Hu Niu climbed down from the sheep’s back, tugging Bai Renyi’s hand as she headed toward the riverbank. “Fishies! Fishies!”
Bai Renyi let himself be dragged to the river’s edge, where he gathered his courage, scooped up a handful of river water, and gulped it down in several hearty swallows!
The water was cool and sweet—it was real, not an illusion!
Seeing their father drink the river water, his three sons quickly crouched down, scooped up handfuls themselves, and drank eagerly!
The river water tasted as if sugar had been added to it, exceptionally sweet—no wonder the fish it nurtured were so plump, tender, and delicious!
Bai Renyi hurriedly called Da Keng over. “Da Keng!”
“Grandpa, what is it?”
“Is this place the same as last time? When you and your aunt fell down here before, did you see this river? Were the fish caught from it?”
“Yes, Grandpa! The fish were caught from this very river, and it looks exactly the same as I remember!”
Bai Renyi laughed heartily. “Seems we’ve come to the right place! Hahaha, wonderful! Our Little Tiger Girl has saved our whole family!”
With such a blessed land discovered, the family’s food supply was no longer a worry, and they wouldn’t have to flee the famine anymore.
“Little sister really is our family’s Little Lucky Star!” the three sons praised sincerely.
Bai Renyi held Little Tiger Girl, showering her with kisses, hugs, and lifting her high in the air. “Of course she is! I’ve always said my daughter is the best—you boys can step aside!”
The three brothers: “…” Dad, what did we ever do to you?
Bai Renyi said excitedly, “Since we’re here, let’s look around and see if there’s anything else edible.”
“We’ll follow your lead, Dad!”
“We’re not familiar with the terrain here, so no one goes off alone!”
“Agreed!”
Bai Renyi let his little daughter ride on his shoulders and led his three sons and one grandson deeper into the area.
The little girl wrapped her arms around her father’s neck, her Little Skyrocket Bunches bouncing with each step, making her look especially spirited.
Little White Wolf, Little White Tiger, and the nanny goat stayed close to Bai Renyi, guarding the Little Dumpling like protective escorts.
They hadn’t gone far when the Little Dumpling perched on his shoulders spoke up in her babyish voice, “Big big big radish!”
“Where are there big radishes?” Bai Renyi asked.
“Have have, big big big radish!” the Little Dumpling repeated.
“Have any of you seen big radishes?” Bai Renyi asked his grandson and sons.
“No!” they all shook their heads in unison.
“Hu Niu, you must be mistaken. There are no big radishes!”
“Have have, big big big radish!” The Little Dumpling’s face turned red with frustration.
Bai Renyi set the Little Dumpling down and cradled her in his arms, asking gently, “Little Tiger Girl, where are the big radishes?”
The little one stretched out a chubby finger and pointed to the left. “There there have… big big big radish!”
Bai Renyi and the others looked in the direction she pointed, but where were the big radishes?
Still, since Little Tiger Girl said there were, he believed her.
He took a few more steps to the left, and this time, he really saw the big radishes!
Goodness, there was a whole patch of wild radishes! They had been hidden by weeds, which was why they hadn’t noticed them earlier!
The men were thrilled and immediately bent down to dig up the wild radishes.
They had brought digging tools with them this time, and before long, Bai Laoda unearthed one wild radish!
Wild radishes usually don’t grow very large, at most reaching the size of an egg. But thanks to the long growing period here and the excellent water quality, this wild radish was even thicker than Little Tiger Girl’s arm!Bai Laoda hurriedly wiped the mud off the wild radish and eagerly took a bite. Hmm, these wild radishes were juicy, not bitter, and even slightly sweet, making them exceptionally delicious!
He passed the wild radish around for everyone to taste, and they all praised it enthusiastically.
Having found such a large patch of wild radishes, Bai Renyi decided not to venture further. Although he sensed there might be other edible things deeper in, he believed one shouldn’t be too greedy—having enough was sufficient. There were plenty of good things in the world, but could anyone possess them all? No!
Bai Renyi said to his sons, “Go gather some branches and weave a few back baskets. We’ll collect some fish and wild radishes in them later.”
The three brothers happily took Da Keng along to gather branches and soon wove five large back baskets.
The men filled one back basket with wild radishes but didn’t catch any fish yet, fearing the fish would die out of water and not stay fresh by the time they reached the cliff. They planned to catch the fish just before the exit.
Once everything was ready, Bai Renyi said, “Let’s head back. Your mother must be worried sick at home.”
“Yes, let’s hurry back!”
Little Tiger Girl mounted the goat, and the group set off grandly for home.
As they neared the exit, Bai Renyi ordered his sons to catch enough fish to fill four back baskets.
The round trip took three days, leaving Cui Shi and her daughters-in-law anxiously waiting.
Behind Cui Shi’s back, the second daughter-in-law, Zhao Ju, went to the eldest daughter-in-law Tian E’s room to gossip. She didn’t dare speak to Li Zhenzhu, fearing Li Zhenzhu’s loose tongue might let it slip to their mother-in-law.
“Eldest Sister-in-law, I think Mother is bewitched! Risking the men for some food—it’s been three days and they’re not back yet. What if something happens?”
Tian E quickly covered her mouth. “Sister-in-law, how can you curse our own men like that! Mother is doing this for the whole family. Would you rather watch everyone starve?”
“Eldest Sister-in-law, you’re always playing the good one! I’d rather starve than let my man risk his life!”
Tian E comforted her, “You’re overthinking it. With our Little Lucky Star sister-in-law along, our men will be fine!”
“Even if Sister-in-law is lucky, who’s to say she can avert danger every time? Why else would they be gone three days without any word?” Zhao Ju said with a hollow expression.
Tian E teased her playfully, “Sister-in-law, I think you’re missing your man! Can’t bear being apart for just three days?”
Zhao Ju’s face turned beet red, and she spat, “I’m not missing any man! Looks like you’re the one missing yours!”
Tian E’s face reddened too, and she reached out to tickle Zhao Ju. “We’re talking about you—why drag me into it?”
Zhao Ju, extremely ticklish, cried, “Oh, alright, Eldest Sister-in-law, I admit I miss my man! Please let me go!”
As the two sisters-in-law bantered, they heard noise outside. Who would visit so late at night?
Both rushed out and saw their husbands had returned!
Zhao Ju was overjoyed—not only was her man back, but he also carried a basket full of goods! She was about to run to him but hesitated, embarrassed by Tian E’s earlier joke.
Cui Shi came out as well, her face also lit up with delight.To be honest, Hu Niu regretted it the moment she led the men to catch fish. She hated how greedy she had been—if anything happened to the men, it would be better for the whole family to flee the famine together.
Fortunately, they all returned safe and sound!