Chapter 3 "I too will become an eagle of the grasslands..."

Hua Hua looked at her second brother with envy and nodded in agreement.

Actually, she didn't understand at all; she simply thought that the person her second brother liked must be incredibly amazing!

Seeing her support, Mu Ren became even more talkative, and the two chattered away for quite a while.

Seeing that it was almost time, the older man next to him interjected, "Alright, stop playing and go back to warm up."

After saying that, he immediately reached out and pulled the two little ones away.

Mu Ren was only two years younger than him, and the age difference between them was not large. However, Hua Hua was small and easily carried into the house by the scruff of her neck.

Hua Hua cried out in alarm, "I don't want to go back! I haven't had enough fun yet! Second Brother, save me! Second Brother!"

Mu Ren stood up, rubbed his hands together, and looked at his elder brother as if in discussion.

Seeing the little girl pitifully begging for help, I thought I might as well play a little longer.

Hada refused outright: "No, you're not allowed to play either."

Having received a death order from his elder brother, Mu Ren angrily chased after him; upon hearing footsteps, his elder brother sped up his run.

The three chased each other, one after the other, and soon caught up with the yurt.

Upon hearing his younger sister's urgent exclamation, Mu Ren rushed behind his elder brother in a panic. Seeing that his brother had his back to him, he unconsciously reached out his hand.

Hada felt someone grab his shoulder, and he let go of Huahua. He nimbly turned around, grabbed Hada's shoulder, flipped him over, and tackled his underling to the ground.

"Hmph, you want to have a match with me?"

The eldest brother raised an eyebrow smugly and asked in return!

Both Mu Ren and Hua Hua were stunned by this move.

When Hua Hua saw her eldest brother pinning her second brother to the ground, she thought her second brother was going to get beaten up, so she angrily went to help.

Mu Ren wasn't angry; he was just annoyed that he still couldn't beat his older brother. But he kept trying to get back up.

But clearly his resistance was ineffective.

Hua Hua then took action, but tripped and fell while rushing towards him, her little head hitting him with a "thud".

The older brother cried out in pain, "Ouch, that hurts!"

Mu Ren was stunned at first, then burst into triumphant laughter.

"Haha, well done, little sister!"

Hua Hua's tears welled up, but she couldn't cry anymore when she heard the praise. She just looked at her second brother with a wronged expression.

The second brother quickly got up, hugged her, and wiped away her tears.

Meanwhile, Hada, who was also in pain from the impact, silently rubbed his head and watched the two of them arguing.

Life on the grasslands was peaceful and uneventful.

Having fully adapted, Hua Hua happily plays with her second brother, finding new ways to play every day that fascinate her.

As the days grew colder, Ani no longer needed to go out to herd livestock; he only needed to feed the animals and clean up in the morning, noon, and evening.

Grandma is the busiest person in the family; she needs to stock up on food and make some dairy products.

After winter sets in, the milk produced by the family is not required to be handed over to the government, so they save it up and boil it in a large pot to make some food that can be stored for a long time.

Hua Hua developed a liking for chewing milk skin, finding it delicious.

My father came back once during that period, rested for two days, and then went out again with his luggage.

Hua Hua asked several times before she gradually understood.

Dad is at work and should be back around the Lunar New Year.

My older brother is already on holiday at home, and he has taken some homework and will not start school until next spring.

So, in the days leading up to the New Year, Hua Hua was taken by her older brothers and had a great time.

In particular, there's also the addition of Ani.

One large and three small creatures started by defeating a snow rabbit in the afternoon.

Hua Hua excitedly followed Ani closely, often clinging to him in a spoiled manner, just so he could take her with him when they went out.

"Rabbit, rabbit!"

Ani saw the rabbit fall to the ground and not get up, and a look of triumph flashed across his aged face.

Turning around and seeing how happy Hua Hua was, he gestured for her to go get it.

Hua Hua's eyes sparkled, and she smiled happily, her mouth agape. Facing the gusts of cold wind, she didn't seem to feel cold at all.

"Ani, I'm going!" She skipped and hopped forward.

