Chapter 73 – Changes in the Portable Space
Yan Xiaosi brought the black-tailed snake close to Tian Dazhuang.
Tian Dazhuang took a step back, being bothered by the smell of the snake, “Xiaosi, hurry and let this snake go. It stinks.”
Yan Xiaosi was still looking forward to having Dragon and Phoenix Soup, so she couldn’t possibly let go of the black-tailed snake. Besides, snake gallbladder is also a good thing.
“Big Brother Dazhuang, if I let this black-tailed snake go, you won’t have any Dragon and Phoenix Soup to eat.”
The snake resembled a dragon, and Tian Dazhuang finally understood what Dragon and Phoenix Soup was.
He pointed to the black-tailed snake coiling around Yan Xiaosi’s arm and asked, “Xiaosi, you’re not going to cook and eat this black-tailed snake, are you?”
Yan Xiaosi replied with a beaming smile, “Dragon and Phoenix Soup is made by stewing chicken and snake together. Without killing this snake, how can we make Dragon and Phoenix Soup? By the way, we still lack chicken. Big Brother Dazhuang, don’t you have chickens at home? Can you contribute one?”
Although Tian Dazhuang wasn’t afraid of snakes, the idea of eating a snake made him feel uneasy.
In the summer, many villagers caught snakes, but they usually sold them to snake collectors in town.
“…Xiaosi, as you know, my mother is the head of the family, and those chickens are raised by her. I dare not touch them.”
Yan Xiaosi didn’t want to let go of the hard-won snake. “Big Brother Dazhuang, my father’s book says that the taste of Dragon and Phoenix Soup is extremely delicious. It’s an imperial dish that even the emperor loves. Don’t you want to taste it? We have a snake now; we just need a chicken…”
She described it vividly, and Tian Dazhuang, who had been unmoved, was now tempted by her words and salivating.
He swallowed his saliva and asked Yan Xiaosi hesitantly, “Xiaosi, is it true that black-tailed snake and chicken stewed together taste so delicious?”
Yan Xiaosi heard his question and quickly replied, “Of course! You’re my friend; I wouldn’t lie to you.”
She winked at Tian Dazhuang, “Big Brother Dazhuang, go home and try to persuade your mother.”
“Alright… fine.”
Yan Xiaosi’s eyes were watery, and her clear pupils were even more beautiful when reflected by the firelight. Tian Dazhuang was instantly captivated and foolishly agreed.
After agreeing to Yan Xiaosi’s request, he felt a bit of regret. But Yan Xiaosi was already holding the black-tailed snake and walking towards the village.
“Big Brother Dazhuang, I’ll be waiting for your good news.”
Tian Dazhuang had no choice but to pick up the torch stuck on the embankment and chase after Yan Xiaosi with the torch.
When Tian Dazhuang caught up, Yan Xiaosi said, “Big Brother Dazhuang, there’s one more thing I want to discuss with you.”
She changed the topic, and the foolish Tian Dazhuang put the Dragon and Phoenix Soup matter aside.
“Xiaosi, what’s up? Just tell me.”
Yan Xiaosi glanced at him and said, “Big Brother Dazhuang, when you go hunting in the mountains, please take me with you.”
Tian Dazhuang felt very surprised.
“Xiaosi, did your mom allow you to go hunting in the mountains?”
In the past, he had invited Yan Xiaosi to hunt at the Big Sister Peak of Four Sisters Mountain, but Ms. Zhong didn’t allow Yan Xiaosi to go. Yan Xiaosi didn’t want to go either.
Yan Xiaosi replied, “I’ll hide it from my mom.”
If Ms. Zhong knew, she would definitely not be allowed into the deep mountains.
Tian Dazhuang was an honest person and had never deceived anyone, so he felt a bit embarrassed, “Xiaosi, what if your Aunt Yan finds out?”
