Chapter 63: Not Afraid Even If The Wolf Comes
The rest of the Shen family also came.
After opening the door, Yun Xiao Wu and the others happily rushed in with Yun Jiao.
“Jiaojiao, we grew watermelons at our house this year, do you want to go pick them later?”
Upon hearing about watermelons, Yun Jiao’s eyes lit up, she licked her lips and nodded quickly.
Of course, we want to go.
“Jiaojiao, have some sugar water.”
In a rural village like this, sugar water was already the highest form of hospitality.
“Grandma is so kind.”
Grandma Shen smiled and patted her head: “You’re such a good girl.”
What a good-looking little doll.
Back then, she was very against it when she learned her daughter and son-in-law had adopted a baby girl.
The family was already not well-off, and they already had five children, so adding another one would be a huge burden.
However, after she saw Yun Jiao, she couldn’t say the words of disapproval anymore.
Such a good-looking girl, if she were lost and bullied, just seeing it would make one’s heart ache.
As Yun Jiao grew up and became more beautiful, and was also soft and well-behaved, calling her Grandma would melt her heart.
Let’s raise her, at worst, they could economize on grain and send it over.
“Why did you bring so many things!”
The two elders reprimanded them upon seeing the contents of the backpack.
“You have so many children to raise, have you emptied out the house? Are you not going to live anymore?”
Yun Lin Hai explained, “We bought a boat ourselves now, and our harvest is good. These fish were caught and dried by ourselves, they’re not worth much, and we still have plenty at home.”
Shen Yun Lian also nodded, “Mom, these were prepared by mother-in-law, please accept them as a token of our regard.”
Although Grandma Shen complained, she couldn’t let them take it back.
She turned to the children and said, “You must be tired from walking, I’ll cook noodles for you.”
While Grandma and Aunt were cooking noodles, in the courtyard, Yun Jiao was playing with her brothers, and was happily lifted onto her uncle’s shoulders.
“Uncle, I want to ride a horse too!”
Shen Liang Ping: “Look at your age, you still want to ride a horse, do you want to crush me, your uncle?”
Yun Jiao had grown taller, she reached out two chubby hands to pick a pear within reach.
Yun Xiao Wu: “Jiaojiao, you’re greedy again, they’re only delicious when they’re ripe.”
Yun Jiao replied indistinctly, “Now, is, also, delicious!”
Shen Liang Ping laughed heartily, “Jiaojiao still likes to put everything in her mouth, the plums, peaches, and bayberries in our mountains are also ripe, let’s stay home for a couple more days and go to the mountains to play.”
Yun Jiao nodded, “Okay, okay.”
“Pick watermelons.”
She was still thinking about the watermelons.
“Alright, after we eat noodles, we’ll go pick watermelons.”
The noodles were cooked quickly, and Grandma Shen also added an egg.
Of course, there weren’t many, only the younger ones got one, the two cousins didn’t.
Yun Jiao slurped her noodles, and quietly moved to her cousin’s side, sharing some of the egg with them.
“Cousin, eat.”
Shen Xiu Yuan was deeply moved. With a greasy mouth, he wanted to lean over and kiss Yun Jiao’s face.
Yun Jiao was so scared she ran away.
“No, you’re greasy.”
She was a clean little fish.
Elder cousin Shen Kuan glared at his younger brother.
There was also a plate of cold-dressed smashed cucumbers on the table, which were very refreshing with the noodles.
After eating their fill, Yun Jiao strolled in the courtyard and squatted by the chicken coop made of branches, watching the fluffy little chicks follow the hen, looking for food.
One of them was clumsy and fell near her because it ran too fast.
Yun Jiao reached her hand in and petted the fluffy, chirping chick.
“Jiaojiao, let’s go pick watermelons.”
Yun Jiao turned her head and stood up, her short legs running over.
“I’m coming.”
Elder cousin Shen Kuan, carrying the backpack, with no adults accompanying them, the group of youths and children ran out.
