Yue Jiannan had not returned by dinner ti.
The braised rabbit that had been prepared the day before was set on the table, yet no one had an appetite.
Lin Chunju anxiously waited at the door, repeatedly questioning the brothers Yue Jiandong and Yue Jianxi.
"He really didn't go to the fields?"
"Did you see him on your way back, did you ask anyone?"
The two had already gone out to search but hadn't seen even a shadow.
Yue Jiandong, thinking ahead, had also checked by the river, thankfully he hadn't seen any clothing floating on the water.
"Mom, don't worry for now, big brother and I will go out and look again."
Yue Jianxi had just taken a sip of water and was hurrying to rush out again when Lin Chunju stopped him.
"That damn kid probably went to the back mountain again. He caught a rabbit yesterday, and today his heart has gone wild; he really thinks he can be a hunter. Don't go look for him, let him perish out there."
The house fell into a silence so profound you could hear a pin drop.
Even Yue Xingxing sensed that sothing was off and sat silently on her chair.
Lin Chunju was breathing heavily, and only Yue Qingqing, held in Zhang Ying's arms, babbled, oblivious to the world.
But no one could understand what she was trying to express.
Zhang Ying hushed her softly, trying to quiet her daughter.
Following Yue Qingqing's gaze inadvertently toward the door, she suddenly cried out.
"Is that Jiannan? Mom, Jiannan is back!"
Who else could that limping shadow at the door be?
Yue Jiannan had barely stepped foot inside the house when Lin Chunju fiercely hit him with a broom.
"I told you to stop lying! I told you to stop playing! I told you to co ho!"
Yue Jiannan didn't even have the energy to run around the house; he could only cover his head and scream in agony.
"Mom, I was wrong, please, go easy on ."
"Big brother, second brother, save , talk to mom for ."
The brothers Yue Jiandong stood by, silently watching.
This young rascal was enough of a handful usually, and today, he had made the whole family worry sick. A harsh punishnt was necessary for him to learn his lesson.
Yue Jiandong spoke gravely, "Mom, take a break, don't upset yourself."
Just when Yue Jiannan started to speak in gratitude, he saw his older brother take the broom from their mother's hand.
"I've got more strength, let do it."
Yue Jiannan was on the verge of tears, "Stop hitting ! I almost died today. It was so hard to make it ho, and now you want to kill ."
At that, Yue Jiandong's hand paused mid-air.
Everyone looked at Yue Jiannan.
The boy's clothes were torn and tattered, his trousers were full of mud, and there were bloodstains on his arms; he was a sorry sight beyond description.
Zhang Ying timidly asked, "Jiannan, what happened to you?"
"Don't even ntion it, I caught a rabbit yesterday and thought I'd try my luck again today to see if I could find another one to improve our als."
The couple Yue Jiandong and his wife exchanged glances; his mother had guessed right.
"But I never expected to encounter a bear."
Although Yue Jiannan stood whole before them, everyone couldn't help but inhale sharply.
Bears were almost the most terrifying animal in the mountains, and even experienced hunters couldn't be sure of escaping unscathed.
"I saw it running towards from a distance and ran for my life. At a critical mont, my clothes got caught on a branch."
Yue Jianxi was imdiately taken aback, "Then you were really in trouble?"
Yue Jiannan, almost proud, lifted his collar, "Luckily, I have a big life. The branch just passed through here, I stumbled and rolled down the mountain, and in the end, I was fine, and the bear ran away."
Everyone marveled at Yue Jiannan's luck, only Lin Chunju kicked him twice with the tip of her shoe.
"Why weren't you carried off by the bear, you damn fool? Do you dare to go to the back mountain again?"
Yue Jiandong's long-awaited broom finally ca down, Yue Jiannan scread, yet he dared not dodge, only clutching his chest, immobilized.
"I haven't finished speaking yet. When I rolled down to the bottom of the mountain, guess what I found?"
He carefully pulled out a bundle tied up with grass string from his embrace.
When he unwrapped layer upon layer of leaves, a yellow-white plant resembling a radish with a mass of roots appeared.
"Mom, is this the ginseng you were talking about?"
Reviews
All reviews (0)