I started out with seven husbands, and I worked hard to support my family while crying.

Chapter 293: Captured and Trapped in the Woodshed

Her eyes lit up, and she hurriedly ran over, picked up the stick, and said excitedly.

"Wan'er, let's try to pry the door open with this stick."

Upon hearing this, Lin Wan'er also mustered her spirits, stood up, and walked to the door with Fang Xiaoxiao.

The two worked together to forcefully insert the wooden stick into the keyhole, and then used all their strength to pry it open.

However, the lock seemed exceptionally strong, and no matter how hard they tried, it remained firmly in place.

Exhausted and panting, Fang Xiaoxiao's hands fell limply to her sides, and the wooden stick clattered to the ground. She slumped down on the ground, looking utterly dejected.

"This lock is so strong that prying it like this is completely useless. What should we do?"

Lin Wan'er suddenly remembered something. She touched her hair with trembling hands, a glimmer of hope flashing in her eyes, and said.

“I still have a hairpin on me, maybe I can try using it.”

As she spoke, she carefully pulled the exquisite hairpin from her hair bun, the tip of which gleamed with a cold light in the dim light.

Fang Xiaoxiao and Lin Wan'er held their breath, tightly gripping Lin Wan'er's exquisite hairpin, carefully inserting it into the keyhole and gently twisting it. Every subtle movement was filled with a longing for freedom.

Just as they were engrossed in unlocking the door, the quiet world outside the woodshed was suddenly broken by a series of heavy and chaotic footsteps.

The footsteps echoed like muffled thunder in the silence, each one a heavy blow to their hearts.

A chilling sound came from outside, as the person outside pressed their ear tightly against the woodshed door, trying to catch the slightest movement inside.

Fang Xiaoxiao and Lin Wan'er's hearts felt like they were being gripped tightly by an invisible hand, and fear made them almost stop breathing.

The two of them instantly stiffened, their eyes widened, and their hands froze as if they had been frozen in place by a spell.

Is there any noise inside?

A rough, hoarse voice, like that of an old bellows, suddenly rang out, filled with suspicion and vigilance.

"I think I heard something too, a rustling sound."

Another slightly high-pitched voice followed in response, equally filled with unease.

Fang Xiaoxiao and Lin Wan'er's faces turned deathly pale instantly, and cold sweat rolled down their foreheads like beans.

They exchanged a horrified glance, their eyes filled with despair and helplessness.

"Want to go in and take a look?" The rough voice rang out again, accompanied by a rustling sound, as if the person was about to open the door.

"Listen again, maybe it's just those damn rats causing trouble."

Another voice hesitated before speaking.

Fang Xiaoxiao and Lin Wan'er covered their mouths tightly, their breathing becoming extremely shallow, for fear of accidentally revealing even the slightest sound.

Time seemed to stand still, each second feeling like an eternity.

Finally, the terrifying footsteps gradually faded away until they disappeared into the distance.

They breathed a long sigh of relief, but the terrifying experience they had just gone through left them with lingering fear. For a moment, they dared not act rashly again, and just stood there blankly, their eyes filled with hesitation and fear, wondering if the villagers would return.

After the near-discovery, Fang Xiaoxiao and Lin Wan'er were both pale and breathless, leaning against the damp, decaying woodshed wall.

"Wan'er, it seems that this method of unlocking won't work. We need to find another way."

Fang Xiaoxiao frowned, her bright eyes filled with anxiety, yet she still searched anxiously within the cramped woodshed.

Lin Wan'er nodded, her pearly teeth gently biting her red lips, her expression full of fear and helplessness, and she said in a trembling voice.

"But what can we do in this tiny space?"

Fang Xiaoxiao's eyes suddenly lit up, as if she had found a lifeline. She raised her hand and pointed to a small skylight above the woodshed, and said happily.

"Wan'er, look at that skylight. Although it's a bit narrow, it might be our only hope for escape."

The two moved gracefully to the skylight. Looking up, they saw that the skylight was quite high above the ground, like a celestial palace, far beyond their reach.

Fang Xiaoxiao frowned slightly, bit her lip, and turned around to search around in the messy woodshed. Finally, she brought over a few wooden blocks of different heights.

"Wan'er, I'll go up and check first."

Fang Xiaoxiao took a deep breath and carefully stepped her embroidered shoes onto the wooden block.

Just as she was growing taller and her jade-like hand was about to touch the skylight, the wooden block beneath her feet suddenly shook as if an earth dragon were turning over.

Her delicate body trembled, her face paled, and she swayed precariously, facing imminent danger.

"Watch out!"

Lin Wan'er's face paled, and she cried out in alarm, her heart leaping into her throat.

Fang Xiaoxiao struggled to steady herself, panting heavily and covered in sweat. Once her breathing had calmed down a bit, she gritted her teeth and mustered her courage to try again.

Just as Fang Xiaoxiao steadied herself and was about to try to reach the skylight again, the tightly closed door of the woodshed was suddenly pushed open with a "creak" at this critical moment.

Ah Niu's tall and sturdy figure appeared at the doorway, and sunlight streamed into the dim woodshed from behind him, making him appear as if he were surrounded by a warm halo.

"How are you? Are you injured?"

Ah Niu's honest face was full of anxiety and worry, his thick eyebrows were tightly furrowed, and his big eyes scanned back and forth between Fang Xiaoxiao and Lin Wan'er.

When Fang Xiaoxiao and Lin Wan'er saw A Niu, it was like drowning people grabbing a lifeline; their eyes instantly lit up with a spark of hope.

"Ah Niu, please help us!"

Fang Xiaoxiao called out urgently.

Lin Wan'er nodded in agreement, her eyes filled with pleading.

But this scene was witnessed by Ah Hua, who was secretly following Ah Niu.

Ahua had come to find Aniu with great joy, wanting to give him a sachet she had made herself, but she never expected to see Aniu being so caring towards the two strange women in the woodshed.

Her face turned deathly pale instantly, her eyes reddened immediately, and the sachet she was clutching tightly in her hand fell to the ground.

"Brother Aniu, you..."

Ahua's voice was choked with sobs, filled with anger and grievance. She stomped her foot hard, turned around, and ran away.

Ah Niu then realized what was happening and immediately panicked.

"Ah Niu, hurry and go after Ah Hua and explain things clearly, so she doesn't misunderstand."

Fang Xiaoxiao said anxiously.

Ah Niu hesitated for a moment, glanced at Fang Xiaoxiao and Lin Wan'er, then looked at Ah Hua's retreating figure, and finally gritted his teeth and ran after her.

"Ahua, wait a minute, let me explain!"

Ah Niu's shouts echoed through the village.