CHAPTER 87: DISCOVERED

In the end, the family strolled around the town, and aside from a pound of pork fat, a few sheets of red paper, and some couplets, they bought nothing else.

The red paper was for making paper-cut window decorations. It’s the New Year, and even if their family was small, the window decorations and couplets had to be put up to create that festive atmosphere.

As soon as the elder brother and younger sister received the money, they were particularly excited, going on about what they wanted to buy.

But in the end, after realizing that even if they bought nothing, the aunt wouldn’t take the money back, they decided not to buy anything!

Now the food and supplies at home were much better than before, and both the brother and sister were very satisfied, not greedy for anything else.

Instead of spending the money, it was better to save it. After all, once you buy something, it’s gone. Keeping it and watching it every day was more satisfying than spending it!

In the morning, Jiang Hu delivered the vegetables to the restaurant and drove the ox cart back to the outskirts of town. There was a place to park ox carts and horse carts, and it cost only one copper coin to park for a whole day.

After all, when they were going to the market, driving an ox cart wasn’t convenient, and you had to clean up after it if it pooped or peed.

After he drove the ox cart home, he made a detour to Liu Yang’s house, letting Liu Yang’s parents know that the young couple wouldn’t be coming back today.

As for Wang Xiang’s situation, Jiang Hu had heard the aunt mention it before. He explained simply, and the two elders were deeply grateful. If they hadn’t encountered Jiang Hu’s ox cart, it was uncertain whether Wang Xiang’s unborn child would survive.

Back home, while unbuckling the ox cart, Jiang Hu said, "Aunt, I just noticed that Liu Yang’s family also raises chickens, but not many. In winter, hens are not keen on laying eggs. In a few days, should we send them some of our eggs?"

Today, all the eggs were sent to the restaurant, so there were none at home.

Regardless, Liu Yang had helped him with a lot of work, and Wang Xiang often chatted with the aunt, from whom they learned a lot about village matters.

In fairness, with Wang Xiang pregnant, they should pay a visit.

The aunt didn’t refuse. "Alright, our eggs taste good. I’ll save some up and take twenty to Wang Xiang, how about that?"

"That’s enough, more than enough." If they sold those to the restaurant, that would be forty copper coins.

Eggs weren’t expensive, but they weren’t cheap either. One copper coin each, and when they sold them to the Tongfu Restaurant, the price doubled to two copper coins each.

The aunt put the items they bought back at home and turned to let the rabbits and chickens out.

In the evening, the rabbits and chickens had to be called back and locked up. In the morning, they were let out again, a task that the younger sister hadn’t yet learned, so the aunt did it herself.

Today’s weather was nice. After days of overcast, it had finally cleared. They left early in the morning, and it was almost noon now.

However, the aunt hadn’t been gone for more than a quarter of an hour when she suddenly shouted loudly, "Oh no, Jiang, we’re missing two rabbits!"

Jiang Hu had just tied the ox in the pen, carrying a bundle of hay over, planning to let them graze on the mountain in the afternoon.

Upon hearing the aunt’s call, he hurried over. "Missing rabbits? What happened?"

Not just Jiang Hu, even the elder brother and younger sister, upon hearing her cry, rushed over anxiously, shouting as they ran.

Under the eaves, little Xiaomi patted Iron Egghead’s head. "Stay here and play nicely."

Then she slowly headed towards the chicken coop.

As soon as she stepped inside, she heard her mother say, "Really, look, there were seven in this nest, and now there are only five."

The aunt was very anxious. "How could two be missing? They couldn’t have run away by themselves. They’re so small, where could they go? Could they have frozen outside?"

Jiang Hu was inspecting the rabbit pen, which he made from planks, with gaps only two fingers wide. Once closed, the rabbits couldn’t escape.

The pen was spacious, and even with dozens of rabbits inside, it wasn’t cramped. Plus, once the door was open, there was a wide open space outside where they could freely move around.

After inspecting the pen and the large circle of fence outside, Jiang Hu shook his head and came back.

"With so many little rabbits, none had ever escaped before. The fence outside should prevent them from getting out."

The aunt looked heartbroken. "Then how could two be missing? Could someone have stolen them? They’re so small, they might not even survive if stolen."

"I don’t think so. Almost every household in the village raises rabbits, and those without have already bought a couple from us. There’s no reason for anyone to steal ours."

On this point, Jiang Hu was quite certain. Whether it was because people were honest and clean-handed or out of superstition that stealing would bring bad luck, there was really no reason for anyone to steal the two little rabbits.

"Mom, could something from the mountain have eaten them? Didn’t Dad say he saw an eagle on the mountain?"

The elder brother also counted; everyone in the family knew how many chickens and rabbits they had, and indeed, two little rabbits were missing.

Eagles do eat rabbits. Dad mentioned this before and even warned them to be careful.

Jiang Hu shook his head again. "Definitely not eagles. If it were eagles, they wouldn’t take rabbits from inside the pen; they’d grab them when they were out. Aunt, did you count when you locked the pen last night?"

The aunt shook her head with a distressed face. "It was dark by then, and I didn’t have a lamp. Who knew two would be missing?"

Little Xiaomi had now reached their side, standing nearby, pretending not to know what was going on, keeping her mouth shut.

Jiang Hu checked the latch on the pen door. "There’s no sign of damage anywhere. I’m guessing maybe something like a weasel got them."

Weasels are slender. If they stretched their paws inside, they could grab two. It’s not impossible.

"But shouldn’t weasels steal chickens? Why would they go for rabbits?" The aunt was extremely distressed.

Rabbits grow fast and get heavy. Two little rabbits, if raised to maturity, would fetch a good price.

Jiang Hu also felt distressed, but he could only shake his head. "I don’t know either, but maybe we should get a dog. With a dog guarding the house, if there was a weasel, it could help chase it away."

Finally, little Xiaomi, who had been silent, clapped her hands and joyfully shouted, "Doggie! Doggie!"

Getting a dog was great. Whether it chased weasels was secondary. Keeping a dog increased safety! Having a dog at home was like having another bodyguard!

However, little Xiaomi’s reaction clearly led the aunt and Jiang Hu to misunderstand. The two exchanged a glance.

Jiang Hu: "Since little Xiaomi thinks having a dog is good, I’ll go find one tomorrow. There are always puppies for sale in the market. If we find a suitable one, we’ll bring it home."

The aunt nodded repeatedly. "And if there are kittens, let’s get one too. We have enough food at home; with a cat, there won’t be any mice."

Jiang Hu agreed. They could afford to keep cats and dogs with the food supply at home.

Little Xiaomi secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, they didn’t suspect her, and no trouble came out of it.

But little Xiaomi was troubled. She was planning to ’borrow’ a couple of chicks from the wild and domestic chickens, so how would she manage that later?