Farm Girl's Manor
Chapter 399 Seeking Help At Home (1)_1

Chapter 399: Chapter 399 Seeking Help At Home (1)_1

Indeed, it was Wang Dali and others who encountered a tiger at the outskirts of the forest, and the snow kept falling without pause. The villagers grew increasingly fearful, worrying that the wild beasts in the mountains, driven mad by hunger, might rush down to seek food and harm people. Even Little Flower and the local dogs couldn’t reassure them, so the patrol team began to brave the severe cold and patrol every night once again.

The villagers’ concerns were not unfounded; the snow had reached knee depth, and it was proving very difficult for the animals in the mountains, whether they were birds or beasts, to find food. Previously, many birds had alighted on the Mo Family’s courtyard wall, waiting for an opportunity to steal the grain for the roosters in the backyard.

Mo Yan ran into this situation a few times, and seeing those little guys shivering in the wind and snow, she couldn’t bear it. So, when she fed the chickens, she deliberately scattered some corn or grain beside the courtyard wall.

After several instances, those clever little fellows seemed to grasp Mo Yan’s kind intentions. Every time she came to the backyard, they would flutter their wings and circle over her head, emitting bursts of joyous chirping.

Before long, the number of birds waiting on the courtyard wall for feeding had increased significantly. During heavy snowstorms, they would even fly under the eaves for shelter. Although some birds’ chirping was very pleasing to the ear, their habit of defecating everywhere also gave Mo Yan a considerable headache.

After greeting Mo Yan, the three dogs gathered around the brazier to warm themselves. Seeing that the fire in the brazier wasn’t vigorous enough, one clever dog smartly fetched a few charcoal sticks from the sack and placed them in.

The moment the charcoal met the heat, it crackled and sparked, and two dogs couldn’t dodge in time. The sparks splattered onto their fur, emitting a "hiss" and giving off a burnt smell.

The other dogs seemed unbothered by the event; it was not new for them to get singed by sparks since arriving at the Mo Family’s home. However, they couldn’t resist the warmth of the brazier, and whenever they returned from the chilly outdoors, they eagerly vied for the best spot to warm themselves by the fire.

Perhaps having eaten prey on the mountains, after the meal was served, the three beasts and the dogs continued to doze by the brazier, not swirling around the dining table as they used to do. Thus, Mo Yan only served noodles for her family and didn’t pay attention to them.

The noodles were cooked in chicken soup that had been simmering all day, which made it especially savory. After boiling, mushrooms, green vegetables, and shredded meat were added, creating an appetizing aroma.

Mo Yan ate heartily, holding a flatbread to dip in the noodle soup in one hand and occasionally picking up noodles with chopsticks in the other, feeling warm all over. The others were also engrossed in their meal, except for Xin Er, who furrowed her brows slightly and chewed slowly, having a hard time swallowing.

Seeing this, Mo Yan asked with concern, "Xin Er, what’s wrong? Are you not feeling well somewhere?"

Upon hearing this, everyone else looked up and turned their concerned gaze toward Xin Er.

Xin Er was stunned for a moment, then forced a smile, "Sister, I’m not unwell anywhere, I just ate a bit too much at noon and I’m not hungry right now."

Upon hearing this, Mo Yan knew she wasn’t telling the truth. But everyone has their little secrets, and if Xin Er didn’t want to say it, Mo Yan couldn’t force her to reveal the truth.

"It’s cold nowadays and the nights are long, you should eat more to stay warm so you won’t be hungry later at night."

"Yeah, I know," Xin Er hurriedly responded and took several sips of the noodle soup from her bowl.

Liyan, sitting nearby, glanced at Xin Er several times with a bowl in her hand, hesitating and opening her mouth but ultimately said nothing. It was only after they finished eating and during the cleanup of the bowls and chopsticks that she couldn’t hold back any longer and, leaning in, whispered, "Xin Er, are you worried about Tang Xin?"

Xin Er, looking somewhat surprised and seeing no one else in the dining room, nodded and said with a frown, "The New Year is coming, but her family can’t come up with the silver to repay those loans with interest. Her stepmother treats her badly and is set on selling her. I heard that to get more silver, Mrs. Yu intends to sell her to some filthy place, I’m really worried about her."