CHAPTER 169: CHAPTER 169: LITTLE ANIMALS IN THE BAMBOO GROVE

The bamboo forest is in the direction closer to the village, it’s a vast expanse, the largest bamboo forest near Fu’an Village. There are others, but they are farther away and not as abundant.

Jiang Hu carried a machete, a hoe, and a water bottle, occasionally checking on this one, and instructing that one, busy as could be.

"Watch your step, it rained last night, the path is very slippery."

Jiang Hu walked at the back, holding onto Xiao Mi, while in front, Liu Ze held Xiao Xue. Jiang Hu extended another hand to guard, fearing they might slip and fall accidentally.

They were wearing straw sandals, a thick and sturdy kind, relatively non-slip, but now covered with a thick layer of mud.

But the straw sandals were easy to clean; a few swishes in the river and they’d be clean.

"Watch out." Liu Ze grasped tightly onto Xiao Xue, who almost slipped, and Jiang Hu also supported her shoulder from behind.

"The ground is so slippery with so many leaves and branches; it’s hard to walk."

Jiang Hu steadied Xiao Xue and then set down a back basket: "Xiao Mi, come inside, I’ll carry you. Hold onto your sister. Xiao Ze, are you okay on your own?"

"I’m fine."

After all, Liu Ze was older. Eating and sleeping well these past months, he had mostly recovered, and he was steadier climbing the mountain than the younger ones.

Xiao Mi had already climbed into the basket, standing on the machete and leaning on her father’s back, making it less tiring for him to carry her.

"I should have come alone and taken you up the mountain in a couple of days."

After changing the formation, Jiang Hu took Xiao Xue by the hand, and their pace quickened suddenly.

Xiao Mi hurriedly said, "It has to be today, in a few days, we’ll be busy, and you won’t have time."

They’d start digging sweet potatoes, then prepare to plant wheat and rapeseed, and after that, dig lotus ponds.

Just thinking about it felt incredibly busy.

Unintentionally spoken, yet it struck a chord with the listener. Jiang Hu was instantly filled with some guilt.

"It’s all my fault, always busy every day, no time to spend with you."

Before Xiao Mi could say anything, Xiao Xue shook her head, "No, Dad, it’s for us. If it weren’t for you and Mom working to support us, we’d starve."

Xiao Mi nodded repeatedly, "Yes, big sister is right, Dad and Mom are amazing!"

Jiang Hu was very touched, his spirits lifted: "Let’s go, we’ll dig bamboo in the morning, and when the ground isn’t as slippery in the afternoon, I’ll take you to the mountain to catch wild rabbits!"

Xiao Mi got excited instantly, "Yay, thank you, Daddy!"

If she weren’t in the basket being carried, she would have jumped around.

Xiao Xue was also very happy, and even Liu Ze hesitated for a second before asking, "Uncle Jiang, can I go too?"

Afraid Jiang Hu might refuse, he quickly assured, "Uncle Jiang, rest assured, I’m perfectly fine now, healthy as can be, I won’t be a burden!"

He had only been with the Jiang family for less than two months, but he had gotten much healthier, now even able to help Xiao Xue feed the pigs.

Jiang Hu laughed, "Of course you can come, we’re just going around the outskirts, not too tiring."

Liu Ze’s face instantly lit up with a smile, "Thank you, Uncle Jiang."

Jiang Hu waved his hand, "When we get there, you can play by yourselves, just be careful not to let the black hairs from the bamboo shells get on your skin, it’ll itch a lot."

Then he put Xiao Mi down, and as soon as Xiao Mi touched the ground, she darted out like a kitten, hugging a piece of bamboo.

"So soft, the ground here isn’t slippery at all, no mud either."

As she ran, she didn’t forget to stomp her feet.

Indeed, the ground was covered thickly with clean bamboo leaves and shells, nothing else.

Bamboo is such a dominant plant, where it grows, nothing else can, not even a single weed.

"Be careful, don’t run too far, I’m going to dig a couple of bamboos to take back."

Jiang Hu called out loudly, but the three little ones had already run far away, only the response echoing from the bamboo forest.

Jiang Hu shook his head, clueless as to why this bamboo forest was so fun, making them run so fast.

"Xiao Hei! Xiao Hei, come here quick!"

Xiao Mi’s shouts came from above, but Jiang Hu didn’t mind, starting to dig bamboo.

Transplanting this bamboo wasn’t hard, take the roots with soil, dig a big chunk, and take it straight home.

It’s just the start of autumn, temperatures slowly dropping; just add more water, and it’ll survive.

With a swing, he hit nothing but bamboo leaves, quickly clearing them away to continue working.

Xiao Mi’s loud voice continued, only she could be so boisterous, like a boy, no, even more so than a boy.

At least Liu Ze would be too embarrassed to shout like that.

In no time, Jiang Hu heard rustling from afar, rapidly approaching, accompanied by Xiao Hei’s barking.

Oh well, Xiao Hei was truly obedient, summoned from such a distance.

Not just Xiao Hei, but Xiao Mi as well, previously dining at home, and after eating, finding a sunny spot to bask, now rushed over by the little owners’ calls.

Xiao Hei soon reached Jiang Hu, barking twice at him.

"In front, over there."

Jiang Hu casually pointed in the direction Xiao Mi and the others had gone. Xiao Hei barked as if in gratitude.

A moment later, a ’meow’ came from overhead.

Jiang Hu was bemused, "What’s this, even knowing how to say thanks now?"

"Xiao Hei, hurry up, come catch the mouse!"

Xiao Mi’s voice came from ahead, Xiao Hei hadn’t even moved yet, and little Mi from the tree branch made a leap, vanishing into the bamboo forest, disappearing from Jiang Hu’s sight.

Xiao Hei followed closely, soon disappearing as well, with only lively sounds emerging from the bamboo forest.

Jiang Hu shook his head helplessly; if it weren’t for Xiao Hei and little Mi being incapable of speech, he’d think they had turned into spirits.

While Jiang Hu worked diligently, on the other side, Xiao Mi, Xiao Xue, and Liu Ze were all getting excited.

"Quick, here’s a hole, there must be a bamboo rat!" Xiao Mi was thrilled.

Bamboo rat! Such an expensive, good thing!

Her father had mentioned before, if the bamboo looks gnawed, like rodent tooth marks, but rodents don’t eat bamboo.

Xiao Mi immediately thought of bamboo rats. However, Liu Ze also suggested it might be a bamboo beaver.

Xiao Mi was bewildered for a long time, only realizing after asking that a bamboo beaver is the same as the bamboo rat she was thinking of, just a different name.

They are supposed to be plump creatures, similar to field mice, reportedly expensive in the market. If they could catch a few and raise them, they’d surely make money!

"Woof woof~" Xiao Hei arrived.

There was a fist-sized hole under a bush next to the bamboo forest, with plenty of bamboo debris at the entrance!

"The hole’s too small, even little Mi can’t fit in, and even if she did, she couldn’t get out."

Liu Ze watched Xiao Hei barking at the entrance, glanced at the little Mi in the tree, startled but still providing an explanation.

Xiao Mi got anxious, "What should we do?"

Xiao Xue squatted with a stick beside, observing the small entrance.

"Xiao Mi, we need to find a way to lure the bamboo rat out, and then let Xiao Hei and little Mi catch it, that way we can catch it."