Chapter 16: Don’t Be Angry with Me

“Okay! You hold onto it for a moment; I’ll go get some rope to tie it up!” Miao Miao turned and went to the storage room, pulling out some dry straw meant for bedding to secure the wild hen.

“Great! I haven’t eaten chicken in a long time. Let’s have it for dinner tomorrow, with some mushrooms to stew it; that would taste really good! We can also deliver half to my uncle!” 

“Yes, if you like it, I’ll often go to the forest behind to find more,” Zhen Ning felt that he finally had something to offer to please Miao Miao.

“You don’t know, these creatures are rare and hard to find around here. The last time I saw one was three days ago!”

As they spoke, they sat at the dining table, and Zhen Ning said, “Then I can go deep into the mountains to look for them.”

Miao Miao’s expression froze momentarily, her smile fading slightly. “No, no, it’s too dangerous in the mountains. Let’s eat; the soup will get cold.”

Seeing her mood drop again, Zhen Ning was puzzled and wondered if she was still thinking about what had happened today. He wanted to cheer her up because he barely had the heart to eat.

He remembered how she had reacted to the idea of marrying him today; she had seemed so resistant, even saying that if he brought it up again, she wouldn’t talk to him. Naturally, he didn’t dare to mention marriage again.

“Miao Miao, what was said today? I was too abrupt, so don’t be angry with me.”

However, instead of feeling relieved, Miao Miao seemed a bit more downcast. At least they could face the topic directly, so the atmosphere wouldn’t be awkward.

Miao Miao poked her chopsticks into her bowl a couple of times, pouting slightly, and said, “Actually, my attitude wasn’t great either. I know you’re a good person; I’m not angry with you. Now that it’s all out in the open, let’s be like we were before, okay?”

The little girl revealed her signature smile again, her eyes shining bright and clear. 

Zhen Ning’s heart finally settled down, “Okay.”

“Then let’s eat quickly!” Miao Miao ladled out some soup for Zhen Ning and included a few pieces of the finest leg meat.

“This roasted paddy mouse isn’t a normal mouse; it’s a field mouse that grows by eating grains, very clean. It’s a unique delicacy of our Shixi Village that you can’t find anywhere else. It’s especially good, and the soup is delicious. You have to try it!”

Although Zhen Ning had lost his memory, he unconsciously didn’t feel like eating something that looked like a mouse. However, since Miao Miao encouraged him to eat, he obliged. He would listen to whatever Miao Miao said.

He took a spoonful of the slightly white soup to his lips and found it truly tasty. He tested the meat, which was indeed salty and fragrant.

Zhen Ning pushed the large bowl of soup toward Miao Miao, saying, “You should eat too.”

Miao Miao scooped out a small bowl and pushed the rest back to him. “I eat little; one bowl is enough. You need to replenish your strength. In our village, we only kill pigs during festivals, and the village chief will give me some pork. It’s not easy to have meat regularly.”

Speaking of meat made the little girl’s eyes light up. 

“Mm.” Zhen Ning nodded enthusiastically, genuinely enjoying listening to Miao Miao. Her voice was crisp and pleasant, gentle in tone, often filled with laughter, making him feel joyful.

“Miao Miao, do you like eating meat?”

“Yes! Of course I do! Meat is so delicious. Zhen Ning, eat more; when you’re better, I’ll take you fishing by the river.”

“Okay.”

“Fish is tasty too, but nothing like pork, especially the fatty parts. When roasted, it tastes incredible!” Miao Miao licked her lips with anticipation.

“Mm, it’s delicious,” Zhen Ning echoed.

“But I still think wild boar meat is the best! Many people think wild boar meat is tough, but I think it tastes better than domestic pork, especially the combination of fat and lean meat. The last time I had wild boar meat was over two years ago—my father caught it. But since then, my father…” 

Miao Miao’s eyes turned red, her smile fading, and her tone dropped sharply, “I can’t eat wild boar meat anymore. I don’t want to…”

“Miao Miao, you…” Zhen Ning knew the girl was still carrying burdens in her heart and regretted that he didn’t understand her better. 

But given that today had already upset her, it was best not to ask too much, lest she get sad again.

Miao Miao quickly collected her emotions, saying, “Let’s not talk about anything else; let’s eat quickly.”

“Mm.”

At the He family’s dinner table, He Xiangxiang held a large bowl of rice, eating and asking, “Mom, where did you wander off to again this afternoon?”

“I went to Miao Miao’s house with some of the ladies from the village,” Zhang Guihua replied, adding vegetables to Xiangxiang’s bowl.

“By the way, Mom, how is Miao Miao recently? And that silly big guy—has he remembered anything yet?”

Recently, with the medicinal herbs coming in season, both He Xiangxiang and He Shun had been busy running errands in the mountains and town, returning home late in the day. It had been several days since Xiangxiang visited Miao Miao.

“Yeah, he still can’t remember anything from before, and he seems a bit dull and not very clever. Maybe he was always like that; it’s likely he won’t get better in this lifetime. Don’t know which family’s simpleton he is.”

He Xiangxiang disagreed, “I think he’s just quiet and aloof; he’s not stupid at all!”

He Shun looked worried, “It’s not suitable for Miao Miao to be living together with that guy for too long.”

Zhang Guihua nodded, “Yes, we talked to Miao Miao about this today. We wanted to help that silly big guy find another place to live. It’s inappropriate for unmarried people to live together. And then, guess what the silly big guy said?”

“What did he say?” He Xiangxiang’s eyes widened, intrigued.

“He said he was going to marry Miao Miao!”

“Humph! He’s dreaming!” He Shun thought the big guy was absurd and snapped his chopsticks in anger, making it hard to finish his meal.

“I think so too!” Zhang Guihua added angrily.

“Dad, Mom, why are you so mad? I think that big guy is a pretty good candidate as a husband. He’s honest and down-to-earth. Although he’s a bit dull and doesn’t talk much, consider it from another angle—he must be devoted to Miao Miao. Plus, since he’s from a different family, if he wants to marry Miao Miao, he has to really prove himself.”

The He family only had Miao Miao and He Xiangxiang left, and He Shun had thought about finding them husbands. 

Although he only joked about it to comfort Miao Miao when she was rejected at her engagement, the idea of marrying into the family was something that lingered.

But that was only a random thought, and regarding Miao Miao’s desires, He Shun knew he had to prioritize her feelings.

Moreover, this man had only recently arrived; he might recover his memories one day. What if he changes his mind later? That would be troubling.