CHAPTER 170: CHAPTER 170: ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND WHYS

Little Zhi’s cheerful shout carried a special infectious energy.

Xiao Han and Shuangshuang followed her instructions, stepped forward to find, but Xiao Han was too anxious and accidentally fell into the field. When he got back up, he already looked like a mud person.

"Haha, Brother Xiao Han turned into a mud person, Brother Xiao Han turned into a mud person."

Mu Xiaohan wiped the mud off his face, saw Little Zhi laughing so happily, he couldn’t help joining in the laughter.

Children are just children, a tiny thing can make them laugh endlessly.

Mu Shuangshuang joined the laughter, her hands moved swiftly, and along with Mu Dajiang, they picked through an acre of ground, harvesting about a dozen small loaches and three small eels. They weren’t big, but definitely enough for a meal.

"Sis, are we still following Fourth Uncle?"

Mu Dajiang had switched tasks by now, and he was probably going to plow the field soon, which would take him a while to finish an acre.

"No, the fields don’t only have eels and loaches. Let’s check the ditches to see if there are crayfish and snails. Didn’t Sister bring a fire tong? It’s perfect for digging crayfish holes."

Ancient ditches were muddy channels. Crayfish were not luxury items like today. During the double harvest, everyone was busy with field work, so there were fewer people catching crayfish and snails.

Finding a spot where the water was shallow, Mu Shuangshuang went down into the ditch and lowered her head to observe the bubbling holes.

Suddenly, a crayfish with a hard shell and stout pincers appeared in front of her eyes.

She laughed, stretched out her hand, and quickly picked up the crayfish.

"Hey, it’s an old friend, long time no see."

This crayfish had cooperated well with Mu Shuangshuang last time, almost ruining Mu Yingying’s face. At that time, Mu Shuangshuang had said she would deal with the crayfish, but secretly let it go without the Old Mu Family knowing.

After all, crayfish are not like Little Black, they are not as human-like. When Mu Shuangshuang touched its back, it waved its large pincers, wanting to pinch Mu Shuangshuang’s flesh.

"Okay, okay, I don’t mean any harm. If you stay here, sooner or later you’ll be eaten. Why not come back with me, and I’ll take good care of you."

Mu Shuangshuang thought that now, there was a vegetable patch at the foot of Niuwei Mountain. That place was not often visited by people, so putting the crayfish there would be good. If the environment was favorable, maybe a big brood could be bred.

"Sister, I remember it."

Xiao Han pointed at the crayfish, laughing aloud, "It taught a lesson to..."

Before Mu Xiaohan could finish speaking, Mu Shuangshuang made a shushing gesture. "Xiao Han, you know, I know, and the old crayfish knows, it’s enough."

"Mhm!" Mu Xiaohan nodded lightly. His sister must be worried about causing trouble if people found out, and he understood this reasoning.

The old crayfish was tossed into the wooden bucket, and Mu Shuangshuang continued to search for crayfish holes. If she thought there might be crayfish, she’d test the spot with the fire tongs. Sometimes she’d catch an old crayfish, other times nothing. This went on, and the morning passed.

The three of them, except for Little Zhi on the bank, Mu Shuangshuang and Mu Xiaohan had both become mud people, covered in mud patches. They laughed at each other endlessly.

"Come on, Xiao Han, let’s go wash up, or when we get home, Dad and Mom would be worried."

Before leaving, Mu Shuangshuang only said she was taking two little kids to see the field without mentioning what they were going to do. First, she was afraid Mu Dashan and Yu Si Niang would stop them since parents generally don’t want their kids playing in water.

Second, she was worried other members of the Old Mu Family might follow. Yesterday, Gou Dan warned Mu Shuangshuang that if anyone meant harm, whoever they were, they’d be beaten as soon as they went in, and once beaten painfully, they’d stay well-behaved.

Old Mrs. Mu’s method to rein in the wives was through beating and scolding. Even Mrs. Lin, known for her feistiness, was subdued, proving the truth that brute force settles everything.

"I want to go by the creek where the water is clear. Is that okay?"

Xiao Han spoke with more of a negotiating tone, unlike Little Zhi. Xiao Han was a little man, his speech and actions carried a boy’s steadiness. The only thing was that he seemed mature for his age, generally laughing less obviously.

Today was probably the most he had laughed, the most radiant smile yet.

If Little Zhi was like a little cotton candy, sweet and soft, then Mu Xiaohan was definitely a sugar cake. Despite the name, he wasn’t sweet but had a soft texture and filled the belly nicely.

Of course, these two were her beloved little brother and sister.

"Of course, we can try and see if we can catch some fish."

...

The spring water flowing down from the mountaintop was cooler than regular river water, clearer too. Mu Shuangshuang had gone there many times to catch fish, but every time she didn’t catch much.

Once that pool of lake water became muddied, the fish would hide in the crevices of rocks and catching them would not be easy.

Mu Shuangshuang held a stick, staring at the water surface for a while. Occasionally, one or two fish would swim to her feet. They were relatively small, and Mu Shuangshuang kept waiting for bigger fish.

Finally, as the little ones on the bank lost their patience, a decent-sized white carp swam near her feet. Mu Shuangshuang applied force with her hand, and with a swoosh, the stick pierced the fish’s back.

"Wow, Sister caught a fish, so impressive..."

Little Zhi was always the one to cheer the loudest. Seeing Mu Shuangshuang catch a fish, she clapped her little hands till they almost wore out, revealing a gap-toothed smile, silly yet incredibly cute.

"Yes, we have lunch secured. Xiao Han, you can wash the mud off yourself now."

Mu Shuangshuang chuckled softly, climbed up the bank from the creek, and tossed the impaled fish onto the bank, hiding the long stick in a nearby spot.

This long stick was one she had carved last time, with a particularly sharp tip, perfect for spearing fish. That’s why Mu Shuangshuang found a spot in the grass to store it away.

After washing off the mud, Mu Shuangshuang sat by the bank, watching Xiaohan’s drenched clothing, hugging themselves, seemingly cold.

"Xiao Han, take off your clothes. I’ll find a branch to hang them out, and they’ll dry soon."

The day’s temperature was high, and it would take some time for the clothes to dry. Mu Xiaohan was still young and couldn’t afford to catch a cold. If he got a heat cold, who knows how troublesome it could become.

Xiao Han blushed, hesitated, and just wouldn’t take off his clothes. Moreover, he turned his head away, not looking at Little Zhi nearby.

"Oh, so he’s shy. Little Zhi, turn around; Brother Xiao Han is going to take off his clothes, and he doesn’t want you to see."

"Why doesn’t he want me to see? Yesterday when Brother was washing his bottom, I saw it." Little Zhi squatted on the ground drawing small circles, her eyes still fixed on Xiao Han.

"Because you’re a girl and Brother Xiao Han is a boy. If you look at him, he’ll feel shy."

"Then why can Sister look?" Little Zhi pondered aloud.

"..."

"I’m not looking for fun, Xiao Han needs someone to handle his clothes, right? If I turned my head, who would help him?" Mu Shuangshuang explained righteously.

Actually, she had a tiny wish to see what a handsome guy’s bath scene looked like.

Xiao Han was indeed a rare handsome boy.