Wang Yongzhu busily made a gesture to Old Granny Zhang to keep silent, signaling her to stay seated without moving.
She quietly slid off the kang, crouched down, and on the way, grabbed a round stool, scurrying over to the door.
Wang Yongzhu didn't dare to stand up; with the lamp lit inside, should she rise, her shadow would likely be visible on the window from outside.
Pressing her ear against the door, she listened to the noises outside. Approximately four or five people were approaching, each with steady footsteps, not ordinary folks.
Wang Yongzhu's heart tightened, and she involuntarily gripped the leg of the stool more firmly.
The footsteps stopped at the entrance of the yard, then something heavy seemed to land on the ground.
Then a peculiar stepping sound slowly arose, coming closer and closer, already reaching the front of the room.
The door creaked open, and as soon as a foot stepped in, a faint smell of blood rushed in as well.
