Chapter 37: Tang Yao’s Hatred

A chaotic wild pheasant battle finally ended with the Brigade Leader’s decision.

Even though the people in the cattle shed were reluctant, they had no choice but to accept the outcome. It wasn’t that they didn’t want to, it was simply that this decision was the best option available at the time.

Everyone present could see that the Brigade Leader was trying his best to favor them, but with this rule in place, even he had to yield.

Fang Bo Song retrieved the piece of meat that had been pushed aside in the chaos. He looked at it, it was trampled several times. With pity, blew off the dust, and carefully wrapped it in leaves to take back.

Still, despite everything, today could be considered a small victory. At least they had officially obtained permission to go to Maple Leaf Mountain to collect food, and it was granted in front of everyone.

From now on, the group didn’t have to worry about being reported or punished under this rule, they could withstand a beating without it being considered unfair.

Yet Tang Yao still felt dejected. She trudged back to the cattle shed, took off her dirty clothes and shoes, and collapsed onto the bed.

Finally, she had a chance to get some meat to improve life at home, but before it even touched her lips, the wild pheasant had been taken away.

She truly didn’t want it to end this way. Her grandmother had been right, these people clearly intended to bully them, and they had no way to fight back.

Tang Yao felt frustrated. She still couldn’t help her family; now anyone could trample on them. If this were back home, she wouldn’t have cared about a single wild pheasant.

Sigh!

Tang Yao let out a heavy sigh, gazing at the ceiling, and pulled the blanket over her head, completely covering herself.

Just as her vision was shrouded, the next moment, it suddenly brightened, Fang Mingxi, tears still on her cheeks, appeared above her.

Fang Mingxi was leaning over the head of the bed, worry etched on her face as she looked at Tang Yao.

“Older sister, hu-hu.”

A cool breath followed her words. Tang Yao looked up and saw Fang Mingxi’s reddened hands being warmed by her own, the cold air from Fang Mingxi’s mouth landing gently on the backs of her hands.

Tang Yao rubbed Fang Mingxi’s head. “Xixi, it’s okay. Were you hurt just now? Let me blow on them for you too.”

The chaos atop the mountain had left her no time to care for herself, let alone for Fang Mingxi. She hadn’t known if Xixi had been injured when her hands had turned red from the men’s rough handling.

Tang Yao quickly climbed out of bed and pulled up Fang Mingxi’s sleeves and pants, carefully checking her over.

Fang Mingxi obediently lifted her arms to cooperate. “Older sister, tomorrow we’ll go back up the mountain, and tomorrow we’ll find wild pheasants.”

Tang Yao smiled. “We might be able to find mushrooms, but wild pheasants? How is that possible? We’ve only found eggs twice in all these months. You don’t just pick wild pheasants whenever you want.”

After finishing the inspection, Tang Yao saw no bruises on Fang Mingxi’s body. She pulled the sleeves down and adjusted the pants over her socks.

Watching Tang Yao crouch to put on her shoes, Fang Mingxi spoke softly, almost casually: “Who says we won’t find them? What if we go up and actually find some?”

“What did you say? I didn’t hear clearly.” Tang Yao looked up.

“I won’t say.” Fang Mingxi nimbly climbed down from the bed and took her hand. “Older sister, I’m hungry. Let’s go eat.”

Outside, everyone was busy running around. Tang Yao quickly rolled up her sleeves to help with the water and firewood.

Most people had been scratched or bruised in the chaos, but after a simple treatment, they appeared as if nothing had happened.

Tang Yao anxiously asked after them and felt some relief when they all said they were fine.

She had never imagined things would escalate this way. They had merely gone up the mountain to pick mushrooms. By accident, a wild pheasant was stunned, and not only was it taken away, but her grandparents at home were beaten.

Hatred flashed in Tang Yao’s eyes. Why did these people have to treat them this way? They had done nothing wrong, just gone up the mountain to gather food.

They relied on their own luck to find food, not stealing from anyone. The wild pheasants were from the mountain, the mushrooms were from the mountain, and Maple Leaf Mountain was so vast, how could there only be a little food?

A group of people couldn’t find food, so they targeted them, thinking that since she and Xixi were children, they were easy to bully.

And the girl with the same name as Xixi, Tang Yao had heard the rumors over the past months. Everyone said He Xi was lucky; her family could always find food when they went up the mountain, even wild pheasants and rabbits.

It was the same wild pheasants, yet Liu Damazi deliberately picked on them.

Tang Yao slammed a stick into the stove in anger. A sudden warmth at her lips made her turn her head, Fang Mingxi handed her half a piece of candy.

Fang Mingxi smiled faintly and put the treasured half into Tang Yao’s mouth. “Eat, older sister. Grandma says candy makes you feel better.”

Tang Yao opened her mouth and bit the hard, strawberry-flavored candy, sweet and long-kept, and felt her heart soften.

“Thank you, Xixi. The candy’s sweet. You eat some too.”

Fang Mingxi popped the remaining half into her mouth and sat next to Tang Yao, helping her with the fire.

The others, busy around them, saw the sisters become lively again and all breathed a sigh of relief.

At first, they had truly thought Tang Yao was frightened. Now it seemed she had worked things through.

Honestly, everyone had been a bit scared when they returned. If someone had tried to report them, like last time, they would have faced consequences no matter what.

Fortunately, the Brigade Leader had seen through it and made a fair and just ruling, without favoritism.

The sisters didn’t suffer any aftereffects from this incident and, like last time, didn’t dwell on it.

A few days later, Tang Yao would gradually forget the matter, and the nightmare would be over.

For Xixi, it was even simpler. At just over a year old, one bad dream tonight, and she would forget it.

As for the lost wild pheasant, Maple Leaf Mountain was still there, and it wouldn’t suddenly sprout legs and run away. A daily trip up the mountain would eventually bring another chance to find it.

Although they had lost a few pounds of meat, the meat distributed today could still be eaten after washing, so it wasn’t a total loss.

Everyone finally relaxed. They decided to cook the trampled meat tonight as a treat for the two little girls and as a reward for everyone finally getting to eat meat. After all, it was the first proper meat meal at the cattle shed besides eggs.

Everyone busied themselves, with Fang Mingxi helping Tang Yao get the fire going. Once Tang Yao’s mood improved, she quietly slipped back to her room.

She pulled a cooled jade pendant from her backpack, hung it around her neck, and repeatedly touched its cold surface. When she recalled Liu Damazi’s “Happy wedding” remark, a subtle light flickered in her eyes.