Chapter 85: Catching Snakes
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
As the owner of the small world, she couldn’t wait for others to bring various precious herbs to her. Some of the rare herbs recorded in the Ye Family Medical Code might not have been recognized by anyone. If she hadn’t looked for them, those herbs would forever have been mere words and pictures recorded in the book.
While Ye Ling was contemplating these matters, Auntie Tan had already walked quite a distance. Ye Ling hesitated for a few seconds, bit her lip hard, and hastened to catch up with Auntie Tan.
Auntie Tan heard footsteps behind her. She turned around and saw a beautiful girl with fair skin and delicate features like a doll. The girl was looking at her with a conflicted and determined expression.
Auntie Tan frowned and didn’t say anything. Instead, she gazed directly at the young girl with a questioning look in her eyes.
Ye Ling took a deep breath and said, “Auntie Tan, we met last time. Do you remember? I’m Ye Ling, an educated youth from Stone Village. Are you going to catch a snake now?”
Ye Ling’s voice was soft and gentle, carrying the warmth typical of Southerners. Upon hearing Ye Ling’s voice, the resistance and wariness in Auntie Tan’s heart faded considerably.
However, Auntie Tan’s gaze remained cold and distant.
Auntie Tan stayed silent for a moment before nodding. “What do you want?”
Ye Ling stuttered, “I… I want to follow you and see how you catch snakes…”
Saying those words seemed quite challenging for Ye Ling. Auntie Tan could sense Ye Ling’s fear.
Was this young girl a little out of her mind? She was terrified of snakes, yet she still wanted to follow her and watch her catch them.
Understanding the thoughts of city people was beyond her.
Auntie Tan looked at Ye Ling with a peculiar expression. Then, her lips curled up coldly in a mocking manner as she said, “It’s up to you.”
After uttering that, Auntie Tan turned around and departed. She didn’t wish to waste more time with Ye Ling to avoid missing the prime time for snake-catching.
Ye Ling observed Auntie Tan’s retreating figure and hesitated for a moment before deciding to follow her.
Twenty minutes later, Ye Ling observed from a distance as Auntie Tan adeptly used her homemade snake-catching tool to immobilize a wriggling snake on the ground. Then, she used a snake clamp to secure the snake’s head and placed it into a sack.
Cold sweat formed on Ye Ling’s back. Fear made her feel nauseated. She even had a feeling that a snake might leap out of the nearby grass at any moment.
After Auntie Tan caught a snake, she turned around and inspected the people behind her. She sensed that Ye Ling, who stood not far away, was almost petrified with fear.
Auntie Tan wasn’t skilled at offering comfort. Moreover, she believed that Ye Ling’s behavior was simply nonsensical, so she ignored Ye Ling and resumed her hunt for snakes.
Ye Ling shuffled her stiff legs and trailed after Auntie Tan.
Before nightfall, Auntie Tan captured three snakes. To Auntie Tan’s surprise, even though Ye Ling’s face was pallid with fright, she didn’t turn and flee. On the contrary, she drew closer with each snake caught.
Auntie Tan tied up the sack and placed it atop her homemade snake-catching tool. Then, she shouldered the tool and prepared to head home.
Ye Ling quickly caught up. When they were about to reach the main road, Ye Ling inquired, “Auntie Tan, where are you planning to catch snakes tomorrow?”
Auntie Tan was left speechless. Could it be that this girl also intended to earn money by catching snakes? She was an educated young woman from the city. Could her thoughts be this extreme and degraded?
Auntie Tan wasn’t concerned about Ye Ling stealing her business. After all, there were plenty of snakes in the rural forests and fields. Even if ten more people came to catch them, they wouldn’t manage to catch them all. Auntie Tan simply couldn’t fathom Ye Ling’s thinking.
“I’m not sure,” Auntie Tan replied in a cold tone.
“Can I come to your house to find you?” Ye Ling asked after a moment of hesitation.
Auntie Tan was rendered speechless.
Seeing that Auntie Tan’s attitude towards her wasn’t the friendliest, but she also hadn’t rejected her, Ye Ling whispered, “Then, Auntie Tan, I’ll wait for you at your doorstep tomorrow afternoon?”
Auntie Tan was utterly at a loss for words. She cast a cold gaze at the young girl who seemed a bit off.
“Up to you.”
After parting ways with Auntie Tan, Ye Ling walked home. The images of Aunt Tan catching the snakes were still playing in her mind. It was as if the snakes would rush at her from afar in the next second and open their mouths with fangs.
Ye Ling’s legs grew weak. She warily surveyed both sides of the road, fearing that a snake might suddenly emerge.
Ye Ling only felt a sense of relief when she saw the entrance of the Wan family’s residence.
She heaved a sigh of relief and entered the house. After entering the house, she went to the vegetable field next to the fence in the backyard to pick up two loofahs and prepared to make dinner..