Chapter 120: Little Black’s Cunning Schemes

"Grandmother, I am sorry." After watching the village head depart, Chen Tianming looked at his grandmother, whose face had turned ash-gray, and then at his aunt, who was slowly pulling herself up by the door. The sound of sobbing deepened in his voice: "Aunt, it is my fault. I am sorry."

At this moment, he once again felt that he had committed a grave error. Fortunately, he was leaving home; it would make life a little easier for his grandmother and aunt. Besides, with his uncle still around, out of respect for him, the villagers would not abandon them.

However, he had originally intended to help his aunt raise his young cousin, but now, he would have to leave her to shoulder the burden alone.

"Forget it, don't talk about that anymore." Old Mrs. Chen regained her composure and, while speaking, helped Xiao Tao back into the house.

On the eighth day of the lunar new year, Bai Xi once again received the New Year's greetings from the entire village. However, unlike the first day of the year, she did not have to hand out red envelopes this time.

For the past few days, Bai Xi had been doing nothing but eating and drinking; she had sampled several different styles of roasted meat alone.

Xiao Hei had managed to bring back some wild game from somewhere that Bai Xi had never seen before. Each weighed between three to five pounds, and the meat was incredibly delicious. Whether roasted, pan-fried, stewed, or steamed, it was exquisite.

Bai Xi took a liking to it immediately. She asked Chen Zhaodi, but even she had never seen such a creature. It turned out that Old Man Li had caught a couple before; it was only when Li Qingmei came to deliver quail eggs to Bai Xi and mentioned it in passing that they learned what it was.

This creature was called a "Guji." They existed deep in the mountains of Niuluo Mountain, but were rarely seen because they were adept at digging holes and were extremely alert. Mostly nocturnal, they were very difficult to capture.

Upon learning that Bai Xi liked them, Li Qingmei immediately promised to tell her father to keep an eye out for them when he went into the mountains.

Xiao Hei, who was gnawing on a pork bone to sharpen its teeth nearby, glanced over and scoffed inwardly: *As if! I, Master Xiao Hei, scoured half the mountain just to catch a few. Do you think they’re as easy to catch as wild rabbits?*

Spring planting was approaching, and it happened to coincide with a light rain.

As the saying goes, spring rain is as precious as oil, and everyone in Niuluo Village was busy working in the fields, dressed in straw rain capes. Every day, the sound of Chen Daliu ringing the bell to urge everyone to get to work could be heard.

Of course, recalling the grain seeds that had been confiscated earlier, many in Niuluo Village still grumbled with indignation.

After the rice was sown in the paddies, peanuts and sweet potatoes had to be planted in the fields. The land could not be left empty; only then could people ensure their stomachs would be full at harvest time.

The newly purchased piglets were already housed in the pigsty. Encouraged by the success of the six pigs raised last year, the village decided to raise two more this time—after all, they could be sold for money after being slaughtered next year.

Bai Xi, knowing this, had even strolled over to take a look when the piglets were first brought back.

The villagers had originally wanted to ask Bai Xi to place the piglets into the sty herself. After all, having passed through the hands of the "Great Aunt," perhaps the piglets would grow up big and strong.

But Bai Xi refused without a second thought. Are you kidding? Those piglets were covered in pig dung.

Xiao Hei was also nearby. On the way back, relying on the fact that no one else could understand beast language, it suggested to Bai Xi with a righteous air: "Master, why don't I go snatch one and have Bai An'an roast it? That kid has a knack for roasting things, and I’ve heard roasted suckling pig is quite delicious."

In truth, Bai An'an's skill was only mediocre, not particularly good, but Xiao Hei was doing it on purpose.

If they roasted one of the village's piglets, even if it ended up in Bai Xi's stomach, no one would blame her; they would only blame the one who roasted it.

The reason Xiao Hei suggested Bai An'an was simple: the person who had first suggested that Bai Xi handle the piglets was none other than Bai An'an's father.

Xiao Hei thought indignantly: *If you want the Master to hold a piglet and put it in the sty, where does that leave me, Master Xiao Hei?*

It had only been held by the Master a few times when it was a cub. Now that it was grown, the Master would at most sit on it or step on its back; it rarely got to be held anymore.

Even so, the Master's embrace belonged to it. Since when was it the turn of those cats, dogs, or pigs?

If even a spirit beast like itself couldn't be held by the Master, what were those mere cats, dogs, or pigs?

As the saying goes, the father's debt must be paid by the son. Since Bai Dashan had offended Xiao Hei, his son would just have to suffer the consequences.

Hearing this, Bai Xi glanced at Xiao Hei and retorted sharply, "I actually quite like eating roasted tiger."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Hei shivered in fear. It looked up at Bai Xi with a pitiful expression, whimpering and acting coy: "Master, if you roast Xiao Hei, Xiao Hei won't be able to accompany you anymore."

Seeing that Bai Xi remained unmoved, Xiao Hei whined again: "Master, I can catch many, many Gujis for you."

"Show some backbone!" Did it think she didn't know what the little thing was plotting?

She didn't mind eating roasted suckling pig, but these were collective village property. Everyone was counting on slaughtering them at the end of the year for meat and money. As the "Great Aunt," if she were to eat the village's pig on a whim, how could she maintain her dignity as an elder in the future?

When Chen Rui caught up, she heard Bai Xi scolding Xiao Hei. She was a bit confused but didn't ask, simply following along quietly. She understood that Xiao Hei must have said something wrong again.

Xiao Hei begged for mercy and promised to catch ten Gujis to make amends before Bai Xi finally released its ears.

After Xiao Hei dashed off into the mountains, Chen Rui spoke up: "Great Aunt, I'm going to school tomorrow."

The school had relocated to the commune. It was far away, and the lunch break was short, so she would have to leave early and return late.

"Alright, go ahead and study hard." Chen Daliu had come to ask for Bai Xi's opinion, wanting to suggest she go to school as well—even if she couldn't learn much, it would be good to at least sit in on the lessons.

However, Bai Xi refused. She wasn't a real toddler, after all; why would she need to sit there and babble over books?

Chen Daliu thought about it—the Great Aunt wasn't even six yet, so it would be fine for her to go in a couple of years—and stopped mentioning it.

Chen Rui was very worried. She looked at Bai Xi, half-pleading and half-consulting: "Then Great Aunt, please sleep well, eat well, and don't be a picky eater."

Bai Xi looked at Chen Rui but didn't respond. She wasn't really a picky eater; she just didn't like eating things she didn't enjoy.

"Great Aunt, picky eaters don't grow tall."

"Not true. I will grow up to be very tall and beautiful." Bai Xi didn't blush in the slightest.

She was a Nine-Tailed Immortal Fox. Although she was using this body, she hadn't stopped cultivating. Even if this body hadn't grown well, it would improve through her constant nourishment over time. Besides, this body was already quite pretty to begin with.

Seeing that Bai Xi wouldn't agree, Chen Rui sighed like an adult and added, "Then Great Aunt, you mustn't go into the mountains alone. School has two days off every five days. When the weekend comes, I'll accompany you."

It was fortunate that Xiao Hei wasn't there, or it definitely would have rolled its eyes at Chen Rui again.

"Great Aunt..."

Chen Rui wanted to continue, but Bai Xi wasn't buying it. She impatiently waved her little fist: "Do you know what this is?"

"That's Great Aunt's hand!" Chen Rui said in a clear, crisp voice. The Great Aunt's hands were soft and pretty.

The corners of Bai Xi's mouth twitched, and she said huffily: "This is a fist—a fist that can make people howl in pain."