LIGHTNOVELONLINE
Chapter 39
Jiang Wenkang sullenly said, "You guys sure have guts, daring to give a white tiger cub to your little sister. Tell me, where did you get it from?"
Knowing that the thing in the cage was a real tiger cub instead of the big cat they thought, the few children all turned pale with fright.
Second brother Jiang Yuhe was the first to step forward and whispered, "We picked it up on a hillside. We didn't know it was a tiger cub either, we thought it was just a cat."
"Which hillside?"
"Songgang Ridge."
Jiang Wenkang was so angry that he went to look for a broomstick. Jiang Yuqing saw that things were not looking good. She hurriedly ran from her father's arms and hugged her eldest uncle's leg, "Uncle, don't hit them, brother."
Jiang Wenkang was furious, "Good girl, let go of uncle. Your brothers don't know any better, uncle has to teach them a lesson. So they know what they can and cannot do."
Baby Dumpling held on tightly. If she let go, her brothers' bottoms would suffer.
"Uncle, don't hit them. Brothers are very good. Good girl, birthday."
Jiang Wenkang clenched his fist and relaxed again. That's right, today was the good girl's birthday, not a suitable day to beat someone up, they could settle it tomorrow.
Baby Dumpling saw that this tactic worked. Ignoring her face, she hugged her uncle and coaxed and begged him, barely managing to pacify Jiang Wenkang.
Baby Dumpling heaved a sigh of relief, then looked at the poor little white tiger in the cage. The little white tiger was also looking at her.
Jiang Yuqing's heart stirred. She said to her father Jiang Wenyuan, "Daddy, keep it, Tiger!"
Jiang Wenyuan stroked his daughter's little head and shook it firmly, "No, tigers are fierce beasts. Even cubs pose a threat."
Baby Dumpling said, "Little birds, friends, catch bugs. Tiger cub, friend!"
I can make friends with little birds, let them help catch pests in our vegetable garden. Maybe I can also make friends with this little tiger!
Moreover, she had special abilities. Her aura was gentle, animals would not harm her.
To be honest, this little white tiger was really cute, too adorable.
Jiang Wenyuan thought of his daughter's abilities and didn't know what to say for a moment.
She could make plants grow, make it rain to water the vegetable garden, and even direct the birds to catch pests in the vegetable garden.
Since she was born, even mosquitoes had not bitten her once. Now she said she could make friends with the tiger. It didn't seem too surprising.
Besides, this little tiger was still too small, caged up too, maybe they could really let the precious daughter try contacting it.
He had nothing but boys in the family. Girls were still different from boys after all. There were no other girls in the clan either. There were a few village girls of suitable age from other families in the village.
Jiang Wenyuan thought about it. Those who wiped their noses with their sleeves were out of the question.
In short, his precious daughter had no playmates her age and was quite lonely.
If she really liked this little tiger, and the little tiger would not harm her, keeping it would not be impossible. It could just be a playmate found for his daughter.
It had to be said, Jiang Daddy was really open-minded to let a tiger become his daughter's playmate.
The father and daughter's conversation was not kept from anyone else. The other elders in the family could think of the same issues Jiang Wenyuan had thought of.
They couldn't help feeling a little guilty. In the end, it was their oversight, they had tacitly approved Jiang Yuqing's words.
Jiang Wenyuan hugged his daughter and gingerly approached the cage. The little white tiger in the cage just watched Jiang Yuqing steadily, without any other movement.
When they reached the cage, Jiang Yuqing reached out and waved at the tiger, as a greeting, "Tiger cub." The little white tiger growled twice. Human cub, are you calling me?
"Yes. Tiger cub." I like you. Can I be friends with you? I'm still small and don't know many words yet. I'm sending you a telepathic message now, can you hear it?
"Grrr." Yes, I can. Finally there is a human who can understand me!
"Mm hmm." How did my brothers catch you? Where is your mother?
"Roar—" The little white tiger was heartbroken. Because I was born white, my mother spurned me as a freak. She only loved my brothers and abandoned me.
Later, your brothers saw me and caught me, locking me in this cage.
