Tian Sisi saw the two of them approaching and hurriedly opened her mouth to tell them not to co over, but her throat really let her down, still unable to make a sound. She could only mouth the words: "Don’t co over, there’s a snake!"
Zhong Ani saw the terrified Tian Sigu warning them not to co and couldn’t help but feel touched and amused. She was closer and had already noticed that it was just a common black whip snake found in the mountains. It looked big but was quite docile and rarely attacked people. Moreover, the snake wasn’t venomous, and villagers often caught this kind of snake to stew and eat as a dish with at.
The big snake seed to hear the noise behind it, twisted its body, and slithered toward Tian Sisi. Finally, her throat cooperated, and with a cry of "Mama!" a scream startled countless sparrows. Zhong Ani, with quick reflexes, rushed forward and grabbed the big snake by its tail, swinging it around rapidly, whirling the nearly two-ter-long snake vigorously.
Heroine! Tian Sisi looked at Zhong Ani with starry-eyed admiration, never imagining she had such a brave woman capable of catching snakes by her side. Zhong Ani swung the snake around dozens of tis, by then the snake was already too dizzy to be any dizzier. Holding onto the snake’s tail, she turned to Tian Sisi and grinned, "This snake isn’t poisonous, getting bitten doesn’t matter. Good, we can have at for dinner tonight. Juying, let’s split it two ways. This snake probably weighs three or four pounds, enough for both our families to share."
Zhong Juying nodded excitedly, her eyes glistening as she gazed at the big snake as if it were a gold ingot, which left Tian Sisi utterly puzzled. Weren’t won supposed to be afraid of snakes? Why was even the most timid Zhong Juying not scared, and here she was, having embarrassed herself just now. What Tian Sisi didn’t realize was that rural children who often went to the mountains beca accustod to such creatures and naturally wouldn’t fear them.
Zhu Aiqing and the others, hearing Tian Sisi’s screams, rushed over in fright. Zhu Aiqing ran to Tian Sisi, looked her over to make sure she was alright, then poked her forehead reproachfully, "Do you want to scare to death or what? It’s just a black whip snake. Haven’t you seen one before?"
Tian Sisi shafully lowered her head. She didn’t intend to act like this, but her fear of snakes was an instinct, a reflex that was not under the control of her brain!
Zhong Ani, worried the big snake would wake up and escape, decided to go ho and deal with the snake since it was almost ti to cook lunch. She called over to Zhong Juying, planning to go ho, strip the snake’s skin, take out the gallbladder to brew wine for Daddy, and stew the at for dinner. Thinking of the delicious snake at made Zhong Ani’s mouth water.
Seeing the plump snake, Tian Sisi suddenly rembered the Old Man had been muttering a few days ago about going to the mountains to catch snakes for eating. She imdiately grabbed Zhong Ani and whispered, "An i, can I discuss sothing with you?"
"What is it? Just say it."
"Can I trade you pork for that snake? My grandpa really likes eating snake, and I want to get it for him." Tian Sisi felt a bit embarrassed; it felt wrong to grab soone else’s hard-caught snake like this.
"Ay, I thought it was sothing serious, just a snake! Why trade at all? Just take my share." Zhong Ani was very generous, and Zhong Juying also sincerely indicated she wanted to give her share to Tian Sisi too, clearly genuinely wanting to give it to her.
Tian Sisi didn’t say much more; too many eyes were around. She waved to Zhu Aiqing and signaled Zhong Ani and herself to follow her. Once they were down the slope, Tian Sisi then said, "If we’re not trading for pork, then I won’t take your snake."
Zhong Ani saw the imposing Tian Sisi, hands on hips, so different from her earlier trembling fear, and couldn’t help but burst into laughter. She understood that Tian Sisi didn’t want to take advantage of her and Juying’s kindness. Without accepting the pork, Tian Sisi surely wouldn’t take the snake. So, she laughingly said, "Alright, if a trade is what you say, then we trade. We’ll benefit from your generosity and have braised pork for dinner."
Zhong Juying was in a panic, how could she accept Tian Sisi’s pork? She opened her mouth to object, but Zhong Ani pressed down her hand and signaled her not to speak further. Lately, Zhong Juying and Ani had beco close, one decisively firm and the other sensitive and gentle. Their complentary personalities made them get along very well. However, decisions were usually made by Zhong Ani, so Juying stayed quiet.
At their ho, only Granny Zhao and Jianguo were in, Donghua and Weiguo had gone out to play, the Old Man along with Tang Tieshan were working, and the others had gone out to labor and hadn’t returned. Zhong Ani and Zhong Juying stopped just outside the Tian Family courtyard since the villagers usually didn’t welco them to drop by, and they never took it upon themselves to enter soone else’s ho without an invitation.
"Co in! You’ll have to bring that snake in for , I dare not touch the creature," Tian Sisi casually said to them, turning around without making it seem like she was trying too hard to save her friend’s face, which made Zhong Ani and Zhong Juying feel warm inside.
Invited by Tian Sisi, Zhong Ani and Zhong Juying followed her inside, though they felt a little awkward. Even the usually outgoing and straightforward Zhong Ani felt sowhat inhibited, let alone the naturally timid Zhong Juying. Seeing them like this, Tian Sisi tried to reach out to pull Zhong Ani along, but as soon as she extended her hand and saw the big creature in An i’s hand, she instinctively withdrew in fright.
Witnessing Tian Sisi’s reaction, both Zhong Ani and Zhong Juying laughed out loud, their nerves easing a bit. Granny Zhao and Jianguo were in the courtyard peeling bamboo shoots, which Donghua, He Chengsi, and the other kids had dug up. She planned to peel and cook them and make use of the sunny days to dry and store them. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, we welco you to vote for it with a recomndation or monthly ticket at Qidian (qidian). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please go to m.qidian to read.)
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