Chapter 46: The Sudden Visit from He Yu

There was still a small bowl of wild rabbit left from yesterday’s hunt. The adults didn’t touch a single bite; everything was saved for Fang Mingxi and Tang Yao.

Early in the morning, the two girls woke up and ate their breakfast: a small bowl of mixed-grain porridge alongside the rabbit meat.

The others were eating sweet potatoes instead. Fang Mingxi looked at the half-sweet-potato portion everyone held and thought they needed to dig more soon.

If only the northern side of Maple Leaf Mountain would refresh another few dozen jin of sweet potatoes. Going too far would risk being discovered.

In the past few months, she had only encountered sweet potatoes two or three times. She had secretly moved away part of the harvest, and the small amount left behind had already been eaten by everyone. They would need to replenish their rations this afternoon.

They had barely taken a few bites when someone exclaimed:

“Isn’t that the Brigade Leader’s granddaughter? What is she doing here?”

Fang Mingxi and Tang Yao turned around at the same time, still chewing on a piece of rabbit. He Yu, whom they had briefly met a few days ago, suddenly appeared, standing hesitantly on the road, unsure whether to approach.

Tong Lingxian set down her bowl and chopsticks and walked over.

“What’s wrong, little one? Did something happen?”

He Yu first shook her head, then nodded.

Understanding immediately, Tong Lingxian brought her to the table and pulled out a wooden chair for her.

“Have you eaten? If not, you can eat something here with Grandma.”

Gone was the bold, lively girl from their first meeting. He Yu sat stiffly on the bench.

“Thank you, Grandma, I’ve already eaten.”

Her eyes flicked quickly toward Fang Mingxi before retreating just as fast.

Fang Mingxi picked up the last piece of rabbit and handed it to her.

“Older sister, have some meat.”

The rabbit hadn’t been fried with any oil or seasoned with chili; it was just dry-stirred until the blood cooked out, then fried with greens.

But rabbits from the Mountain-Harvest Trading Game weren’t like ordinary rabbits. They lacked any gamey smell and became even more fragrant once cooked.

He Yu swallowed involuntarily at the aroma.

“Younger sister, you eat it. I already had breakfast.”

She took out a handful of candy and placed it on the table.

“Look, I have these. You should keep the meat.”

Fang Mingxi pulled her chopsticks back and casually tried to place the meat into Tang Yao’s bowl.

“Older sister, you eat.”

Tang Yao quickly blocked her bowl.

“That’s enough, Xixi. You eat it; don’t worry about me.”

The two girls pushed the rabbit back and forth between them, making the adults at the table laugh. Watching them, He Yu felt a wave of envy.

Because her grandfather was the Brigade Leader, she rarely had friends her age in the brigade. Aside from Big Brother Gao and the others, no one played with her. The only person she could talk to was Niu Niu from the neighboring brigade.

Seeing Fang Mingxi and Tang Yao like this made He Yu feel deeply envious. Eating with friends, what a wonderful thing.

If only she could experience that too.

Her mood suddenly dipped. Across the table, Tong Lingxian and Wu Meixia exchanged looks.

Tong Lingxian: Ask her what’s going on.

Wu Meixia: No, you ask. I’m terrible with words.

Tong Lingxian: …

Tong Lingxian put down her chopsticks and steadied her expression.

“Xiaoyu, does the Brigade Leader know you came here? Will you be scolded when you go back? Or did you quarrel with your family and wander down the mountain by accident?”

He Yu forced a small smile.

“Grandma, I heard younger sister and the others can find mushrooms. I want to find mushrooms too, so I came by myself.”

So she came to ask Xixi to go mushroom hunting. Tong Lingxian felt relieved. As long as it wasn’t a family issue.

She continued gently,

“I see. But it might not work today. Xixi’s clothes are torn, and Grandma needs to mend them. Without a padded coat, she might catch a cold going up the mountain.”

Of course, this was only an obvious excuse.

The Brigade Leader had already angered many people by supporting them before. If someone saw his granddaughter mixing with their children again, it would spark more rumors.

Their own family troubles had already caused enough inconvenience for the Brigade Leader. Handing others more leverage would only harm him further.

And today was the second day of the New Year, when many women returned to their mother’s homes. With He Yu’s sensitive identity, if an outsider saw her here, it would be impossible to explain.

So for He Yu’s wish, Tong Lingxian could only apologize. Mushroom hunting would have to wait until there were fewer people around.

When everyone returned to school and work, they could arrange to go together. At that time, she wouldn’t object.

Fang Mingxi glanced at the clothes she had finished mending late the night before. She opened her mouth to say she still planned to go up the mountain today, but the moment she met Fang Bosong’s gaze, she shut her mouth again.

She understood.

She kept quiet.

“I see… Then I’ll go home. Next time, I’ll come find younger sister to play and go mushroom hunting.”

He Yu looked visibly disappointed.

With her head lowered, she hopped off the bench and pulled out candies, sunflower seeds, and peanuts from her bulging bag, placing everything on the table.

“Grandpa, Grandma, younger sister, goodbye. I’ll come again next time to go mushroom hunting.”

“Mm, goodbye!”

Everyone waved as the dejected He Yu walked away.

Once she was far enough, Zhong Zhicheng finally spoke, unable to hold it in.

“Sister Tong, it should be fine for kids, right? The Brigade Leader already said whatever food children find belongs to them.”

“If someone happens to see them, just say they met on the mountain by accident. Who would know if it was arranged?”

Such a sensible girl, not at all like the troublemaker rumors described. He really didn’t understand why Tong Lingxian refused.

Old Yu agreed.

“Exactly. If she came all this way to find Xixi and Yaoyao, something must have happened.”

“What if she gathered her courage to ask Xixi to go mushroom hunting, only to be refused? How sad must she feel going home?”

They had all heard rumors about He Yu.

People said she was spoiled at home, delicate and clingy, always following a certain boy around and giving him all the good things, refusing to play with other village children.

But for her to suddenly seek out Xixi and Yaoyao today, clearly something must have happened.

Of course, Tong Lingxian understood this.

But after receiving so many sewing supplies, snacks, and money last night, they were still anxious. With such things in their home, the last thing they wanted was more contact with the Brigade Leader’s family. If there was another search of the cattle shed, those items would be undeniable evidence.

So Tong Lingxian could only play the villain for now. They would wait until after the New Year. Once things weren’t so conspicuous, she would let the girls take He Yu up the mountain to pick mushrooms.

Looking at the piles of sunflower seeds and candies on the table, Fang Mingxi felt something was off about He Yu.

The Brigade Leader’s attitude toward them had always been strange, overly close, yet not consistently so.

From the incident with the hidden money yesterday, she was certain the mysterious person who secretly sent supplies to their home was the Brigade Leader.

She still hadn’t figured out his intentions.

And now, He Yu had suddenly appeared, asking her to go mushroom hunting.

What exactly was this family planning?