It was the law of survival of the fittest in nature.
If a mother beast gives birth to two or more cubs at the same time, to ensure the survival and propagation of the group, she would instinctively abandon the weaker one, to ensure the other cubs get more resources to survive.
Tigers live in the jungle. White fur does not help with camouflage when hunting in the bushes. So it was understandable for the tigress to abandon the white cub.
"Don't cry!" Don't cry anymore. From now on, you'll follow me, okay?
My brothers and I all like you very much, but remember you must not hurt anyone, not harm anyone at all.
"Grrr." I won't hurt anyone. I'm willing to follow you, you have the aura of Mother Earth.
"Mm hmm." Alright then, I'll ask someone to let you out.
After settling things with the little white tiger, little Baby Dumpling turned to her father, "Daddy, tiger cub, abandoned, tiger cub, no home."
Jiang Wenyuan said, "Good girl, you mean this little tiger was abandoned?"
"Mm hmm, tiger cub, sad."
"Can you guarantee it won't hurt anyone? After all, it's a fierce beast."
"Mm hmm." Baby Dumpling nodded vigorously, "Tiger cub said, friends, no bite, anyone!"
"Alright then. Daddy will let it out now." He would try trusting his daughter this once. After all, so many people were here. Besides, this little tiger cub really looked cute.
Jiang Wenyuan personally opened the cage. The little white tiger walked out, shook its head hard, then walked straight to Jiang Yuqing.
Under everyone's wary gaze, the little white tiger licked her palm. Jiang Yuqing casually stroked the big tiger head she had been itching to touch. It was furry, the texture was amazing.
Soon, the little girl and tiger started playing together.
Seeing this, the adults looked at each other, all heaving a sigh of relief. It looked like they would have to raise one more tiger in the family from now on.
The little white tiger was a handsome fellow. Jiang Yuqing gave it a loud name, "Bai Xiaojiu".
Because she was the eighth child in the family, the little white tiger could only be ranked ninth. Also because it was a white tiger, it was called Bai Xiaojiu.
Her brothers jeered that it didn't sound mighty at all. It should have been called "Bai Dawang" (White Big King) instead.
Of course Jiang Yuqing vetoed this corny name decisively. It would be called Bai Xiaojiu.
From then on, there was an additional little tiger in the Jiang family manor, about 2-3 months old, named "Bai Xiaojiu".
The day after her birthday, little Baby Dumpling was playing with Bai Xiaojiu in the room.
Her mother Lu, eldest uncle's wife Lin, second uncle's wife Zhu, and grandmother Old Lady Hu came in carrying a tray.
On the tray were a shiny embroidered needle, a bottle of iodine, two cotton swabs, and two very slender silver earrings.
Lu put down the things and gently beckoned to her, "Good girl, come here!"
Seeing the things on the tray, Baby Dumpling's little body shuddered. She forced out a big smile at her mother, and kept shuffling backwards with her hands behind her back. After retreating a few steps, she turned and ran.
But her mother had quick eyes and hands, catching her in her arms. Baby Dumpling screamed in fright.
Right now, Lu had turned into the Big Bad Wolf tricking Little Red Riding Hood, "Don't be afraid, it's just piercing your ears. After getting your ears pierced, you can wear those pretty earrings of yours."
"No, no!" My dear mother, does your daughter who's only two really need to get her ears pierced so urgently? In her last life, she lived to her mid twenties without piercings and was fine!
Little Baby Dumpling screamed like a pig being slaughtered throughout, crying for grandpa to save her, crying for daddy to save her, crying for uncle to save her, crying for brother to save her. But at the critical moment, none of these people were home.
She was helpless and called for Bai Xiaojiu to save her.
Bai Xiaojiu did want to help, but these people holding her down to pierce her ears were her master's family. If it really bit them, its master would be angry.
In the end, no one managed to save her. She was held down by her mother, grandmother and aunts, and got her ears pierced and little silver earrings put on.
Tearful Baby Dumpling (purely physiological tears) took Bai Xiaojiu and ran out. She decided to cut ties with them for an hour, no, a whole incense stick time. Too excessive!