They still had to go up the mountain.
Fearing Yun Jiao would get tired, Shen Kuan asked her, “Jiaojiao, do you want to come into the backpack? I’ll carry you up.”
Yun Jiao was a little tempted, but she looked at herself and refused.
“Heavy.”
A three-year-old child also has some weight.
“Not heavy.”
Shen Xiu Yuan grabbed her armpits and easily lifted the fair and soft little girl into the backpack.
“It’s not as heavy as the sweet potatoes we’re carrying.”
After getting into the backpack, Yun Jiao leaned forward slightly, resting her whole body on her elder cousin’s back to lighten his load a bit.
“Is it heavy?”
She asked in a soft voice.
Shen Kuan shook his head, “It’s very light, Jiaojiao, you should eat more.”
Shen Kuan, carrying Little Yun Jiao, still walked as fast as ever, proving with his actions that she was indeed not heavy.
“Xiao Jiu, do you want second cousin to carry you?”
Besides Yun Jiao, the younger Yun Xiao Jiu also received special care.
Yun Xiao Jiu shook his head, “No, I’m a man, I’ll walk my own path.”
The group chatted and laughed as they went into the mountains. Yun Xiao Wu held a branch, swiping at wild flowers and grass by the roadside.
Yun Xiao Liu suddenly said, “I remember there are people living up the mountain, and they have several fierce big dogs.”
He had been scared by those big dogs when he came to his grandmother’s house before and went up the mountain.
Yun Xiao Wu raised his chest, “What are you afraid of? Let alone dogs, I can even fight wolves!”
Yun Xiao Qi: “That’s right, we’re not afraid even if wolves come. Fifth Brother goes first, Cousin is second, I’ll follow behind, and Jiaojiao will cheer us on!”
As soon as Yun Xiao Qi finished speaking, the person walking in front suddenly stopped.
“What’s wrong?”
Yun Xiao Qi looked up and saw three big dogs standing on a field ridge in front of them, glaring intently at them.
Yun Xiao Qi swallowed and said, “Run!”
Instantly, everyone turned and fled in a panic.
The three big dogs behind them barked and charged forward.
For a moment, there was chaos and liveliness.
“Ahhhh… Fifth Brother, didn’t you say you’re not afraid even if wolves come? You go!”
Yun Xiao Wu: “None of you are going, I can’t handle them alone!”
The group, who were boasting just a moment ago, were now as embarrassed as they could be, chased by three dogs.
Yun Jiao: Weren’t you supposed to be cheering me on?
“Let me down, I’m going to fight them!”
Yun Jiao’s childish voice was fierce, and she turned to bare her teeth at the three dogs.
Unfortunately, no one listened to her.
Fortunately, the three dogs were guard dogs and turned back after chasing for a short distance.
They were able to catch their breath.
Shen Xiu Yuan: “Let’s take a detour. That family’s temper is a bit strange, they don’t interact much with the villagers. I heard they used to be hunters, which is why they have so many dogs.”
Yun Jiao climbed out of the backpack, and angrily declared she was going back.
“I’m going to fight them and get revenge!”
Shen Kuan quickly held her back.
“My little ancestor, please don’t. You’re not even as tall as that dog.”
Yun Jiao’s tone was serious and stubborn: “I can win.”
“No fighting, let’s go pick watermelons quickly.”
Fortunately, the watermelons shifted her attention, and Shen Kuan breathed a sigh of relief.
This really was a newborn calf unafraid of a tiger. One wouldn’t think this soft, cuddly little ball of fluff was also a fighter.
They took a detour to the watermelon patch.
Yun Jiao looked at the plump, round watermelons and her eyes curved into a smile.
“This watermelon is so big, and this one is also big…”
Her eyes couldn’t take it all in, she felt like every watermelon was super delicious.
The matter with the dogs was something I suddenly recalled from my childhood memories. Back then, it was just the three of us siblings on the mountain, and thinking back now, it was quite fun.
