"Master, I already have so many clothes," Su Mochen said, looking at the piles of fabric.
"These are for the New Year. Do you like them?" Mo Lixia asked with a smile.
"I love them!" Mochen grinned foolishly.
"Since you like them, look—I even bought you a pair of tiger-skin boots. When you go into the forest with A'Mu, your feet won't get wet anymore."
"Thank you, Master!" Mochen was so sensible it made Mo Lixia's heart ache.
As the two were chatting happily, a shadow suddenly lunged in front of them. Startled, they both stepped back instinctively.
Standing before them was Er Dan. He rubbed his chin, looking at Mo Lixia with a greasy, leering smile. "Yo, Miss Lixia, heading home?"
Mo Lixia ignored him. She took Mochen's hand and tried to walk past, but Er Dan blocked their path again.
"Tsk, leaving without a greeting? Miss Lixia, carrying all these heavy bags must be exhausting. Let your 'big brother' carry them home for you." His hand reached out, trying to touch Mo Lixia's arm.
Beside her, Mochen's eyes flared with anger. He lunged forward and headbutted Er Dan hard in the stomach.
"Ow! You little bastard!" Er Dan growled.
"You're the bastard!" Mochen yelled back.
"Who's the bastard here is obvious. Everyone knows you were picked up from the street," Er Dan sneered.
"Mochen, don't argue with dogs. Let's go." Mo Lixia's face was ice-cold. She pulled Mochen along, but Er Dan blocked her once more. He leaned in close to her face, his voice low and sinister. "Hmph, keep acting pure. Sooner or later, I'll have my way with you."
A cold light flashed in Mo Lixia's clear eyes. "We'll see if you have the ability. Remember, I never seek trouble, but if someone dares to provoke me, don't blame me for being ruthless."
Er Dan was momentarily stunned by her aura, but then he laughed. What's there to fear from a little girl? He reached out his hand, intending to stroke her chin. "I'd like to see what 'ability' a little woman like you—"
SWISH!
A sharp whistle cut through the air. Er Dan suddenly let out a blood-curdling scream of agony.
Mo Lixia blinked. Blood was dripping from Er Dan's hand. Not far away stood Shen Muqing, holding his bow, his eyes burning with fury. The veins on his forehead were bulging.
"If I see you touch Lixia again, I won't be so merciful next time," Shen Muqing growled.
His face contorted with pain, Er Dan scrambled toward the village. "Shen! You've got nerve! Just you wait!"
Shen Muqing ignored him. He walked over to Mo Lixia, grabbed the heavy bags from her back without a word, and started walking up the mountain.
Su Mochen watched him with wide, star-struck eyes. Mo Lixia's lips curled into a faint smile.
"Master... Big Brother is so amazing!"
Mo Lixia patted his head. "You like that?"
Mochen nodded vigorously and dragged Mo Lixia along to catch up with Shen Muqing.
By the time they reached the gate, Shen Muqing was already waiting.
"Big Brother, your bow and arrow are so cool!" Mochen chirped.
"Brother Shen, thank you for just now," Mo Lixia said as she opened the gate.
Shen Muqing nodded, his face still grim. "Avoid Er Dan in the future. That man is capable of anything."
"I understand."
"I... I should go."
"Brother Shen, wait!" Mo Lixia hurried into the courtyard and returned with a small cloth bag. "These are black wood-ear mushrooms I gathered. Please take some for Aunt Shen."
"This... these are hard to find," Shen Muqing hesitated.
Mo Lixia found his awkwardness amusing. "Take them. I have plenty more inside."
"Then... thank you."
"Hehe, Master, Big Brother's face is getting red!" Mochen teased.
"I'm leaving!" Shen Muqing practically bolted down the mountain.
Mo Lixia shook her head and brought the goods inside.
"Master, that Er Dan was so annoying."
"He was. But don't worry, I have my own special ways of dealing with people like him."
"What ways, Master?"
"Lean in, I'll tell you..." Mo Lixia whispered into Mochen's ear, and soon the two were laughing uncontrollably.
At the Shen residence, Aunt Shen was cleaning when her son returned.
"Qing'er, you're back."
"Mother, here is the money from selling the game today."
Aunt Shen took the three taels of silver. "We have enough savings. Don't go up the mountain in this cold anymore."
"I can support you now, Mother. You should stay home and embroider, stop taking those odd jobs."
"We don't have land in this village. I'd rather keep busy than overthink things," Aunt Shen sighed.
"Mother, I've let you suffer."
"Don't say such silly things. I've never regretted bringing you here... but Qing'er, do you feel wronged living in this remote mountain gully?"
"No. I will become strong, Mother. I will make them regret everything."
Shen Muqing's gaze turned cold as he looked toward the direction of the Capital.
New Year's Eve arrived in the blink of an eye. Er Dan had been strangely absent from the village lately. According to Ah Song, his hand was injured, and he had been suffering from such severe diarrhea that he couldn't even get out of bed.
Mo Lixia merely smiled. She had delivered New Year's pastries to Uncle Liu and Grandpa Li before returning home to prepare the dumpling filling.
Mochen and A'Mu had been in the forest for a while. Just as Mo Lixia was about to go look for them, she opened the gate and froze.
Mochen was standing there, staring hatefully at a man.
The man was staring back at Mochen, his eyes filled with a complicated mix of guilt and shock. Behind him stood a high-ranking attendant.
Judging by the man's noble bearing and his resemblance to the boy, Mo Lixia already knew who he was.