Chapter 34: Even the Smallest Ant Is Still Meat

“Did you give it meat yet?” Bai Xi noticed the pained look on Chen Zhaodi’s face, but she pretended not to, knowing she couldn’t expect the little spirit tiger to survive on rice soup alone all day.

“I did, two slices of cured meat.” Chen Zhaodi winced as she spoke—after all, that was her own ration, and meat was a rare treat. She could only hope the little tiger would prove itself worthy.

Before Chen Zhaodi left, Bai Xi instructed her to cut twelve pieces of dried venison, each about the weight of two taels.

Surprised, Chen Zhaodi asked, “Why so many, Miss Bai?”

Could she possibly mean to feed them all to the tiger cub?

“Miss, that cub is still small; it can’t possibly eat that much.”

The little spirit tiger heard this, and though it had been thrilled at first, bounding about its cage, it was immediately displeased by Chen Zhaodi’s words. Why couldn’t it eat more? It could handle much more, if only they’d give it.

But before it could express its indignation, Bai Xi’s words came, and the tiger slumped down, listless.

“It’s not for the cub. Once you’re done, take it to those who kept watch last night. They were anxious all through the night; it wasn’t easy on them.”

If Bai Xi hadn’t insisted on keeping the little tiger, the villagers wouldn’t have had to go through this ordeal.

She knew full well that standing watch meant risking their lives, yet the villagers did so without complaint or resentment. That alone, given Bai Xi’s strict sense of justice, was something she couldn’t ignore.

It was only a little meat.

Chen Zhaodi hesitated, then protested, “That won’t do, Miss Bai. There are so many people, and you don’t have much meat left. Besides, no one expects you to reward us for this.”

Even if she hadn’t brought the cub back, it had already wandered down the mountain; if its mother came looking, she’d come down anyway.

“Enough. Do as I say.” Bai Xi waved her off, unwilling to listen further. She yawned, pulled a thin quilt over her stomach, and as she closed her eyes, reminded, “Close the door when you leave.”

Her practiced instructions and almost adult tone might have seemed rude to outsiders, but in Niuluo Village, everyone was used to it.

Seeing this, Chen Zhaodi had no choice but to agree and do as told.

As she left with the venison, she had no idea that the little spirit tiger was staring after her, grumbling to itself, Just wait. When I’m bigger, I’ll hunt plenty of meat for my master.

Master, can you hear me? I’ll grow up soon and bring you heaps of meat.

Bai Xi’s lips curved in a faint smile, but she simply rolled over and scolded softly, “You be good and stay put for now!”

The twelve who received the dried venison were surprised and grateful. That night, though the watch was supposed to rotate, the twelve insisted on taking the shift again.

Their reason was simple: if the big tiger really came, they’d be the first to confront it anyway, and everyone else would have to pitch in. There was no real difference.

Another peaceful night passed. The sun rose, and the second day of the little spirit tiger’s captivity went by.

Bai Xi didn’t leave her treehouse that day. Unable to go up the mountain or down to the stream, and with the sun beating down, she felt it best to stay inside.

On the third day, after dinner, bored, Bai Xi finally descended from her treehouse.

Standing midway down the steps, she gazed at the distant wisps of smoke rising from villagers’ homes, then at the darkening mountain behind—finding it all uninteresting, she turned to go back.

She caught sight of the little spirit tiger staring at her expectantly, clearly waiting for its next meal. Annoyed, she said, “What are you looking at? You’ve eaten nearly three jin of my meat in these three days. You’d better grow quickly and bring me some wild game, or else, if I run out of meat, you’ll end up on the table.”

For her persistence in feeding the tiger, Chen Daliu had come to her treehouse to persuade her several times. Though he wouldn’t go against her wishes, no one liked to hear complaints.

Bai Xi was already tired of dried meat and even eggs, though she was the only one in the village who could afford such meals every day.

She was no longer a true five-year-old; she couldn’t throw a tantrum for different food, so she vented her frustration on the little spirit tiger instead.

At her words, the cub immediately began to tremble. Master, I’m still small; there’s barely any meat on me.

Bai Xi bared her teeth: “Even an ant is meat, no matter how small.”

But Master, I’m your spirit beast—could you truly bear to eat me?

“I could!”

Master, I’ll grow up soon. Didn’t you say there are fish in the stream? In a few days, I’ll catch fish for you. I can also catch wild rabbits and pheasants… The little spirit tiger racked its brains for ideas.

That was about all it could manage for now. Of course, it knew that if it went hunting, its master would follow, and with her there, it was unlikely to return empty-handed.

After teasing the little tiger for a while, Bai Xi was finally satisfied and turned to head upstairs.

“Oh, how are your wounds?” The little beast had a few injuries, but after three days in the cage, they should have nearly healed.

Don’t worry, Master, my wounds are almost better. The little spirit tiger answered, only to realize a moment later—if its master truly intended to eat it, she wouldn’t care about its wounds.

Master… Master…

Happily, the little tiger leapt up in the cage—only for the rope securing the cage to snap.

Bai Xi heard the commotion from upstairs and shook her head in disdain. “Fool.”

The cage rolled to a stop; the little tiger, dizzy, got up only to hear Bai Xi’s remark. Its tiger face flushed, and it immediately lay down, covering its head with its paws, not daring to make another sound, as if that could erase what had just happened.

Three days passed without a sign of the big tiger.

The villagers, reassured, let Bai Xi keep the cub, though they worried about its appetite.

Now, the village children loved to run to the treehouse, hoping to touch the little tiger. But as a spirit beast, it would submit to Bai Xi, not to a bunch of children.

Each time, the children left disappointed, only to return full of hope the next day.

Since the spirit tiger arrived, the village dogs and cats had been remarkably well-behaved, never straying near Bai Xi’s treehouse.

Time flew by, and a month passed.

The little spirit tiger had grown noticeably larger, and had indeed eaten a fair amount of Bai Xi’s meat.

At this moment, Bai Xi was lounging idly on the wooden couch, nudging the little black one by her feet in annoyance. The little tiger, sensing her mood, promptly shifted away, knowing she must be feeling hot from its fur.

Indeed, Bai Xi had given it a name as plain as plain could be.

As for why she didn’t call it ‘Little White’—well, Bai Xi wasn’t foolish. That would practically be calling herself.