Chapter 5: Just the Right Itch These Past Few Days

After filling her stomach and storing the leftover roasted rabbit in her space, Hu Zhaodi continued deeper into the mountains with her machete.

That day turned out to be lucky; she didn’t encounter any large predators.

Hu Zhaodi dug up two wild ginseng plants and some commonly used herbs, though the quality of the ginseng wasn’t very good.

Additionally, she caught three wild rabbits, two chickens, and even found a nest of chicken eggs.

All the prey and herbs were sent into her space. Since it was still early, she went to the fields to dig up some wild vegetables before heading back to the Hu family home with her findings.

At that moment, complaints were incessantly echoing in the small courtyard of the Hu family.

Yang was cursing, “Where has that little brat gone? She hasn’t shown her face since morning and hasn’t come back to cook.”

Hu Dashan chimed in, “That dead girl! If it weren’t for that thirty taels of silver betrothal gift, I would have broken her legs by now.”

Zhang said, “Alright, just bear with it a little longer. The village chief said that we need to take good care of her this year. As soon as she turns fifteen, we’ll send her to the village chief’s house, and the thirty taels will be ours.

This year, we can still beat her as long as we don’t break her; we still rely on her to do work at home.”

A cold glint flashed in Hu Zhaodi’s eyes as she tossed the wild vegetables in her hand away, denying the Hu family even the chance to eat those.

Entering the courtyard with her machete, Hu Zhaodi announced, “I’m back.”

Zhang, holding the huge infant Hu Yaozu, looked coldly at Hu Zhaodi and said, “Why are you back empty-handed? You finished the work in the fields but didn’t bother to find any wild vegetables. What are we eating tonight?”

Hu Zhaodi replied with a sneer, “Eating what? Eating shit! You all are capable people, yet you’re depending on a minor like me to support you. Aren’t you afraid of being pointed at by the villagers when you go out?

Hu Yaozu is already eight years old and still needs you, his mother, to feed him. When you die, is Hu Yaozu going to chase you underground to get you to feed him?”

Zhang was taken aback, never having thought Hu Zhaodi would dare to confront her so boldly.

After regaining her senses, Zhang picked up the bamboo stick that Yang used to beat Hu Zhaodi and roared angrily, “You little brat! Who gave you the guts to talk to me like that? I’ll beat you to death, you ungrateful daughter!”

With that, Zhang raised the bamboo stick and swung it at Hu Zhaodi.

Hu Zhaodi slightly turned her body to avoid Zhang’s swing, and then she seized Zhang’s wrist, kicking her hard on the calf.

“Ah!”

Zhang let out a scream akin to that of a pig being slaughtered and glared at Hu Dashan with malice, “Hu Dashan, are you dead or what?”

Hu Dashan hurried over.

Meanwhile, Hu Zhaodi snatched the bamboo stick from Zhang’s hand and began to whip Zhang with it.

“You little beast, stop right now! She’s your mother! Don’t you fear the heavens striking you down for hitting your own mother?” Hu Dashan shouted, his eyes blazing with rage.

Hu Zhaodi shot a cold glance at Hu Dashan and swung the bamboo stick without mercy at his rear end.

Caught off guard, Hu Dashan grimaced in pain and angrily ran to the doorway, picking up a hoe to threaten Hu Zhaodi.

Not wanting to be at a disadvantage, Hu Zhaodi realized that her small frame was no match for an adult man like Hu Dashan. She dropped the bamboo stick and turned to run into the mountains.

Hu Dashan chased her for quite a while but couldn’t catch up to Hu Zhaodi, stomping his feet in frustration.

“Hu Zhaodi, you little beast! Who gave you the courage to hit your father and your mother? Just wait! If I catch you, I’ll beat you to death!”

Hu Zhaodi stopped in her tracks and looked coldly at Hu Dashan. “Oh really? Come on, I’m standing right here. You could come and hit me. You’d better kill me, or else you won’t be able to handle the consequences.”

