Chapter 17: Stealing Food in the Middle of the Night

    Xie Jiu’er remembered that woman who had come to her; she was the first one who firmly said she was willing to drink foxtail grass seed porridge.

    “Judging by that woman’s age, she should have more than one child.”

    “But she only has one with her now, doesn’t she?”

    Xiao Jinyu seemed to have seen through everything. Xie Jiu’er carefully recalled those people.  Except for the couple who seemed fierce and arrogant, the others seemed honest and simple.  But were these honest people really that honest?

    That night, worried that those people would come uninvited, they didn’t touch the meat. They only stir-fried taro and mushrooms with pig oil and cooked foxtail grass seed porridge. They ate a little and went to bed.

    Before going to sleep, Xie Jiu’er said to Zhou shi and Wuyang, “There are people in the village tonight, and that couple doesn’t seem kind. Let’s take turns watching tonight; don’t all fall asleep.”

    “Mother, you watch from after dinner until midnight, Wuyang from midnight to 1 am, and I’ll watch after that.”

    The time between midnight and dawn is when people are most sleepy.  Zhou shi smiled, “You’re so clever. Mother will watch at dawn; you can sleep.”

    “Oh, Mother, don’t argue. The person on watch should wake up the next person on time. That way, we can ensure our safety at night and make sure everyone can sleep for a while.”

    After Xie Jiu’er finished speaking, Wuyang looked at Xiao Jinyu. “Doesn’t Brother Xiao need to watch?”

    Zhou shi scolded with a smile, “You’re the only one who’s clear-headed. If someone really breaks in, we’ll mainly rely on Brother Xiao. Otherwise, what can the three of us do?”

    After Zhou shi said this, Wuyang finally realized and blushed.

    He looked awkwardly at Xiao Jinyu, who was still whittling wood. “Yes, in Sister’s words, Brother Xiao is our muscle.”

    Unlike Wuyang’s cheerful mood, Xie Jiu’er was worried about more than just these people.  Now that the court was in control, most people would choose to return home.  In other words, the elder brother’s family and grandparents would return soon.

    They hadn’t divided the family property. What would they do when their grandparents returned? The meat and the taro in the cellar would certainly be taken by the elder brother’s family.  They would be back to eating bitter vegetable soup.

    That night, Xie Jiu’er was woken up by Zhou shi. “Mother, what time is it? Is it my turn to watch?”

    “Shh! Keep your voice down. It’s just midnight, and there’s a thief in the house.” Zhou shi got out of bed quietly and looked out the window.

    Xie Jiu’er quickly pulled her patched clothes around her and looked through the crack in the door. She saw a strong man sneaking into the courtyard. Judging from his figure, it was the middle-aged man who wanted meat earlier.

    “What do we do? He’s going to the kitchen. The big jar of rendered meat is still in the kitchen!” Zhou shi paced anxiously. Finally, she seemed to have made up her mind and picked up a wooden club to go out.

    Xie Jiu’er quickly stopped her. “Mother, don’t rush. Your strength isn’t enough to deal with him. I’ll go see what’s happening with Brother Xiao. He should be awake.”

    Xiao Jinyu, a martial artist, had already stood at the door when the man climbed the wall. As soon as Xie Jiu’er went out, she bumped into Xiao Jinyu, who was coming out, holding a torch.

    The sudden light startled the thief, who had just opened the meat jar and was excitedly about to scoop out a basin of meat. He turned around and saw Xiao Jinyu and Xie Jiu’er walking towards the kitchen. A trace of disdain flashed across his face. A young man, how could he be his opponent? “If you want to live, bring out all the edible things in the house, or I’ll kill you.”

    “Wow, you’re so arrogant. Are you so sure you can take away our food?” Xie Jiu’er looked at the man with a grim expression and mocked him.

    “Heh, you’re not afraid of death, come and try.  I’ve seen all kinds of tough guys along the way. I’m not afraid of you.  You haven’t even grown up yet, and you dare to challenge me.”

    The man was calm, casually picking up the kitchen knife, ready to fight at any moment.

    “So, what did you do on the road fleeing from famine?” Xiao Jinyu smiled slightly and asked word by word.

    “Nothing much, except for eating a few people. I’m very kind; I only eat people who are dying.”

    The man licked his lips, still savoring the memory of eating people, making Xie Jiu’er feel nauseous.

    “Is that so? Then I’m relieved.” Xiao Jinyu said, handing the torch to Xie Jiu’er.

    The middle-aged man was still wary of Xiao Jinyu and looked at him suspiciously. “What do you mean?”

    Xiao Jinyu took out his bow and arrow from behind and aimed it at the man. “I mean, I can kill you with peace of mind.”

    Before the man could react, the arrow hit his forehead, and he fell to the ground in disbelief and resentment, his eyes wide open.

    Xie Jiu’er ran over and pulled out the arrow.  He was a veteran, not only helping them hunt game but also killing the man who deserved to die. Of course, it was mainly because the Golden Thigh had extraordinary martial arts skills.

    Xie Jiu’er put the bloody arrowhead into the stove, wiped off the blood with wood ash, and handed it to Xiao Jinyu. “You saved us again.  You should have repaid my life-saving grace long ago. I’m a little embarrassed to continue asking for prosperity and wealth.”

    Xiao Jinyu was quite surprised. “So, you think we’re even? You don’t need me to promise you prosperity and wealth?”

    Xie Jiu’er shook her head like a rattle. “That’s not it. I… actually have thick skin.”

    Xiao Jinyu silently pursed his lips. He didn’t want to speak. He had never seen such a person, so brazenly greedy, without any concealment.

    Seeing that the two had been standing at the door for a long time and there was no movement in the kitchen, Zhou shi anxiously went to check. When she saw the dead man, she exclaimed in fright, “This one is really dead this time?”

    Xie Jiu’er nodded and looked at her sympathetically. “Mother, although those two didn’t die last time, we pushed them down the mountain ravine. They died at our hands. So, get used to it.”

    Zhou shi was full of worry. “I never thought that someone like me would be involved in killing. What do we do now? His companions will find out tomorrow. Didn’t they say the war is over? Killing is against the law.”

    Xie Jiu’er frowned. “Mother, what do you think we should do?”

    Zhou shi said with a sob, “I think we should throw him into the mountain ravine under the cover of night!”

    Xie Jiu’er was stunned, then laughed.  She was afraid, but her mother’s thinking was still clear!

    Xiao Jinyu raised his bow and arrow. “It’s snowing again.  Let’s dispose of the body now. The heavy snow will cover all traces.”

    Zhou shi nodded, woke up Wuyang, who was fast asleep, and the three of them worked together to drag the body out of the house. Xiao Jinyu was responsible for dealing with the thief, and Xie Jiu’er and the others were responsible for destroying the evidence. Their cooperation was seamless.