“Wait a moment!” Xiao Jinheng’s dark eyes widened. “You’re not allowed to leave!”
Xiao Xi Tian: “……”
What, young master, do you want to fight?
Unexpectedly, Xiao Jinheng pointed at the dead rats covering the mountains and fields. “That cloud just now, do it again!”
Xiao Xi Tian: “???”
Little one, do you think that was a performance?
Do you know that I’m exhausted from dealing with the rat plague?
If I do it again, I’ll ascend to heaven on the spot.
“Get lost, you annoying brat!~” Xiao Xi Tian waved her spatula.
Xiao Jinheng grinned mischievously. “Little village girl, I saw it just now. You killed the rats, didn’t you?”
As soon as he thought about it carefully, his scalp tingled.
So, a monster was living next door.
This wasn’t a living Bodhisattva; perhaps she would come out at night to eat children.
Xiao Xi Tian rolled her eyes and decided to ignore the little brat.
She took out a piece of candy from her satchel and popped it into her mouth.
Then, humming a little tune, she rode her big dog home.
She walked slowly.
As she passed by her own fields, Xiao Xi Tian saw a piece of dark gray wood.
Although it was only palm-sized, it exuded a pleasant fragrance all over, a delightful scent.
With just a gentle inhale, the crisp energy entered her lungs, refreshing her heart and mind.
Truly a good piece of wood.
Xiao Xi Tian had always liked collecting such small items.
She decisively picked up the wood, put it into her satchel, and happily returned to the Yun family.
The villagers, however, were not idle.
There were dead rats in the fields and on the hillsides, and they had to clean them up.
Otherwise, if the rats rotted and bred maggots, it could easily cause an epidemic.
“Da Man, how many more dead rats are there in our fields?” Old Man Yun asked.
Yun Da Man, carrying a large bamboo basket full of dead rats, replied, “Dad, we’ve picked all the dead rats from our fields clean. The village chief told us to burn them all.”
“Alright, let’s go!”
A bonfire was lit at the village entrance.
Throwing the rats that weren’t quite dead into it, a piercing squeaking sound immediately arose.
The villagers were overjoyed and beaming with smiles.
The cats and dogs at home also circled the bonfire.
Hoping to find some scraps after the fire died down.
The village chief stood with his hands on his hips in front of the bonfire and announced loudly, “The village’s crops are saved, and it’s all thanks to Little Tian Bao from the Yun family!”
“Our village has always been united, harmonious, and grateful.”
“Today, I decree that every household must go to thank Little Tian Bao. Even if you don’t bring anything, you must bring your good intentions!”
No one opposed this statement.
If not for the ‘soybean rats’ and that ‘cloud mist’ helping, they would have starved this winter, or even had to flee.
A drop of kindness should be repaid with a gushing spring.
Moreover, Little Tian Bao had saved the lives of the entire village.
Aunt Zhang was the first to agree, “I’ve decided to take out ten catties of fine flour from my home to make hot noodle soup for Little Tian Bao!~”
“I’ll give a basket of eggs!”
“My family will slaughter a big goose!”
“I’ll give two pig trotters and a large ham hock!”
“……”
Old Man Yun listened with immense satisfaction.
He had indeed given birth to a celestial daughter.
Not only did she help the entire family, but she also benefited the entire Dashui Village.
Du Lao San came over, smiling, “Old Man Yun, you must have been a monk in your past life!”
Old Man Yun was stunned and asked with a confused expression, “Why a monk?”
“Because monks perform good deeds and accumulate virtue, benefiting all living beings, which is why they have such a good daughter!”
Old Man Yun smiled faintly upon hearing this, “It’s nothing, I just had her casually!~”
Du Lao San: “……”
The entire village: “……”
Your words are really asking for a beating!
Why are you so annoying?
That evening, the old Yun family became lively again.
The villagers brought vegetables, pork, grains, oils, duck eggs, goose eggs, and more.
They flocked to the old Yun family to express their gratitude.
The doorstep was almost worn through.
“With a deputy general like Little Tian Bao in our village, there will surely be favorable weather and peace for every household from now on!~”
Gu Shi wiped the sweat from her forehead and smiled as she welcomed guests. “Sister-in-law Zhou, you shouldn’t say that. My Little Tian Bao is hardly a lucky general!”
Although she said this, she was extremely proud in her heart.
The entire family felt honored, all thanks to their little daughter!
Xiao Xi Tian was lying on the kang, fiddling with her wood.
Suddenly, Sister-in-law Zhou stared at her intently. Little Tian Bao grinned.
So scary!
Indeed, Sister-in-law Zhou withdrew her gaze and smiled at Gu Shi, “Da Man’s mother, Little Tian Bao isn’t engaged yet, is she?”
Gu Shi reacted and raised an eyebrow, “Sister-in-law Zhou, what do you mean by that?”
“It’s like this, my Tu Gen is four years old this year. How about… we… we become in-laws?”
Gu Shi: “……”
Good heavens.
Her daughter was just over a year old and already being targeted.
Besides, your Tu Gen curses whenever he opens his mouth.
He sets haystacks on fire, steals ducks, and smashes windows. His conduct is extremely bad.
He’s not worthy of my Little Tian Bao!
Gu Shi sneered and politely refused, “Sister-in-law Zhou, it’s still too early for my Tian Bao’s marriage. No rush!~”
Sister-in-law Zhou’s eyes lit up, “Then getting it settled early will save you trouble, won’t it!”
Little Tian Bao on the kang twitched her lips.
No, can’t you hear the disdain in my mother’s words!
Seeing Gu Shi looking troubled, Sister-in-law Zhou continued, “Although my Tu Gen is a bit naughty, he’ll definitely be a good provider when he grows up.”
“We are all poor families, and we don’t expect great wealth or glory!”
“As long as Tu Gen has enough to eat, he won’t let your daughter starve!”
Little Tian Bao: “……”
Your life’s ambition is just not to starve!
That’s too shallow!
Gu Shi’s expression darkened.
This time, she didn’t spare Sister-in-law Zhou any face and directly refused, “We have no plans to arrange a marriage for our daughter yet. Sister-in-law Zhou, you should give up on the idea!”
Sister-in-law Zhou was choked and blushed, extremely embarrassed.
Seeing that the other villagers were also leaving, she didn’t want to stay any longer and got up to go home.
Zhao Gui Hua smiled helplessly, “Now my sister-in-law is the village’s most popular person. There will be more suitors in the future!”
The whole family listened with indignant expressions.
“Hmph, do those few local brats in our village deserve to marry my sister? Don’t dream!” Yun Er Man sneered.
Yun Da Man was also furious, “Toad wanting to eat swan meat, he doesn’t even know his own worth!”
Old Man Yun puffed on his pipe, remaining silent.
Although his daughter was still young, she would eventually grow into a young lady.
A grown daughter would naturally want to leave home, but the whole family was reluctant to marry her off.
“Unless, we find a live-in son-in-law!” Old Man Yun suddenly said.
Gu Shi glanced at him and silently picked up Little Tian Bao, “Daughter, do you want to marry out?”
Little Tian Bao pretended not to understand and lowered her head to play with the wood.
Marriage or not, she was still a baby.
Hmph!
That night, a person rode a fine horse into Dashui Village.
And stopped at the house next to the old Yun family’s residence…