Chapter 136: Worry
Editor: Atlas Studios
Mu Yangling carried a bunch of rabbits down the mountain. When she returned home, she was surrounded by a few enthusiastic children. Mu Yangling forced a smile as she handed the unconscious or dead rabbits to them. “We’ll eat one tonight and give one each to Eldest Great-uncle and Second Great-uncle’s family. Keep the rest and sell them in the county tomorrow.”
Then, she handed the two rabbits that were still alive to Bowen and Xiulan. “Here, you can raise these. If we raise more at home, I won’t have to hunt for meat in the future whenever you crave meat.”
Mu Yangling picked two big and fat ones for Liu Lang to bring back. “You guys should hurry back too. Be careful on the way. I’ll catch a few more for you when you come tomorrow.”
Liu Lang and Liu Lun agreed happily before walking home with their mother’s hand in theirs.
Madam Ma-Liu was also in a good mood. She picked out the unconscious rabbits and stuffed them into the cage, then said, “Tomorrow, I’ll go out early to sell these. You guys go to the fields first.”
Not in the mood to care about this now, Mu Yangling agreed halfheartedly.
Xiuhong could tell that Mu Yangling was unhappy, so she went to her side and asked in a low voice, “Cousin, what’s wrong?”
Mu Yangling sighed. “Our fields are too close to the mountain and there are many wild animals in the forest. I’m afraid the crops will be ruined in the future.”
Xiuhong’s eyes were filled with confusion. “What wild animal will go down the mountain? Wild boars?”
“I’m not afraid of wild boars. I can block them out by digging a few traps outside. But, I’m worried about rabbits.”
Xiuhong giggled. “Cousin, are you afraid of rabbits? I think you’re excellent at catching rabbits.”
“Of course I’m not afraid of one or two, but I’m afraid of thousands or tens of thousands of rabbits. No matter how powerful I am, I can’t stop thousands of rabbits.”
Xiuhong’s mouth fell open. “How long will it take to eat so many rabbits?”
Mu Yangling’s shoulders slumped. “You’re focusing on the wrong thing. If these thousands of rabbits run into our land, we can forget about harvesting any crops. Moreover, our land is mostly in the south.”
Mu Yangling was so worried that her hair was about to turn white. She could not think of any good way to stop the rabbit tide. Could she keep hunting rabbits? This was obviously impossible. They had to start planting the rice seeds at the beginning of next month, and the remaining 100 acres of low-grade land could not be completely barren. She planned to plow some low-grade land to plant wheat after she scattered the rice seeds in two days…
How could she have the time to go hunting in the mountains? How many could she hunt alone?
Mu Yangling held her chin in worry.
Xiuhong didn’t have a good solution either. She supported her chin and sat at the side, her mind filled with rabbits. In the end, she couldn’t help but drool. “There are so many rabbits that we can eat until we grow up. Cousin, if we can capture and sell all these rabbits, I wonder how much money our family can earn.”
“Do you think rabbits are like sweet potatoes just sitting there waiting for us to pick?”
“Cousin, what are sweet potatoes?”
“It’s similar to potatoes. It grows in the ground and doesn’t move.” Mu Yangling stood up and patted her butt, then waved her hand and said, “Alright, stop thinking about it if you can’t think of a good idea. Let’s go eat.” Mu Yangling shouted towards the kitchen, “Great-aunt, rabbits have to be braised to taste good.”
Great-aunt chided, “I know, I know. Braise half and stew the other half. Your mother doesn’t like braised food. Hurry up and wash your hands. The dishes will be ready soon.”
The next day, Madam Ma-Liu woke up before dawn to make breakfast for them. Then, she carried the rabbits in the cage to the county to set up a stall.
Mu Yangling waited for the sun to rise outside before getting up with difficulty to wash up. After breakfast, she brought her things to the plot of land in the east.
