Chapter 116 – Encountering the Rongdi King
Considering the valuable items in her portable space, which primarily consisted of medicinal herbs that she couldn’t use without arousing suspicion, Yan Xiaosi realized that her ability to support Yan Shuyun’s embroidery shop plan would have to be postponed for the time being.
Although Yan Xiaosi couldn’t fulfill Yan Shuyun’s aspirations, Yan Shuyun genuinely appreciated her sister’s sentiment.
“Xiaosi, don’t worry about me. Focus on yourself,” Yan Shuyun advised. “You’re about to turn fifteen and enter womanhood. Once a girl comes of age, she can consider marriage. It’s time for you to learn how to conduct yourself as a young lady.”
Concerned that Yan Xiaosi’s clumsiness might accidentally damage her already worn-out clothes, Yan Shuyun carefully fastened the buttons while they conversed.
Despite being an old set of clothing, it surprisingly complemented Yan Xiaosi’s features.
With her graceful neck and slender waist, Yan Xiaosi appeared particularly enchanting in Yan Shuyun’s faded floral dress, highlighting all of her best features.
To her surprise, Yan Xiaosi found that she seemed to have grown a bit.
When she had just arrived in this world, she was flat as a plain. It must be because she had been eating more recently, replenishing her nutrition.
Ms. Zhong and Yan Shuyun’s sisters stared at her, a flash of astonishment visible in all four of their eyes.
Yan Shuqin chuckled and commented, “Mom, our Xiaosi would truly resemble a serene and beautiful girl if she simply stood still without uttering a word.”
“But once she opens her mouth, that composed image vanishes completely, isn’t that right, big sister?” Yan Xiaosi playfully added.
She had no desire to be a demure lady.
Ladies were often subjected to mistreatment and oppression by men.
Yan Shuqin held a flower bead in her hand, intending to place it on Yan Xiaosi, and playfully responded, “As long as you understand. Lower your head, and big sister will adorn you with this flower bead.”
Lately, Yan Xiaosi had been eating well and had experienced a growth spurt, becoming taller.
Seeing the flower bead that Yan Shuqin was holding, Yan Xiaosi instinctively dodged, playfully avoiding the decoration.
“Big sister, isn’t this the one I bought for you?”
Yan Shuqin nodded, “Yes, it is. This is the first time you’re wearing women’s clothes. We don’t have any other jewelry in our family, so you might as well wear this flower bead.”
Seeing Yan Shuxue also take out a flower bead, Yan Xiaosi frowned, “Big sister, second sister, these are gifts I gave you. How can you give them back? Besides, who am I dressing up for in this remote place?”
Yan Shuxue said, “For us to see, of course. We all want to see you dressed in women’s clothing and looking pretty.”
Her sisters were very enthusiastic, which left Yan Xiaosi feeling a bit helpless. “Big sister, second sister, put the flower beads away. Don’t we have several hairpins at home? Just grab one and put it on me.”
It was her principle not to take back something she had already given away. Moreover, the flower beads held sentimental value as the first gifts she had given to her three sisters.
With her insistence, Yan Shuqin and Yan Shuxue finally put the flower beads away.
Ms. Zhong knew where the ready-made hairpins were kept and retrieved two of them, carefully placing them in Yan Xiaosi’s double bun.
Two round, brown pom-poms dangled beside Yan Xiaosi’s ears, accentuating her beauty and exuding a charming and mischievous air, characteristic of a typical fourteen or fifteen-year-old girl.
After observing her for a moment, Ms. Zhong smiled with satisfaction and said, “You look very lovely.”
Not far from the cave, there was a mountain stream. Yan Shuqin fetched a basin of clear water and placed it in front of Yan Xiaosi.
“Xiaosi, take a look,” she urged.
Yan Xiaosi peered into the basin and beheld her own reflection.
A captivating and cheeky face stared back at her. She examined her reflection and couldn’t help but purse her lips with satisfaction.
Yan Xiaosi couldn’t help but notice the striking resemblance between her current face and the one she had in her previous life. With time, as her features continued to develop, she would be indistinguishable from her former self.
“It’s beautiful. Thank you, mother, for giving me such a beautiful face. To express my gratitude for this face, I’ve decided to go hunting this afternoon. I’ll catch a couple of pheasants or rabbits for us to feast on tonight.”
Living in the depths of these mountains and forests had its advantages. For instance, if one desired to consume game, it was as simple as venturing out and catching it.
“Mother doesn’t need your gratitude for your appearance.”
Ms. Zhong was always worried that her beauty would attract trouble.
She sighed slightly and then asked, “Xiaosi, do you know how to hunt?”
“Why wouldn’t I? I’ve hunted with Brother Dazhuang on Big Sister Peak a few times. I’ve got the hang of it.”
As Yan Xiaosi responded, she rolled up her sleeves and took a few steps forward. However, she soon realized that her knee-length dress was hindering her movement. Without hesitation, she gathered the fabric and hiked up her dress to a more convenient length.
A perfectly good floral dress was once again worn like men’s clothing by her.
She walked over to the rock wall, grabbed a basket and a sickle, and headed outside the cave.
“Mom, big sister, second sister, third sister, I’m off to hunt. Wait for good news at home.”
She didn’t even bring a bow and arrow. Ms. Zhong and the sisters Yan Shuqin, Yan Shuxue, and Yan Shuyun had no hope of her bringing back any game.
Watching her walk out swaggeringly with her basket on her back, Yan Shuxue shrugged helplessly, “It seems our Xiaosi has been a boy for so long, she can’t revert to a girl in such a short time.”
Yan Shuqin said, “Actually, it’s pretty good this way. Given Xiaosi’s appearance, even if she doesn’t look like a girl, there would still be men willing to marry her.”
That was true.
Ms. Zhong couldn’t help but worry.
Then she turned her gaze to her three daughters, “Qin’er, Xue’er, Yun’er, while there’s still light, let’s quickly clean up the cave.”
Even though they were living in a cave, it needed to be made to feel like home.
The four women began to busy themselves.
Half an hour later, Yan Xiaosi was hiding in the grass at Big Sister peak. She had a chicken egg-sized rock in her right hand, aiming it at a speckled wild rabbit not far from the grass.
There was already a wild rabbit in her basket.
Unlike Tian Dazhuang, who could only hunt with a bow and arrow, she understood the nature of animals and had been honing her mental power recently. Using a rock was enough to kill small prey like rabbits and foxes. Just as she was about to get another piece of prey, suddenly, a man emerged from the opposite bushes, making a rustling sound as his body brushed past the branches. This noise frightened the rabbit and it escaped from under Yan Xiaosi’s watch.
Frustrated by the turn of events, Yan Xiaosi tightly clenched the stone in her hand, leapt out of the grass, and directed an angry glare at the man before her.
The man, tall and dressed in rugged attire, carried a bow and arrow on his back and had a pheasant hanging from his waist. Clearly a fellow hunter. “Hey, brother, this isn’t very fair of you,” she exclaimed. “You’re a hunter, and so am I. The mountain is big enough for both of us. You hunt your pheasants, and I hunt my rabbits. We shouldn’t interfere with each other. But you came out of nowhere and scared off the rabbit I was about to capture. That was entirely your fault.”
