Chapter 29
Release the Bees
Xiaoguo was overjoyed and pulled on the vine. With a strong pull, the plant was revealed. Several potatoes of different sizes hung from the vine. These were mountain potatoes.
These potatoes were growing under this fertile and moist soil—Xiaoguo looked around—the hillside was covered in vines. She was delighted and began to make markings so that she could find her way here again. This place was located on the opposite end of her usual route, so she had never been here before. Fortunately, she happened to chance upon it this time.
Xiaoguo wanted to do some harvesting now, but her basket was full. She had no choice but to return home first.
After making up her mind, Xiaoguo quickly brought Zhuang Zhuang home. Zhuang Zhuang did not know why his mother was so excited all of a sudden, but he was happy to see her that way. He reminded himself not to be a burden to his mother. Rejecting his mother’s offer to help, Zhuang Zhuang carried the small basket on his back and followed her home.
After returning home, Xiaoguo put the fish in water to keep them alive. Then, she emptied all the grass from the baskets. Zhuang Zhuang was appointed to guard the fish—to prevent them from jumping out. With all that in place, Xiaoguo left for the mountains to pick those potatoes.
Zhuang Zhuang sat obediently in front of the basin and watched the fish. He was zealously carrying out the task that his mother had assigned him.
Xiaoguo quickened her pace as she reached the top of the mountains. She took out her rake and began to dig up the potatoes. With the help of the rake, she managed to fill the basket very quickly. Xiaoguo wiped her sweat in satisfaction.
This must be what it means to be tired and happy at the same time.
With these potatoes, she had a new recipe for the fish balls.
Xiaoguo covered the remaining potatoes with some soil, and headed down the hill.
She had just reached her doorstep when a mean female voice sounded behind her. “Oh my, so you really eat grass. You should have said so earlier. I would definitely have helped you since we were from the same village. Aiyo, why didn’t you say so earlier…”
Xiaoguo recognized the voice immediately.
“Li Zhaodi
… ”
Xiaoguo did not leave. Instead, she stopped and turned to look at the woman. “Aiyo, Zhaodi, I was wondering who it was. I didn’t know that I would see ghosts in broad daylight.” After saying that, she covered her mouth and laughed.
Li Zhaodi was so angry that her face turned green. She did look a little like someone from hell. Xiaoguo laughed mockingly. Li Zhaodi snorted heavily and said, “My old man Liu has been promoted. What’s his title again? Oh I had forgotten. He gets five taels of silver every month. Our Old Liu… Our Old Liu…”
Li Zhaodi kept talking about her Old Liu. Xiaoguo listened calmly and clapped her hands as she listened. Watching Xiaoguo’s reaction to her words, Li Zhaodi didn’t know how to continue anymore. She cursed Xiaoguo in her heart and felt snubbed. No matter what she said, Xiaoguo didn’t seem to care. In the end, she couldn’t take it anymore and left dejectedly. As she walked away, she continued mumbling to herself. Xiaoguo looked around and found a medium-sized stone. She aimed at a beehive not far from Li Zhaodi and counted down silently. “In three, two, one… ” On the last count, she aimed and hit the beehive. It fell on Li Zhaodi’s head. Li Zhaodi reached out to feel what had fallen on her and the bees instantly flew out with loud buzzing sounds. The woman hugged her head and fled.
Xiaoguo took a moment to relish in Li Zhaodi’s misery. Then she began to make her way home at a leisurely pace. The beehive was small, so the stings wouldn’t kill Li Zhaodi, but it was enough to put her out for a while.
Zhuang Zhuang had run out of the house when he heard the commotion. He happened to see Li Zhaodi running away in her sorry state. He laughed in amusement at the sight.
“This bad person always came to provoke his mother, and she would always be very affected after Li Zhaodi had left. What a bad person she was.”
Zhuang Zhuang thought to himself.
Xiaoguo didn’t expect Zhuang Zhuang to see it, but nevertheless, she laughed and brought Zhuang Zhuang back into the house.