The Sweetness of the Seventies-Chapter 21 - Two Fat Rabbits_1
Chapter 21: Chapter 21 Two Fat Rabbits_1
Chapter 21 -21 Two Fat Rabbits_1
Near the spot where the sunlight reached, there was a wild jujube tree laden with many fruits.
He Tiantian, carrying a basket, picked wild jujubes, and before long, she had filled it to the brim.
The land here was so fertile that the jujubes grew very large.
Tiantian also pulled up some wild greens and placed them on top, planning to share some with the educated youth at the commune so they could have a taste as well.
Nobody would blame someone for giving too much, and after eating her offerings, surely no one would want to deliberately make things difficult for her.
Seeing that it was getting late, Tiantian gave the Snake King enjoying itself in the water hole another roll of the eyes, “A Snake King indeed, more like a tiny loach, enjoying a small puddle so much it forgets about returning home.”
“It’s getting late, I need to head back,” Tiantian said, better for her if the snake didn’t follow; it would save her from bleeding out and having to be around a small silver snake day in and day out.
The Snake King, upon hearing Tiantian’s words, fumed with anger—this woman was becoming more and more presumptuous.
“You dare!” The Snake King flew over, landing on Tiantian’s shoulder, and flicked its forked tongue.
Looking like it was ready to show its might at the drop of a hat.
Tiantian was no longer afraid of the little silver snake, but she still wasn’t quite comfortable with such close proximity to a soft-bodied creature, so she turned her head away and said, “It’s you who’s been happily playing in the water, not wanting to leave, okay?”
“That spring there is really nice,” the Snake King said, glancing at the greenish water with reluctance, “From now on, you should bring me here often, I’ll make it worth your while.”
Tiantian shrugged and said, “You’ve been with me all the time, so you know the situation.
I have work to do; how can I run off to the mountain every day?”
The Snake King looked at Tiantian, then back at the greenish water hole with reluctance, and after some thought, said, “Then…
then find some work that requires going up the mountain, I can also provide you with something to eat, see…”
Just as Tiantian was really unwilling and about to refuse, two plump, grey rabbits appeared, lying motionless on the ground.
Tiantian was thrilled, rabbits!
Fat rabbits, she hadn’t eaten meat in a long time.
“Why aren’t you capturing them already?” the Snake King said irritably because it had used its spiritual power to control both rabbits and was feeling a bit dizzy.
But this foolish girl wasn’t hurrying to catch them—if the rabbits broke free from their binds, they would surely escape!
Setting down her basket, Tiantian dashed over to the two wild rabbits a few meters away and swiftly bound each rabbit with a string.
“Oh, joy, I can improve my meals,” Tiantian said happily, the two rabbits were heavy, more than ten pounds each, enough for her to have several meals.
But it was broad daylight outside, and if she was seen carrying the rabbits down the mountain, it would surely provoke the jealousy of the villagers.
Tiantian hadn’t just arrived in Qijia Village—in her past life, she had been living here for too long and was somewhat aware of the villagers’ temperaments, so she dared not let others see her.
But if she didn’t bring the rabbits back, how could she eat the rabbit meat?
Tiantian was caught in a dilemma when the Snake King, unable to stand watching any longer, scornfully said, “Can’t you just knock the rabbits out and put them in the basket?”
Right, Tiantian’s eyes lit up; the jujubes were tasty, but they were nothing compared to meat.
She could put the rabbits at the bottom, the jujubes on top, and cover them with some wild greens.
Since she wasn’t familiar with the village folk, even if someone saw her with a basket full of stuff, they would just assume it was jujubes and wild grass.
As for the jujubes, there were still many left on the tree—next time she could bring a larger basket and pick more.
No sooner said than done, Tiantian took a rock and swiftly knocked both rabbits unconscious.
The little silver snake looked at Tiantian with newfound respect—the seemingly frail girl could be quite frightening when she got tough.
Little did the silver snake know, Tiantian in her past life had run a braised meat shop and had personally slaughtered chickens and ducks.
