Chapter 27: Loud and Boisterous

Bai Yan was in high spirits after breakfast. Seeing that Jiang Chengyan truly had no intention of watching over her, she gleefully dashed outside, following the enticing aroma towards the western end of the village.

The radish dumplings made by Madam Zhao last night were delicious. While leaving yesterday, her father had told her she was welcome to return if she wanted more. With this thought in mind, she was determined to visit the Jiang household again for another meal.

The morning was still young, and Bai Yan ran at lightning speed. Those who noticed her on the street couldn’t even catch a glimpse of her face, seeing only a gust of wind sweep by.

Her sense of direction was less than stellar. Though she was heading towards the west end of the village, she soon found herself facing a thicket of trees—she had wandered out of the village altogether.

Realizing that something was amiss, Bai Yan turned to head back. But before she could make a move, a loud “bang” echoed beside her.

Her hearing was excellent. At the sound, her ears twitched and she instinctively crouched behind a large tree, peering toward the source of the commotion.

What she saw instantly filled her with fury. Amidst the dense undergrowth, a youth of fourteen or fifteen was savagely beating and kicking a frail, younger boy. Scattered nearby were a few eggs.

“Didn’t I tell you to bring meat? You show up with just a few eggs? Do you think you can fool me?”

“Jiang Cheng’an, do you believe I can make your life at the academy miserable?”

“Where’s the money? If you didn’t bring meat, hand over everything valuable you’ve got. If I find out you told your family, you’ll be dead!”

With that, another round of punches and kicks followed.

Bai Yan watched for a while, finally confirming that the boy being beaten was Jiang Chengyan’s younger brother, Jiang Cheng’an.

On that realization, she seized a hefty stick nearby and, without hesitation, swung it at the attacker’s head.

As expected, the forceful blow from the strong girl knocked him out instantly.

Seeing the group unconscious, Bai Yan hurried to help Jiang Cheng’an up, but he had already passed out from the merciless beating.

The little rabbit stood there pondering for a moment, then darted back like a whirlwind, this time accurately finding Madam Zhao’s door.

“Mother! Mother!” Bai Yan lowered her voice, rushing inside urgently.

Madam Zhao was sewing when Bai Yan’s voice rang out. Startled, she quickly hid the fabric away like a thief, then scolded with a stern face, “What are you fussing about?”

Bai Yan grabbed Madam Zhao’s arm, her strength lifting her right off her feet.

“Someone’s beating Cheng’an—kicking him hard! We have to hurry!” she cried, tugging Madam Zhao toward the door.

Madam Zhao caught Bai Yan’s wrist, frowning, “What did you say? Tell me again.”

Bai Yan then vividly reenacted the scene from the grove.

Madam Zhao’s lips pressed tightly together as she swept her gaze around the courtyard. Then she fetched a bowl of chicken blood left over from yesterday’s slaughter and whispered a few words into Bai Yan’s ear.

Cradling the bowl of blood, Bai Yan was about to rush out but paused, skeptical, and turned to ask, “Mother, can you make radish dumplings for me?”

“Go on, you won’t miss out,” Madam Zhao replied, brandishing a small radish as if to threaten her.

Bai Yan grinned, then sped out like the wind once more.