Chapter 7: An Honest Reaction

Li Qingmei had originally thought she’d have to spend some time persuading her. Who would have guessed it would be so easy? For a moment, she didn’t know what to say.

“Really?” she asked uncertainly.

Bai Xi snorted, “I’m not a three-year-old. Why would I lie to you?”

Bai Anan was listening nearby, muttering inwardly, Auntie may not be three, but she’s only five—there’s not much difference!

In truth, Bai Xi understood why Li Qingmei and Bai Anan were so worried—it was because of her past record.

To be precise, the blame lay with that flower spirit.

Just over four months ago, the flower spirit had learned that two elderly folks in the village had fallen ill. Naturally, sickness required better food and nutrition, so she’d thought to fetch some wild game from the mountain. But as soon as she reached the foot of the mountain, she was spotted by a group returning from hunting.

When they heard she wanted to venture into the mountain, the group was terrified. They coaxed and tricked the flower spirit into coming back, and fearing she’d persist, they posted someone near her house to watch her. The moment she headed for the back mountain, they’d call the adults to bring her back.

This happened several times; every outing resulted in her being caught and brought home, which made her furious—she wouldn’t even eat her rice anymore, and those guarding her watched her even more closely…

Thinking of everything that had happened before she arrived, Bai Xi felt she’d been thoroughly set up by the flower spirit.

After dinner, seeing that Li Qingmei and Bai Anan were still uneasy and reluctant to leave, Bai Xi didn’t chase them off. Instead, she chatted casually, and soon managed to draw out quite a bit of information from the pair.

Combining what she’d heard from the people who brought her meals, and the memories left by the flower spirit, Bai Xi felt both helpless and a little warmed inside.

In these times of scarcity, the people of Niuluo Village cared for her—a little child living off others—even more than their own children, simply because she belonged to an elder generation.

Once Bai Xi had learned enough, she yawned to signal she was going to sleep, finally urging the worried pair out the door.

After leaving Bai Xi’s house, Li Qingmei and Bai Anan were still uneasy. They seemed to have forgotten their quarrel from the previous days and fell into a tangled conversation.

“Auntie didn’t cause any trouble—I’m almost not used to it.”

“I’m worried too. Do you think she might want to go to the back mountain again?”

Bai Anan replied, “…Probably not, didn’t she just say she wouldn’t go?”

Li Qingmei glanced at him sideways, “Do you believe her?”

“I…” Bai Anan shook his head. If Auntie were obedient, the villagers wouldn’t have such headaches.

After all, if their own children misbehaved, a beating would suffice, but who dared treat Auntie with disrespect?

Everyone in the village knew about her previous attempts to go up the mountain. Things had finally calmed down for a while—hopefully, she wouldn’t get these ideas again.

Li Qingmei was filled with regret. If only she’d kept quiet, delivered the meat, and gone home quickly, Auntie wouldn’t be thinking about the back mountain now.

Seeing Li Qingmei’s face full of remorse and worry, Bai Anan hurried to comfort her, “It’s fine, maybe Auntie was just asking and won’t really go.”

“I’m still uneasy. Here’s what we’ll do: Bai Anan, you stay and watch. I’ll take the things home and come back to join you. We mustn’t let Auntie run off to the back mountain.”

Bai Anan certainly didn’t refuse, so Li Qingmei turned on her heel and ran home, her little braids swinging behind her.

In truth, Li Qingmei and Bai Anan had wronged Bai Xi. She wasn’t the scatterbrained flower spirit. The flower spirit had wanted to bring food to the villagers and was treated like a child, which naturally made her furious.

Bai Anan and Li Qingmei kept watch together for half a day, until dusk fell, but Bai Xi never came out of her house.

Of course she didn’t. She’d just eaten meat—why rush to the back mountain now? Bai Xi wasn’t foolish; she could see from their eyes that the two were uneasy and would be keeping watch nearby.

After the meat meal, Bai Xi resumed her vegetarian fare for the next two days.

In truth, Bai Xi’s meals were among the best in the village. Most others ate sweet potato porridge or sorghum and wild vegetable soup, but she had millet porridge, and at least one egg a day, regardless of age—none of the others enjoyed such treatment.

When Bai Xi descended from the treehouse, she wasn’t surprised to see Chen Rui.

Chen Rui was already ten years old.

At fourteen, children could join the workforce and earn labor points—gleaning rice, cutting grass, gathering stones, herding cattle for the village, and more. Though the pay was meager, it helped supplement the family income.

As for those younger than fourteen, boys and girls alike, they stayed home to do chores—tending the family’s plot, cutting pig grass, feeding pigs, washing clothes, cooking, looking after younger siblings…

Chen Rui had to cut pig grass and gather firewood every day. Bai Xi had seen her pass by several times already, and today she came down just in time.

“Auntie, you’re up so early!” Chen Rui was surprised to see Bai Xi but didn’t dwell on it, greeting her with a cheerful smile.

Bai Xi pretended to be elderly and nodded, but her tiny, delicate figure only made her seem even cuter.

“Where are you off to so early?”

“Auntie, I’m going to cut pig grass,” Chen Rui answered honestly.

Bai Xi already knew, but feigned curiosity, “Cutting pig grass? Is it fun?”

Chen Rui nodded, then shook her head, “Not fun.”

“You’re lying to me!”

“No, no!” Chen Rui waved her hands anxiously, “Auntie, I wouldn’t dare lie to you. Cutting pig grass isn’t fun at all—not now, anyway. But when autumn comes and the wild fruit ripens on the mountain, then it’s fun. After cutting pig grass, you can pick wild fruit—wild peaches, wild plums…”

“Sour and sweet, they’re delicious.” As she spoke, Chen Rui looked dreamy, swallowing unconsciously.

Bai Xi, though worldly, found her body reacting honestly and swallowed as well. Realizing it, she blushed and cursed inwardly—damned flower spirit, you’ve gotten this fox spirit into trouble.

Chen Rui finished, smiled sheepishly, said goodbye, and shouldered her bamboo basket to leave.

She’d only walked a few steps before turning back in surprise.

“Auntie, why are you following me?”

Bai Xi snapped, “What nonsense, who’s following you? I just happen to be heading this way.”

“Oh.” Hearing this, Chen Rui didn’t think much of it, bid her farewell again, and continued ahead.

But after a while, Bai Xi’s tiny steps, slow yet determined to keep up, made it impossible for Chen Rui to ignore her.

Turning around, Chen Rui squatted and watched Bai Xi approach, her childish face serious, “Auntie, you really can’t follow me. I’m going to cut pig grass, and there’s nothing good at the foot of the mountain this time of year.”

(New story, coming-of-age phase. If you like it, please bookmark, comment, and support. Thank you, everyone.)