After a while, she took the fire tongs and pulled a dark object out of the kang hole.

She carefully placed it in an enamel basin, blew on it, and the aroma of meat immediately filled the entire room.

The female educated youth's eyes lit up, and they all crowded around.

"Auntie, what's this? It smells so good!"

"The squirrel I roasted."

Mrs. Zhuang watched the crowd warily, protecting her plate with one hand as she ate quickly, not minding the heat.

She'd been hunting for over a month before finally catching this one squirrel; she couldn't let someone else steal it.

Heavens have mercy! She used to despise this stuff, getting goosebumps just looking at it, but now she's eating it with such relish.

She felt sad whenever she thought about it.

"Oh, a squirrel? Auntie, can you eat this? You're really something."

"I think that squirrel looks just like a mouse. Auntie, how can you eat it?"

The female educated youth touched their arms and took a step back.

Upon hearing this, Zhuang's mother immediately became anxious.

"Pah, pah, pah, what nonsense are you talking about? How can a rat be compared to a squirrel? Let me tell you, this thing smells delicious, and its pelt can be sold for money, you..."

As she spoke, she suddenly paused, realizing that the words sounded so familiar.

A few months ago, that country girl from the Qilian Mountains seemed to have said the same thing to her.

Oh dear, how did I end up eating this squirrel?

Tears welled up in Zhuang's mother's eyes as she thought about the suffering she had endured these past few days; she really wanted to cry her heart out.

"Auntie, why are you crying?"

"Waaah, this squirrel smells so good! I regret not trying it sooner!"

While shedding tears, Zhuang's mother ate heartily.

The female educated youth looked at her, feeling puzzled. Was squirrel meat really that delicious?

It seems they'll have to give it a try if they get the chance.