Hu Dashan suddenly came to his senses, realizing that he still needed Hu Zhaodi to exchange for thirty taels of silver. He had to give up in anger but didn’t forget to threaten her.

“I’m tired today. Just wait until I go back, eat, and rest well. Then you’ll see how I deal with you.”

“I’m waiting for you. I just happen to be itching for some fun these past couple of days!”

Hu Zhaodi’s nonchalant demeanor nearly made Hu Dashan spit blood in anger.

This dead girl had been acting like she was on something for the past few days. Not only did she dare to talk back, but she also had the audacity to hit her elders and run when she couldn’t win. Who the hell taught her this nonsense?

Hu Dashan cursed under his breath and turned to head back.

Hu Zhaodi stuck out her tongue and followed him at a distance.

When they returned to the Hu family courtyard, Zhang saw Hu Zhaodi trailing behind Hu Dashan and grabbed a bamboo stick, ready to rush out of the courtyard.

Hu Dashan hurriedly stopped her, “Enough! You can’t catch her. Hurry up and make dinner. Don’t forget she’s worth thirty taels of silver now.”

Zhang shot a fierce glare at Hu Zhaodi and shouted, “You little brat, don’t even think about having dinner tonight!”

Hu Zhaodi refused to back down, “You’re the brat! Besides me, your whole family is! Do you think I care about your disgusting wild vegetable mush? Bah! That pig food is better off for you!”

Zhang gritted her teeth in anger but was firmly held back by Hu Dashan, who wouldn’t let her go hit Hu Zhaodi.

A hint of disappointment crossed Hu Zhaodi’s face. She had deliberately provoked Hu Dashan and Zhang, hoping that this brainless couple would chase her for a little while longer.

This way, she could not only torment Hu Dashan and Zhang but also practice her speed a bit.

Since Hu Dashan and Zhang didn’t take the bait, she decided to head back to the firewood shed for a rest.

After she get inside, Hu Zhaodi locked the door and took out the leftover roasted wild rabbit from earlier, enjoying it with a satisfied expression.

The roasted rabbit she retrieved from her space was still warm and as perfect as when she had put it in, which delighted Hu Zhaodi.

She hadn’t expected her space to have a time-freezing function.

The aroma of the roasted meat wafted through the gaps of the firewood shed, reaching the noses of the Hu family of four.

The giant baby, Hu Yaozu, sniffed the air, drool immediately dripping from the corner of his mouth.

“Mom, it smells like meat! I want to eat meat! I want to eat meat!”

Zhang looked confused, “Where’s the meat smell coming from? It’s so fragrant! We had a bit of lard left over from yesterday, but I didn’t even get to taste the residue because Yaozu finished it all. It’s been so long since we’ve eaten meat.”

Yang, the old matriarch, swallowed hard, “Dashan, go see where that meat aroma is coming from.”

Hu Dashan stood up and followed the scent to the door of the firewood shed, where the smell of roasted meat was growing stronger.

He raised his hand to push the door but found it wouldn’t budge.

Inside the shed, Hu Zhaodi furrowed her brow as she packed away the roasted rabbit and leftover bones into her space, wiped her mouth, and turned to open the door.

“Dad, is there something you need?”

Hu Dashan stared intently at Hu Zhaodi, “Are you hiding in the firewood shed eating meat?”

Hu Zhaodi rolled her eyes, “Dad, does our family have any meat? You won’t even let me eat dinner; do you really think I can hide in the shed to eat meat?”

Hu Dashan was momentarily speechless, but he wouldn’t give up and began rummaging around in the shed.

After searching for a long time, he found nothing—not even a hair.

The air was still thick with the aroma of roasted meat, but Hu Dashan could only smell it and could not find any trace of the meat.

“You dead girl, the smell of meat in this shed is so strong. Where the hell did you hide the meat? Hurry up and bring it out!”