Chapter 48: Did I Startle You? Even Rabbit Talk Is Coming Out

Jiang Chengyan carried Bai Yan, along with bags big and small, toward the eastern end of the village. When they finally reached their own doorstep, two large dogs suddenly darted out onto the street, barking furiously in Bai Yan's direction.

Bai Yan clung tightly to Jiang Chengyan’s neck, not daring to utter a single word, her head instinctively inching forward.

“Don’t be afraid. If they dare come at us, I’ll take care of them,” Jiang Chengyan said, opening the gate to their yard and leading Bai Yan into the house.

He set Bai Yan down on the heated kang bed, then went to start a fire; since they hadn’t stayed home the previous night, the bed was still cold.

Seated before the stove, he tended the flames, tossing several eggs into the pot to boil. When the larger pieces of firewood were finally burning in the hearth, he heard some movement from inside the room and got up to check on her.

Opening the door, he saw her lying on her stomach, craning her neck to look at her own back.

“What are you looking at?” Jiang Chengyan reached out and gathered her into his arms, letting her lean her back against him.

“I clearly have no tail or ears anymore. I’m just a person now. Why do the dogs still want to bite me? They must have smelled the rabbit scent on me,” Bai Yan reasoned, convinced this was the explanation.

After all, a dog’s sense of smell is keener than any human’s.

“This won’t happen again,” Jiang Chengyan said, gently ruffling her soft hair. “Tomorrow I’ll take you up the mountain. Didn’t you say you wanted to plant mushrooms?”

He knew he needed to find something to cheer her up, to help her forget the fear she’d felt today.

As soon as she heard the mention of mushrooms, Bai Yan’s spirits lifted. “Husband, the mushrooms I grow will be delicious! I also love wild strawberries—I'm going to plant a huge patch!”

Jiang Chengyan pressed his lips into a smile.

But perhaps the fright had exhausted her; after her brief excitement, Bai Yan drifted off to sleep, skipping supper entirely. Jiang Chengyan sat by her side, reading, until the oil lamp's last flicker faded.

When darkness enveloped the room, Jiang Chengyan held Bai Yan close, his arms tightening around her.

………………

Perhaps the dogs had frightened her too deeply, for in the middle of the night, Jiang Chengyan was roused by Bai Yan’s startled cries.

Wrapped tightly in her quilt, Bai Yan trembled, muttering softly, “Ji ji ji ji, ji ji ji ji.”

Had she dreamed something? Even her rabbit speech slipped out.

“It’s all right now, nothing to fear,” Jiang Chengyan soothed, holding her and gently patting her back as one would comfort a child. Gradually, Bai Yan calmed.

He remembered her saying she was one hundred and fifty years old. In other words, for the past century and a half, she’d been hiding—evading hunters, escaping beasts.

It must have been an arduous existence.

Given her simple-mindedness, surviving until today was no small feat!

………………

The next morning,

After eating two eggs, Jiang Chengyan began preparing for their trek up the mountain.

“Your water flask, two apples, and two eggs,” he said, packing each item with the care of a worried father.

“Husband, we need two big baskets,” Bai Yan gestured. “I want to dig up lots of things.”

Jiang Chengyan raised an eyebrow. “If I carry two big baskets, I won’t be able to carry you. You’ll have to walk on your own.”

Bai Yan agreed readily. “Alright, I’ll walk myself. No need for you to carry me.” With a small hoe in hand, she marched boldly toward the door.

The next second, a loud cry rang out as she was startled back inside by the barking dogs outside.

Jiang Chengyan: “……”