Chapter 30: Resolve

Seeing that the crowd was about to grow restless again, Chen Daliu raised his hand and said, “Enough. Our house is on fire—let’s not argue now.”

The villagers exchanged glances, then all turned their eyes toward Chen Daliu.

Someone spoke up, “Village chief, you rang the old bell and called the honored young mistress here, saying we’re to send off a tiger. What exactly is going on? Where’s the tiger?”

Chen Daliu had already descended from the treehouse and was standing by the steps, while Bai Xi remained halfway up, just the right height to be half a head above the others.

As he listened to the villager’s question, he seemed to understand at last why Chen Daguo and Zhang Xiu had rolled their eyes earlier.

Turning, Chen Daliu reached a hand out to Bai Xi.

The villagers all thought he was going to pick her up and were filled with envy, but instead, Bai Xi passed the clearly unhappy but too intimidated to resist little tiger cub from her arms to Chen Daliu.

Wait—so the chief wasn’t going to carry the young mistress after all?

Of course not; ever since she was old enough to walk, no one had been allowed to carry her.

As Chen Daliu took the cub, the little spirit tiger clung miserably to his shirt, stretching its neck toward Bai Xi, gazing at her with pitiful eyes, as if to say, Master, are you abandoning me? Please don’t send me away…

Bai Xi gave it a look, signaling for patience, and so the little tiger quieted down as best it could.

“I’ll keep it brief,” Chen Daliu continued, “This is a tiger cub, brought back from the foot of the mountain by the young mistress. I don’t need to say how dangerous a tiger cub can be. I’m planning to take a few people and return it to the mountains. The rest of you will stay behind to guard the village—set some traps, that sort of thing…”

His words left the villagers stunned. They stared in disbelief at the small creature in his arms. Was this really a tiger cub?

Some of the elders, or those who’d heard stories from the older generation, peered closer, studying its eyes and features, and began to notice the truth.

“It really is a tiger cub!”

“This... This could be quite the trouble.”

Chen Daliu continued with his arrangements: “Chen Zhaodi and Ma Lian’er, you’ll accompany the young mistress to town for a couple of days. Once things settle down here, someone will come fetch you.”

“Don’t worry. Even though you two won’t be here helping, you’ll still get your work points.”

Hearing their names, Chen Zhaodi and Ma Lian’er nodded, then quickly protested: “That won’t do, chief. If we go to town, we can’t keep our work points. We’re safe because of the young mistress, but those staying behind are in danger. We shouldn’t take the points.”

“There’s…” Chen Daliu hesitated, then nodded. “Fine. That’s very commendable of you. So be it. There may not be any trouble, but it’s best to be prepared. Otherwise…”

Before he could finish, Bai Xi, who had been silent for a long time, couldn’t help but interrupt.

After all, if she didn’t, the little tiger was bound to break free from Chen Daliu’s arms, and if she kept quiet any longer, the cub would truly be sent back to the mountains to die.

“I’m not going to town.”

Her childish voice was filled with resistance.

Bai Xi went on, “This is my mess. I’ll clean it up myself.”

Besides, there’s nothing to run from in the first place!

Chen Daliu and the others were dumbfounded, staring at the earnest expression on Bai Xi’s soft, adorable face, at a loss for words.

Solve it herself?

How was the young mistress going to solve this?

“Young mistress, this is a tiger cub, not a kitten. If its mother comes looking, the village won’t be able to withstand it.”

Though Bai Xi was only five years old and had caused a lot of trouble, the villagers weren’t annoyed. They were anxious, but still patient and kind.

“I know,” Bai Xi said.

She reached out a hand to Chen Daliu, indicating that he should return the little tiger to her.

“This… young mistress…” Chen Daliu hesitated, not handing it over.

“I said, give it to me!” Bai Xi’s little face turned cold, her brows furrowing. Though she still looked as cute as ever, Chen Daliu handed the cub over immediately.

“Young mistress, please listen…” Chen Zhaodi stepped forward to persuade her, but Bai Xi cut her off before she could finish.

“No more talking. I’ve made up my mind!” She’d barely had a few mouthfuls of rice earlier and was still hungry—she had no interest in their persuasion.

Chen Daliu glanced at the villagers, who in turn looked back at him.

What should they do?

Their eyes urged him to find a way to talk sense into the young mistress.

The little tiger, back in Bai Xi’s arms, nuzzled her joyfully with its head, its soft fur making her giggle. Sensing the villagers’ worry, the cub glanced at them, then turned to Bai Xi and whimpered, Master, my parents really are dead. No one will come looking for trouble.

“I know,” Bai Xi sighed, setting the little tiger down before addressing the villagers below.

“That’s enough—no more arguing.”

“I’m keeping this little one not because I’m young and foolish, but because I know its parents are dead. It’s all alone and poses no threat to the village.”

She paused, then continued, “If you’re still worried, hang it under my house for a couple of days and see if any adult tigers come looking.”

At this, Chen Daliu and the others were stunned.

Could it be that the young mistress took pity on the cub because, like her, it was an orphan at the foot of the mountain?

But this is a tiger, not a stray cat or dog. Even if nothing happens now, it’ll be a problem when it grows up! Besides, hanging it under the treehouse hardly seems like a good idea!

The little tiger looked at Bai Xi in surprise, its eyes full of pleading: Master, I haven’t done anything—why do you want to hang me up? Are you going to dry me out for meat?

Hearing its pitiful whimpers, Bai Xi rolled her eyes and said irritably under her breath, “With your size, you wouldn’t even fill the gap between my teeth.”

Seeing Bai Xi annoyed, the little tiger immediately dropped down on the steps, covered its head with its paws, tucked its tail, and fell silent.

Chen Daliu, overhearing Bai Xi’s words to the cub, suppressed his anxiety and asked curiously, “Young mistress, what did you say about not filling the gap between your teeth?”

“Oh, this little one wondered if I was planning to hang it up and dry it out for meat,” Bai Xi replied.

Speechless, Chen Daliu felt a surge of frustration. Who had taught the young mistress to talk like that at her age? If he found out, he’d give them a good talking to.