Chapter 12: Little Sanzi is the Smartest Among the Grandchildren

Mother Fang heard the noise coming from the courtyard and replied, "You've finished eating, so you've finished. Go back to your own homes. You know what should be said and what shouldn't."

Don't underestimate this group of children; they all knew that they couldn't tell others they had eaten meat, and they couldn't tell others that the meat was caught by their aunt, otherwise, there would be no more meat to eat.

"Grandma, we know."

"Yeah, we know."

Then, the group of little children trotted off with their empty bowls.

As soon as they stepped out, someone saw the group and asked, "Did you go to your grandma's house to eat something good?"

"No."

Xiao Sanzi was the sharpest among the grandchildren. "Grandma boiled some chestnuts for us. A whole pot at once, so it wouldn't waste firewood."

"Chestnuts are delicious."

"Right, chestnuts are delicious."

"Delicious."

The younger ones chimed in as well.

Seeing the group of brats walk away, the auntie who had asked them curled her lips. "The brigade leader's family must have eaten meat."

"The brigade leader's wife must have given Fatty meat again."

"She's already so fat and still eating meat."

Going into the mountains to catch small game was something the villagers turned a blind eye to. Small birds, bird eggs, wild duck eggs, and the like—whoever found them kept them.

The same went for the fish in the river, but with so many people catching them, the fish had become clever and weren't so easy to catch anymore.

Their brigade also had a fish pond, but they would only drain it to catch fish before the New Year, and every household would get a share.

At the Fang house.

Fang Youyou finished her meal and returned to her room to read. There were some characters she didn't recognize, but she had a dictionary. She flipped through it, learning them one by one, guessing and deducing as she went.

"Youyou, do you want to take a bath?" Mother Fang knew her daughter loved being clean. In hot weather, she bathed once a day, and since she had gone into the mountains today, she was afraid she had worked up quite a sweat.

"Yes, boil some hot water for me."

Fang Youyou replied, lowering her head to continue flipping through the dictionary. If she wanted to understand more about this place, she needed to go out and see it for herself; reading seemed to be her only path for now.

She didn't dare ask too many questions, fearing her parents would grow suspicious of her identity.

She could remain calm, but she was afraid they wouldn't be able to accept certain facts.

"Youyou, go ahead and wash up!"

Fang Youyou carried a wooden bucket to the simply constructed bathing room. Other members of the brigade didn't have such a room; only the brigade leader's family did.

"How does it feel like you've gotten thinner?" Mother Fang scrutinized her daughter, her brows furrowing slightly, especially when she noticed that the clothes she was wearing were a bit loose.

Thinner?

It wasn't that obvious, was it? It had only been a few days.

Her training had been insufficient these past two days. She was already used to training every day. It seemed she would have to wake up early tomorrow to go into the mountains to train, and while she was at it, catch some game to nourish her parents.

Her own body was too fat, but the two old folks were noticeably thin. Because they were thin, they looked even more aged.

"Mom, I'll go wash clothes with you." If she was lucky, she might be able to catch some fish by the river.

Catching fish was a must.

Mother Fang refused outright. The memory of her daughter falling into the river last time was still fresh in her mind.

"I'll be back soon after washing them; you don't need to go."

"I want to go." Her tone was a bit stiff.

Brigade Leader Fang, who was weaving a winnowing basket on the side of the courtyard, said, "If Youyou wants to go, just let her go. It's impossible to keep her away from the river forever."

The incident that day still made them palpitate with fear, but they couldn't just tie their daughter up to keep her from the river.

Mother Fang glared at her old man. She was afraid her daughter would be scared, and besides, washing clothes was light work.