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nCheng Xiao Xiao opened her eyes and smiled at her brother, “Okay, I’ll be right there.”

n“Okay, go quick!”

nGood at the good-spirited older sister, Cheng Zheng Yuan has a look of puzzlement on his face. He felt that big sister was different than she was before, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.

nTruth was, every member of the Cheng’s family except for Mr. Cheng had noticed the change in Cheng Xiao Xiao. But they were family, no matter how different she was, they wouldn’t think too much about it.

nCheng Xiao Xiao, who was already filled from the white radish, finished her porridge and gave her bun to her younger sister. Now her biggest problem was how to bring the goods from the dimension into real life.

nShe couldn’t possibly tell the truth and produced them in front of Mrs. Cheng. She’d never be able to explain it.

nCheng Xiao Xiao smacked her forehead and has a headache from trying to figure this out. This was such a ha.s.sle.

n“Big sister, we’ve got to go into the mountain and collect firewood today. We are running low on firewood,” said her younger brother Cheng Zheng Yuan, interrupting her thought process.

nInto the mountain?

nThat could work! Let’s go into the mountain, at least she could find some reason to explain away.

nA happy Cheng Xiao Xiao checked in with Mrs. Cheng, grabbed a few ropes and a machete, and headed to the mountain with her two younger brothers. The 7-year old younger sister stayed home to keep the parents company.

nLeaving the front door. she saw a somewhat familiar yet somewhat foreign countryside. A few light white clouds littered across the blue sky. Roofs, walls, trees, and fields scattered around the hills and rivers. A sea of green combing with smoke rising from the chimneys, the entire scenery looked like a traditional Chinese painting.

nFrom this point forward, this is her hometown and her home.

nCheng Xiao Xiao took a deep breath and collected her mixed emotions. She told her brothers to follow her closely then turned and headed toward a small path behind the house.

nBehind their straw house were stretches of mountains, reaching high into the sky. The mountains were covered by thick, green vegetation. A clear lake at the foot of the mountain surrounded half the mountain like a jade belt. Unfortunately around the mountains were fields of basil, with barely any inhabitants, making the area looked like undeveloped areas. An occasional pheasant or wild bird would fly past giving it some liveliness.

nCheng Xiao Xiao took her two brothers to the closest mountain, a location that her family visited often. It was closer to inhabitants so there were less wild beasts, making it relatively safer.

n“Zheng Yuan, Zheng Bin, you guys go collect fire wood around here. I will go into the valley up front and see if I can find some herbs for dad.” Cheng Xiao Xiao told her two brothers as she wiped the sweat off her forehead.

nTwelve-year-old Zheng Yuan nodded and concerned, added, “Okay, big sister, you be careful!”

n“I will. Zheng Yuan. Take good care of Zheng Bin. When I come back I will help you tie up the firewood. And be careful of snakes.”

nCheng Xiao Xiao explained all carefully to her brother.

n“Okay! We will be careful!”

nZheng Bin standing next to them complain, “Big sister, I’m not a kid any more!”

n“Okay, n.o.body is a kid. Just be careful, don’t wander too far away!”

n“Okay, big sister!”

nCheng Xiao Xiao parted ways with her brothers. Watching the two of them entering into the woods, she sighed. If she didn’t have to hide the dimension from them, she really didn’t want to let them out of her sight.

nIt’s dangerous in the woods, anything could happen!

nShe must find a place fast, then go meet up with her brothers.

nShe took the slope down to the nearest valley. It was surrounded by sharp cliffs, there were no other ways in. In the valley were layers upon layers of clouds. Cheng Xiao Xiao was very careful about the surroundings, she didn’t want to have any accidents.

nAn hour later!

nCheng Xiao Xiao found a cave in a more secluded valley. The cave was dark and mysterious looking. She wanted to go further in to investigate but stopped and thought about it for a minute. She then produced a few chickens, rabbits, and white radish and put them inside the cave.

nOnce she had everything set up, she took the same path back. By the time she met up with her two brothers, they had already collected an ample amount of firewood. She didn’t have time rest, she shouted out to them, “Zheng Yuan! Zheng Bin!”

n“Big sister! You are back!”

n“Eh, big sister, what’s that in your hand? And two chicken?”

nCheng Xiao Xiao had secretly took out two chicken and ten white radish from the dimension. The two brother curiously looked at the white radishes in her hand. She smiled, “Zheng Yuan, Zheng Bin, I was looking for herbs when I came across a cave. That’s when I discovered the chickens and these!”

n“There’s chickens in a cave? Big brother, let’s go get the chickens!” Little Zheng Bin was very excited.

nWhy collect firewood when there were chickens to be caught? They haven’t had meat in a long time!

nZheng Yuan was quite tempted himself, but he didn’t say anything right away. He looked at his big sister.

nCheng Xiao Xiao smiled and shook her head, “I don’t think that will do us any good. It look me a lot of effort to catch these two. The rest had all ran away.”

nThe two brothers were disappointed. Zheng Yuan looked at the white radishes in Cheng Xiao Xiao’s arm and asked, “Big sister, what are these? Are they tasty?”

n“Of course they are tasty! I saw the chickens pecking at them, so I tried one myself. I am still fine, ain’t I?” She smiled and explained while handing one over to them, “Here, why don’t you guys clean one up and try!”

n“Okay!”

n“I am starving!”

nThe two of them were growing boys, a bowl of watery porridge and a corn bun wasn’t enough food for them. Not to mention that half a day had gone by, naturally they were starving.

nBy the younger brothers finished eating the white radishes, Cheng Xiao Xiao had already tied up the fire wood that they have collected, divided into two. She and the older of the two brother each took one of them. The younger of the two brothers lugged the now tied-up chicken and white radishes over his skinny shoulder.

nThe three of them returned in joy.

n“Mom! Mom! Big sister caught pheasants! Mom—-” The younger brother shouted happily as he ran toward the house, bouncing. He reached the door at no time.

nCheng Xiao Xiao, trailing behind the two brothers, smiled quietly.

n“OMG! It’s really pheasants!”

nThe just entered the yard when she heard mom’s voice in disbelief. She could now see her pleasantly surprised expression.

nLittle Zheng Bin proudly lifted his head, “Mom! Not only did big sister caught these pheasants, these stuff are very tasty too! We’ve ate already!”

n“What is it? I have never seen these before?” Mrs. Cheng took over the white radish, baffled.

nCheng Xiao Xiao put down the fire woods, rubbed her soar hands, walked over and said, “Mom, this thing is delicious. We don’t know what they are called either.”

n“What? How can you eat it then? What if you get sick?”

n“Don’t worry, mom. Look, we are fine, really!” Looking at the freaked out Mrs. Cheng, Cheng Xiao Xiao had to explain what she “saw” in the cave all over again.

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