CHAPTER 46: CHAPTER 46: A YOUNG LADY FROM THE NEIGHBORING MANOR ARRIVES

The villagers, although they envied the Yuan Family’s eagle, could only feel envy.

This matter, was purely a blessing from the heavens.

Of course, some were jealous, wanting to harm the Yuan Family’s eagle.

Unfortunately, this eagle always flew high, and apart from being close to Yuan Bao, even the other members of the Yuan Family couldn’t get close to it.

Days passed like this, one by one.

Yuan Bao was visibly growing up.

...

In the blink of an eye, winter arrived.

When the first snowflake fell, the villagers of Shiqu Village began their hibernation.

But the Yuan Family was not idle like the surrounding families; they remained busy.

Although winter had come, this season was a prime time for hunting in the mountains. Yuan Pandi and Yuan Zhaodi would lead Yuan Shougui and the others into the mountains when they could, hoping for some game, and even if luck was not on their side, they could at least bring back bundles of firewood to the town to exchange for money to buy some meat to improve their lives.

Poverty is not scary.

Laziness is the real fear.

The Yuan Family’s days were lived with vigor, thanks to their industriousness.

Now that Yuan Bao was over a year and a half old, she was eating more and growing quite sturdy.

The most amazing thing was that her elder cousin Yuan Shouli, who was about three years older than her, often lost in fights against Yuan Bao.

Another heavy snowfall came, and as the morning arrived, Yuan Bao demanded her cousins build a snowman.

For the beloved little cousin of the family, Yuan Shougui and the others couldn’t withstand her demands; before the adults spoke, they hurriedly went out to sweep the snow, piling it up to make a snowman that the little cousin liked.

It was Yuan Bao who wanted to build a snowman, but she wasn’t the one doing the work.

She took a small broom and played with the snow.

Soon after Yuan Bao started playing, You Cang flew in from the horizon.

You Cang was the eagle Yuan Bao had saved. The name derived from Xin Qiji’s poem, "Holding the yellow dog in the left hand, grasping the blue falcon in the right hand."

Of course, in this world there was no Xin Qiji, so no one knew the origin of You Cang’s name.

You Cang’s visit, naturally, wasn’t empty-clawed.

A plump, large rabbit descended from the sky, landing in the snow beside Yuan Bao.

The next moment, You Cang landed from above.

Yuan Bao stretched out her chubby little arm, allowing You Cang to perch on it.

For her strength, Yuan Bao felt that You Cang played a part.

Yuan Bao reached out to stroke You Cang’s head, then took out the homemade smoked fish from the bag slung over her shoulder and handed it to You Cang.

To give and not reciprocate is impolite!

Every time You Cang came, it would bring a gift, so Yuan Bao surely had to give something back.

Swapping a small dried fish for a plump rabbit, Yuan Bao made quite a profit.

You Cang ate a few pieces of smoked fish, spread its wings, and quickly disappeared into the sky.

Yuan Bao watched You Cang leave and then rushed towards the rabbit on the ground.

The seven to eight-pound hefty rabbit was lifted with one hand by Yuan Bao, who dashed home, ready to hand it over to her mom.

Such a plump rabbit, stewed with radish, would be enough for the whole family to have a delicious meal.

Carrying the rabbit home, Yuan Bao heard her mom and three aunts talking in the courtyard, and overhearing their conversation, Yuan Bao suddenly had a bad feeling.

A young lady had arrived at the neighboring manor!

An official family’s legitimate young lady, her mom was gone, stepmother didn’t accept her, biological father turned into stepfather...

Very pitiful!

"Pitiful?"

Yuan Bao blinked, why did this situation feel like the setup of a heroine drama?