Chapter 174 - 174 A Gentleman keeps his word
174 A Gentleman keeps his word
Tao Yinzhen’s lips curled into a mocking smile. She raised his head and brought the brown rice porridge to his mouth.
He immediately opened his mouth and drank it.
How could Ren Shuixing be full from half a bowl of brown rice porridge? A few days ago, he would still be shouting and ordering Tao Yinzhen to bring him fish and meat.
After Tao Yinzhen did not feed him for two days, he had learned his lesson. Now, he did not even dare to mention it, afraid that the next meal would be gone and he would starve to death.
Tao Yinzhen came out of the side room. Little Cat had yet to eat and insisted on waiting for her to come before eating.
Tao Yinzhen sat beside him and said gently, “Let’s eat.”
Little Cat nodded and immediately picked up his chopsticks. He picked up the pickled vegetables and ate the porridge.
In the past, he and his mother could not eat a full meal in a year. Now, there were only the two of them at home.
Tao Yinzhen weaved cloth at home and sent it to town to sell some copper coins and buy some food.
There was still no meat or fish at the dining table, but they were already very satisfied to be able to eat two full meals a day.
Tao Yinzhen peeled the only egg and placed it in his bowl.
Little Cat picked up half of it with his chopsticks and put it in Tao Yinzhen’s bowl. “Mother, eat.”
Tao Yinzhen placed it in his bowl again. “Mother doesn’t like eggs. Little Cat, eat it yourself.”
Little Cat knew that his mother could not bear to eat it, so he took a bite and swore, “I’ll definitely buy the best food for mother in the future.”
Tao Yinzhen’s smile deepened. She suddenly felt regretful. “If only the fruits could be sold.”
Their family had the most fruit trees. They had three bayberry trees, two lychee trees, and a plum tree. If they could exchange them for money, they would become rich overnight.
When Little Cat grew up and was getting, there was no need to worry too much.
Unfortunately, it was all ruined by that idiot, Lin Chenghai.
Little Cat knew that his mother was very depressed about this matter and comforted her. “It’s alright, Mother. Our pigs are healthy. If the hens lay more eggs, they can still be exchanged for a lot of money! I even learned to lay a trap from Big Brother. We might be able to catch a prey tomorrow!”
Tao Yinzhen was very glad to know that her son was so well-behaved. At the thought of her son’s good relationship with the children in the neighboring village, she reminded him, “Don’t fight with them and stay close to them.” She thought of something and added, “If there’s a chance, try to talk to Madam Bai more. She has even asked the doctor to treat you previously, you have to be extremely grateful towards her, alright?”
As long as Madam Bai liked Little Cat, the money from selling fruits was nothing.
Little Cat nodded. “I know. If I catch a rabbit tomorrow, I’ll give it to Madam Bai. Big Brother said that Master Chu likes to eat rabbits the most.”
Tao Yinzhen nodded approvingly. “Good.”
The next day, Little Cat quickly fed the livestock at home, tidied up the firewood, went to the fields to pick vegetables, tidied up the courtyard, and washed the clothes. He glanced at Tao Yinzhen, who was still weaving, and shouted loudly, “I’m going out ~” Then he quickly entered the mountain to check on the trap that he had set up.
He had only set two traps. The first one was empty. Feeling a little disappointed, he walked to the front of the second trap and saw a gray hare caught at the ankle.
He rushed over and grabbed the rabbit’s ears in surprise. He shouted happily and kissed the rabbit a few times.
Suddenly, there was a slight sound in front of the forest. He looked forward and suddenly met a pair of cold eyes.
It was a ferocious leopard crawling close to him.
Little Cat trembled in fear and his face was pale. He hugged the rabbit tightly and turned to run.
How could his little short legs outrun the leopard? The chasing leopard was getting closer and closer. Little Cat even felt that he would be pounced on in the next second.
Suddenly, Chu Tianbao descended from the sky and threw the dagger in his hand, hitting the leopard in the forehead.
The leopard suddenly fell to the ground.
The leopard was dead, but the frightened Little Cat sat on the ground and wailed.
He was so close to death.
It was too terrifying.
Suddenly, a jade-like hand handed him a clean handkerchief.
Little Cat raised his eyes in tears and hiccuped. When he saw that it was Madam Bai, his tears flowed even more.
Bai Wutong patted his back and comforted him softly. “Don’t be afraid. It’s all right.”
Madam Bai was really gentle and kind.
Little Cat carried the wild rabbit and wanted to pounce into Bai Wutong’s arms. Suddenly, Chu Tianbao picked him up with one hand and lectured him sternly, “Stay away from my wife! You’re a man. Why are you crying?! Be strong!”
Little Cat was a little dazed, but he felt that Chu Tianbao had a point. He burped and nodded tearfully.
When she saw this, she found it very funny. Chu Tianbao clearly loved to cry the most, but he still had the cheek to educate others.
Little Cat calmed down and stopped hiccuping. He reached out and showed a bright smile. He placed the trembling rabbit in front of Bai Wutong. “Madam, for you!”
“My mother said that one needs to know how to repay kindness, I don’t have anything else but this rabbit. I hope Madam won’t mind.”
His dark eyes were filled with shyness and anticipation. Afraid that she wouldn’t accept it, he pushed it forward.
Bai Wutong studied him carefully. Only then did she notice that Little Cat was barefoot, but a pair of considerably new shoes hung from his chest.
Curious, she asked, “Why aren’t you wearing shoes?”
Little Cat looked at the shoes on his chest and smiled cherishingly. “The shoes will spoil if I wear them for too long. If I don’t wear them, I can wear them for a long time.”
If he didn’t wear it, he could wear it for a long time.
There was a cruel innocence in the child’s words that made her nose sting. She stroked his head. “If you don’t wear it now, your feet will grow too big to wear it.”
Little Cat was stunned and a little sad.
He wanted to grow up quickly and help Tao Yinzhen work in the fields, but he also wanted to wear his shoes for a longer time.
How difficult.
Soon, he perked up again, like a perpetually energetic little sun, revealing his canine teeth. “Then I’ll work hard to earn money and buy many, many shoes!”
Bai Wutong scratched his little nose. “Then sell the rabbit for money.”
But Little Cat shook his head firmly. “I’ve already told Mother that I’ll give the first rabbit to Madam when I catch it. A gentleman has to keep his word.”
How cute the child’s persistence was.
With a smile, Bai Wutong reached out to take the hare. Suddenly, she asked Little Cat, “Do you have fruit trees at home?”
Little Cat nodded. “We have a few fruit trees. There are bayberries, plums, and lychees. I like lychees the most as they’re especially sweet. What does Madam Bai and Master Chu like? I’ll go pick them for Madam Bai and Master Chu later!”
She smiled and shook her head. “I’ve already taken the rabbit. I can’t ask for your fruits for nothing anymore. Can Little Cat sell me your fruits?”
Little Cat’s eyes lit up. “Okay.”
Their family had a lot of fruits. If it was at the rate of one copper coin per catty, they could be exchanged for a lot of copper coins. With these copper coins, his mother would not have to work so hard day and night. They would also have the money to hire the men in the village to help them do the work in the fields.
Han Muye and Chu Tianbao brought the leopard back and immediately sent someone to invite Yu Suisheng over.