Wen Ran stayed in the room of Xiao Chenye’s sister, Xiao Chenxing. She is sixteen this year and studies in the county’s second year of junior high school, boarding there and rarely coming ho.
"This is my daughter’s room. All her stuff is in the cabinet over there. Please don’t move it. Everything else you can use as you wish."
The room was tidied up spotlessly. The kang bed was large, with the wall side plastered with newspapers. The bedding was neatly arranged, presumably freshly sunned, still looking soft and plump.
Beside it was a set of solid wood desk and chair, with a couple of red books on top, looking clean and tidy at a glance.
"Thank you, Auntie," Wen Ran expressed endless gratitude. This place is a million tis better than the rundown woodshed at the knowledge youth point.
It’s no exaggeration to say that the woodshed isn’t even half as luxurious as Hongjun’s house.
"Oh, no need to be so formal!" Mrs. Xiao looked at Wen Ran, growing increasingly pleased with her. "I’ve got water boiling in the pot. Just a bit longer, and you can take a bath first.
I heard from Chenye that your train had problems and you were quite frightened on the road."
Wen Ran felt a warm surge in her heart. "Auntie, I really don’t know how to thank you."
Their kindness makes her eager to repay tenfold, and she imdiately opened her package, using the pretext of searching for sothing. She took out a bundle of red sugar, wrapped in oil paper.
It was roughly about a pound.
"Auntie, you are such a good person, but I can’t stay here for free. This is my contribution for this period of accommodation. I’m still waiting on the grain from the team, and will submit it once I receive it."
Mrs. Xiao was stunned by Wen Ran’s generosity. This child is so genuinely honest.
If t by soone with bad intentions, she’d lose everything without leaving anything behind.
"No, my room is just staying empty anyway, letting you stay for a few days doesn’t call for such valuable stuff."
"It’s necessary," Wen Ran insisted firmly. "Besides, if it weren’t for you and Brother Xiao today, I might have gotten bitten..."
Just thinking about that snake made Wen Ran’s scalp tingle with chills.
"Enough," Xiao Chenye said standing at the doorway, not looking at Wen Ran, but addressing Mrs. Xiao: "Mom, don’t say any more. Let’s just keep the red sugar, and moving forward Wen Zhiqing doesn’t need to spend a cent while staying with us."
The two couldn’t co to an agreent, so they accepted Xiao Chenye’s suggestion, yet both felt like they had benefited.
After all, inside Wen Ran’s bamboo building, there were plenty of similar red and white sugars in several big bags.
anwhile for villagers, red sugar was rare—without sugar ration tickets, apart from gambling big money at the black market, they could only rely on connections.
Mrs. Xiao found a set of clean clothes for Wen Ran. After she went to bathe, Xiao Chenye quietly untied the rope on Xiao Hongjun, took his tools, and planned to try his luck at the back mountain.
Seeing that, Mrs. Xiao hesitated for a mont but didn’t stop him, "Be careful. Go and co back early."
"Yeah, don’t worry, Mom."
Watching Xiao Chenye’s figure disappear from sight, Mrs. Xiao turned back to the kitchen. The snake eggs and at needed to be cooked while fresh.
In this hot weather, if not prepared now, they’d spoil soon.
The bathing spot was next to the utility room, sandwiched by the vegetable garden, with a small three-flat hut built.
This bath was truly delightful, and Wen Ran felt all the stickiness on her body washed away.
With her wet hair hanging loose, she ca out, asked Mrs. Xiao for a wooden basin, and washed her two sets of changed clothes.
Mrs. Xiao shouted from the kitchen, "Xiao Wen Zhiqing!"
Wen Ran dried her hands and responded brightly, "Coming!"
The kitchen was steaming hot, and Mrs. Xiao wiped her sweat. Seeing Wen Ran co in, she quickly handed her a spoon. "Quick, try the stead egg I made."
The egg custard looked fresh and tender, and Wen Ran was indeed tempted, but...
Rembering what it was made from, she hesitated.
Noticing her hesitation, Mrs. Xiao smiled warmly, "Don’t worry, this is made from chicken eggs. The snake eggs are in the bowl beside it."
Wen Ran apologized, embarrassed, "Auntie, I’m sorry for the trouble."
"Oh, this is nothing!" Mrs. Xiao waved her hand. "Eat up, try my cooking, my stead eggs are unparalleled."
"By the way," Wen Ran asked, curious, "where’s Brother Xiao?"
She hadn’t seen him after coming out from the bath.
"Oh, you an the fifth one! Chenye went up the mountain to look around, hoping to bring sothing back."
So people are just like that; you talk about them one mont, and they show up the next. No sooner had they been speaking of him than Xiao Chenye returned.
"Hongjun! Sit down!"
After chaining Hongjun, Xiao Chenye brought the ga in front of Mrs. Xiao, nonchalantly pulling two wild rabbits from his basket, "Mom, prepare these, we’ll have them for dinner tonight."
Mrs. Xiao was overjoyed, praising him, "You! You’re amazing!"
The two rabbits were plump, likely from the tender sumr grass feeding them fat.
Wen Ran’s eyes widened with amazent and she sincerely praised, "Brother Xiao, you’re incredible! But, are we allowed to hunt these?"
Taking the opportunity, she wanted to know what she could or couldn’t do, for living on her own in the future.
Mrs. Xiao made an excuse that she was busy and hurried into the kitchen.
Xiao Chenye skinned the rabbit, calmly answering, "In these matters, as long as no one complains, the authorities won’t intervene. Whoever has the skills can hunt for food, but just keep it low-profile, do it quietly."
Such things are fine unless soone takes it to higher authorities, which could endanger the whole family.
No one would report such harmful and unprofitable things unless they also didn’t want to live in the Silly Deer Team anymore.
Wen Ran nodded fervently. She understood—don’t draw attention, keep it hush-hush.
The rabbit skins weren’t wasted either; after simple tanning, they could be made into gloves or hats to keep warm in winter.
Ti passed quickly, and soon the sun set, orange hues filled the sky, and with farm tools over their shoulders, folks headed ho in twos and threes.
Mr. Xiao appeared leisurely, surrounded by a few peers, their voices carrying a tinge of envy, "Oh ~ you’re indeed sothing! Each son accomplished, your youngest returned, I’ve heard your family is having at again tonight."
Mr. Xiao glared at the envious words, retorting seriously, "Yes, you’re right, all my sons are accomplished, also, thanks for letting know we’re having at tonight."
He quickened his pace, "Not gonna chat idly with you, going ho to enjoy the at."
Watching Mr. Xiao’s back, the envious man spat, cursing rudely, "What’s the big deal! Having sons, so what? I’ve five sons myself!"
"Yeah! You’re quite sothing too, Tian Tieniu," soone comnted leisurely while passing by, "Five sons, four of them ruffians. Do you really have the nerve to brag?"
"You..."
The taunting was harsh, and he halted, eyes glinting with malice as a sinister smile twisted his lips, "Xiao the Third, don’t get ahead of yourself..."
He had a bold idea.
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