Just as she dashed out like a little rabbit, her thoughtful older brother grabbed her.

"Wait, are you stupid? Shut your mouth, or you'll get a stomachache if you go in the air conditioning." The older brother adjusted the hat on her head to cover her up more completely.

Hua Hua's unhappy expression turned joyful after listening to her older brother's words.

Throughout the time, his eyes were constantly fixed on the snow rabbit, as if afraid it would disappear in an instant.

Once her older brother had finished speaking, she dashed out.

Seeing how quickly the others escaped, the older brother felt a pang of envy and resolved to practice hunting more diligently in the future.

As she ran, she watched the snow rabbit getting closer and closer, her heart pounding. She didn't know why.

Seeing the snow rabbit with half its head blown off on the ground, she was not afraid at all and picked it up quickly.

The three people who watched the whole thing didn't think anything of it.

Bat, Hada, and Muren all grew up this way. Ani naturally taught Huahua the same way, only with more care than they did.

Hua Hua lived and grew up day by day in this rough yet warm family.

Gradually, her personality also changed.

As the year draws to a close, two groups of people have arrived on the grassland.

This was the first time Hua Hua had ever seen a stranger come to her home, and specifically ask to see her.

The person who came was the local Gacha secretary, who is also the village head.

The village secretary was followed by three comrades: the director of the Women's Federation and two staff members. They were there for a spot check and visit.

We want to see if the children from the south have adapted after a few months. It's also a screening process to see if the adoptive families are facing any difficulties.

The village secretary introduced the two sides: one was a comrade from the organization, and the other was a herder family that had adopted the child.

Director Chen looked at the elderly man in the main seat and said, "Comrade Mao Yixige, the organization is very grateful to you. Thank you for your generosity, which has given the child a home."

Animao Yixige was talking to the village secretary when he heard such straightforward praise, and his face flushed.

His eyes were slightly moist. He blinked and said sincerely, "Our child is very obedient and sensible. He is our good fortune."

Upon seeing this, Director Chen said to the village secretary, "You have done a very good job. It is because of these simple and warm-hearted herdsmen that we have been able to save nearly three thousand children. This is a great deed, and you will have good luck in the future."

Director Chen, who has been dealing with herders for many years, knows what they value. Sure enough, when this was mentioned, both old herders smiled.

"Absolutely, absolutely!" The village secretary was very happy. Doing good deeds naturally brings good rewards! If the village he managed was praised, then he himself was being praised.

They then chatted with Urina, asking how she had been doing lately and if she had encountered any difficulties.

Urina listened attentively throughout, and when asked about her own situation, she naturally replied that she was doing well and making ends meet. She also expressed her gratitude for the organization's concern.

Upon hearing this, Director Chen nodded secretly. She had inquired about this family beforehand and found that they had a very good reputation on the Ujimqin Grassland.

The head of the family is the deputy captain of the "White Horse Company". His father is an old herdsman who is very good at herding. His wife manages the household very well. His eldest son is studying at school, and there is also a lively second son. The whole family is very good.

Urina prepared milk tea and food, divided them up neatly, and then washed and brought Huahua over.

Then, she had Hua Hua walk over and introduced her, "This is Hua Hua!"

Director Chen of the Women's Federation was pleased to see that Hua Hua was doing very well; in fact, she was quite plump instead of thin. This was the best-behaved family she had visited.

"Is that Huahua? Come to Auntie, let me see her."

When Hua Hua heard her being called, she looked at her mother and brothers beside her.

He then walked over briskly and looked at her. "Hello, Auntie!"

Director Chen smiled and took her hand, finding it very warm. Her face was rosy but not dry, which he guessed was because she was well cared for at home.

Her smile widened, and she took out a few pieces of milk candy from her pocket and gave them to her.

He then pulled her into a tighter embrace. "Here, this is for you. Take it and eat."

Hua Hua thanked them again and put the candy into her pocket.

The clerk next to him was writing furiously, jotting something down every now and then.

Director Chen asked Hua Hua a few questions in detail, and Hua Hua answered them in a soft, sweet voice. Director Chen was very satisfied with what he heard, and then signaled to the staff member to take down the things they had brought.

