Since that’s the case, there’s no need to tag along, lest we invite annoyance.
"No worries, we’re just ahead, not too far. If your grandpa returns, he’ll call us, and we’ll hear him."
Zhang An clearly still wanted to invite Xiaomi along.
Knowing he ant well, Xiaomi hesitated for a mont but shook her head, "Forget it, you guys go ahead. Next ti, if there’s a chance, we’ll go together."
Zhang An wanted to say more, but Xiaomi was already pulling Xiaoxue to the side, leaving Zhang An no choice but to give up.
"Then next ti we can go together."
After saying this, Zhang An reluctantly departed.
Well, it was reluctant, right? His expression was a bit odd.
Once they walked away, Xiaomi and Xiaoxue resud their work.
"Xiaomi, does that Zhang An know you? Why does he keep looking at you?"
Xiaomi shook her head, "He looks sort of familiar, but I don’t know him. Maybe I’ve seen him in the fields."
After all, they’ve been in Xiangmu Village not long, and she spent half a month lying at ho. It makes sense if she saw him during occasional trips to the fields.
"Then think carefully, you rarely go out. Could it be so place you’ve t before?"
That Zhang An kept talking to Xiaomi, clearly recognizing her or having seen her before.
Xiaomi recalled what her second sister said was right; she had scarce trips to the village, eting very few people.
Soon, it dawned on Xiaomi, "Oh, I rember now. It was the day before we went to the city. My brother and I brought back so water hyacinths, right?"
Xiaoxue nodded.
"It was then. We used so branches near the pond, and on our way back, we almost got mistaken for thieves."
"So, it was him, the village chief’s child."
She still hadn’t t the village chief.
To be precise, they’ve settled in Xiangmu Village for almost a month. Due to the rain, mountain trips, and fainting, Xiaomi rarely visited the village.
Up to now, the villagers she’d seen were just those kids earlier.
Four boys and three girls, all around seven or eight years old.
Kids that age would co out together; any older, they’d start avoiding suspicion, and unless siblings, they wouldn’t go out together anymore.
Jiang Xiaoxue nodded thoughtfully, "Stay away from that Zhang An in the future, he’s too earnest."
The saying goes, ’No ulterior motives, neither treacherous nor thieving.’
Just now, Zhang An was overly enthusiastic, trying to invite them to dig bamboo shoots, making Xiaoxue very cautious.
Even if Xiaomi didn’t refuse, Xiaoxue would never agree to go with him.
Though she seldom went out or interacted with outsiders, Jiang Xiaoxue had heard many stories about swindlers.
They hadn’t been in Xiangmu Village long and were unfamiliar with everyone. If soone suddenly showed up and was very friendly, even if a child, Xiaoxue wondered if they might be a bad person.
Xiaomi was quite smart and quickly grasped her second sister’s aning, "Rest assured, second sis. I’m not a child anymore. Once Xiaohei finishes delivering babies and goes through confinent, I’ll take Xiaohei with when I go out!"
Xiaoxue nodded indeed; as long as Xiaohei accompanied her, the family would feel secure.
Speaking of Xiaohei, her belly was already very big. In about half a month, she should give birth.
Recently, she’d stayed ho, being carefully nurtured with good food and drinks, rarely going out, except for brief strolls in the morning.
She seed aware and never ventured far.
Dogs mature at one year old, and their family’s Xiaohei was brought back when Xiaomi was a year old. Now she’s already six.
Considering her as an older mother, the family was more cautious.
Even their frugal second aunt cooked Xiaohei an egg each day to ensure her nutrition.
If the other villagers knew, they’d likely gossip about them wasting resources.
The sisters talked for a bit, then continued digging bamboo shoots, planning to head down the mountain to gather wild chives once they finished their two baskets.
While digging bamboo shoots, Xiaomi’s eyes kept scanning around. After a while, she sighed and gave up.
"Second sister, have you often looked for wild boar grass in the village lately? Have you seen any fish mint anywhere?"
It’s just fish mint, but the villagers call it pigskin hole, different from the na Xiaomi rembered.
Though fish mint has many nas, as long as it’s the right plant, it doesn’t matter what it’s called.
Fish mint is a spring culinary essential, but they hadn’t tasted it yet this year.
Jiang Xiaoxue didn’t lift her head, "Pigskin hole is common; it should be around here, but we haven’t found it yet."
Ah well, seems hopeless.
Xiaomi rolled her eyes and reached for a fish mint root, an older segnt that’s no longer edible.
Casually, she threw it into a pit left by bamboo shoot digging and covered it with soil, repeating the action with each bamboo shoot she dug.
She’s determined—after ten days or so, she’ll definitely have sothing to eat!
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