Zhao Sidan was just a ten-year-old child.

How could he have possibly taken the rabbit from this group of people by force?

These kids only dared to be so bold because they assumed Sidan had come up the mountain alone.

Cheng Wanwan’s smile turned cold. “As an elder, I shouldn’t be arguing with a bunch of kids, but since you bullied Sidan, I need an explanation. Forget the rabbit for now—first, you need to compensate us for the medical expenses!”

She rolled up Zhao Sidan’s sleeve, revealing his thin wrist covered in red marks.

His sleeve was even torn.

She spoke icily, “It’ll take about thirty or forty copper coins to get medicine from Doctor Zheng, and this shirt is ruined too. You must compensate Sidan with a new set of clothes!”

Zhang Dagang was dumbfounded.

Sidan’s hand was just a little red—no cuts, no blood.

Why would they need thirty to forty coins for medicine?

And his clothes?

That brat’s clothes were already ragged before this.

Why should he have to compensate for a whole set?

Wasn’t this extortion?

One of Zhang Dagang’s younger followers muttered, “Last year, Zhao Dabu made a scene in front of my house over just two coins. My mom was so furious.”

Now they were talking about thirty to forty coins plus a whole set of clothes.

That infamous Zhao woman would probably stage a full-on wailing, crying, and rope-hanging act at their doorstep…

Cheng Wanwan continued, “This rabbit is the evidence. I believe the village chief will stand on my side…”

Zhang Dagang immediately threw the rabbit away. “It has nothing to do with us! Let’s go!”

A group of boys scattered like birds, running away.

“My rabbit!”

Zhao Sidan lunged forward and hugged the rabbit tightly, preventing it from escaping.

Cheng Wanwan opened the translucent system panel and spent two copper coins to buy a small tin of safflower balm.

She said, “Hold out your hand.”

Zhao Sidan obediently extended his hand.

He watched as his mother took out a small tin and applied something cool to his wrist.

The moment it touched his skin, the pain disappeared completely.

He stared at Cheng Wanwan in a daze.

His mother, who had always seemed so fierce, was now so gentle.

He had always envied his friend’s mother—gentle, always smiling, and saving the best food for her son. His friend used to brag about it in front of him all the time.

Now his mother was like that too.

He was so happy.

But… what if this was all just a dream?

Happiness mixed with worry, and Zhao Sidan’s little face drooped.

Cheng Wanwan had no idea what was going on in the mind of such a small child, feeling happy one moment and troubled the next.

She had never given birth or raised a child before, but in these times, as long as a child had food, wouldn’t they be happy?

She asked, “Sidan, do you like steamed rabbit or braised rabbit?”

Zhao Sidan’s eyes widened in horror.

Rabbits were so cute—why would they eat them?!

He wanted to keep the rabbit as a pet.

He had already planned to build a nest behind the house for it to live in.

He could play with it every day, and it would become his best friend…

Cheng Wanwan had no idea he wanted to raise the rabbit.

In a famine year like this, when people barely had food, who could afford to keep an animal?

She lifted the rabbit. It was scrawny, barely two pounds. With six people in the family, there wouldn’t even be enough meat for one bite each.

[Ding! Wild coarse-fur rabbit detected. Weight: 1.8 pounds. Value: 54 copper coins. Sell?]

Cheng Wanwan glanced at the system’s marketplace.

Modern farmed rabbits only cost six copper coins per pound.

This wild rabbit, which wasn’t even two pounds, could be exchanged for an eight or nine-pound domestic rabbit…

Farmed rabbit meat was actually more tender and delicious, but modern people preferred wild game. That’s why wild food sold for more in the system marketplace.

But little Sidan was staring at the rabbit like his soul depended on it—now wasn’t the time to sell it.

“Mother, what’s going on?”

Wu Huiniang, carrying a vegetable basket, rushed over anxiously.

She almost slipped in her hurry.

Cheng Wanwan quickly steadied her.

Her eldest daughter-in-law was pregnant, her belly slightly showing.

The original host had never been willing to call a doctor for her, so no one knew how far along she was.

But regardless of how long she had been pregnant, she shouldn’t be climbing mountains. If she fell, the baby might not survive.

“Sidan caught a rabbit.” Cheng Wanwan lifted the gray rabbit. “We’re having rabbit meat for dinner today.”

Wu Huiniang’s face lit up with joy.

The family hadn’t had meat in at least a year.

Though she knew she wouldn’t get a share of the small rabbit, she’d be happy just to smell the aroma and drink a bowl of millet porridge from the morning…

Before, she wouldn’t even get porridge—just barely enough wild vegetable gruel to stop her stomach from growling.

These past few days felt like a dream…

She couldn’t help but say, “Mother, I know how to skin a rabbit. If I take the fur off carefully, I can make you a scarf.”

The moment she said that, Zhao Sidan’s mind filled with bloody images.

He couldn’t hold back anymore—tears streamed down his face.

Wu Huiniang was startled. “Sidan, what’s wrong?”

Zhao Sidan wiped his tears with the back of his hand, unable to say a word.

Mother loved eating rabbit meat.

Now she wanted a rabbit fur scarf too. If he objected, would she go back to her old self?

He liked eating full meals.

He liked his mother being gentle.

But if he refused to let her eat the rabbit, would she get mad and send all the good food to Uncle’s family again…?

Cheng Wanwan reassured him, “Sidan, since you caught the rabbit, you’ll get two extra pieces of meat later.”

Zhao Sidan cried even harder.

Fine, let Mother eat it if she wanted, but he definitely wouldn’t!

Cheng Wanwan assumed he was still scared from Zhang Dagang’s group.

She decided to cook a delicious braised rabbit dish to comfort him.

The three of them headed home.

Wu Huiniang’s basket was full of wild ferns, and Zhao Sidan’s was filled with chicken mushrooms. Only Cheng Wanwan’s basket was empty.

Wu Huiniang silently thought, Mother-in-law really did come just to supervise us working…

On their way down, they passed many villagers. The original host had a terrible reputation in the village, so no one stopped to chat.

By the time they reached home, the sun was high—it was almost noon.

A bucket of water sat in the courtyard, probably left by the second son after fetching it. He must have gone for another trip.

“Mother, I’ll skin the rabbit now,” Wu Huiniang said, stepping forward skillfully.

Cheng Wanwan spoke seriously, “Pregnant women shouldn’t see blood—it’s bad luck for the baby. You go boil some water instead.”

What a joke! She needed to swap the rabbit in the system. If Wu Huiniang skinned it, she wouldn’t be able to secretly switch it out.

Wu Huiniang was caught off guard.

Ever since she got pregnant, she had done all kinds of heavy work.

Just half a month ago, she had been the one to slaughter the last chicken in the house.

Her mother-in-law had never cared about the baby in her belly before…

She really was different now. Even the way she looked at her seemed warmer.

Cheng Wanwan carried the rabbit to the back yard and quickly exchanged it for a plump seven-pound one.

The trade even earned her 12 copper coins.

While Wu Huiniang was still tending the fire, Cheng Wanwan swiftly ended the rabbit’s life and began skinning it.

She was great at business—but skinning? Not so much.

After a few clumsy attempts, the gray rabbit’s fur was covered in blood…