"Come here, Huahua, this is a New Year's gift from your aunt and other elders. We hope you will be healthy and happy in the new year and grow up to be a useful member of society."

Director Chen opened the bundle, inside which was a brand new, brightly colored Tibetan robe.

Next came two cans of milk powder and a children's book.

Hua Hua took it blankly, and didn't react even when she held it in her hand.

When she turned her little head and realized it was for her, she quickly picked up the things and ran to her mother's side.

Then he threw himself into his mother's arms, "Mom, here you go!"

Then she turned around and ran back, "Auntie, thank you!"

Her actions brought smiles to everyone's faces, and they looked at her with loving eyes.

After the group left, Ani unusually called Hua Hua over, and Hua Hua was flipping through a comic book with her brothers.

When Ani called out, he quickly ran over.

Ani took something out and was about to put it around her neck.

Hua Hua went to look out of curiosity and found that it was a yellow stone.

"So beautiful!"

Upon seeing this, Mu Ren quickly came over.

Then, he excitedly exclaimed, "It looks so good!"

The older man next to him didn't even look up, quickly flipping through the pages, finding it much more interesting than textbooks.

The only one who knew its value, Urina, couldn't help but gasp when she saw her father-in-law give the item to Huahua.

This is agate, and my father-in-law probably only has three pieces. He gave it to the little one so early without worrying that she might lose it.

But thinking back to how she had pounced on her earlier, she figured no one could dislike her.

Hua Hua really liked that stone and carried it with her ever since.

As December arrived, my father finally returned home on holiday.

Bart rode home with lots of bags and packages, and as soon as he reined in his horse, he was greeted at the door by the three little ones.

Seeing three pairs of eyes staring at him, Bart tightened the reins, bent his arm, and lifted Hua Hua onto the horse's back.

Hua Hua exclaimed in surprise, followed by shouts of "Dad, Dad!"

With a flick of his whip, Bart's white horse charged off in an instant.

Running wildly across the grasslands in winter, basking in the warm sun, is Hua Hua's favorite thing to do.

After running a few laps, the little guy was put down, and another person took his place. By the time everyone had their turn, an hour had passed.

Bart is back, and the house is even more lively now.

The whole family gathered together to eat, chat, and prepare food for the winter.

After Bart returned, the younger family members were never home.

Bart and his three companions were far more ruthless than Ani in their hunting. They walked around the Little Horse River, heading deep into the grassland, until they saw animal tracks nearby.

Bart carried a bow and arrows and a hunting rifle, and when he sensed danger, he told his men to stay back.

He wounded himself with each shot and quickly hunted a lot of prey.

Hua Hua and Mu Ren had almost the same expression, their eyes filled with admiration as they looked at their father. This made their older brother next to them seem rather incompetent.

Bart laughed and patted him on the shoulder. "You still need more practice!"

Yes, Hada also picked up a small bow and arrow and a slingshot.

However, its accuracy is not high.

The Lunar New Year's Eve of 1962 took place amidst a heavy snowfall.

Hua Hua was flanked by her two older brothers, sitting in the middle of the table. In front of her was a large bowl of meat and other delicious food.

She was gnawing on a leg of lamb, her bowl filled with fragrant hand-grabbed rice, and her small cup held sweet milk.

She was being fed the whole time; everyone in the family put food on her plate.

Beside her were everyone's blessings to her, and Hua Hua smiled and said to everyone, "The new year has arrived just like that."

Hua Hua is four years old now!

Four-year-old Huahua has grown up; she can now ride a horse on the grasslands in the spring. Actually, it's just being led around a couple of laps by her second brother with the reins.

I could wash wild vegetables with my mother by the Xiaoma River, and I could also help my mother herd sheep.

She could even help her older brother write and do his homework. Actually, she was just helping him cause trouble!

Yes, Hua Hua feels like a big kid now, and she has her own things to do.

One day, as soon as Hua Hua woke up, she climbed off the bed and rushed outside.

