Chapter 123: Chapter 119: A Pretty Girl Is Useless to You, but Grass You Gather Becomes Yours

The children listened to Li Minmin’s words, feeling confused, but they didn’t take it to heart.

They all knew this educated youth; lazy and greedy. Their parents told them to avoid him.

When they reached the grassland, the children scattered in small groups. Xiao Chenye took the chance to ask Wen Ran, “What’s going on here?

Why is Li Minmin here?”

Wen Ran shrugged, “Just a coincidence. When I sent her to the countryside, I just randomly picked a spot. Who knew it would be such a coincidence.”

She wanted Li Minmin to suffer a bit.

Xiao Chenye frowned, “For these couple of days, don’t wander off alone. If something happens, who can you call for help?”

Wen Ran: “!”

She squinted, “What do you mean by that? You’re looking down on me?”

Seeing that Wen Ran was about to explode, Xiao Chenye remained calm and petted her, “Oh dear, look at me and my big mouth, saying the wrong thing again.

What I meant was, she has a malicious mind. If she thinks of some evil plan, wouldn’t we be at a loss on our own?”

Wen Ran gave him a sidelong glance, “And then what?”

“Next time you go out, take me with you. I can carry stuff for you and accompany you on a walk. If you occasionally get lost, I can still… bang…”

Wen Ran, furious with embarrassment, “Xiao Chenye! Just try mentioning me getting lost again?”

“Oh, oh, oh, I was wrong. I won’t tease you anymore. Stop hitting; your hand will hurt.”

“My hand doesn’t hurt. Today I must hit you until your wing roots hurt!”

She swore!

“Ranran, no, please!”

The two laughed and played on the grassland, the children couldn’t sit still any longer. Forget catching hares or digging rabbit holes, they all gathered around, laughing and having fun together.

The storm subsided, revealing a bright blue sky.

In the sky, an eagle spread its wings and soared, trying to catch prey and fill its belly.

On the grassland, Wen Ran played the eagle, Xiao Chenye played the hen, followed by a group of little chicks, their laughter almost reaching the sky.

This was a rare moment of being carefree.

Even the nomads not far away, who were frantically gathering grass, stood up straight and looked over with smiles on their faces.

“Stop looking; no matter how much you look, they’re not yours,” an elder brother reminded: “But this grass you gather, when you get home, it’s all for the calves.”

The young man smiled, showing his white teeth, “Mingzhu is beautiful! I just want to look a few more times; I’ve never seen her before.”

“Hahaha, this young man is lovesick!”

The young man wasn’t annoyed, bending down to cut grass, “It’s time! I should get married!

Just waiting for the cattle and sheep to be sold this year. Once sold, I’ll have money to marry Zhuo Na.”

He wanted to marry Zhuo Na in the summer, so he had to work harder now.

Life still held promise.

~

On the grassland, miracles were normal.

Wen Ran dug out chestnuts, soybeans, pine cones, and grass seeds from a hare’s nest—winter supplies gathered from who knows where, a dazzling assortment.

Xiao Chenye was stunned for a moment. In the end, from one hare’s nest, they dug out five pounds of scattered grain.

Wen Ran didn’t lack these things, but…

The joy of a bountiful harvest had her grinning with glee.

“Hahaha, Xiao Chenye! This is so much fun!”

“Let’s go,” seeing Wen Ran happy, Xiao Chenye couldn’t help but smile, “I’ll take you to dig out a few more.”

“Yes, yes, yes!”

However, Wen Ran felt as if, for a moment, she saw a tiny bright yellow figure. But when she turned, it vanished.

Wen Ran: “?”

Oh no, she must have run too much earlier and jumbled her brain.

Leaving the grass seeds behind, Wen Ran and Xiao Chenye brought back over seven pounds of grain, and their demeanor on the way back was totally different.

“By the way, when are we heading back?”

“After the New Year, just a couple of days left.”

Xiao Chenye looked at the bright blue sky over the grassland, unable to decipher what mood nature was in. Just a few days ago, it felt like a blizzard could hit any minute.

Now this…

It was like a child fake crying, all noise and no action.

But, no disaster was good news.

Back home, they found that little Minmin had cried herself hoarse. Upon seeing Wen Ran return, she pursed her lips, tears welling up in her eyes.

She reached out her arms, wanting to be hugged.

Xiao Chenyue was both amused and annoyed, watching as Wen Ran took off her dirty, dusty outer robe, before reaching out to take the child.

“Careful,” Xiao Chenyue worried about Wen Ran’s hand, and Xiao Chenye hurriedly took off his robe, eager to hold the child.

But Minmin seemed to only want Wen Ran. As soon as she saw Xiao Chenye, she started spitting.

As if seeking revenge.

She remembered this morning, it was him who brought her back.

Xiao Chenye: “…”

Unfazed, he wiped away the spit calmly, saying, “No problem.”

Wen Ran laughed so hard it hurt. “This little snot-nosed thing knows how to hold a grudge, huh?”

Finally feeling happy, Minmin saw Wen Ran wasn’t leaving and settled on the kang, playing with her toys.

They were building blocks made by Mr. Xiao over the past few days, with all the edges smoothed out, safe for the child to play with.

“How did you bring back so much mixed grain?”

Wen Ran gestured energetically, “We went digging in the hare holes; it’s all spoils of war.”