Seeing her angry daughter run off, Lu laughed and cried, "The little stinker is so unwilling. Which young miss doesn't get her ears pierced? Old Qi's little granddaughter to the east of the village is only three and already knew to get her mother to pierce holes in her ears with tea stalks. Just you wait and see, she'll definitely tattle when her father, grandfather and uncles come back!"
The women all laughed.
Mother knows best.
Sure enough, that afternoon, when Jiang's men came home, Baby Dumpling pointed at her own little earlobes with earrings and began tattling to each of them.
The elders were also happy to indulge her. After indulging her, Dumpling's anger subsided and she was satisfied. She trotted away happily with Bai Xiaojiu.
Halfway through, she suddenly remembered that it was just getting her ears pierced. Why make such a fuss about it?
Tattling like that, she really acted like a child for too long, so her temperament had indeed become childish. Or was it that a child's nature is like this?
Thinking back on the bitterness of her previous childhood, perhaps this life was heaven's way of compensating her.
Since this was the case, she should just enjoy it fully. Being a happy baby was the dream of many corporate slaves.
And so, the optimistic Dumpling cheered up again.
Bai Xiaojiu stayed with the Jiang family like this. Jiang Wenxi even prepared a very spacious and beautiful den next to Jiang Yuqing's bedroom for it.
This den was so big that even if it grew into a huge tiger in the future, it would still be spacious enough.
But it rarely went back to its den. Most of the time it followed Jiang Yuqing, sleeping on the floor next to her bed at night.
Jiang Yuqing was afraid it would get cold, so she had people spread a thick carpet on the floor beside the bed.
In short, wherever Jiang Yuqing went, it followed. The two little cuties were simply adorable.
Over time, everyone discovered that this little white tiger was not only good-looking, but also very spirited.
It would wash up after eating, and even go to the toilet on its own. Its body was always clean and free of any beastly odor.
Moreover, Bai Xiaojiu was smart to begin with. After following Jiang Yuqing, it was fed spiritual spring water and fruits every day, so its IQ was remarkably high.
Gradually, the villagers of Xijin ferry also learned that the young lady of the Jiang family had raised a very civilized white tiger.
They went from being afraid at first, to actively greeting it afterwards.
Bai Xiaojiu was also very polite, always responding with a "roar" to the villagers. Eventually, the adults and children of Xijin ferry even considered it an honor to pet Bai Xiaojiu, which was quite remarkable.
As the days passed by, when the melon seedlings had grown a foot tall, Jiang Yuqing still hadn't found a suitable beast of burden.
The over two-year-old Dumpling really didn't want to be carried anymore, so she went to grind her dad again.
This time her dad didn't agree immediately nor refuse either.
He just said to give him another month, and if he still couldn't find a suitable colt, he would buy her a donkey. Baby Dumpling agreed.
The spring rain was light and continuous, lingering softly. The grass and trees by the roadside grew more lush with each passing day. Xijin ferry also welcomed the best mushroom picking season of the year.
Qingzhou was damp and warm, with dozens of varieties of edible mushrooms.
The most common were red bean mushroom, green bean mushroom, chicken head mushroom, meadow mushroom, swan mushroom, etc., as well as bamboo fungus and matsutake mushroom. Among these, everyone's favorite was the chicken head mushroom.
Xijin ferry was located by the Qing River. There were many sandbars by the river, covered in shrubs and woods. There were many ant nests under the woods, and chicken head mushrooms often grew around the ant nests.
These grew in clusters, with small clusters weighing half a catty to one catty, and if you were lucky enough to come across a big cluster, it could be two to three catties. Enough to cook a pot of fresh soup.
Yesterday, on their way back from the watermelon field, Jiang Wenkang and Jiang Wenxi had picked up a huge cluster, and the soup they stewed was incredibly fresh and flavorful.
Therefore, early this morning, eldest aunt Lin and second aunt Zhu went with several women in the village to pick mushrooms together.
Naturally, the fun-loving Baby Dumpling couldn't miss such an activity.