Chapter Five: Catching a Nest of Rabbits

“Then, Aunt, how do you plan to divide the farmland? Are you thinking of giving your share to your family?” Wanqiu Sheng rolled her eyes and asked.

“You’re just a child. What business do you have speaking up?” Juan Liu immediately scolded her.

“What’s wrong with that? Why can’t little Wanqiu speak? The second brother is gone, and she’s now the head of this family. Liu Juan, don’t think Granny doesn’t know what you’re scheming.”

“You’re just afraid that after I’m gone, this land will fall into Wanqiu’s hands, aren’t you?”

“I’ll tell you, I still have two daughters. When I die, whoever wants this land can buy it with money. The money from the sale will be split equally between my two daughters!”

“The house, however, won’t be divided among the daughters. After all, this is property earned by your father and me. I’ll give it to whoever I wish!” Granny Sheng’s face hardened as she spat directly in Liu Juan’s face.

“Mother, how can a married daughter divide her mother’s money? That’s not the custom!” Liu Juan shouted, pinching Sheng Dashan quietly.

“Just because you prefer sons over daughters doesn’t mean everyone thinks the same. You don’t treat your own three daughters like people; do you expect others to be like you?”

“Do you want to divide your mother’s money? Do you think you can get any?”

“Eldest, if she keeps nagging, just divorce her. I’ll find you a proper young maiden!” Granny Sheng asserted fiercely.

Upon hearing that Granny wanted to divorce her, Liu Juan immediately fell silent. Her own family wasn’t much different from the second brother’s wife’s family. If she were divorced, her father could easily marry her off again the next day for some silver.

And so, the household was divided.

Granny Sheng was decisive and swift. In the afternoon, she sent someone to the mountain to cut bamboo, which she then wove into a bamboo fence that she used to divide the courtyard’s walls.

With the courtyard separated by the bamboo fence, the small kitchen and pigpen were also sectioned off by Granny, and the belongings were divided among the families.

From the neighboring courtyard came the sounds of Liu Juan throwing and smashing things. Though quiet, everyone in the courtyard heard clearly.

“Granny, I’m taking Huai’an out for a walk!”

At noon, they had only eaten some coarse grain buns, and the bite almost broke her front teeth.

Wanqiu Sheng felt uneasy without meat for a meal. She gazed toward the towering mountains in the distance. With her dual abilities, she refused to believe she couldn’t find meat to eat.

So, she took Huai’an out the door, who thoughtfully carried a basket on his back. He thought his eldest sister was going to pick wild vegetables, unaware that she had completely changed her mindset and was now someone who couldn’t live without meat.

The two siblings chatted as they walked. Wanqiu Sheng only then learned that the era they were in was called Great Yue. Her mind had been spinning so much she hadn’t realized what dynasty this was. It seemed not to be in any history books—probably some alternate era.

The villagers’ clothing resembled Song Dynasty attire, but she didn’t care. Since she was here, she’d make the best of it. After all, being alive was what mattered. At least this place had clear mountains, clean water, and fresh air—much easier to survive in than the apocalypse.

“Sis, are we going up the mountain? Granny forbids it, saying there are wolves and big beasts up there!” Huai’an hurriedly tried to dissuade her.

Seeing Wanqiu Sheng determined to climb the mountain, he cautioned her.

If Granny found out they’d gone up the mountain, she would surely hit them on the head with a stick upon their return.

“Wolves?!” Wanqiu Sheng’s eyes lit up.

“If you don’t tell and I don’t tell, how would Granny know? Are you trying to snitch?” Wanqiu Sheng eyed Huai’an suspiciously.

“Sis, I won’t snitch. I’m just worried it’s dangerous up there.”

“As long as you listen and follow me, I promise you’ll have meat to eat and won’t be in danger. Don’t worry!” Wanqiu Sheng said, grabbing Huai’an’s hand and pulling him up the mountain.

Huai’an’s little face flushed instantly. He was a bit shy since it was the first time his sister held his hand.

He felt his sister acting strange today but couldn’t quite put his finger on it. Maybe it was because their mother was gone and his sister was upset.

Apparently, only the brave dared to go up the mountain. A small path had already been worn through the grass. Walking along the mountain trail, the trees on both sides grew lush and dense.

The closer they got, the fresher the air felt. Wanqiu Sheng deeply inhaled several breaths.

They walked on until Wanqiu Sheng spotted chaotic animal tracks in the grass. She stopped.

“Huai’an, can you climb trees?” Wanqiu Sheng asked, turning to him.

“Of course! Sis, don’t you remember we used to climb trees to get bird eggs?” Huai’an’s voice was thrilled. Had she wanted him to climb the tree and grab eggs? Their granny had forbidden them from climbing trees, fearing they might fall and break their legs.

“Good. You climb the tree and wait. I’ll check around and come back soon.” Wanqiu Sheng was concerned a child alone here wouldn’t be safe, so she had him wait up in the tree.

“Sis, let me go with you. I don’t feel safe if you go alone!” Huai’an quickly insisted.

“Enough chatter. Why do you need to follow me? Hurry up and climb, no more nonsense!” Wanqiu Sheng glared. Huai’an was still a bit scared. His sister was formidable when riled up, so he obeyed.

Watching the boy scramble up the tree using hands and feet, Wanqiu Sheng nodded with satisfaction.

“Sis, come back soon. If you encounter danger, remember to run fast!” Huai’an called after her as she walked away.

“I know, don’t worry!” Wanqiu Sheng didn’t even look back, just waved her hand in the air as a reply.

Once rid of her little shadow, Wanqiu Sheng quickly found a rabbit’s nest in her thorough search, her eyes narrowing with delight.

Snapping her fingers, she released a subtle spark of lightning, instantly wiping out the entire rabbit family.

Seven rabbits in total—two large, five small. The big ones weighed around four or five pounds each, the smaller two or three pounds. They must have been sleeping in the nest. Now, all were annihilated.

She stuffed the rabbits into the basket on her back and began the journey back. Along the way, she spotted a Sichuan pepper tree. Since it wasn’t the season for ripe peppers, she picked some leaves and flowers to bring home and planned to return for the peppers when ripe.

Huai’an saw his sister from afar, looking very content, with a dogtail grass stem hanging from her mouth.

“Sis, why are you back so soon?”

“Huai’an, tonight we’re eating rabbit!” Wanqiu Sheng winked playfully.

“Really?” Huai’an jumped down from the tree and ran over, peeking into the basket.

His eyes widened in astonishment.

All these did his sister catch?

“There are seven in total, two big ones and five little ones. Tonight, sis will cook so we can all eat something good!”

“Let’s go! We’re heading down the mountain!” Wanqiu Sheng was already eager to return.