeng, on whose face the dust and sweat had nearly formed a crust.

"These kids played way too hard."

"Hey, wake up. Time to go back for dinner."

One of the parents immediately went to wake their child but found they couldn’t, no matter how much they called out.

"Forget it, don’t try to wake them. Let’s just carry them back."

Jiang Fan waved a hand, then was the first to act, picking up Mengmeng and heading back toward the camp.

After all the parents had carried their children back to the camp and settled them in.

The bonfire party organized by the school began.

「Meanwhile, in the forest」

The three men all looked disappointed.

That row of children, lying there defenseless and fast asleep, were just walking dollar signs in their eyes.

Just as they were getting excited and preparing to make their move, Jiang Fan had shown up with the others.

"Boss, that was a perfect opportunity!!"

"Tell me about it."

The short man and the sleazy man both stomped their feet in frustration.

"It’s fine. We’ll have another chance. Look, the families are already busy with their party. We’ll just sneak up quietly from the sides."

"Remember, you have to use the Enchanting Fragrance. If the kid makes a sound, we’ll probably be discovered, and then we won’t be able to escape."

"Yeah, got it!!"

The two of them nodded, and as night began to fall,

they put their plan into action.