Hui Niang had never lied before, so she felt a bit nervous. She bit the tip of her tongue and gave a soft smile.
“Old lady, you don’t know, but my daughter is blessed with great fortune. Ever since she was born, we’ve often been able to pick things up.”
This sounded quite far-fetched, but older people were often very receptive to such claims.
The old lady looked at Gan Tian with eyes full of affection.
“The first time I saw Tian’er, I thought this child looked so fair and tender. One look and you can tell she’s no ordinary child—perhaps she’s the reincarnation of the Shenxian Niangniang from the heavens.”
Gan Tian was already numb to the title of Shenxian Niangniang.
As long as everyone could accept the food and not suspect that she was the one conjuring it, she didn’t mind being called the reincarnation of a Shenxian Niangniang.
Because of the appearance of these vegetables, the Gan Family had to slow their pace.
The cabbage was pickled into sauerkraut.
The potatoes, eggplants, and beans were all dried in the sun.
Those vegetables looked like a lot, but after being turned into dried goods, they didn’t take up much space.
The large pot in the house hadn’t been idle these past few days; it was nearly burned through.
While Hui Niang and the old lady were making dried vegetables, Gan Fanren was busy developing chili water.
He repeatedly adjusted the ratio of chili to water, eventually producing a Qiangli Lajiaoshui that satisfied him.
When this chili water was splashed on someone, it felt searingly hot, more painful than being pricked by needles.
Although he hadn’t tried splashing it in anyone’s eyes, he could imagine how agonizing that would be.
Seeing this, Gan Tian “friendlily” provided spray bottles.
【Put the chili water inside. With one press of a button, you can spray it out.】
Hearing his daughter’s inner thoughts, Gan Fanren pretended to study the objects for a while before filling them with the chili water.
“Each of you carry one of these. If you encounter danger, just press here and spray.”
Five-year-old Gan Huaibi was eager to try it out, holding the spray bottle.
Worried that the chili water would be used on their own people, Gan Fanren warned, “Never spray this on our own.”
Gan Huaibi’s eyes darted around. He didn’t spray it on a person, but he did spray it on a bird.
Under the attack of the chili water, the little bird actually fell from the tree.
Gan Huaibi picked it up, roasted it, and ate it.
“This is great!” Gan Huaibi looked at the spray bottle in his hand with surprise. “With this, we’ll have meat to eat from now on.”
Seeing this, the always steady and gentle eldest brother, Gan Huaizhong, also felt a bit restless.
He actually went along with Gan Huaibi to look for small animals.
Li Zhi wasn’t at ease and followed behind them.
When that brat Gan Huaibi saw an adult was with them, he actually dared to use the chili water to provoke a wild boar.
Even if a wild boar’s eyes couldn’t see, it still had its strength. It wasn’t going to be caught as easily as a little bird.
The wild boar rampaged, charging straight toward the Gan brothers.
If Li Zhi hadn’t been there, the two brothers might have lost their lives.
Gan Fanren was so angry that he took a bamboo switch and gave Gan Huaibi a harsh thrashing.
The brutal scene made Gan Tian’s lips twitch.
【I remember the book saying that Second Brother has a low sensitivity to pain. Being hit doesn’t feel especially painful for him. I wonder if it’s true.】
No wonder every time this boy was hit, he was back to being lively and energetic in no time.
Gan Fanren gave a cold laugh.
Low pain sensitivity, huh?
Can’t remember the pain, right?
He would make sure the boy remembered it well today.
Gan Fanren took out the largest porcelain bowl in the house, filled it with water, and made Gan Huaibi balance it on his head.
“Hold it steady. The water must not be spilled within one hour. If it spills, you don’t eat today.”
【Father, Second Brother loves meat the most. We’re having wild boar meat today! If you don’t let him eat meat, isn’t that just killing him?】
Tears welled in Gan Huaibi’s eyes. Only his younger sister understood him.
He looked at Hui Niang for help. “Mother, I know I was wrong. Can you please stop punishing me?”
The handsome and cute little boy looked so pitiful that Hui Niang’s heart began to soften.
But this time, Gan Huaibi had really gone too far.
If Li Zhi hadn’t been following them, he might have lost his life.
She had to let her son learn his lesson this time.
Hui Niang looked away, not daring to meet Gan Huaibi’s eyes, for fear she would cave.
Gan Huaibi cried heart-wrenchingly, “Mother, don’t you love me anymore?”
“I knew it. I’m redundant in this family. No one cares for me, no one loves me. I’m just a little ‘white cabbage’ left in the cold.”
“Sister, look at your brother. Look at how your brother is being bullied.”
Gan Tian nodded sympathetically.
【Brother, you’ve been wronged. When I grow up, I’ll buy you delicious food.】
The wild boar meat smelled truly fragrant as it cooked.
To make Gan Huaibi remember the lesson, Gan Fanren roasted the meat directly.
The aroma of the meat, toasted by the fire, drifted away with the wind.
Gan Huaibi’s stomach growled, but he could only watch.
Perhaps because he was so infuriated, Gan Fanren was truly determined this time. No matter how Gan Huaibi acted pitiful, he remained indifferent.
Gan Huaibi stood there balancing the water bowl for a full hour.
By the end, Gan Huaibi’s arms were as limp as noodles. He sobbed and begged Gan Fanren to forgive him just this once.
Gan Tian was moved to tears watching him.
【Second Brother did do something wrong, but this punishment is too heavy. My heart aches for him, boohoo…】
Gan Huaibi endured the punishment on an empty stomach, thinking he might get something to eat after it was over.
But to his surprise, Gan Fanren wouldn’t give him even a morsel.
Gan Tian quietly pushed her milk bottle toward Gan Huaibi.
【Brother, drink the milk. The milk is very sweet.】
Boohoo, sister is still the best.
Sister is truly his little warm coat.
Gan Huaibi quietly took his sister’s milk bottle, removed the nipple, and gulped down a few mouthfuls.
“It’s delicious.”
Gan Huaibi’s eyes lit up. “As expected of something bestowed by the Shenxian Niangniang. It’s so good.”
Who wouldn’t love sweet, fragrant milk powder?
Gan Huaibi didn’t forget that this was his sister’s meal, so he stopped after a few sips.
“Thank you, Sister. When you can walk, Brother will take you out to play.”
Gan Tian responded to Gan Huaibi with a sweet smile.
【In my past life, I was an orphan and was so envious of people who had families. I have one in this life, so I never have to envy others again.】
Hearing Gan Tian’s inner thoughts, a flash of heartache passed through the eyes of the Gan Family members.
For a girl to have no family, she must have suffered so much.
Though they didn’t know what Tian’er’s past life was like, she must have endured a lot of hardship.
Since they were fated to be family in this life, they would surely cherish and love Tian’er.
They wouldn’t let anyone bully her.
The wild boar Li Zhi caught was quite large. The Gan Family spent six or seven days processing it before the meat was completely dried.
Although dried meat didn’t taste as good as fresh meat, the Gan Family was generous with their seasonings. It tasted great just to chew on, and even better when boiled in the pot.
Gan Fanren distributed the dried pork, giving everyone some to eat as snacks.
The old lady couldn’t bear to eat hers and gave it all to the two Gan brothers.
Gan Huaizhong, not being as focused on food as Gan Huaibi, declined and didn’t accept it.
Gan Huaibi, however, wasn’t polite at all and stuffed the dried meat directly into his pockets.