Chapter 52: Chapter 52 I Thought I Made It Obvious Chapter 52: Chapter 52 I Thought I Made It Obvious By the time everything was dug out, the sun had already begun to set, and everyone’s baskets were heavy, while their stomachs were starting to play the empty fort strategy.
Each person then took out the food they had prepared, mostly steamed buns, with the occasional twisted bun. Bai Fei had brought eggs, just two of them. She directly took one out and gave it to Bai Zhi.
Bai Zhi took out a basket, then took out two lunch boxes, handing one of them to Bai Fei, who looked at Bai Zhi with surprise.
At that time, she was wondering if Bai Zhi could finish the food by herself. She hadn’t expected it to be prepared for her, and suddenly felt a twinge of emotion in her nose.
Why was Bai Fei so well-liked in the village? Because she was generous, sharing whatever tasty food she had with everyone. But no one had ever offered her food in return.
Because she was too blunt when speaking, once Heizi offered her a steamed bun, and she just said theirs was too hard to eat, she didn’t want it.
It looked like a particularly hard steamed bun, just like a lump of dough. She didn’t like that at all.
The situation became quite awkward for a moment. She was just telling the truth. She didn’t realize that others might feel hurt by her words, so no one shared with her anymore.
But now, Bai Zhi was willing to share with her, and Bai Fei hugged Bai Zhi in one swift movement.
“I’ll have your back for the rest of my life.”
Then she let go quickly, opened the lunch box, and her eyes immediately became starry.
Bai Zhi’s lips twitched. She was still not quite accustomed to her cousin’s personality.
Bai Fei and Bai Zhi shared some food with a young woman named Heizi and another named Lanzi.
Only then did they start to eat. The boxes had been kept well, and although a bit cold now, the food was still delicious. Compared to the bland steamed buns, dumplings were of course much tastier.
Especially for Heizi and Lanzi, chives and egg dumplings were not something they could eat just any time.
Bai Zhi didn’t eat dumplings but set the lunch box aside and ate the egg Bai Fei had given her. Bai Zhi then took out a water cup and poured half of it for Bai Fei.
“Drink some water so you don’t choke. Let’s head back once we’re done.”
Bai Zhi’s gaze drifted to the surroundings unintentionally; it was getting late. If they stayed any longer, they might be out too late.
That could lead to trouble.
Bai Zhi and Bai Fei sped up, peeled all the bamboo shoots as quickly as possible, put them into their baskets, and were ready to head back.
The path down the mountain was not easy to walk. They carried heavy baskets of bamboo shoots, weighing them down considerably, each holding a stick, descending the mountain with extreme caution.
Among the pile of bamboo shoot husks, a lunch box had been forgotten…
…
When they reached the middle of the mountain, they encountered the group pet, out of breath, sitting on a large rock, and Bai Yu?
Bai Zhi narrowed her eyes. Had they come here to dig for fish mint?
“Sister, sister, we’re here!”
Upon seeing Bai Zhi and the others, the group pet immediately stood up and waved at Bai Zhi, afraid she’d not see them.
Today, the group pet was still wearing a skirt, a duck-egg yellow one, with two bun hairstyles that made her look very cute. But wearing a skirt up the mountain was, well… hard to describe.
“Bai Zhi, let me tell you, some people just lack self-awareness. They always think they’re beloved by everyone, and flowers bloom at their sight, but in fact, they’re just a stick of foxtail grass. They don’t even realize their own stink.”
As Bai Fei spoke, she pinched her nose, which almost made her lose her balance, and she involuntarily began to fall backward. Bai Zhi quickly steadied her; Bai Fei patted her chest with relief. That was close.
The group pet, who had been running towards Bai Zhi, immediately stopped, looking at Bai Zhi with tears welling up, which soon began to fall.
“Sister, are you just watching while others bully me?”
The group pet looked at Bai Zhi with a look of deep grievance, as if deeply hurt.
Bai Yu had been enduring all along, but in this moment, he could endure no more, stepping forward, he grabbed the group pet, waiting for Bai Zhi with a sinister look.
“Bai Zhi, have you gone mad, can’t you tell where your elbow should be bending?”
Bai Zhi massaged her temples. She wanted nothing to do with them anymore, but why did they still insist on seeking her out?
She looked at them indifferently, speaking in a detached tone as if they were the real strangers.
“You two are quite hilarious. Of course my elbow is bent inward; Bai Fei is my cousin, I am well aware of that.”
“Sister,”
The group pet felt even worse, clutching her chest, tears blurring her vision.
“Sister, have you ever seen me as your sister or not?”
“Yes, I haven’t.”
Bai Zhi was actually quite annoyed. Even now, with a basket on her back and standing on a large rock looking down at them, she still looked very cool; Bai Zhi spoke impatiently.
“I’ve been very clear all along, I don’t like you, I despise you, how come you’re all so thick-skinned you can’t understand?”
How could they not understand?
Bai Zhi smiled faintly, then with a slight jump, she landed steadily in front of the group pet?
The group pet was so frightened she fell on her buttocks; fortunately, the place where she stood was muddy. Otherwise, she might have started crying by now.
Bai Yu pulled the group pet up with one hand and his fist shot out towards Bai Zhi. In a flash, Bai Zhi caught his fist, her lips curling into a smile that was not quite a smile.
With just a bit of force, Bai Yu’s face changed color.
They used to think the original owner was weak and incapable, thinking they could bully her easily, but they never realized that Bai Zhi was immensely strong.
Otherwise, how could she, as a child, cut grass for pigs, feed pigs, and tend to fields? Aren’t all these tasks physically demanding?
“Is this all it takes to make you feel unbearable?”
Bai Zhi looked at Bai Yu seemingly in surprise, somewhat unable to understand how he could be so frail.
Bai Yu was furious, his hand being tightly gripped, and despite how much he struggled, Bai Zhi’s forceful grip wouldn’t let go. That feeling of powerlessness really irked him, but he couldn’t use both hands because it would seem undignified!
Bai Yu didn’t want to appear weak in front of anyone, even the village children he looked down upon.
So, at this moment, he tried to keep his expression as normal as possible, as if he was only indulging Bai Zhi.
“Let go, or don’t blame me for being impolite.”
“Really?”
Suddenly, Bai Zhi flashed a smile, but because she was too thin and her face had little flesh, and somewhat overly pale, when she smiled it looked a bit unsettling…
At that moment, Bai Yu was startled, but he had good self-control, making no sound, and no change in demeanor.
“Really, let go, or I won’t be polite.”
Bai Zhi curled her lips, showing a look of regret,
“Alright then.”
Bai Zhi’s eyes narrowed slightly, and with a gentle shake, she released Bai Yu’s hand?
“Ah!”
Bai Yu cried out loud as his hand felt as if it had snapped, hanging limply, a tingling pain surging through it…