Upon arriving in the village, Jiang Xi first fed the rabbits and sheep. The mother rabbit's belly had grown even larger, making it difficult for her to come out and eat. So, she went to the kitchen and got some sweet potatoes to give the mother rabbit as an extra meal.
A while later, Yan Jing'an returned humming a song. He had been smashing walls, picking up stones, and sweeping dirt all day. He was covered in dust from head to toe, no longer the refined man he once was. He looked like he had just come from working in a kiln.
The little deer followed him, pulling stones and clods of earth, and wasn't much better off than him.
Jiang Xi's vision went black: "Anyone who didn't know better would think we were involved in demolition."
She gritted her teeth and took out a new set of clothes from the bottom of the trunk, throwing them to him and urging him to quickly take a shower and change so that he could wash the deer when he came back.
After he returned from the hot springs, Yan Zheng and Jiang Xi went to take a bath.
By the time everything was finished, it was completely dark.
Yan Jing'an stir-fried two vegetarian dishes and steamed a salted fish.
The staple food was, as usual, root and potato rice. Jiang Xi sat at the table, just picked up her chopsticks, when she thought of the person in the deer pen and asked Yan Jing'an, "Did you go see that child? How is he today?"
Yan Jing'an was focused on eating and didn't even look up: "I've seen it, it's still the same, no words and no reaction."
Jiang Xi, who was holding food in her hand, noticed that her subordinates had slowed down a bit.
It seems that learning about the snow disaster was a real blow to that person.
Yan Zheng, who was standing next to her, put a piece of fish into her bowl: "Eat quickly. Lock him up for another two days, and release him if nothing happens."
Jiang Xi picked up a piece of fish and nodded.
Thinking of something, she took out the bowl that person used and put some of each dish on it.
Yan Jing'an, seeing this, said sourly, "Back when I first followed you, I ate wild fruits every day."
"He's doing well, a prisoner of war, yet he gets meat served to him every day."
Jiang Xi smiled and comforted her, "You're over six feet tall, what are you comparing yourself to him for?"
"We just felt sorry for him, he's just a kid, all skinny and weak."
Yan Jing'an swallowed the food in his mouth and asked, puzzled, "Do you think he initially wanted to use us to kill that bear?"
Jiang Xi, who was serving rice, analyzed: "Judging from his reaction yesterday, I guess so."
Yan Jing'an couldn't understand: "But wasn't that his companion? He listened to him so much, why kill him?"
Yan Zheng thought for a moment and said, "Just like we said before, how could such a thin and weak person be willing to obey Xiong's commands?"
"It's possible that they were mutually restraining each other. Later, when the kid realized he couldn't control the bear, he had murderous intent and tricked us into doing it for him."
He suddenly pointed out the key point, and Jiang Xi and Yan Jing'an got goosebumps.
Yes, why? If that's the case, then this child is quite thoughtful.
Yan Jing'an's heart tightened: "Is this guy up to some trick? Otherwise, if he can tame a wild bear, why would he be willing to be locked up here by us?"
"Don't tell me there really is another bear. I'm not sure if there will be another one."
Thinking about this, he felt a chill run down his spine and suddenly regretted hitting him too hard that day.
While everyone remained silent, Yan Zheng said in a deep voice, "Let's eat first. In any case, keep a close eye on things these next two days."
After cleaning up the dishes, Yan Zheng, holding a torch, accompanied Jiang Xi to deliver the food to that person.
His back looked even more hunched today; despite wearing a thick fur coat, you could still see how thin his spine was.
Jiang Xi placed the food in front of him, and after a few seconds, he slowly raised his head.
Instead of picking it up immediately, he looked at Jiang Xi and then heard him say, "Wash...your hands."
He was usually silent, so his sudden request surprised Jiang Xi.
But it wasn't a difficult thing. She went to the kitchen doorway, scooped up a basin of water, and placed it at the person's feet.
