Free Web NovelChapter 40: Chapter 31: The Lowest Grade
Liang Xiaoju and Xiao Man put away the firewood, went to the well to draw water to wash their hands and faces, and then ran over to sit by Grandma and rest for a bit. Liang Xiaoju took some myrtle berries from her pocket and gave them to Grandma. Grandma tasted a few, repeatedly exclaiming how delicious they were. She smiled and said, "It’s been so long since I’ve had such sweet and refreshing myrtle berries. I’ve smelled them from the other courtyard before, but when they pick them and bring them home, no one ever remembers to give me any. You’re so thoughtful, Xiaoju."
Xiaoju beamed, pressing her lips together in a happy smile. Xiao Man’s eyes darted about as she tried to remember her past life. ’Did I ever give Grandma myrtle berries after I picked them?’ fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm
Then, she remembered. ’Actually, Grandma was just saying that. Was it really so hard for her to get some myrtle berries? Grandpa could easily pick some from the roadside on his way back from the mountain. The real issue is that Grandma can’t eat too many of them!’
In her past life, Xiao Man had given Grandma myrtle berries, but Grandma had only eaten one or two. She had even warned Xiao Man not to eat too many, saying that if the berries made her constipated, she would have to find Grandpa to get some herbs to brew into a tea.
’I remember all the little troublemakers in the village from my past life who got constipated from greedily eating too many myrtle berries. They’d be wailing for their parents, and then they’d have to go to Grandpa for an herbal brew. The bitter, strange-tasting liquid would be forced down their throats, making them choke and hiccup so much they couldn’t even cry anymore. It was just too funny!’
While Liang Xiaoju went into the kitchen to help Grandpa, Xiao Man took a piece of fruit candy from her pocket, unwrapped it, and popped it into Grandma’s mouth. frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓
Grandma smacked her lips and raised her thin eyebrows. "Xiaoju picks myrtle berries from the mountain, but does our little Xiao Man have the amazing ability to pick fruit candies from trees?"
Xiao Man burst out laughing. "Grandma, I don’t have that kind of skill! Sister Liu Ping from the co-op store gave it to me. We passed by the store and went inside to play for a bit while we rested. We also happened to hear that there’s a movie tonight... and then we saw Liu Fengying!"
"Oh? You saw Liu Fengying?" Grandma grew tense at the mention of her name, forgetting everything else. "Did she do anything to you?"
"She did! She grabbed me so hard she nearly broke my arm! She also tried to trick me into going to her house, saying she’d kill a chicken for me to eat. I don’t believe her for a second! If Sister Liu Ping hadn’t helped by hurrying her to pay for her things, she wouldn’t have let go, and we wouldn’t have been able to run back so quickly!"
"That Liu Fengying... what is she up to?" Grandma’s face darkened.
Seeing Grandma get angry, Xiao Man quickly comforted her. "She just wants to drag me back, lock me up, and make me work for her! I was caught off guard this time. I definitely won’t let her touch me again!"
"Mm, Xiao Man, you remember this: for Liu Fengying to abuse a child like that, her heart is truly wicked! From now on, if you see her, you must take a different path. Run to where there are more people. If she tries to grab you, you scream as loud as you can, understand?"
"I know, Grandma!"
After lunch, Grandpa took out two fifty-cent notes and gave one each to Xiao Man and Liang Xiaoju. He said that since there was a movie that night, the two of them could go together and buy some of their favorite snacks at the co-op store.
Liang Xiaoju hadn’t expected Grandpa to be so generous, giving her fifty cents just like that. Her little face flushed with excitement, and she blinked rapidly at Xiao Man a couple of times. Xiao Man understood at once. ’So it was her who told Grandpa about the movie tonight.’
Grandpa was about to go out to find Secretary Mo when Grandma told him about how Liu Fengying had bullied Xiao Man again. Grandpa pulled Xiao Man over to examine the red mark on her wrist, cursing Liu Fengying as a "damned woman." He said angrily, "I’m going to find them right now and ask them what the hell they think they’re doing!"
Grandma instructed him, "Guo Qiang and Mo Laoer were ready to hit you the other day. When they act like scoundrels, they don’t care about anything. Don’t go into that courtyard alone!"
Grandpa said, "Don’t worry. I’ll tell Secretary Mo, and he’ll go with me!"
Hearing her grandparents’ conversation, Xiao Man felt relieved. ’After drinking the spiritual spring water for so many days, Grandpa’s constitution should be stronger than before. But he is old, after all. Mo Guoqiang and Mo Laoer are the types to bully their own family. If a real fight broke out, he’d be outnumbered. It’s much better for someone to go with Grandpa to the Mo family’s place. Even if they couldn’t help in a fight, they could at least get help in an emergency.’
These past few days, Xiao Man had been giving her family the spiritual spring water. Combined with the several meat-filled meals they’d had since the family property was divided, they were finally getting proper nourishment. With Grandpa and Grandma in charge, no one restricted Xiao Man’s portions like Liu Fengying used to; they let her eat and drink her fill. Xiao Man felt her own energy and physical condition had markedly improved, and Grandpa and Grandma were visibly healthier than before.
Grandpa used to guard the reservoir at night and gather herbs on the surrounding mountains during the day. To save energy, he often only came home once every three to five days. But now, he came back almost every day. Judging from the herbs in his back basket, you could tell he was gathering them on his way home. When he got home, his complexion was still good, and he didn’t show any signs of fatigue.
Grandma, on the other hand, had always been listless and looked very unwell, with a gloomy and downcast expression. You would see her sitting like a wooden statue inside the small wooden doorway all day long, barely moving at all. Xiao Man had never once seen Grandma step outside the gate of the Mo Family Courtyard.
But now, things were different. Grandma rarely sat still. As soon as she woke up in the morning, she liked to walk around the house and courtyard, using a bamboo pole to feel her way. She always had a smile on her face and would chatter on and on, whether Xiao Man was listening or not. She had to touch everything in the house. She even went to the well and felt her way all around the kitchen. Although she still couldn’t cook, she could help put things away, wipe the table, and even carefully add wood to the stove. When there was free time and Xiao Man ran out the gate to play on the road by picking up small calcite stones, Grandma would follow her out. She’d stand just outside the gate for a while, reminding Xiao Man to watch for cars. If someone passed by and said hello, Grandma would cheerfully chat with them and invite them in for a while.
’I had been malnourished and weak since I was little. Every morning right after waking up, my head would be dizzy and foggy, and my feet would feel like I was walking on cotton. This feeling usually took a good half hour to subside. But now, that was all gone. The moment I opened my eyes in the morning, I felt completely clear-headed and refreshed, without any discomfort. Of course, this was just in comparison to my previous self. I was still no match for an adult. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be so wary of Liu Fengying. I knew very well how strong she was.’
’The Old Snake had said that the source of the Spiritual Spring inside the Treasure Bead was embedded in Cuiyu Mountain. The water flowed down in tiers, and on each tier, a plant absorbed the Spiritual Power from the spring water. The further the water flowed down, the less Spiritual Power it contained. Right now, I am as weak as an ant, and my own spiritual power is negligible. Even though I am the master of the Treasure Bead, being in the outside world means I can’t control the high-level spiritual spring water inside. I can only drink from the lowest grade, and I can’t even drink too much at once!’
Xiao Man felt incredibly frustrated. ’Just how weak am I?! Goodness knows how long it’ll take to properly condition this little body so I can finally enter the Treasure Bead and take a look around!’
