Chapter 14

Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

Even if she was just a young girl from the same village, he would still help her, not because of her status.

He didn’t acknowledge his engagement to her.

As he was contemplating, she was already led into the midst of the flowers. He scanned the nearby ground, ensuring there was no danger, and then proceeded to assist the young girl in plucking the flowers.

After picking a few, he noticed Chen Xiaosang struggling to reach a flower branch. Shen Dalang furrowed his brows, glanced at her several times, and finally said calmly, “You won’t be able to pluck many.”

He suggested they take a rest and sit on a rock instead.

Chen Xiaosang exclaimed, shaking her head, “Oh dear, I’m too small, and the flowers are too high.”

She imagined growing up a bit more and quietly venturing into the mountains to search for precious herbs. With the purchase of some tools, she could finally showcase her skills.

Shen Dalang coldly remarked, “Picking flowers won’t save your brothers.”

Chen Xiaosang found his words quite hurtful. She, a former renowned pharmacist, couldn’t even produce a two-tael medicine? The young boy truly knew nothing about her abilities.

Tilting her head back, she tried to gaze into the young boy’s eyes, but all she could see was his attractive jawline. She settled for an alternative and stared at his chin, saying, “I’m actually quite skilled. I sold yesterday’s honeysuckles for one wen.”

Shen Dalang chuckled in response.

This greatly provoked Chen Xiaosang. How could a little boy dare to mock her, a distinguished pharmacist?

Frustrated, she switched to a cutesy tone, “The snake you caught must have earned you quite a sum at the herbal shop, right? It wouldn’t have fetched much if you took it to a restaurant.”

Merely observing the shopkeeper’s expression upon hearing about the snake revealed its value.

Did he still look down on her? Hmph!

Shen Dalang threw a flower into the basket and lowered his head to meet Chen Xiaosang’s round, wide eyes. Seeing her puffed-up cheeks, he pursed his lips.

The little girl was right. Taking it to the herbal shop would earn him an extra two taels compared to sending it to the county town restaurant.

“You’ve only made one wen, though,” he said.

Chen Xiaosang was fuming, panting in anger. Honeysuckle wasn’t worth much, and she had brought only a small quantity. The snake eggs were sold for 360 wen, slightly less valuable than his snake.

If only she could venture into the mountains and search for precious herbs. Then she would earn plenty of money.

Lost in her thoughts, she gazed towards the deep mountains and took a couple of steps in that direction.

Suddenly, her back tightened, and the next moment she was lifted into the air. She struggled, swinging her short legs, as Shen Dalang placed her on his shoulder.

“You’re not allowed to go deep into the mountains,” Shen Dalang said coldly.

She was truly fearless, daring to run up the mountain without any concern of being carried away by wolves.

Recalling the venomous snake from two days ago, Shen Dalang’s expression darkened once again.

At just ten years old, Shen Dalang was almost as tall as Old Chen. Fearing she might fall, Chen Xiaosang tightly clung to his head with her tender hands.

She stared longingly at the mountain not far away, then glanced at her small hands and feet, sighing deeply. “Being a child isn’t good. People stop me from trying to do anything. If only I were as tall as you, I would be able to go up to the mountains myself.”

Shen Dalang’s brows twitched when he heard what Chen Xiaosang was saying, but he continued picking flowers as if he hadn’t heard anything.

Suddenly, his arm was pinched. He quickly recoiled, only to find Chen Xiaosang’s tender, fair hand playfully squeezing his muscular arm. She sighed, “What great muscles! I wish I had them.”

Annoyed, Shen Dalang sternly shouted at Chen Xiaosang, “Don’t touch me!”

To his surprise, Chen Xiaosang showed no fear. Her eyes sparkled as she spoke, “Don’t you venture into the mountains every day for hunting? How about taking me along? I’ll help you find valuable herbs, and we can split the profits. What do you say?”

Ignoring her, Shen Dalang could still hear Chen Xiaosang murmuring, “It’s still early; you can hunt some wild animals in the mountains.”

Confidently, she added, “My eyesight is excellent, and I can assist you in finding prey. Just take me with you.”

Shen Dalang’s forehead veins throbbed, and he forcefully plucked a Honeysuckle flower, as if he were breaking Chen Xiaosang’s neck.

However, Chen Xiaosang remained undeterred. After all, he was a person with a tough appearance but a warm heart.

She explained, “Look how small I am. Snakes, wolves, wild boars—they would all come to devour me. You can stay at a safe distance and shoot them with your arrows. We could catch a lot of prey and make a fortune selling them.”

Unable to bear it any longer, Shen Dalang grabbed the basket and walked out of the flower bed. He placed her on the ground and hung the morning’s catch and quiver on his back. Then, he securely tied Chen Xiaosang to his chest and headed up the mountain with his bow in hand.

If she wanted to go to the mountains, he would show her the reality—ferocious beasts, snakes, and insects. He wanted to see if she could handle it without bursting into tears.

Chen Xiaosang, on the other hand, swung her tiny legs happily in the air. Finally…finally, she could enter the mountains! All sorts of herbs and money beckoned to her.

“You’re truly a kind person! I promise to help you make more money!” Chen Xiaosang turned her small head to look back at Shen Dalang.

“No need,” retorted Shen Dalang, his anger evident.

As long as she didn’t sneak into the mountains alone and get attacked by wolves, he would be content.

Chen Xiaosang shook her head persistently. “I can earn money. Don’t regret this.”

Shen Dalang ignored her and continued onward.

Once in the mountains, Shen Dalang’s entire body tensed. He gripped his bow tightly, an arrow already poised in his other hand, surveying his surroundings.

Sensing his change in demeanor, Chen Xiaosang held her breath, doing her best not to disturb him. Her little head swiveled slowly, scanning the various plants on the ground.

The forest resounded with the melodic chirping of birds, and occasionally a rustling sound caught Chen Xiaosang’s attention. Her heart skipped a beat as she followed the sound, noticing a gentle sway in the nearby thicket.

She tugged at Shen Dalang’s clothing and pointed in that direction.

Curiosity piqued, Shen Dalang cautiously approached with an arrow poised on his bow, aimed at the swaying grass. As he drew nearer and gently brushed the grass aside with his arrow, he discovered a group of small birds pecking at the ground for food. A sigh of relief escaped him, but a tinge of disappointment crept in, and he turned to leave.

However, his clothing was suddenly pulled from below. Lowering his gaze, he met Chen Xiaosang’s excited eyes. Her lips moved incessantly as she pointed at the birds on the ground.

Perplexed, he glanced at the oblivious birds on the ground.

Did she have a fondness for birds?

Observing Shen Dalang’s bow aimed at the quails, Chen Xiaosang’s heart raced. She strained to grasp his shoulder, mustering all her strength to reach his ear and whisper, “Please don’t kill them.”

Before her words had fully registered, a gust of wind passed by. She quickly turned her head, witnessing one quail’s wing pinned to the ground by an arrow. The remaining quails fluttered their wings, scattering in every direction.

Chen Xiaosang tightened her grip on Shen Dalang’s clothes, urgency lacing her voice, “Hurry, hurry!”

In response to her plea, arrows swiftly pierced the air, impaling the fleeing quails one by one. Some quails that attempted to seek refuge on tree branches wavered and plummeted to the ground, their struggle futile.

Radiant with joy, Chen Xiaosang’s face flushed. Quails were indeed a precious find—easy to rear and abundant in their egg-laying, with the potential to yield three to four hundred quail eggs per year. These eggs would be the perfect nourishment for Dazhu and Erzhu!