This was a simple Village nestled among green mountains and clear waters, home to about a hundred households, filled with the sounds of roosters crowing and dogs barking, making it quite peaceful.
Shen Ruoxi walked and thought; she could exchange Favorability Points for items, but right now, no one was willing to approach within three meters of her—how was she supposed to gain Favorability Points?
Just as she was pondering, a sudden shriek came from the lush trees ahead.
"Ah, there's a snake! Save me quickly!"
"Save me! There's a snake! It's going to bite me!"
"Help!"
The Child's voice was mixed with terror and laced with tears.
Shen Ruoxi quickly walked over.
Under the tree, some children were using bamboo poles to help hit the snake, but they were too short, which only scared the snake further up the tree.
Shen Ruoxi arrived under the tree. "Give me the bamboo pole!"
"Ahhh, the Little Omen Star is here!!!" They were all six or seven-year-old children. Upon seeing Shen Ruoxi, they were so frightened that they dropped their bamboo poles and scattered in a panic, as if they had seen a ghost.
Seeing this scene, a memory flashed through Shen Ruoxi's mind—
One day, Shen Ruoxi was strolling leisurely through the Village when she suddenly saw a group of children playing 'Eagle Catches Chicks.' She walked over, kicked one down, sending the children sprawling onto the ground, while she stood aside laughing uncontrollably.
After that, whenever the Village children saw her, they would flee wildly as if they had seen a vicious dog.
Shen Ruoxi watched the fleeing children, her mood complicated.
"Save me, save me!!"
Shen Ruoxi picked up the longest bamboo pole, aimed precisely at the snake's head, and struck down hard. A rustling sound followed, and after a moment, a common grass snake fell to the ground.
The grass snake was quite large, as thick as an adult man's wrist.
Shen Ruoxi picked up the snake. "We have food now."
She was a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine; everything was Medicinal Herbs in her eyes, so she wasn't afraid, especially since the snake was already dead.
She looked up at the tree. The Child was clinging tightly to the trunk, like a koala. "The snake is dead, you can come down now."
Unexpectedly, upon seeing Shen Ruoxi, the Child started crying even harder. "Waaah, waah, waah..."
Shen Ruoxi remembered the Child feared her, so she softened her voice. "Come down, I won't bully you."
The Child continued to cry.
Shen Ruoxi stepped back a few paces and continued speaking gently, "I really won't bully you. Hurry and come down, or your arms will get tired, and you'll fall."
As soon as she finished speaking, the Child slid down a bit. "I... I'm scared."
Shen Ruoxi tossed the snake aside and walked toward the base of the tree, extending her arms. "Don't be afraid, I'll catch you. Come down."
The Child glanced fearfully at Shen Ruoxi, but staying up meant a worse outcome later, so he slowly slid down the tree. Finally, Shen Ruoxi grabbed his little bottom and set him on the ground.
Favorability Points increased by three, totaling four Favorability Points, enough to redeem four Steamed Buns, three Baozi, two Bread, one cake...
Shen Ruoxi looked at the Child and smiled. "Hurry home now, and don't climb trees anymore."
The Child was still very afraid of Shen Ruoxi and scurried away in a flash.
Shen Ruoxi wrapped the snake in a lotus leaf and wandered toward the County Town outside the Village. When she returned, she held four large Steamed Buns and took them home.
Sister-in-law had already returned to her room; the Kitchen was empty.
Shen Ruoxi took out the snake, cleaned it, and threw it into the pot to simmer Snake Soup. She cut each Steamed Bun in half and placed them on the steamer rack so everyone in the family could have some.
Soon, a fragrance began wafting from her Kitchen.
"Did Shen Ruoxi go stealing again?" Shen Da smelled the aroma, angrily pounding his bed. He was gravely ill and could barely get out of bed.
Shen Ruohao quickly grabbed Shen Da's hand, his expression grim. "Father, calm down. I'll go see. If the items were stolen, I will definitely make her return them."
Shen Da gritted his teeth. "Go quickly. No one here is wealthy; if she takes from others, what will others eat?"
"Mhm." Shen Ruohao limped toward the Kitchen. "Shen Ruoxi, whose things did you steal? Return them immediately."
Although she had to bear the karma of the Original Owner, Shen Ruoxi was unwilling to be questioned like this. "Kid, come look in the pot. Whose house has things like this?"
Shen Ruohao stepped forward to look: Snake Soup? Large white Steamed Buns?
Even the wealthiest family in the Village couldn't afford such large white Steamed Buns. He looked at Shen Ruoxi. "Did you steal them in the County Town?"
Shen Ruoxi took a deep breath—the world is so beautiful, I must not lose my temper. "Can't I obtain these Steamed Buns by my own hands?"
Shen Ruohao was completely unconvinced. If she could rely on her own hands, why would she be despised to this extent? "If you don't want to anger Father to death, take the items back."
Shen Ruoxi clenched her fists and took a deep breath. "I said these Steamed Buns were obtained by my own hands, not stolen or snatched. Can't you understand?"
Shen Ruohao snorted coldly. "I understand, but I don't believe it."
Unable to hold back, Shen Ruoxi also had a younger brother, and sometimes her younger brother made her furious enough to die. When arguing failed, she resorted to physical action. The sense of immersion was too strong right now; she couldn't help but slap Shen Ruohao on the back of his head. "Go get the bowls."
Shen Ruohao obediently went. Only after placing the bowls on the Stove did he realize he had been commanded by Shen Ruoxi. "You..."
Shen Ruoxi ladled the Snake Soup into the bowls. "One bowl per person, half a Steamed Bun per person. Eat while it's hot."
Shen Ruohao forgot about arguing with Shen Ruoxi. He licked his dry lips, didn't take a Steamed Bun, and carried the Snake Soup to the room, giving one bowl to his father and one to his mother. "Father, Mother, this is Snake Soup that Shen Ruoxi simmered. Please try some."
"Snake Soup?" Shen Da's eyes lit up slightly. He hadn't eaten meat in a long time, and this Snake Soup looked very delicious. Saliva was already dripping from his mouth.
Shen Ruohao handed the Spoon to his father. "Father, no one in the Village raises snakes, so this snake wasn't stolen. Eat without worry."
Shen Da tasted a small bit and found it incredibly delicious. "Does everyone have some?"
Shen Ruohao nodded. "One bowl per person in the house."
Shen Da said in disbelief, "Your Second Sister isn't hoarding it for herself this time?"
Shen Ruohao's mind cleared. "Father, if her behavior doesn't improve, she'll be sent off to Marry far away in three days. This is all an illusion; don't let this small benefit blind your eyes."
Shen Da nodded. "That's true. Let's eat; it's rare to have meat."
Shen Ruohao helped his paralyzed mother sit up against the headboard. "Mother, I'll feed you."
Xu Lanqing reached out and touched her son's face, showing five parts affection and five parts guilt. "You've worked hard, my son."
Shen Ruohao shook his head. "Mother, it's not hard work."
Outside, Shen Ruoxi knocked on Xu Lanqing's room door. "Sister-in-law, it's time to eat. I simmered Snake Soup and steamed Steamed Buns. Come out and have some."
She didn't hear a response from Xu Lanqing, but she did hear the Child crying.