Mrs. Xiao looked at the mixed grain, smacking her lips, feeling something was off but couldn’t pinpoint it, so she didn’t mention it.

A small figure scurried across the newly snow-covered roof ridge, dangling upside down from the eaves, eyes wide open, watching without blinking.

Outside, it seemed like the sky suddenly turned dark.

At night, they had mixed grain porridge; the family was vibrant. With the New Year approaching, Mrs. Xiao began assigning tasks, “Tomorrow, let’s have the literate children in the house write some lucky phrases on red paper; we’ll have some fun too.”

“Sure,” Xiao Chenyue was smiling but the smile didn’t reach her eyes; they were veiled with a thick layer of sorrow.

She understood that after the new year, she would once again be separated from her family.

As joyful and full of laughter as the previous day was, the next day was equally solitary and cold.

She couldn’t bear it.

Turning her eyes away, Xiao Chenyue quickly wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes with her fingers.

No one noticed, except for Minmin, who looked at her mother somewhat confused, and earnestly handed over a round-headed block, “Ah! Ah yi~”

Mom, don’t cry, play~

Looking at her own flesh and blood, Xiao Chenyue could no longer hold it in.

She held Minmin and cried heartbreakingly.

Can’t bear it!

She really couldn’t bear it.

Mrs. Xiao scolded, “You naughty child, the New Year is almost here, why are you crying?”

Though scolding, the tone couldn’t hide the choke in it.

How could Mrs. Xiao not feel heartache?

Xiao Chenyue was her first daughter, raised tenderly in the palm of her hand.

Suddenly being thousands of miles apart, she couldn’t bear it either.

“Mom~”

Xiao Chenyue released Minmin and turned to embrace Mrs. Xiao, “Mom, I can’t bear to leave you, I can’t bear you leaving…”

Xiao Chenxing also leaned on Mrs. Xiao’s back and started crying silently.

Parting is a subject that Wen Ran might never pass for life.

Her eyes were red, she sniffled, and took Minmin into her arms. Hongguo also came over, tearful and cautious, “Sister.”

“Hmm?”

She extended her hand, lovingly embracing Wen Ran’s neck, “I won’t ever be parted from you in this life.”

Wen Ran’s heart softened, “Alright, we won’t be apart in this life.”

Outside, a crescent moon hung high, the snowflakes fell like sprites, floating down.

The night in the Northwest, in the absence of wind, is also a beautiful painting.

A single lamp flickered, and everyone’s mood calmed down. Xiao Chenyue also came to terms with everything.

Now, this parting is temporary.

In the future, there will be plenty of opportunities to reunite, it’s just…

She set her sights on Xiao Chenxing, “Star.”

Xiao Chenxing shivered, awkwardly, “Sis, what’s up?”

“After going back, don’t fall behind with your lessons, and from now on, write to me twice a month, reporting your learning progress.”

Xiao Chenxing: “…”

She instantly wilted, “Sis~”

“Not even calling for Dad will help.”

Sitting in the corner, joking with Minmin was Mr. Xiao, “?”

What Dad?

Wen Ran was amused to death, feeling that adapting to such a lively atmosphere, going back to her little room would probably feel lonely.

However, looking at her feet, seeing Hongguo still lying on the kang writing and drawing with a pen, Wen Ran felt mostly comforted.

It’s nice, relying on each other, hearts find a resting place.

Perhaps noticing Wen Ran’s gaze, Hongguo raised her head, “Sis?”

“Hmm.”

Hongguo perked up, “Sis, why were you looking at me just now?”

To say goodbye was still quite sensitive for the Xiao Family at this moment.

Wen Ran lowered her voice, “I was thinking, after going back, I’ll get you a kang table, and then a desk.”

Hongguo was delighted, “Sis!”

“Do you want it?”

“Want!” Hongguo nodded like a pecking chick, “Want it!”

“Then don’t study these days, just take it easy for a while.”

After going home, everything will return to normal, then slowly work it out.

“Huh?” Hongguo hesitated, “Even idle, I’m doing nothing, learning a bit more words will help catch up faster in school later.”

Fine, her own child wants to be enterprising, and all Wen Ran could do was support with both hands.

She even thought about, when writing to Chen Wan later, asking her to get some basic literacy cards and textbooks?

At that time, she would prepare more thank-you gifts for the Chen Family.

Decided, that’s how to do it.

Without Wen Ran speaking, on that end, Xiao Chenyue started chiding Xiao Chenxing, “Xiao Chenxing, look at the difference. You’re just a stubborn donkey pulling a cart!

You don’t move when pulled, and you retreat when hit, asking you to study a bit, like who knows what. When will you be sensible like Hongguo?”

Xiao Chenxing glanced at Hongguo, turned around, and retorted righteously, “In my next life!”

“Xiao Chenxing, I’ll beat you to death.”

“Mom!” Xiao Chenxing’s eyes were full of terror, “Save me, Second Sister is going to kill me~”

“Yueyue, don’t…”

.

The single lamp was snuffed out, the room plunged into darkness, and everyone cuddled up to sleep.

A small silhouette appeared once more, gazing in through the window, as its eyes, like black beans, shed a single tear.

Its home~

Was emptied completely just like that.

Can’t live anymore.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep