Chapter 8: Snap
“Chirp, chirp, chirp.”
“Squeak, squeak, squeak.”
“Rustle, rustle, rustle.”
“Croak, croak.”
In the mountains during the afternoon, various insect chirps and bird calls wove together, while the wind, like a musician’s fingers, plucked the leaves to provide accompaniment.
Qin Luoxia had picked a full basket of herbs.
Some could be used as medicine, while others could be cooked as vegetables to fill the stomach.
Underneath the herbs was an unlucky little black bear; for some reason, it had tumbled down the cliff in a great hurry, only to crash into a stone pedestal and knock itself unconscious.
She walked under the setting sun, carrying the bear on her back and holding her baby in front as she headed home.
Usually, after a day of labor in the mountains, she would be sore and aching, but for some reason, today her waist didn’t ache and her legs didn’t hurt; she felt full of energy as she walked.
Qin Luoxia attributed this to having rested well during her postpartum confinement.
She jogged down the mountain in a few quick steps.
The sounds of birds and insects faded, and the sounds of chickens and dogs grew louder, signaling that she was almost home.
And it was at this moment that Jiang Mianmian slowly woke up.
Mother’s embrace was so secure that she had slept very soundly.
The scent of the great mountains felt very fresh, which made her sleep comfortably, giving her a sense of returning to nature.
As they neared the village, a fresh scent of manure mingled in the air—it was indescribable and thought-provoking…
Jiang Mianmian woke up feeling slightly uncomfortable, but upon seeing Mother’s rounded chin and the eaves of their house, she became happy again.
Entering the door.
Jiang Mianmian was first placed by Mother into a wooden basin, where she lay sprawled out.
She stretched her arms and legs, then couldn’t help but start practicing stretches, using her hands to pull at her little feet. For some reason, this motion felt very comfortable, and as she pulled, she couldn’t help but put her foot into her mouth—she simply couldn’t control it…
Qin Luoxia was drying herbs nearby; the newly picked herbs needed to be spread out to dry, otherwise, they would rot if left in a pile.
While Mother dried the herbs, Jiang Mianmian lay in the basin, occasionally gazing at the bamboo basket not far away; she was still thinking about that little bear.
It was a bit novel.
And a bit scary, but mostly, she was curious.
She was the type who was easily frightened but loved to play anyway.
Although she could only babble, could only reach her feet with her hands, and would relieve herself whenever she felt like it without needing to take off her pants,
she was, after all, a transmigrator with special abilities.
Looking at the little bear in the basket, she was already looking forward to it; with the spiritual spring water in her hands, she could raise a spiritual bear and take it out—that would be so impressive.
Sure enough, opportunity favors those who are prepared.
Just as Mother went into the house to get a winnowing basket,
the basket actually tipped over.
Then, that silly bear that had knocked itself unconscious rolled out.
Even without opening its eyes, it crawled straight toward Jiang Mianmian’s wooden basin.
Jiang Mianmian smelled a fishy, foul odor.
It was much worse than the smell of her own poop.
It was hairy and pungent.
Moreover, the little bear leaned its head over and opened its mouth, making it smell even worse.
Jiang Mianmian was so scared she forgot to even cry.
Damn it, is this the end of the story?
Instead of raising a bear, she was being fed to the bear.
Jiang Mianmian was a coward, and even if she weren’t, she couldn’t climb out of this wooden basin no matter how hard she tried.
Just at this critical moment, as the grand finale was approaching, a large foot flew over, and then the little bear was kicked away.
Qin Luoxia was also startled.
She hadn’t expected that in the time it took her to go inside for a winnowing basket, that bear would have woken up.
Fortunately, her legs were fast.
When she saw the bear leaning toward her baby, her legs reacted faster than her brain, and she kicked out.
Jiang Mianmian burst into loud wails.
“Scared the baby to death.”
Not only did she hug Mother, but she also reached out and grabbed onto Mother’s clothes tightly.
Qin Luoxia also broke into a cold sweat out of lingering fear; she didn’t even dare to think about the scene that had just unfolded.
She shivered just thinking about it.
She couldn’t help but curse herself for being so careless.
That was a bear, after all.
As for ways to comfort the baby, Qin Luoxia currently only knew one.
She lifted her shirt.
Sure enough, only when Jiang Mianmian hugged her soft, big rice bowl and swallowed did she slowly calm down.
Her little heart had truly been terrified.
Qin Luoxia held her baby and swayed gently, letting her drink milk comfortably.
She mumbled a nursery rhyme: “Yellow earth, green grass grows, my baby is fat and round, fat and round…”
At the same time, she moved toward the little bear.
While comforting her baby, Qin Luoxia sang the nursery rhyme even more softly.
She then freed a hand, picked up the bear in the corner, and with a twist of her large palm against the bear’s head, there was a crisp snap—and she felt at ease.
Jiang Mianmian was very focused on drinking milk, sobbing, and shaking as she drank, which made Qin Luoxia’s heart ache.
After finishing the milk, she wouldn’t come down and insisted on staying on Mother.
She was terrified.
That was a bear, a real bear…
So, Qin Luoxia tied her daughter to her chest to work.
Jiang Mianmian felt full of security and thought it was quite good.
Mother didn’t act like other elders who would perform hitting the ground if a baby fell; instead, she simply stewed a pot of soup that night… It was an extra meal.
In the middle of the night, Jiang Mianmian woke up crying twice, scared unconsciously.
Cowardly, embarrassing, fearful—she was truly scared.
With her infant physique, the little bear looked just like a full-grown grizzly bear to her.
She had a bit of psychological trauma…
The next day.
The weather was sunny.
The sunshine melted away the gloom.
Jiang Mianmian lay sprawled comfortably on the wooden basin, without pants on, sunning her bottom.
One has to admit, ancient child-rearing had its merits.
Although she felt a bit embarrassed, lying on her stomach to sun her bottom was actually quite comfortable.
Besides, there was no one else at home except Mother.
Jiang Mianmian lay there contentedly, occasionally practicing lifting her head.
Then she saw a group of little ants on the ground not far away, little black ants.
Her wish to raise a bear was completely abandoned.
If she couldn’t raise a bear, couldn’t she raise ants?
Little coward Mianmian stared seriously at the little ants.
She waited silently, quite patiently.
Mainly because without patience, she couldn’t look at anything else; turning her head was difficult and tiring.
When one little ant crawled over and approached her, she carefully stretched out her arm and extended her finger, dropping a tiny drop of spiritual spring water, which landed right on the ant.
The little black ant was frozen in place.
Then, the spiritual spring water on its body quickly disappeared, but the little ant didn’t leave; instead, it raised its head and antennae, looking around.
Jiang Mianmian wanted to observe a bit more, but she was flipped back over by someone.
Qin Luoxia dressed her daughter and picked her up to feed her.
Jiang Mianmian wanted to find that little ant, but she couldn’t struggle against Mother.
She drank milk, somewhat absent-mindedly; surely she hadn’t wasted a drop of spiritual spring water!
At this moment, Qin Luoxia felt her sole itch, moved her foot away, and then continued to sway while holding the baby and feeding her.
A black ant with a bent antenna wandered around the wooden basin in confusion…
