Chapter 7: A Mass Rabbit Suicide?

Su Maomao’s eyes lit up immediately. “Little Auntie, how did you know?”

Su Nianzhi: You basically spelled it out for me!

She smiled gently and asked, “What did you want to tell me?”

Su Maomao excitedly scrambled around and told Su Nianzhi the gossip he’d just heard.

Su Nianzhi frowned. Could it be that someone besides her also had a grudge against Zhang Wenliang?

But that wasn’t her business. Today, she wanted to go up the mountain to see if she could hunt anything.

After all, she didn’t recognize many medicinal herbs—back in the apocalypse, even trees could mutate, let alone medicinal plants.

But her mental ability could be used to hunt.

It could help her family ease some financial pressure.

After breakfast, Su Nianzhi and Su Maomao headed to the base of the mountain.

Su Maomao carried a special little basket and shovel his Grandpa Su had made just for him.

He wasn’t just tagging along—he could dig up wild vegetables too.

Meanwhile, Wang Guihua slung a basket over her arm and headed for the fields.

The three men of the family had already gone out early in the morning.

When she got to the field’s edge, she waved at them.

“Ma, where’s Maomao? Why didn’t he come with you?” asked Su Zhewen as he bit into a flatbread.

“He went to the foot of the mountain with Zhizhi,” he replied, glancing over at his silent second brother.

Then he tugged his older brother’s sleeve, looked around to make sure no one was nearby, and whispered, “Big Bro, just tell Ma honestly—did you two do something shady?”

Su Zhewen nervously glanced at their mother. “Mom, n-no, we didn’t.”

Second Brother had said not to tell Mom.

Wang Guihua eyed her eldest son. Yep, definitely something shady. Her two sons did it.

And they did a fine job.

She handed him the soup bowl in her hands. “Mm, good. Even if you did do something, just say you didn’t. Got it?”

“Mm, Mom, I got it.”

Su Zhewu rolled his eyes at his big brother’s silly smile.

Idiot.

Got caught by Ma again.

Then their mother gave him a fierce glare too.

He grinned sheepishly.

Once she saw that her husband and sons had finished eating, Wang Guihua began cleaning up.

“Next time, keep it a little neater. Damaging a man’s family jewels—it’s disgusting.”

Su Zhewu: ???

They didn’t even do that?!

So frustrating.

——

Meanwhile, Su Nianzhi and Maomao strolled slowly toward the mountain.

Along the way, many villagers greeted them warmly.

“Su girl, out for a walk?”

“Mm, good morning, Auntie.”

“Take care of your health! Maomao, look after your little aunt!”

Having grown used to the cold indifference of the apocalypse, Su Nianzhi wasn’t quite used to these warm and smiling faces.

Seeing her out and about, many villagers felt moved. The more they looked at her, the prettier she seemed.

She was still too thin, and even walking made her pant. Sigh, beauty always comes with frailty.

But aside from her weak health, there was nothing not to like.

She was polite, pretty, and sweet—unlike Zhang Wenliang and Lu Jiajia, who were a complete eyesore.

Gradually, everyone’s hearts began to lean toward Su Nianzhi.

When they reached the foot of the mountain, little Maomao pointed solemnly at a large rock nearby.

“Little Auntie, sit there and rest. I’ll go dig for wild veggies.”

Su Nianzhi couldn’t help laughing. The little guy was even bossing her around.

She smiled. “Maomao, I’ve never been up the mountain before. Come with me, okay?”

“No way, no way! There are wolves up there! Grandma said kids can’t go!”

“Maomao, I’ll just go up a little—definitely not deep into the mountain. And there might be wild fruits up there.”

Hearing about wild fruits, Maomao hesitated, tempted.

He bit his lip. “Okay, but we’re only going a tiny bit!”

He even pinched his little fingers together to show how small.

And just like that, Maomao followed Su Nianzhi up the mountain.

Since the southern trails were more well-trodden, Su Nianzhi intentionally headed north, where it was quieter.

After walking a bit, she spotted a kiwi tree—its branches were heavy with fruit.

“Maomao, look! Food!”

Maomao’s eyes lit up. “Little Auntie! Mountain Yangtao!”

He quickly set down his little basket.

“I’ll pick some! You stay down here and don’t wander off!”

Before she could reply, the little guy shot up the tree like a monkey.

Su Nianzhi observed him for a moment—he was nimble and sure-footed. No problem.

She cast a thread of mental power onto him just in case, then wandered toward the side.

The mountain air was so fresh. Su Nianzhi took a few deep breaths and felt her mental energy replenish.

This is the power of nature.

She expanded her mental awareness, scanning for prey nearby.

Hmm—about 200 meters ahead, a wild pheasant.

To the right, a nest of rabbits.

To the left, a deer drinking by the river… with two wolves nearby, eyes gleaming.

Su Nianzhi thought it over. The pheasant and rabbits would be easier for the family to eat.

The deer could probably sell for good money…

But this was 1980. While crackdowns on “speculation” had eased a bit, Yushui Village wasn’t that relaxed yet.

She’d probably have to sell it on the black market.

After a moment of hesitation, she decided to go after the rabbits first.

She quietly made her way to the right, a bit out of breath.

She slowly sat down on a tree stump.

Not far away, Qin Xiaoyun was also out hunting with his bow and arrows—he hadn’t expected to run into the little girl.

She was sitting on the stump, holding her chest.

Her little face was flushed pink, as fair and tender as a snow dumpling.

Her big, catlike eyes sparkled, her lips red and teeth white—absolutely stunning.

Qin Xiaoyun tried to calm his wildly thudding heart.

How could she come up the mountain alone?

He watched her wipe the sweat from her brow with her delicate hands, her gaze locked longingly on the rabbits nearby.

She wants that rabbit?

Thinking of her family’s situation, he understood.

Should I help her?

He already had his bow and arrow ready.

Suddenly, one of the rabbits went berserk.

Thud! It slammed into a nearby tree and fainted.

Then the second.

Then the third.

All collapsed.

Qin Xiaoyun: ?????

Are the rabbits committing mass suicide?!

Have they lost the will to live?!

The girl’s wide eyes were full of joy—twinkling like stars.

Qin Xiaoyun was stunned.

He watched her walk over slowly.

She picked up the three rabbits by their legs.

Their bodies blocked her face, so Qin Xiaoyun couldn’t see her expression clearly, but he could feel her delight.

He pressed his lips together.

Well, guess she’s just really lucky.

He’d seen everything—she hadn’t done a thing, and the rabbits had basically killed themselves.

She took a vine from the nearby tree and tied the rabbits’ legs together, dragging them along.

But even though they were just rabbits, she clearly struggled.

Sigh, she really is frail.

Every few steps, she had to stop and catch her breath.

Su Nianzhi didn’t sense Qin Xiaoyun at all. She was smiling brightly, dragging the rabbits along. She’d just used her psychic powers to mess with their minds a little.

At the same time, she noticed the wolves and the deer had started fighting.

Her eyes lit up.

Jackpot.