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Wei Pozi’s frown deepened as she kept thinking, fanning herself more vigorously.

...

Xingxing was playing games with some slightly older children in the open space in front of the elm tree.

Xingxing was too young—thin and frail for her age, looking even smaller than her actual age. As a result, the older kids couldn’t help but see her as slow and clumsy, looking down on her.

Xingxing was very sensitive. Seeing that others disliked her, she awkwardly slipped away from the group, fidgeting with her hands nervously and squatting to the side to watch.

But kids play rough. Xingxing slowly backed away to avoid getting in their way, but she still kept bumping into them. Uneasy, she ducked her head and ran deeper into the field.

However, when Xingxing finally came to her senses, she realized she was lost! Everything was dead silent, with only the rustling of wild grass and faint glimmers of light far away.

The crescent moon hung high in the sky, but it wasn’t very bright—especially since Xingxing was so short that the weeds loomed over her. To her, the darkness was terrifying.

Xingxing trembled with fear, hearing only the chirping of insects in the grass.

She clapped both hands over her mouth, not daring to cry out.

In her vague memories, she seemed to recall someone telling her that children shouldn’t cry at night—not only was it annoying, but the sound might draw a tiger that would come snatch bad kids away!

Xingxing was so scared the tiger would eat her!

Muffling her sobs, she carefully crept forward through the grass, one cautious step at a time.

But gradually, the wind carried strange noises from not too far away.

Like someone talking.

“Always sneaking around here—aren’t you sick of it? I sure am!”

“Don’t be like that… Once my old man’s gone, we can do whatever we want~”

“Heh, come here, let me kiss you!”

Xingxing crept closer, but as she got near, she caught bits of a strange conversation.

She tilted her head in confusion. What did those words mean? She couldn’t understand them at all.

Instinctively sensing something was wrong, she stopped in her tracks.

Then came strange moans and gasps that followed, sounding like a mix of crying and laughter, and sent shivers down Xingxing’s spine. Too scared to move, she froze.

Then...

Maybe she should head toward the lights instead?

Sniffing back tears, Xingxing clenched her tiny fists to steel herself and, suppressing her fear, slowly edged toward the distant lights.

“Xingxing!”

Before she could make it back, she faintly heard her grandmother calling for her.

“Grandma! Xingxing is here!” Her voice squeaked with relief as she scrambled toward Wei Pozi’s voice.

Wiping away her tears and pretending nothing had happened, Xingxing burst out of the darkness and rushed to Wei Pozi, throwing her arms around the old woman’s legs.

Wei Pozi didn’t think much of it, assuming Xingxing had just been playing nearby. She patted the little girl’s head.

Xingxing was a happy-go-lucky child. The moonlight shone on her, her grandmother still held her hand, and the scattered candlelight from the nearby Yu family courtyard looked warm and bright.

In an instant, Xingxing forgot the fear she had felt earlier in the darkness and happily followed Wei Pozi back home.

Chapter 23: Suddenly So Cold

Early the next morning, Yu Sanbao changed into slightly newer clothes, spruced himself up, and headed to Mapo County with the silver Wei Pozi had given him. He also brought along a grasshopper that Yu Siyang had specially woven for Ju Ge'er.

Yu Daniu had originally planned to check the animal traps he had set in the mountains a few days prior. But just as he was about to leave, a relative from the clan came with news—a Yu family relative had fallen while repairing rafters and was seriously injured. The situation was uncertain, and the clan was calling for people to gather.

Yu Laotou had to go, and as the eldest son of their branch, Yu Daniu naturally had to accompany him.

Yu Daniu scowled.

Huai Ge'er patted his chest. "Don't worry, Dad. I know all the trap locations. I'll go check them."

The eldest son was born with great strength and was dependable. Besides, after years of disasters, both natural and man-made, the mountains held little wildlife left—the traps rarely caught anything. The only reason they still set them was for that tiny chance of snagging something, which was better than doing nothing at all.

Yu Daniu considered it and nodded. "Alright, you and Bai Ge'er go take a look. Be careful."

Huai Ge'er agreed right away.

After Yu Laotou and Yu Daniu left, Yu Erhu also took Liu Ge'er and Gui Ge'er to the fields. With Ju Ge'er also absent, when Huai Ge'er and Bai Ge'er were about to head into the mountains, they noticed Xingxing standing alone by the wooden gate, clinging to the doorframe and gazing at them eagerly.

No big brother could say no to that!

Huai Ge'er immediately asked, "Xingxing, do you want to come with us to the mountains?"

Xingxing's round eyes instantly lit up!

But she hesitated. "Won't I be a bother?"

Huai Ge'er quickly reassured her, "Of course not! Today's just checking the traps—doubt there’s anything. It's basically just a walk in the woods. Don’t worry, I’m strong. If you get tired, I’ll carry you!"

Bai Ge'er chimed in, "Exactly, and second brother’s here too. It’s no trouble at all."

Xingxing was thrilled at the idea!

She thought for a moment. "Big brother, second brother, wait for Xingxing! Xingxing will ask Grandma!" After getting their confirmation, she turned and dashed back toward the house on her short little legs. Before even entering, she eagerly called out, "Grandma, can Xingxing go to the mountains with big brother and second brother to play?"

The little girl practically dashed through the bamboo curtain into the main room.

Her eager excitement made Huai Ge'er and Bai Ge'er burst into laughter.