“Qing’er, why don’t you skip going up the mountain today? The snow has been too heavy these past couple of days.”
The sky had just begun to brighten, and none of the neighbors were awake yet. Seeing Li Qing preparing to head out with his Back Basket, Granny Li called out to stop her grandson.
Lately, heavy snow had been falling intermittently, making the mountain paths difficult to traverse.
Qing’er was still young, and with the New Year approaching, she didn’t want the child venturing up the mountain again.
Turning to smile at his grandmother, he didn’t stop adjusting the Back Basket.
“Grandma, I won’t go deep into the mountains. Besides, I’m used to these mountain paths by now. Don’t worry!”
Knowing she couldn’t persuade her grandson, Granny Li headed to the kitchen.
When she returned, she held a small cloth bundle.
“Qing’er, take these provisions. You mustn’t go up the mountain on an empty stomach.”
As she spoke, Granny Li tucked the small bundle into Li Qing’s chest.
Li Qing knew exactly how much food remained in their household.
Every extra bite he took meant one less for his grandfather and grandmother.
How could Li Qing bear to let them go hungry? He quickly pushed the bundle back to Granny Li.
“Grandma, it’s not necessary. I’m going into the mountains precisely to find food. I won’t go hungry. You and Grandpa should cook this for lunch—don’t save any for me.”
While speaking, Li Qing moved toward the door, afraid that if he lingered, his grandmother would catch up and force the provisions on him.
In the pitch darkness and moving too quickly, Li Qing stumbled as soon as he opened the door, tumbling twice in the snow and landing flat on his back.
“Ouch!”
Fortunately, the snow was thick these days. Though he rolled a few times, Li Qing wasn’t injured—just startled.
Hearing Li Qing’s exclamation, Granny Li hurried to the door.
By the time she arrived, Li Qing had already gotten up and was examining what had tripped him.
Dawn hadn’t broken yet, and in the faint light, Li Qing could only see a fluffy, soft lump at their doorstep.
He couldn’t make out what it was, but he caught a whiff of blood.
“Qing’er, what happened?”
If Li Qing couldn’t see it clearly, Granny Li’s eyesight was even less reliable.
Summoning his courage, Li Qing quickly reached out and touched the dark mass.
In an instant, his eyes lit up, and he looked up at Granny Li with excitement.
Then, he swiftly glanced around. Seeing no movement from the neighbors, he scooped the lump into his arms, supported Granny Li, and hurried back into their yard.
“Grandma, I’m fine. Let’s go inside first.”
Hearing the cheer in Li Qing’s voice, Granny Li felt relieved—it seemed he wasn’t hurt.
Supported by Li Qing, they returned to the yard just as Grandpa Li emerged.
“Qing’er, you really shouldn’t go… Oh my heavens! Where did such a big rabbit come from?”
Leaning on his cane with one hand and holding a small torch with the other, Grandpa Li hobbled out from the house. He had been about to dissuade Li Qing from heading up the mountain when he noticed Li Qing holding a gray, fluffy mass.
Taking a closer look, it turned out to be a large gray rabbit!
Previously unable to see what Li Qing was carrying, Granny Li’s attention was now drawn by her husband’s words.
At the sight, she too was both shocked and delighted.
Li Qing placed the rabbit on the table as Old Man Li approached with a torch for a closer look.
By the torchlight, Li Qing turned the rabbit over and spotted two bloody holes on its neck.
“These wounds on the rabbit’s neck are quite large—looks like they were made by some fierce beast.”
Grandpa Li craned his neck for a better view, nodded, then grew even more puzzled.
“It does seem like it was killed by a Big Bug, but why wasn’t it eaten? Instead, it was left at our doorstep?”
Before Li Qing could respond, Old Lady Li cried out in alarm.
“A Big Bug! A Big Bug came to our door!”
Everyone in Fu’an Village knew there were Big Bugs in the back hills, but sightings near the village were rare.
The last time anyone reported seeing a Big Bug was on the day Grandpa Xu’s family welcomed their little granddaughter.
At this thought, Li Qing recalled the village rumors about Uncle Xu the Fourth’s young daughter.
His eyes shifted to the rabbit on the table, and he began to have an inkling of how this large gray rabbit had ended up at his doorstep.
After a moment of contemplation, Li Qing asked his grandparents to store the rabbit safely and dispose of it discreetly after dark. Then, he hoisted his Back Basket and left.
As Li Qing headed up the mountain, Xu Lao Nian’er was also preparing to go into the hills.
He needed to gather more firewood to keep his little granddaughter’s room warm—he couldn’t let his Xiao Fu Bao catch a chill.
With that thought, Xu Lao Nian’er felt a surge of energy, and even the wind seemed less biting.
Just as he grabbed his provisions and stepped out, he spotted Xiao Hu Zai’er leaping over the courtyard wall.
Seeing Xu Lao Nian’er, the little tiger cub tilted its head in greeting, then wiggled its way toward Li Shi’s room.
Xu Lao Nian’er stared blankly at the cub’s retreating figure, momentarily speechless.
If he wasn’t mistaken, the little fellow seemed to be carrying two palm-sized Xiao Tu Zai Zi in its mouth.
But that wasn’t the strangest part—what truly baffled him was that the two little rabbit cubs appeared to wave their paws at him as they passed.
Seriously? You’re about to become someone’s meal, and you still have the nerve to greet me?
Chuckling softly and shaking his head, Xu Lao Nian’er pulled his flatbed cart out the gate.
As the crunching sound of cart wheels on snow faded into the distance, Xiao Tianbao sensed Hu Zai’s presence and slowly opened her eyes.
“Ah!”
Her chubby hands grasped at the air, summoning her Grip Trainer.
The little tiger cub jumped onto the kang but didn’t approach the Little Dumpling right away. First, it meticulously licked its paws clean, then rolled around a couple of times on the kang—dragging the two rabbit cubs along for the tumble.
Only after shaking off all the chill from its fur did it approach the small bundle, gently placing the tip of its tail into the chubby hand.
Feeling the familiar texture, Xiao Tianbao was satisfied and drifted back to sleep.
So when Li Shi awoke, she found her precious daughter sleeping soundly, cheeks flushed pink, with one hand tugging a tiger’s ear and the other clutching the tip of its tail.
On either side of the plump little face lay two palm-sized furballs—one black, one white.
Hearing Li Shi stir, the little tiger cub cracked open an eye to glance at her before closing it again.
There was nothing to be done—currently “sealed” by its young master, it dared not move a muscle.
The two furballs, however, lifted their tiny heads.
Tiny long ears peeked out, and only then did Li Shi realize these weren’t two furballs but two little rabbits.
By the time Li Shi finished dressing, Old Mrs. Xu had also entered the room.
She went straight to Xiao Tianbao the moment she stepped inside.
Seeing the Little Dumpling still asleep, she immediately softened her footsteps, sitting only on the edge of the kang to gaze at her little granddaughter, her heart swelling with joy.
Before long, Zhao Shi and Liu Shi followed into the room, also making a beeline for Xiao Tianbao.
“Oh my! There are rabbits! They’re so tiny – not even enough to stick between teeth!”
Sharp-eyed Liu Shi spotted the two baby rabbits nestled beside Xiao Tianbao’s head and reached to grab them by the ears.
But before she could even touch a single strand of fur, the previously sleeping Xiao Tianbao suddenly opened her pitch-black, gleaming eyes.
Her small hand clutching the tiger’s tail gave a firm squeeze as a clear “Ah!” escaped her lips.
Almost simultaneously with Tianbao’s cry, Hu Zai who had been lying nearby shot upright, bared his fangs at Liu Shi, and snapped at her fingers.