As soon as Su Jianye returned home, he saw his mother sitting in the Main Hall, puffing on her tobacco pipe, her face etched with anxiety.
"Mother, what's wrong with Ruan Bao?"
"She's in the room. I just checked her pulse, and she doesn't seem sick, but she's been sleeping like this for almost half an hour and hasn't woken up. I'm uneasy, so I asked Yunting to call you back."
Su Jianye's heart skipped a beat, and he hurried into the room to check.
Fortunately, her complexion wasn't too bad; she just looked like she was sleeping.
Su Jianye reached out with a trembling hand to check her wrist. Yes, the pulse was clear and strong, not like someone who was ill.
When Su Jianye came back out, he was much calmer.
"Mother, what happened?"
Grandma Su hesitated for a moment before telling her Son the scene she witnessed on the mountain.
Su Jianye's mouth dropped wide open upon hearing it; he was clearly startled.
Grandma Su sighed. She couldn't blame him; after all, who would believe such an unbelievable thing?
Moreover, since they were currently cracking down on superstition and belief in ghosts and spirits, even fewer people would believe it.
But Grandma Su believed her own eyes, and even more so, she believed in her granddaughter's ability.
"Ruan Bao became listless right after that Wild Boar suddenly vanished. Then she just fell asleep on Huo Yunting's back. I wonder if our granddaughter used her spiritual power and got too tired?"
Su Jianye quickly stepped forward and covered his dear mother's mouth with one hand.
"My dear Mother, you dare say anything! If people overheard that, wouldn't they tie you up and parade you through the streets?"
Grandma Su realized she had been careless just now. Her eyes darted, and then she slapped Su Jianye's hand away.
"You smell of sweat, aren't you dirty!"
Su Jianye chuckled twice, then sat down to the side and said, "Mother, whether it's true or not, as long as our Ruan Bao is fine, that's all that matters."
Grandma Su nodded. With her son diverting the conversation, she wasn't as worried anymore.
The mother and son chatted intermittently in the Main Hall, and in a short while, they had both relaxed considerably.
Su Xiaoruan felt heavy in her head and light in her feet, and it seemed like all her strength had left her; even moving a hand was difficult.
In a daze, she seemed to enter the Space again and saw a Wild Boar lying on the floor of the meat supply area in the Supermarket.
Before she could get a clear look, her head started throbbing again, and then she fell into a deep sleep.
When Su Xiaoruan woke up again, the whole family had returned from work.
Zhao Yingzi had already prepared dinner, and Zhao Hongmei was sitting on the edge of the kang guarding her.
Upon seeing her Daughter open her eyes, Zhao Hongmei was overjoyed.
"You're finally awake. Your Grandma didn't explain clearly; she just said you got tired today and sprained your ankle coming down the mountain. How do you feel now? Does your foot hurt? Do you have any strength back?"
Su Xiaoruan smiled; her little face was rosy, and she was perfectly fine!
"Mother, I'm fine. Where is Grandma?"
"She's in the Main Hall. She said she would come see you once you woke up."
Zhao Hongmei walked outside as she spoke.
Grandma Su, learning that her precious granddaughter was awake, immediately hurried over.
"Ruan Bao, how are you? Are you still dizzy?"
Su Xiaoruan shook her head, then glanced at her, but said nothing.
Grandma Su coughed lightly. "Ruan Bao got tired today. Hongmei, go steam an egg custard for Ruan Bao. Then add some vinegar and sesame oil."
"Okay, I'll go right now."
With no one else in the room, Su Xiaoruan tugged on her Grandma's sleeve and asked, "Grandma, what did you see?"
Grandma Su knew what she was asking about and recounted the miraculous scene she had witnessed.
"Ruan Bao, did Grandma's eyes deceive her?"
Su Xiaoruan shook her head, looked around left and right, then slowly closed her eyes, intending to let her consciousness enter the Space to check on that Wild Boar again.
The Wild Boar had no wounds on its body, but it was just lying there motionless.
Su Xiaoruan immediately perked up and went forward to test it.
Good heavens!
The Wild Boar was actually lifeless.
Su Xiaoruan was delighted internally, but she worried that once she left this Space, the Wild Boar might come back to life.
If that were the case, she would have to be very careful.
Su Xiaoruan opened her eyes and said, "Grandma, please bring me a few pieces of straw rope; I have an important use for them."
How could Grandma Su refuse?
Su Xiaoruan asked her Grandma to stand guard at the door while she quickly took the straw rope into the Space.
With nimble hands and feet, she securely tied up the Wild Boar before coming back out.
"Grandma, did you tell anyone about the Wild Boar disappearing?"
Grandma Su paused. "I told your father. You were unconscious at the time, and I was quite scared."
"Okay, then call Father in. Remember to have Father bring his tools."
Grandma Su understood and quietly called Su Jianye in.
Of course, she didn't forget to bring in two sickles as well.
The mother and son each held one, standing ready.
When Su Xiaoruan saw this setup, she almost wanted to laugh.
Although Su Xiaoruan was certain the Wild Boar was dead, she was still worried about the special nature of the Space; once outside the Space, who could guarantee the Wild Boar wouldn't revive?
So, with that thought, the Wild Boar appeared before the few of them without any warning.
Su Xiaoruan controlled it as much as possible with her mind, so when the Wild Boar landed, there was no sound at all.
Su Jianye was so scared his legs went weak.
Was his own Daughter an immortal, or had she been possessed by some monster!
The three of them stared at the Wild Boar on the ground. After a long while, Su Jianye, being the bolder one, stepped forward to touch it.
Yes, he confirmed the Wild Boar was indeed lifeless.
"Ruan Bao, this Wild Boar is completely dead."
Su Xiaoruan was overjoyed. It was good that it was dead; that way, she wouldn't have to worry about the Wild Boar hurting people anymore.
Furthermore, in the future, when she went up the mountain, she would have a means of self-protection.
"Grandma, how should we handle this Wild Boar?"
Grandma Su circled the Wild Boar twice. "This Wild Boar must weigh over two hundred catties. Ruan Bao, how about we sell it for money?"
The family hadn't been lacking good food lately; they didn't need this one meal of meat.
The key was that constantly eating meat would inevitably draw attention.
Eating less would, at least, be safer.
Su Xiaoruan had no objection, but how would they get this Wild Boar to the Town?
Such a large animal wasn't a joke to move.
Moreover, if they ran into trouble with bandits, Su Jianye could also be in danger.
"After we eat, you go to the State-run Restaurant in Town and ask if they'll buy it. If they do, agree on a time and place—preferably at the foot of the mountain behind our village, as few people go there, and you'll be safer."
"Deal, I'll go ask right away."
Su Xiaoruan suddenly remembered a question: "It's a bit unreasonable that the Wild Boar has no wounds, isn't it?"