Chapter Three: Bad Tiger, Let Him Go Quickly
“Do you know where the Ice Lingzhi grows?” Mu You couldn’t help but ask.
Back when her mother was still alive, her grandfather had treated her well.
But now, everything had changed so much!
Her father had said that one should be grateful and respect their elders.
Mu You didn’t want her grandfather to fall ill because of her. Being sick was painful!
“Meow.”
[You asked the right question, meow!]
[But I’m curious, little cub, why do you want Ice Lingzhi? It’s a rare medicinal herb that extends life and cures many strange ailments. Many two-legged beasts search for it in vain!]
The tabby cat sized Mu You up with a questioning look.
Although the little cub looked quite frail and in need of some good nourishment,
she was too young to actually need Ice Lingzhi!
“Meow.”
[Little cub, from whose mouth did you learn about Ice Lingzhi?]
[It must be your heartless family, right?]
The tabby cat, knowing Mu You’s kind nature, answered her own question, hoping to ease the girl’s burden.
[Little cub, you’re far too kind-hearted and soft. They treated you so badly, even leaving you in the deep mountains to suffer the cold.]
[Take my advice, don’t bring Ice Lingzhi back to them—they’re not worthy!]
Mu You tensed up, her heart filled with fear, and she began nervously fiddling with her clothes.
Still, she gathered her courage and spoke her mind.
“Kitty, Youbao knows you have a good heart.”
“But grandpa is the only one in the family who has ever been kind to Youbao.”
“Grandpa is old now. My mother was his beloved daughter. Since she passed away, he’s been very sad and heartbroken, and that’s why his health is failing.”
“Today, Youbao accidentally broke something mother left for grandpa. Grandpa was very angry, and now he’s very ill. Only Ice Lingzhi can save him!”
By the end, Mu You’s voice grew loud and resolute.
She would strive not to take to heart how her uncle, aunt, and siblings treated her.
But grandpa was different. He was her mother’s closest relative and her own. She couldn’t let him be tormented by illness!
“Youbao wants to obey mom and dad, be a good child who admits mistakes and repays kindness!”
The tabby cat flicked its tail.
“Meow.”
[If the old man… the elder really is good to you, fine, fine, I’m willing to help you with this.]
[I also want to be a grateful and loyal cat~]
The tabby cat imitated Mu You’s way of speaking, successfully making her laugh.
---
“Meow.”
[Little cub, you should smile more. You look better with a smile—full of life and spirit!]
[I can’t stand lifeless, timid creatures. A cat lives but once, and if I don’t like it, I fight!]
Mu You struggled to understand but tried hard to grasp the meaning in the tabby’s words.
“Kitty, you’re amazing, you know so much!”
Praised, the tabby cat turned its head coquettishly, signaling Mu You to hurry and soak in the hot spring.
“Meow.”
[Quick, soak in the hot spring. Once your body warms up and you regain strength, only then will I feel assured to take you out to find the Ice Lingzhi!]
“All right!”
…
The snow fell heavier now.
The yard soon gathered a thick layer of snow.
“Mama, it’s snowing so heavily outside! I want to go out and build a snowman!”
Mu Wei’en stretched her arms wide, enjoying the servants dressing her, eyes fixed on the window, longing to rush outside immediately.
“It’s almost dark; aren’t you afraid of the cold?”
Li Jiaojiao walked over gracefully, picking up a scarf and comparing its color to her daughter’s outfit. Finding it mismatched, she asked the servant to replace it.
“No! I’m wearing thick clothes. Building a snowman in them will be inconvenient. Mama, I don’t want to wear a scarf. I want to go out and play now!”
Mu Wei’en tugged at Li Jiaojiao’s arm, pouting.
Finally, Li Jiaojiao smiled indulgently and allowed Mu Wei’en to play in the snow in the yard, calling two servants along to prevent her from falling.
Watching her daughter happily building a snowman outside and thinking of Mu You freezing in the back mountain, facing death at any moment,
Li Jiaojiao’s lips curled upward.
“Hmph, useless burden, it’s finally time to make way for my children…”
She truly didn’t understand that despite her and her mother-in-law’s efforts, the old man had grown tired of Mu You over the past years.
But a short while ago, the old man fell ill and was hospitalized. He spoke to the lawyer about the inheritance, which the mother-in-law overheard.
She said Mu You would receive a significant share of the family estate, soon surpassing Wei’en and the others!
Li Jiaojiao couldn’t bear it.
In her eyes, Mu You was lucky to keep her life, let alone take a share of what belonged to her own children!
The entire Mu family should belong to her children!
Fortunately, the mother-in-law and father-in-law were both remarried, and she had their loyalty, enabling them to work together to drive a wedge between the old man and Mu You’s grandfather-granddaughter bond.
Today’s spectacle was carefully orchestrated by the two of them.
Li Jiaojiao arranged for Mu You to “accidentally” break the heirloom plate in front of the old man.
Then, the mother-in-law whispered poison into his ear, enraging him to the point his old illness flared up again, giving him a reason to cast Mu You out to “atone.”
“It’s freezing outside. There are wild beasts in the back mountain. Hmph! I don’t believe you’re lucky enough to come out alive!”
---
Watching the increasingly fierce snowfall outside the window, a gleam of excitement flickered in Li Jiaojiao’s eyes.
“Mama, is little sister out? I don’t want to do homework anymore. I want to go play too!”
Hearing her son’s voice, Li Jiaojiao instantly reverted to her gentle and elegant demeanor.
“All right, Mama will come play with you all.”
…
“Wow, is this the Ice Lingzhi?”
Mu You carefully brushed aside the snow, holding the Ice Lingzhi gently in her palm.
It was small, resembling a tiny cluster of flowers, translucent and beautiful.
“Meow.”
[See? I didn’t lie. There’s nothing in this mountain that I don’t know about!]
The tabby cat glanced up at the sky.
In winter, the sun sets early; it was already dark now. If it got any later, the man-eating creatures of the mountain would come out to hunt.
“Meow.”
[Little cub, let’s go back quickly. Aren’t you trying to save grandpa? You must hurry!]
The tabby cat said this deliberately.
It wanted Mu You to leave quickly.
No matter what, a two-legged beast’s house was warmer and safer than the wood and stone of the mountain.
“All right, Youbao will try to walk faster!”
Mu You followed closely behind the tabby cat, setting off for home.
As they walked, the tabby suddenly stopped.
“Meow.”
[Quick, hide! I smell danger!]
The tabby cat darted behind a large tree, and Mu You hurriedly found a place to hide.
At that moment, a boy ran past them in panic.
Behind the boy was a tiger with jaws gaping wide, dripping with blood!
“He’s going to die!”
Mu You’s little heart pounded wildly.
The tiger was about to pounce on the boy, who was in grave danger.
“Bad, bad tiger, let him go!”