After crossing the wooden bridge over the canal, Mu Yangling lowered her head to look at the water in the canal. By now, the snow and ice upstream had all melted. The three reservoirs were all filled with water, and more than half of the three canals was now flowing with water. The soldiers and civilians could not help but rejoice when they saw this. Fortunately, they had repaired the water conservancy facilities previously. Otherwise, who knew how much land would have been destroyed by the water.
Qi Haoran was even more complacent. Because of this matter, he became even more unyielding in the army. The training commissioners and regiment commanders no longer dared to casually refute his orders.
Mu Yangling only lowered her head to look at the water in the ditch before looking in the direction of Chef Mountain.
She wondered if what the elders said was true. Would there be a drought this summer? If there was, wouldn’t the rabbits in the forest starve even more?
If they were miserable, Mu Yangling would be miserable, too.
Mu Yangling looked at Chef Mountain and sighed. She only hoped that the grass inside wouldn’t run out until she thought of a solution.
Soon, Mu Yangling was no longer in the mood to worry because Madam Liu-Zhang had brought Liu Lang and Liu Lun over. When they saw that Mu Yangling was the only one in the field, they asked in surprise, “Why are you alone?”
“I asked Bowen and the others to sleep a little longer. Let’s get to work first. Since today’s seeds haven’t sprouted, the time required will be even shorter.”
Liu Lang pursed his lips and clutched his chest as he looked at his mother accusingly. “Mother, when can you let me sleep a little longer?” Before his mother could slap him, he jumped behind Mu Yangling.
Madam Liu-Zhang could only glare at him and say, “Your Cousin Ah Ling is even younger than you. Why don’t I see you comparing yourself to her? Your Cousin Bowen is still young. Aren’t you ashamed to compare yourself to a baby?”
Liu Lang stuck out his tongue and said, “But you didn’t feel sorry for me when I was five years old, either. Didn’t you drag me out of bed early in the morning to work?”
Madam Liu-Zhang glared at her. “You were still peeing your pants when you were five. It’s not that I didn’t want to ask you to work. Were you capable of working back then?”
Liu Lang’s handsome face instantly turned red. As his memories of being five years old were very vague, he really didn’t remember. He only guessed that his childhood had been very “pitiful” based on his current situation.
Madam Liu-Zhang snorted coldly. He was still too inexperienced to fight with her. He was not a prodigy like Bowen who could remember things at the age of three or four.
After they finished planting the remaining two acres of land, Mu Yangling still had to go into the mountains to hunt. This time, she carried a large basket and a bow.
Liu Lang was eager to try. “Ah Ling, I’ll follow you into the mountains.”
Mu Yangling tilted her head and thought for a moment before shaking her head. “No, the wild beasts in the mountains are hungry now. If I really encounter a ferocious beast, I can run fast alone. I won’t be able to escape with you.”
Madam Liu-Zhang quickly stopped him, too. As such, Liu Lang could only watch regretfully as Mu Yangling carried her basket and bow into the mountain.
This time, Mu Yangling was well-prepared and gained even more. She only came out of the mountain when the basket on her back was filled. At this moment, the sun had already set halfway down the mountain.
Mu Yangling quickened her pace and walked home. Madam Ma-Liu had already returned and was greeting Madam Liu-Zhang.
Mu Yangling took out six rabbits and placed them in another basket. After thinking for a moment, she picked up another rabbit and threw it in. She said to Madam Liu-Zhang, “Aunt, let me send you back.”
“No, no, it’s not far.”
“Let Ah Ling send you guys. After all, you live in a different village and it’s not peaceful outside. It’s not safe for you to bring the two children along.”
Since Madam Ma-Liu said so, Madam Liu-Zhang could only agree.
Mu Yangling picked up a stick and carried the basket on her back. “Let’s go.”
They had only walked halfway when the sun had completely set. Only the afterglow of the sun shone on the ground from the horizon. The four of them could not help but speed up. When the sky gradually darkened, Liu Lun pointed ahead and shouted, “There’s someone there. I think it’s Father and Uncle.”