To everyone's surprise, he looked at Jiang Xi, shook his head, and repeated, "Wash your hands."
Jiang Xi was also a little confused. Didn't she just bring the basin over?
Yan Zheng, who was standing nearby, asked, "Do you need to go to the restroom?"
Perhaps the shadow cast by Yan Jing'an was too great for him, because when the man saw that Yan Zheng and Yan Jing'an had the same face, he dared not look at each other, and only nodded while looking at his feet.
Jiang Xi then realized what was happening.
At the same time, he wondered what this person's past was like. He was probably from the city, just like them, and he even knew about restrooms.
Yan Zheng untied the rope binding it to the wooden stake: "Let's go, I'll take you there."
But even though he was holding the rope, the person wouldn't move.
Yan Zheng looked at him, puzzled: "Weren't you going to the restroom? It's right next door, let's go."
The man stood there blankly, listening to him finish speaking with his head down. He nodded, but still didn't move. After two seconds, he pointed at Jiang Xi with his finger.
"She...goes."
Jiang Xi then realized that he was afraid she would peek.
This is the most embarrassing thing I've ever experienced in my life.
Jiang Xi could only comfort him, saying, "Don't worry, I won't look."
As she said this, Jiang Xi was thinking to herself, "Who wants to see this?"
Why are all the people in this world so crazy?
Yan Zheng understood what he meant. He had noticed earlier that the boy's eyes kept glancing at Jiang Xi, and now, in front of him, he dared to be disrespectful.
He sneered, "If you don't want to go, then stay here."
As he spoke, he tied the rope back to the wooden stake.
The child began to sob. The torchlight was dim, but Jiang Xi could vaguely see tears in his eyes.
She stepped forward and stopped Yan Zheng's hand: "Forget it, he's just a child. Anyway, he's in this yard, let him go by himself."
The toilet was right next to the deer pen; it was semi-open-air.
There was a door in the courtyard, and they couldn't figure out what to do with it.
So Yan Zheng untied him and told him where the restroom was. The two of them sat on the stone bench and waited.
Yan Jing'an also came out of the house and saw the two sitting under the tree. Yan Zheng glanced at the toilet door from time to time, while Jiang Xi was lying on the stone table, staring blankly at the sky.
Her almond-shaped eyes conveyed only two words: "boredom."
So he joined in.
"What are you doing?"
Yan Zheng nodded towards the bathroom: "Keep watch on them."
Yan Jing'an looked at the food on the table and asked in confusion, "You haven't eaten again?"
Yan Zheng said, "We haven't had time yet."
So he asked Jiang Xi, puzzled, "What are you doing?"
She lowered her voice and said, "There are fireflies."
Upon hearing this, Yan Jing'an picked up a red date from the basket on the table and looked around, following her gaze.
A few minutes later, the child came out of the toilet, and in the yard, all three people turned their attention to him.
He clutched at the hem of his clothes, looking somewhat lost.
Jiang Xi called him to sit down at the stone table and eat.
Yesterday, Jiang Xi discovered that he couldn't use chopsticks, so today she gave him a wooden spoon instead.
The man stared blankly at the food in front of him, then glanced at Yan Jing'an and noticed that he was staring intently at him.
The hand that was about to be raised was lowered again.
Jiang Xi looked at him with a puzzled expression. Why aren't you eating?
Turning her head, she saw Yan Jing'an again, and even she could feel the icy coldness and disdain in his eyes.
Jiang Xi said to him, "Go and bring Xiao Hei over. He hasn't been out for a long time."
Yan Jing'an pursed his lips, then looked away and walked into the house.
Yan Zheng also got up to collect the clothes from the clothesline.
"Eat."
With the oppressive feeling gone, the child picked up the wooden spoon and began shoveling rice into his mouth. He ate the simple meal with relish, eating very quickly, and almost choked himself again.
Jiang Xi went to the kitchen and poured him a glass of water.
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