Ye Anran stood up from the ground and brushed her small hands.
Although the wild chickens had been drawn over by her wood-based ability, none of them had any consciousness or understanding of speech.
She couldn’t understand them, and they couldn’t understand her. So there was no psychological burden at all in thinking about eating them.
Grandma Ye looked at her.
“My little treasure, should we keep all these wild chickens for ourselves, or sell some?”
Ye Anran casually pointed to two fat wild chickens and looked at Grandma Ye.
“Grandma, let’s keep these two for us to eat. As for the rest, while they’re all still alive, maybe Father can take them out to sell. With so many, surely some wealthy families would love to eat wild game?”
Grandpa Ye chimed in from the side,
“There are taverns in town that buy wild game from the mountains; the price is even higher than for farmed poultry.”
Ye Qing’an, standing nearby, couldn’t stop swallowing nervously and tugged at Ye Anran.
“Little sister, you’re amazing! You caught so many wild chickens. Grandma says you’re a fairy child. When I grow up, I’ll become a general and protect you!”
Ye Anran lightly flicked his nose.
“All right, all right. Little sister will wait for you to become a general so you can protect me.”
Ye Qing’an nodded firmly. He had heard from Da Zhuang in the village that generals were respected and could protect those they cared about. He also had people he wanted to protect. He resolved to work hard and, one day, become a general alongside Da Zhuang.
While the children were busy daydreaming, a crowd had gathered outside. Most were chasing after the wild chickens and ended up at the Ye family’s door, whispering among themselves.
“Looks like the chickens flew straight to the Ye house.”
“Yeah, I think so too. Maybe they were just passing by.”
“Who knows? Should we go ask?”
They knocked on the door. Hearing the knocks, Grandma Ye came to open it, seeing familiar villagers at the entrance.
“What’s the matter? Is something wrong?”
The villagers fidgeted awkwardly.
“Aunt Ye, we were chasing wild chickens down the mountain, and it seemed like they flew toward your house. Did you happen to see any chickens?”
Grandma Ye was about to deny it when one of the women noticed the feathers scattered across the yard. She squinted, realizing there were clearly wild chickens there.
Grandma Ye’s heart sank. When they had captured the chickens earlier, quite a few feathers had been plucked, and now it was obvious to outsiders that the Ye household had wild chickens.
Clearing her throat, she said,
“Well, what a coincidence. One wild chicken flew to our house and was caught by the little one here. We were just going to stew it for soup. Just one! If there were more, we’d have shared some with you.”
The villagers, hearing this, were disappointed and muttered as they turned to leave.
At the village entrance, they discussed amongst themselves:
“You didn’t see it. We chased a whole flock from the mountain, and they went straight to the Ye house. But Aunt Ye says she only saw one—maybe that’s true!”
“Yeah, wild chickens are strange. We never see them in the mountain paths, probably hiding deep in the forest. How did they suddenly fly to the Ye house?”
An older woman in her fifties suddenly remarked:
“Looks like Third Uncle Ye brought back a lucky little girl. Otherwise, the Ye household, always plagued with bad luck, wouldn’t have wild chickens flying to them.”
The crowd murmured in agreement. Everyone knew the Ye family’s history of misfortune.
In previous years, when harvests were good, any rabbits the Ye family brought home were stolen by foxes.
Even when crops were fine and drying in the sun, rains or winds always ruined the Ye family’s grains.
Now, though, luck seemed to be on their side. Wolves had come to the Ye house, but hadn’t harmed anyone, and had even left a wild boar behind for the village. Villagers carefully preserved the meat, knowing its value.
At the village entrance, a few women from neighboring Wangjia Village watched the scene unfold, ever eager for gossip.
After chatting a bit, they left to go to Wang Cuihua’s house.
When they arrived, Wang Cuihua was sweeping the yard, and Li Zhaodi was chopping firewood. The gossiping women followed her, ready to stir trouble.
“Cuihua, how can you have time to work? Don’t you know your little granddaughter caught a huge wild chicken for the Ye family? What a sight! You, as her grandmother, probably didn’t even get a share.”
Wang Cuihua glanced at the nosy woman and glared.
“Go away! That contract was already signed. Whatever was caught has nothing to do with us. Go!”
Though Wang Cuihua ground her back teeth in anger, she didn’t want outsiders meddling.
Li Zhaodi, however, was determined. She put down her tools and addressed Wang Cuihua:
“Mother, I’m going to Xinghua Village to see for myself. If that brat really caught a wild chicken, I want at least half of it! That little girl was tricked away by Wang Xianger with just a bit of cornmeal. We can’t let the Ye family benefit for free!”
Wang Cuihua nodded.
“Then go ahead!”
Li Zhaodi stormed out of the yard, followed by the gossiping woman eager to watch the scene unfold.
She marched to the Ye family’s door and began pounding on it.
Grandma Ye slapped the table in frustration. These gossipers were relentless!
Just after sending away the first crowd, now another troublemaker had arrived.
Grandma Ye opened the door, seeing a young woman she didn’t recognize.
“Who are you looking for?”
Li Zhaodi shoved her aside.
“Move, old woman! Call out that little girl! Did she catch a wild chicken from the mountain? As her mother, I didn’t even get a share, but you, unrelated to her by blood, are benefiting?”