She didn’t even blink an eye dealing with such small creatures.
It wasn’t that Tiantian lacked compassion; it was just that when she could barely manage her own life, she had no energy to care for others or other animals.
He Tiantian placed the rabbits at the bottom, then added some sour dates, stuffed it full of wild vegetables, and tied them to the end of the rope.
After climbing up following the rope, He Tiantian pulled on it to lift the basket up.
Little Silver Snake continued to coil around He Tiantian’s left ankle, soundly asleep.
He Tiantian, with the basket over her arm, walked down the mountain.
Along the way, He Tiantian quickened her pace, moving very fast.
In less than half an hour, she reached the foot of the mountain, which was exceptionally quick.
Even a healthy adult would take more than an hour.
Despite the long distance, she wasn’t the least bit tired—Snake King indeed hadn’t lied to her.
When encountering two or three villagers along the way, although He Tiantian recognized them, she didn’t know them in this life, so she kept her head down and quickly walked away.
Once home, He Tiantian washed her hands and hastily went to pick up Third Grandma Qi.
Third Grandma Qi still had half a basket of cotton husks left to peel.
Seeing He Tiantian coming, she smiled, “Where have you been?”
“Hehe, I went to dig some wild vegetables on the back mountain, to make a cold dish for dinner,” He Tiantian said while helping to peel the cotton husks.
Zhao Dajiao, upon seeing He Tiantian come over, said, “You can tell she knows how to manage a household well.
She must have done no shortage of work back at home.”
He Tiantian just smiled and didn’t speak.
She hadn’t done much work in her own home, but in her previous life after coming to Qijia Village, she never had a moment of rest.
Third Grandma Qi chuckled and would talk to He Tiantian later that evening, advising her to prepare some things to bring over for when the work would be allocated the next day, so she might get some lighter tasks.
If it were any other “educated youth,” Third Grandma Qi wouldn’t bother to mention it.
But now, Third Grandma Qi hoped that He Tiantian would stay with her, to keep her company, so naturally, she needed to give the young girl some pointers.
She shouldn’t be naive about the ways of the world and end up with work as hard as the adults’, which would surely exhaust her to death!
After finishing the work, He Tiantian helped Third Grandma Qi back home.
Living together with Third Grandma Qi meant certain things couldn’t be kept from her.
“Grandma Qi, when I went to gather wild vegetables today, I caught two wild rabbits,” He Tiantian said once they were home, addressing Third Grandma Qi.
Third Grandma Qi was startled and quickly closed the door, whispering, “Does anyone else know?”
He Tiantian also whispered, “I put them in the basket and covered them with wild vegetables.
Only the two of us know; no one else knows.”
Listening, Third Grandma Qi breathed a sigh of relief, nodded, and said, “You did right.
It’s better for fewer people to know about such things.
As for the two rabbits, I’ll skin them later.
We’ll cure one of them and stir-fry the other to send a bowl to Village Chief Qi’s family and one to Zhao Dajiao’s family.”
He Tiantian was stunned; she hadn’t expected Third Grandma Qi to arrange things like this.
Seeing He Tiantian in a daze, Third Grandma Qi felt a pang of emotion.
The child, after all, hadn’t considered everything thoroughly and explained, “The weather is hot, and the meat will spoil if we don’t cure it.
The reason you’re to send a bowl to Secretary Qi and Zhao Dajiao is that they are in charge of assigning work to the young people from the city.
Having received your favor, they’ll surely assign you lighter tasks in the future.
This old woman isn’t using your things to curry favor; I’m doing this so you can have a better life in the village.”
He Tiantian, hearing this, agreed wholeheartedly.
If these rabbits could win her the support of Secretary Qi and Zhao Dajiao, she was willing to give them away.
“Thank you, Grandma Qi.
Being young, I really hadn’t thought of these things.
I’m lucky you reminded me,” He Tiantian said sincerely, appreciating the kindness behind Third Grandma Qi’s words.
