Shen Zhiyi stared blankly at me.
What I had just said had barely drawn a reaction from her.
Her eyes, in particular, looked vacant. This was an aftereffect of prolonged confinement: delayed responses.
She must have been held captive for at least several years.
I kept showing her that I meant no harm, then slowly approached her, reassuring her, "You don't have to worry about anything or doubt us. As long as you want to leave, we can help you leave at any time."
"If anyone in this village dares to stop us, we'll kill him."
"As long as we're here, no one can hurt you."
As I spoke, I took out a bag of ready-to-eat pork jerky, tore it open, and offered it to her. "Try this. It's from down the mountain. Once you go down there, no one will let you go hungry."
"Do you know about the police? Down the mountain, there are people whose job is to be police officers. They'll keep you safe and arrange food and somewhere to stay for you and your little brother."
Shen Zhiyi still hadn't spoken, leaving me unsure whether she could even talk.
She sniffed the pork jerky in my hand and visibly swallowed, but kept her lips firmly shut.
It seemed she really had been conditioned. Even a basic physical need like eating was subject to the rules those people had set for her.
"Don't be afraid."
"Even if you eat it, no one will come and hit you."
"If anyone dares to hit you, I'll hack him to death."
As I spoke, I showed her the knife tucked at my waist.
Perhaps sensing the goodwill I was showing her, Shen Zhiyi finally ate the piece of pork jerky.
It was a snack from our era. Though it