Chapter 207: A Test
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Zhou Wan and Xu Niu had already departed, but Zhou Lan remained upset for some time. Jiang Chuan patted his wife’s shoulder and reassured her, “Don’t worry. I’ll go to the county town again in a few days. Once we earn more money, we can buy gifts and visit them. We’ll see them soon.”
Known for her lively personality, Zhou Lan quickly bounced back. Soon, she was joyfully planning her shoe soles project.
Jiang Xia patiently waited for Zhou Lan’s mood to lift. The moment Zhou Lan began to smile, she called out mysteriously, “Mom, Dad, wait. I have something to share.”
She stepped outside to lock the main door and returned, her actions rousing a sense of concern in Jiang Chuan and Zhou Lan.
The cloud of worry once again shadowed Zhou Lan’s cheerful heart. “Xiao Xia, please, tell us straight away. We can handle it.”
Jiang Xia responded calmly, “It’s not about me; it’s about Xiao Gu.”
Zhou Lan’s concern deepened. She rushed to Xiao Gu and cradled her. “What happened? Is she sick? Did someone hurt her?”
As the adage goes, “concern leads to chaos”. Jiang Xia empathized with her mother’s reaction.
Gently prying Zhou Lan’s hand off Xiao Gu, she led her to the center of the courtyard. “It’s neither, Mom. There’s no need to worry. What I’m about to show might be seen as a good thing! But 1 need to demonstrate.”
Filled with anticipation, Zhou Lan and Jiang Chuan watched as Jiang Xia fetched a basket of hard soil clumps, setting one on the ground.
“Xiao Gu, use all your might to crush this soil clump.”
The soil, affected by droughts in recent years, had turned dry and brittle. Despite watering, these soil chunks were so parched they became rock-hard and nutritionally barren. Some were even tougher than stones. Given Xiao Gu’s tender age of just over six, could she possibly muster the strength to break them?
Jiang Chuan and Zhou Lan exchanged puzzled glances. A single piece of this hard soil would demand much effort from Jiang Chuan, a full-grown man, just to induce a crack. Why then would Jiang Xia ask Jiang Gu to attempt it?
Jiang Gu confidently clenched and unclenched her small hands, mimicking adults as she blew into her palm. She then grasped a soil lump firmly.
Her tiny face reddened as she exerted force, her features scrunching up adorably. The sight was humorous and endearing.
Seeing Jiang Gu’s cute determination, Zhou Lan couldn’t help but draw her into a playful hug. Just as she intended to assist in crushing the lump, fragments of broken soil exploded from Jiang Gu’s hand. Some bits landed on both Jiang Xia and Jiang Gu, but the majority fell to the ground, slipping through her fingers.
The astonishment was evident on Zhou Lan and Jiang Chuan’s faces. Jiang Xia appeared unsurprised, while Jiang Gu looked up expectantly, hoping for praise from her family.
The implication quickly dawned on Zhou Lan and Jiang Chuan. This wasn’t just any soil lump; it was exceptionally hard. If even Jiang Chuan struggled with it and Jiang Gu could shatter it so effortlessly, her strength was clearly superior, not just compared to other children but even many adults.
Did Jiang Gu also have a unique power? One akin to Zhou Lan’s prodigious strength?
Jiang Chuan’s gaze met Zhou Lan’s, and without a word, they shared an understanding. They needed a private conversation with Jiang Xia. Given Jiang Gu’s tender age and her probable lack of understanding about her newfound power, she shouldn’t be privy to the talk. Zhou Lan reached out and scooped up her daughter.
“Look who our mighty little one is! It’s our precious Xiao Gu. As a reward, Mom will treat you to a meat bun today!”
“Yay! Jiang Gu loves meat buns the most!” Jiang Gu’s hands clapped in delight within Zhou Lan’s embrace. Her thoughts didn’t linger on her remarkable strength. Her heart swelled with happiness, thinking only of her mother’s praise and the promised treat..