Chapter 26: Chapter 26: Reporting to the Family

An Guoming stopped asking questions and headed home with An Ning. For the first time, he walked even faster than she did and was the first one to rush into the courtyard.

An Ning, walking behind, watched his cheerful figure and felt the urge to run an experiment and analyze the data. ’So, being passionate about something really can stimulate a person’s hormones and unlock their physical potential.’

She quickened her pace into the courtyard, planning to wash up and go back to her room to rest, but An Sancheng called her over.

In the west room of the main house, a dim kerosene lamp was lit, its scent drifting through the air. An Sancheng sat cross-legged on the kang.

"Are you planning to make money with your second brother?"

"Yes. Second Brother said he’s the one to talk to about making money."

An Sancheng grunted in acknowledgment. He didn’t ask for a reason—after all, who wouldn’t want to make more money?

He looked at An Guoming, who was standing on the floor. "Guoming, I don’t care how you two plan to make money, but I’m telling you this: you are not to touch An Ning’s dowry money."

"An Ning, do you hear me? You’re not to touch your own nest egg."

"My money isn’t hidden at the bottom of a chest. It’s hidden..."

Before she could finish, all three of them were staring at her. An Sancheng let out an urgent, quiet hiss.

"What are you talking about? Just keep that to yourself. Don’t go blabbing about it."

After speaking in a low voice, An Sancheng asked An Guoming, "So what are you planning to do with your little sister?"

"Dad, I was thinking we could start by hunting. Little Sis is strong and has great aim. She killed that last pheasant with a single branch. There’s a meat shortage in town; any kind of meat sells out fast."

"Absolutely not. I won’t allow it."

Lin Cuihua, who had been silent until now, protested, "Who knows what it’s like in the mountains? It’s too dangerous. I don’t agree."

An Sancheng fell silent for a moment before saying in a low voice, "Your mother has a point. The mountains can be dangerous."

"Dad, I know. I wouldn’t gamble with Little Sis’s safety. We won’t go deep into the mountains, just stick to the outskirts and hunt some pheasants or whatever."

An Guoming explained anxiously, "People go to the outskirts every day. It’s perfectly safe!"

An Sancheng said nothing, and neither did Lin Cuihua.

An Ning, who was standing by the door, understood what was happening. They were all worried about the danger and didn’t want them going up the mountain. ’But,’ she thought, ’for someone like me with spiritual power, the mountains aren’t really dangerous at all.’

"Dad, I can go." An Ning took a step forward and promised:

"I’ll protect Second Brother. I’ll make sure he comes back down the mountain alive." An Ning’s promise made the other three feel a bit awkward.

An Guoming, in particular, suddenly had a feeling that he was going to die on the mountain.

An Sancheng wanted to say something, but he couldn’t find the words. In the end, he thought about it for several minutes.

"Alright. Go give it a try. If it works, it works. If it doesn’t, don’t force yourselves."

An Sancheng had made his decision. Lin Cuihua didn’t argue, only reminding them both to be safe.

The kerosene lamp was extinguished. An Ning left the west room and went into the courtyard for a quick wash.

SPLASH—

A basin of water was splashed onto the courtyard ground. An Ning carried the empty basin inside, her gaze lost on the large black wok to her left.

She missed her interstellar bathtub.

She’d been here for three days but hadn’t taken a proper bath once.

An Ning lifted the lid of the large iron wok, ladled a basin of warm water, and carried it to her room. She wiped herself down with a towel. It would have to count as a bath.

Once she was done, An Ning climbed onto the kang to sleep.

Tucked into the warm bedding, An Ning comfortably stretched her arms and legs. The steady warmth against her back soon lulled her to sleep.

The next morning, An Ning was up before dawn.

She and her second brother had made a plan the previous night to go check out the mountain this morning.

"Little Sis, let’s go."

"What’s this?"

An Guoming was holding something that emitted light, which made An Ning a little curious.

"It’s a flashlight. Dad usually hates using it, but he gave it to me last night for us to use on the mountain."

An Guoming let An Ning see the flashlight. She took it, examined the front, then unscrewed the back to have a look.

’I already understand the principle behind this. If I had the right materials, I could make one myself.’

"Let’s get going. It’ll be bad if we wait until it’s light out."

The two walked toward the mountain at a brisk pace. An Guoming was very familiar with the mountain’s outskirts and led An Ning to a specific spot before stopping.

"Lots of undergrowth here, and it’s not far from that little river. Animals love this spot."

An Ning said nothing, her spiritual power already spreading out. ’Her second brother was right.’

She turned, handed the switched-off flashlight to An Guoming, and whispered, "Just squat here and don’t move. Leave the rest to me."

An Guoming nodded solemnly, not even daring to speak.

An Ning rose to her feet, a cold, predatory glint in her eyes. With a stealthy gait, she headed in a specific direction.

Along the way, An Ning bent down a few times to snap off some branches, sharpening one end of each.

After walking some distance, she stretched out her arms and flung the branches, which shot forward with incredible speed.

An Ning broke into a run. She first went to her left and picked up a pheasant that was already dead.

Watching from behind, An Guoming clamped his hand over his mouth, forcefully suppressing the urge to cheer. ’Little Sis is incredible!’

After that, the area became An Ning’s personal stage.

The pheasants never could have imagined that coming out for a morning meal and a sip of water would lead to their entire flock being wiped out.

An Ning had taken down a total of six pheasants, and that was only because she had deliberately let two escape. Her teacher used to say that unless it was a matter of life and death, you should always leave a little room.

"Little Sis, you’re incredible! What were you throwing just now?"

"Your aim is perfect!"

"At this rate, we’re going to be rich!"

An Guoming was so excited it felt like his hair was standing on end. After a moment, An Ning said, "There won’t be any pheasants here tomorrow."

"Huh?"

An Ning’s words were like a splash of cold water, and An Guoming gradually cooled down.

"Sh—...oot. The grass is growing nicely."

An Guoming caught himself and, giving An Ning an embarrassed smile, said, "Little Sis is right. The pheasants aren’t stupid. They probably won’t be back for the next few days."

"No problem. The mountain is huge. We’ll just find another spot."

An Ning gave An Guoming a skeptical look. "What does nice grass have to do with the pheasants not coming back?"

"It does!"

An Guoming’s mind raced as he quickly tried to justify himself. "Think about it! The grass here is so good, would the pheasants really be willing to give it up? They’re bound to come back sooner or later."

It had to be said, An Guoming’s recovery was impressive.

"Second Brother has a point."

However, she had a feeling that’s not what he was originally going to say.

"Second Brother, when are we going to sell these? Will it make me late for my chores?"

"We’ll sell them right now. I’ll go borrow a bike. I’ll be back in a flash."

An Ning and An Guoming headed down the mountain together. She waited by herself at the village entrance with the pheasants while An Guoming went off alone to borrow a bicycle.

An Guoming was a good borrower who never returned the bicycle empty-handed, so he was able to get one quickly and came riding back.

An Ning saw an oxcart behind An Guoming. Steam puffed from the old yellow ox’s nostrils as it calmly and steadily overtook him on his bicycle.