Xu Linjiang’s face had gone somewhat pale with worry, as Chiang Xiao hadn’t returned for so long and there hadn’t been any noise; he was afraid something had happened to her.
Seeing her running out from the forest ahead did nothing to ease his tension.
"Why did you run over there?"
The forest was deep and one couldn’t see inside; who knew what might be there? If something had really happened, they wouldn’t have been able to save her in time!
This girl, she really was a source of constant worry!
Chiang Xiao immediately held up the rabbit. "I went to catch a rabbit! Look, Uncle, it’s even fatter than the one I caught with Grandpa last time!"
This rabbit was definitely over seven pounds because it was much heavier than the one they had caught last time.
Xu Linjiang stumbled, almost falling flat on the ground.
What kind of luck did Chiang Xiao have?
How did she catch another wild rabbit while she went to fetch some water to wash wild vegetables?
"How did you catch it?" Xu Linjiang asked, looking at her in utter amazement.
Chiang Xiao said, "I saw a snake wrapping around it and dragging it into the forest, so I followed it in." Anyway, it was very likely that at some point they would see that dead snake, so there was no point in hiding that from them.
Xu Linjiang’s face changed again.
"You followed it even though there was a snake? The snakes on this mountain can be highly venomous!"
Chiang Xiao looked at him with a pitiful expression. "But, was I supposed to just give up on such a fat wild rabbit?"
He wanted to continue scolding her, but seeing her like that, his heart softened again. What to do?
Cute girls really were too deadly.
Besides, if life hadn’t been so hard, she wouldn’t have disregarded the danger for a mere wild rabbit.
Xu Linjiang sighed helplessly and walked over to pat her on the head. "But you can’t eat this rabbit if it’s been bitten by a venomous snake; we don’t know if it’s been poisoned."
Chiang Xiao’s face instantly transformed into a radiant smile. "The snake didn’t even get a chance to bite it before I smashed it to death with a stone!"
Looking at her sudden "change of face," Xu Linjiang was both annoyed and amused. Girl, aren’t you being a little too fake? Was that pitiful look just put on for your uncle to see?
"You killed the snake with a stone?"
"Yeah, Uncle, do you want to go see? I’m too scared to pick it up anyway."
Xu Linjiang, still not entirely at ease, followed her into the forest and, upon seeing the mangled snake, he inhaled sharply.
"It really is a venomous snake!" He quickly pulled Chiang Xiao from the forest and said with lingering fear, "No, this won’t do, you’re too bold. From now on, you must stay by your great-uncle’s side and not leave his sight."
Chiang Xiao was dragged back to their temporary campsite by Xu Linjiang where Ge Dejun sat by a simple earthen stove, smoking and occasionally glancing their way.
Seeing Xu Linjiang bring her back caused him to breathe a sigh of relief.
What would they do if this girl carelessly ran off out of sight?
He was about to scold her when his attention was suddenly captured by the wild rabbit in Xu Linjiang’s hand.
"This wouldn’t happen to be another catch by our Little, would it?"
Xu Linjiang replied with a wry smile, "Yes, Dad, don’t you think Little’s luck is just too good?"
Yes, of course, but she’s also far too daring.
Ge Dejun clucked his tongue and sighed for a while.
After that, Chiang Xiao was "grounded." They forbade her from running off, and the pork and wood ear vegetables were washed by Xu Linjiang himself.
The smile never left Chiang Xiao’s face; although she was grounded, she wasn’t upset or worried in the slightest, for the day’s gains had left her utterly content!
Thinking about the four wild Ginseng plants in her Space, her mood was soaring high.