The Snail Princess and Her Benefactor

On the sunny hillside of Shelong Village, villagers are working hard to dig holes.

In front of the pit is a large bamboo forest, and the grass all over the mountain is dotted with colorful flowers.

Lingmi took little Maomao out of the backpack and couldn't help but sigh at the dozen or so villagers, young and old, who came to help on the hillside.

"Sister, the people here are really kind. Look how many people came to help today."

"Well... I really didn't expect so many people to come here, and they all came willingly without asking for anything in return. This is enough to prove that the folk customs here are simple and the villagers are kind."

As he was speaking, a short, slightly lame lady came out of the crowd. She smiled and greeted Hua Chao in a loud voice.

"Oh! You two are the kind-hearted girls that old man Zhou mentioned, right? Look at your appearance, so pretty! I have never seen such a pretty girl! Pretty, slim and kind-hearted."

The old lady reached out and grabbed Hua Chao's hand, looking him up and down, muttering incessantly.

"Look at this! Such delicate skin and tender flesh, a lady from a noble family is just like this! Are you married, girls? You are so old, if you still don't have a gentleman you like, I have a few here. If not, I will bring them to your house to ask for some saliva to drink..."

"Go away... You matchmaker Wang, you want to be a matchmaker whenever you see a pretty girl. You came even though I told you not to, and you didn't do what you were supposed to do, but just did boring things. These two girls don't need you to worry about them."

A strong and vigorous voice came from behind Hua Chao. Turning back, he saw that it was the old hunter.

"Hehe... Look at what you said, old man. I just said a few more words because the two girls were pretty."

Having said that, he walked away dejectedly.

"Miss Hua Chao, we can get it done quickly. You two girls don't need to go over and help. Just stay here and chat with those women."

The old man called out, "Hey... Aunt Liu, come over and talk to Hua Chao and the others. Don't just stand there!"

A fat middle-aged woman in coarse clothes came staggering over, followed by a thin and tall young woman.

"Here they come... I was so busy watching the big guys digging the pit that I didn't see the two little girls coming over!"

When Aunt Fat came over, the old man made arrangements.

"You two should stay with Hua Chao and stop letting that matchmaker Wang ask around. She has nothing to do all day long just thinking about how to be a matchmaker."

"Grandpa Zhou, Mrs. Wang is quite nice and didn't say anything. She just seemed a little talkative!" Hua Chao hurried to smooth things over.

I've just arrived and am dealing with the villagers here for the first time, so it's not appropriate to speak ill of them.

Hua Chao was pulled by Aunt Pang to sit on the grass. The two women, one fat and one thin, looked very kind.

Xiao Wo lay quietly on Ling Mi's shoulder, as if he knew that he couldn't do anything naughty now.

Little Maomao also lay quietly at Hua Chao's feet, looking up at Hua Chao from time to time.

Auntie Pang reached out and touched Maomao: "Poor little fellow, you are still so young and it's time to drink milk. How can you live without your mother?"

The thin woman said, "Ah! ... That's right, it's so small that it can only eat bamboo shoots and the like. It can't bite bamboo."

Ling Mi smiled and said, "This is not a big problem. There is a large bamboo forest where we live. There are enough bamboo shoots for it to eat."

"Hey, don't you know that although it's small, it eats a lot. Let's talk to the villagers and ask whoever finds bamboo shoots when they go up the mountain to bring a few back to you. That way, it won't have a problem with food for the day. Otherwise, you two will be busy."

Aunt Pang forced a smile on her fat face.

"That's right, Auntie Pang's idea is great. Let's talk to everyone. Whoever's cow or goat produces milk, send some to Little Maomao. Everyone can take turns. This way, we can ensure that our Little Maomao has milk to drink every day!"

Ling Mi was a little surprised when she heard them say this, "Aunties, is what you said true?"

"Hahaha... Little girl, don't be surprised. Giant pandas are sacred animals here. In our hearts, they are holy spirits. If we can do our best to help, of course everyone is willing to do so."

"Hey yo... Hey yo..."

In the distance, people were carrying the giant panda's body and moving it into the pit with great effort.

Hua Chao and Ling Mi followed Aunt Pang to help, but when they got closer, they found that it was just as the old hunter said, there was nothing they could do.

I could only stand by and watch everyone put it into the pit little by little.

Soon the villagers buried the mother panda, and Hua Chao found a small pine sapling and planted it where the giant panda was buried.

This way it will be easier to find when you go up the mountain to see it again.

After everything was settled, the villagers left one after another, and Hua Chao and Ling Mi thanked them one by one.

Looking at Grandpa Zhou's receding back, Hua Chao patted little Maomao's big head.

"Little Maomao, you must remember these kind villagers. They like you so much and are doing their best to help you. If you can, you must repay them in the future!"

"Oh oh oh……"

Little Maomao called out cutely. Hua Chao looked at it, not knowing whether this guy could understand what she was saying.

"Hiss..."

Xiaowo jumped onto Maomao's head and actually sat between Maomao's ears.

When Ling Mi saw it, she pulled it down and laughed.

"Hey! You can't bully my little Maomao. Why did you sit on his head? You seem so comfortable!"

"Cuckoo..."

Xiaowo wagged his big tail in protest.

"That won't work either. I just won't let you bully my Maomao."

Lingmi flicked Xiaowo's tail lightly.

"Whirring whirring……"

Xiaowo broke free from Lingmi's hand, jumped onto Huachao's shoulder, and actually waved its thin little paws at Lingmi.

Ling Mi stretched out her hand to grab Xiaowo, but Hua Chao hurriedly stopped her.

"Okay, you two stop making trouble. Let's go home and rest early. We've been exhausted all day, and we have to find a place to put little Maomao when we get home."

"My sister is right. I have been busy since this morning and I am indeed a little tired. When I get home, I will make a beautiful nest for Maomao and put it next to our bed so that I can watch it sleep every day."

Hua Chao tapped Ling Mi’s forehead.

"My Ling Mi is very skillful, and that's no joke. But we have to get some bamboo shoots for Xiao Maomao on the way home, otherwise he won't have anything to eat when we get back."

"Okay! Let's go home now."

Lingmi put Xiao Maomao into her backpack, and Huachao helped her carry it. The two sisters walked together in the sunset in the mountains and forests.

The setting sun stretched their shadows diagonally, floating in the sea of ​​flowers all over the mountains.

It is as if a layer of misty golden veil is gently draped over it, making the flowers in the mountains reluctant to leave.