Chapter 20

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Zhou Tao pursed his lips and looked longingly at the camp leader as he left with the girl.

Gu Zhixing rode his bicycle, feeling a small hand tugging at his clothes. His thoughts wandered, and his mind drifted into fantasy.

Li Yuechan was enjoying the breeze, thinking about the wild boar in her space, feeling unusually relaxed.

The two rabbits were hanging from the handlebars, swaying back and forth, drawing a lot of attention from passersby.

Just ten minutes away from Li Yuechan’s house, Gu Zhixing suddenly stopped.

He turned and said, “Xiao Chan, let’s go eat at a restaurant first.”

Li Yuechan shook her head. “I can’t, my mom’s waiting for me at home.”

Gu Zhixing thought for a moment and said, “Then wait for me here for a bit.” Without another word, he ran off.

Li Yuechan leaned against her bike, wondering what the man was up to.

Before long, he came back, stuffing a paper bag into her arms.

“This is for you, don’t let yourself go hungry on the way home. Heat it up before eating.”

Li Yuechan looked at the bag in her arms. Just as she was about to refuse, Gu Zhixing spoke again, “Xiao Chan, you can ride back yourself. Don’t let anyone see you. I don’t want people gossiping about you. You can return the bike to me tomorrow at the police station.”

Li Yuechan considered it for a moment and said, “Alright, thank you. I’ll bring you some stewed rabbit meat tomorrow around noon.”

Gu Zhixing’s face lit up with joy. “Good, I’ll be waiting for you tomorrow.”

He watched her ride off, disappearing from his sight before turning toward the police station.

“Tomorrow I can see Xiao Chan again, that’s great!”

Li Yuechan hummed a little tune as she rode his bike, with two fat rabbits hanging from the handlebars. She rushed into the courtyard.

This caused quite a stir, and she was immediately surrounded by a crowd of people.

“Wow, Xiao Chan, where did you get these rabbits? They’re so fat!”

Li Yuechan proudly replied, “I caught them in the big mountain near my grandmother’s house. I went early this morning, and just came back.”

“Wow, catching two rabbits in one day? That’s impressive!” Guo Xingmei said with a sly grin. “Xiao Chan, can you help me catch one for my family tomorrow?”

Li Yuechan smiled. “Sure, Auntie. I’ll tell you the route, and your Hong Bing can go catch one.”

Guo Xingmei pouted. “Hong Bing’s still too young.”

Li Yuechan laughed. “Too young? He’s already 16, just two years younger than me, and he’s taller than me!”

Guo Xingmei turned and walked away, mumbling.

Zhaodi, who was following behind, quickly came over and said, “Xiao Chan, you’re amazing! I have to go home to cook, so I’m leaving.”

Li Yuechan nodded. She knew Zhaodi didn’t have much say at home.

But every family has its struggles, and sometimes you have to rely on yourself because no one else will help you.

Li Yuechan carried the two rabbits home amid the envious glances of the crowd.

Su Lizhen looked at her daughter pushing the bike and asked in surprise, “Whose bike is this? And two rabbits—where did they come from?”

Li Yuechan parked the bike and replied, “I borrowed the bike, and the rabbits were caught in the mountains near my grandmother’s house.”

Su Lizhen frowned. “The mountains near your grandmother’s house? Are you sure you didn’t wander too far into the deep mountains?”

Li Yuechan’s eyes shifted. “Mom, I’m starving! Let’s cook dinner quickly. You start the fire, I’ll go kill the rabbits. We’re having braised rabbit tonight!”

Su Lizhen knew her daughter was getting more and more reckless. “What’s this paper bag you’re carrying?”

“Oh, just some meat I bought.”

Su Lizhen squinted. “Where did you get the ration tickets for that?”

Li Yuechan took a deep breath and smiled. “A friend lent them to me.”

Su Lizhen looked at her daughter and asked, “Is the person who lent you the bike the same person who lent you the ration tickets?”

Li Yuechan widened her eyes. “Wow, Mom, you’re so smart! Alright, no more questions, your daughter’s starving here.”

Su Lizhen thought for a moment. Her daughter was growing up and must have her own little secrets.

The mother and daughter happily stewed the two rabbits and steamed a pot of rice.

Before they sat down to eat, Su Lizhen found a lunch box, packed the rabbit meat neatly inside, and handed it to Li Yuechan.

“The person who lent you the bike and gave you the meat—take this rabbit meat to them tomorrow.”

Li Yuechan’s eyes widened. “Mom, a few rabbits are worth a whole lunch box of meat? Aren’t we losing out here?”

Su Lizhen lightly tapped her daughter on the head. “This is called give and take. Don’t you understand?”

Li Yuechan smiled and took the lunch box, thinking about how to approach her mom. This situation was perfect.

Not long after, Li Jianguo pushed the slightly worn-out bike into the yard.

As soon as he stepped inside, the delicious smell of meat hit his nose.

He hurriedly asked, “Why is there meat stewing today? Didn’t we already run out of our meat ration for this month?”

Before he could finish speaking, Su Lizhen came out of the house, wiping her hands on her apron.

She replied slowly, “Xiao Chan went to her grandmother’s big mountain and caught two rabbits.”

Hearing this, Li Jianguo’s face suddenly froze, and his smile faded. But he quickly adjusted his expression and casually said, “Really? Xiao Chan is amazing.”

At this moment, Li Yuechan came out of the kitchen, saw her father, and casually greeted him, “Dad.”

Li Jianguo smiled and nodded. “Hmm.”

Soon, the family of three gathered around the dinner table. Li Yuechan ate with relish, patting her round little belly, feeling incredibly happy.

Suddenly, a series of urgent knocks sounded at the door. As the head of the family, Li Jianguo immediately stood up and walked toward the door.

Li Yuechan and Su Lizhen quickly cleaned up the table.

Before long, they heard the front door creak open, followed by Li Jianguo’s low voice.

Li Yuechan peeked toward the door, wondering who her father was talking to.

A moment later, Li Jianguo entered the house, followed by a middle-aged man.

Li Yuechan took a look and realized, “Oh, isn’t this Han Chunguang’s father? Who is it now?”