Yan Xiaosi said, “Only heaven and earth know, you know and I know. If you don’t say anything, how would my mom know? Big Brother Dazhuang, are you still planning to hunt at the Big Sister Peak of Four Sisters Mountain?”
There were four towering peaks on Four Sisters Mountain: Big Sister Peak, Second Sister Peak, Third Sister Peak, and Fourth Sister Peak. The four peaks stood tall and resembled four sisters. Four Sisters Mountain was named after these four sister peaks. Among them, Third Sister Peak and Fourth Sister Peak were covered with primitive forests, hiding many fierce animals and rare treasures. No one dared to go. Hunters from nearby villages only dared to hunt at Big Sister Peak and Second Sister Peak. Tian Dazhuang, an inexperienced hunter, only dared to hunt some wild rabbits, wild chickens, and wild goats on Big Sister Peak.
Tian Dazhuang couldn’t argue with Yan Xiaosi, so he reluctantly agreed.
Anyway, he had been to Big Sister Peak many times without any incidents.
“Xiaosi, I can help you hide this from Aunt Yan, but you must promise me that when we are at Big Sister Peak, you must follow my command.”
“YESIR.”
Upon hearing this, Yan Xiaosi happily gave Tian Dazhuang a 21st-century military salute.
Tian Dazhuang was puzzled, not understanding her “YESIR”. He looked at her holding the black-tailed snake near her ear and felt a bit frightened, “Xiaosi, be careful of the snake biting your ear.”
“I got too excited just now.”
Yan Xiaosi smiled and quickly moved the snake away.
“Xiaosi, do you also want to hunt at Big Sister Peak?”
“No, I heard that there are medicinal herbs on Big Sister Peak, and I want to gather them.”
The two walked back while chatting, and before they knew it, they arrived at Tian Dazhuang’s house in the village center.
Yan Xiaosi looked at Tian Dazhuang’s house not far away and said, “Big Brother Dazhuang, you go back and rest. I’ll take this snake back first and lock it up. When you get a chicken, we can stew it together.”
She said her goodbyes to Tian Dazhuang and carried the black-tailed snake towards the broken grass temple at the end of the village.
Tian Dazhuang called out to her, “Xiaosi, it’s dark outside, let me walk you home.”
Yan Xiaosi had been sweating a bit after fighting with the Chen brothers on the embankment for so long. She wanted to enter her portable space and take a hot bath. She couldn’t let Tian Dazhuang follow her.
“Big Brother Dazhuang, there’s no need. I can walk this road without falling even with my eyes closed. You should go back.”
“Then let me give you the torch.”
Tian Dazhuang was about to catch up with her while holding the torch.
Yan Xiaosi waved her hand with her back facing him, “No need. It’s tiring to walk while holding a torch.”
Tian Dazhuang was speechless, thinking to himself: This kid finds it tiring to hold a torch, but not to carry a black-tailed snake.
When she was some distance from the Tian family’s home, Yan Xiaosi focused her mind and entered the portable space in the dark.
First, she went to the basement of the small western-style building and found a basket to lock the black-tailed snake in.
The black-tailed snake struggled inside the basket, making a lot of noise.
Yan Xiaosi stood in front of the basket, looking at the shaking basket that was being pushed by the black-tailed snake, feeling a bit surprised. At the embankment, she had played with the snake until it was listless, but it had become so lively after entering the portable space for a while. Could it be that it was nourished by the spiritual energy in the portable space? But the old yellow ox from the Tian family had also entered the space, and she hadn’t noticed any changes in the ox. Or had she just not observed carefully enough?
Clang clang!
Just as the black-tailed snake was about to break free from its cage, Yan Xiaosi found a hoe used for planting in the warehouse and pressed it on top of the basket.
The black-tailed snake had no choice but to give up.
Yan Xiaosi pursed her lips in satisfaction, patted the basket, and said, “Little snake, fatten up obediently. After I eat you, maybe you can be reborn as a human in your next life.”
The little snake: “……”