Seeing that it was already bright, she looked at her second brother angrily, "It's all your fault, second brother. You insisted on sleeping in, and now I'm almost late."

Mu Ren almost slipped while holding the breakfast. "Aren't you the last one to get up?"

"Wait, little sister, eat your breakfast first."

Hua Hua waved her hand, "I'm not eating anymore, I have to go to work."

She grabbed a wooden bucket and rushed into the cowshed; she was going to milk the cows.

Seeing this, Mu Ren quickly chased after her, worried that the little girl might get kicked by the cow.

Hua Hua felt very capable, having already learned how to do it from watching her mother and the others, and wanted to help today.

Inside the cowshed, two robust dairy cows were grazing with their heads down.

They chewed on tender grass, occasionally letting out a few moos; the cows were living a very comfortable life.

They had no idea that someone was going to mess with them.

Hua Hua had grown quite a bit, but she was still not as tall as the cow. She climbed over the fence and found a spot, then started working like her mother.

She even knew to aim the bucket at the right spot, and with a strong push from both hands, she actually managed to squeeze some out.

Mu Ren, who was outside the cowshed, was so frightened that he quickly called out to her, "Hua Hua, come out quickly, or the cows will kick you."

The cow, which wasn't intimidated by Huahua's strength, was startled by the roar.

"I don't want to, I want to help with the work!" Hua Hua shouted at him.

Mu Ren was furious, so he simply put down his rice bowl and went inside to grab her.

As soon as the sullen Mu Ren entered, the two leisurely cows began to stir restlessly. Their four hooves started flailing about.

When Urina, who had just finished her work in the back, saw this, she turned pale with fright.

She rushed in and quickly pulled Hua Hua up. Immediately, the wooden bucket under her feet was trampled over by the retreating cow and broke into several pieces.

Mu Ren was stunned, and Hua Hua's little body tensed up.

Urina's face was grim. She stared at the two of them for a while before punishing them.

Hua Hua cried and sobbed, "Mom, I was wrong, I won't do it again!"

Urina coiled the wool yarn, picked up the small whip, and swung it around.

Fearing she would be beaten, Hua Hua pouted, looked down at the wet cow dung, and couldn't help but cry again.

"Waaaaah, I don't want to touch cow dung."

She refused to touch anything, but seeing her second brother's little hand being slapped, she still dared not disobey her mother.

Then she called out in a coquettish tone, "Second Brother~"

Mu Ren looked at her with red eyes and his left hand, which was red and swollen.

"Sister, hurry up and get to work. Mom said you can't eat until you finish." He really wanted to cry. His sister was naughty, but she didn't get a beating. Instead, he got whipped badly.

However, he was only thinking about it; after all, he hadn't taken good care of his younger sister, and she almost got kicked by a bull.

Hua Hua stopped crying when she thought about not having food to eat.

With a pained expression, she touched the wet cow dung, imitating her second brother by rolling it into a ball, and gradually discovered that it wasn't as bad as she had imagined.

I secretly watched my mother the whole time. Seeing that the little girl stopped crying and started doing things, I couldn't help but sigh.

This little girl still needs to be tempered; she's too bold.

She learned to make dried cow dung, wrestled, and did somersaults. What made her happiest was being able to learn to ride a horse with her second brother.

That little horse named Snow White was taken out to run on the grassland this year.

After much pleading, Hua Hua finally managed to ride it.

At that moment, she felt like the happiest person in the world!

The grasslands are most beautiful in summer. Hua Hua followed Ani and her brother to a faraway place to graze their livestock. They lay on the grass, telling stories and resting; they caught ground squirrels and dug for caterpillar fungus; and they would climb very high mountains to see the beautiful snow lotus flowers on the mountain.

Hua Hua grew another year older, and a major event occurred that year.

The grand Naadam festival will open on time at the end of the year, a grand event for tens of thousands of herders.

Seeing her second brother getting up early every day to train, Hua Hua said she wanted to train too.

Mu Ren wiped his sweat and said, "Hua Hua, do you want to learn too?"

"Yes, Second Brother, I also want to become an eagle on the grassland!"