Transmigrated Leftover Woman in Rural Style

In the main room of the Li family's house in Xinzhou Village, Li Shi and Li Dagong knelt before the old lady. One was sobbing softly, while the other remained silent with a dark expression. The old lady sat upright in the center of the room, clutching her chest as she looked at them.

On either side of the main room, apart from the second uncle, Li Dacai, who was still at the clinic, and the third uncle, Li Dajian, who had gone to Niushan County, everyone else stood silently. The younger generation, except for Li Xiaonuan, had been called outside. Because she was a direct victim, she had the right to participate.

Since that rumor incident, Xiaoqian has rarely gone out. This time, the three sisters didn't come either. Li Xiaonuan understood Tang's actions; she didn't want her three daughters to go out and be pointed at. But hiding at home wasn't a long-term solution; they needed to be encouraged to bravely step out of the house.

Cousin Xiaoyan held Xiaojun tightly as he struggled, her eyes glazed over as she stared blankly out of the courtyard. A hint of worry and gloom flickered in her large, sword-like eyes, inherited from her fourth uncle. Unable to break free from Xiaoyan's grasp, Xiaojun could only watch, his eyes red-rimmed, as his cousin Xiaoxian and younger cousin Xiaozheng played happily under the guidance of Xiaoyang and his brothers.

As the sun set, there was still no movement in the main room. Li Xiaonuan and her father were allowed to sit because of their health conditions. Seeing that it was getting late, Li Xiaonuan cleared her throat and reminded her, "Grandma, it's getting late. I'll go make dinner first, and we can continue after we eat."

The old lady looked up at the sun that had already darkened outside, sighed softly, and said in a deep voice, "Go."

Li Xiaonuan got up and walked out, leaning on her cane. Seeing this, Su followed.

Outside, Xiao Gang held Xiao Zheng's two little hands, helping him learn to walk. Xiao Xian held a piece of sweet cake, circling around them. Xiao Yan was still holding Xiao Jun under the eaves, but Xiao Jun was asleep. However, judging from the tear stains on Xiao Jun's eyes, one could tell how sad and angry he had been earlier.

"Xiaogang, where's your brother?" Su asked, looking around but not seeing Xiaoyang.

Xiao Gang looked up, grinned, and replied, "I'm cooking in the kitchen."

Mrs. Su glanced at the kitchen and said to Xiao Gang, "Then you keep a close eye on your younger siblings and make sure they don't fall."

Xiao Gang nodded and replied, "Yes, Mother, don't worry, I'll keep a close eye on them."

Li Xiaonuan went over, pinched Xiao Zheng's little face, and straightened Xiao Xian's braids. Xiao Xian obediently ate her sweet cake, staring at Li Xiaonuan with her big, round eyes, full of curiosity. Li Xiaonuan felt a warmth in her heart and said:

"Xiaoxian is the best girl. When your leg heals, I'll take Xiaoxian to the street to buy flowers for her to wear."

Xiaoxian exclaimed in surprise, "Really? Xiaoxian loves red flowers the most, sister will buy you red ones."

Xiaoxian hadn't had much contact with Li Xiaonuan and the others since she was little; she mostly hung around behind Mao Shi. So, she was very happy that Li Xiaonuan spoke to her like this and even bought her a hair accessory.

Looking at her smiling eyes, Li Xiaonuan also smiled and said, "Hey, buy some red flowers, pretty flowers, so Xiaoxian can wear them every day."

Xiao Zheng tilted his head and looked at Xiao Xian's excited and happy expression, and also imitated her, saying, "Yes, yes."

Li Xiaonuan chuckled, then pinched Xiao Zheng's chubby cheeks and said, "Xiao Zheng is a boy, he can't have flowers. How about I buy him a rocking horse and a bamboo sword instead?"

Xiao Zheng tilted his head, pondered for a long time, and then grinned and let out a "Hey." Xiao Gang laughed so hard he almost fell over, and rubbed Xiao Zheng's head, saying, "You really are born to take advantage. You don't even understand anything yet, and you already know how to ask for things."

Li Xiaonuan smiled, then looked back at Xiao Yan, who sat under the eaves with a blank expression, holding Xiao Jun. She sighed softly. She wondered if raising such a solitary personality was a good thing or a bad thing.

In the kitchen, Xiao Yang was sweating profusely as he tended the fire. Su Shi was rinsing rice; the water in the vat was almost gone. Seeing Li Xiaonuan enter, Su Shi said, "Xiaonuan, come help with the fire. Xiao Yang, go fetch two buckets of water; the vat is empty."

Xiao Yang felt like he'd been granted a pardon. He quickly grabbed the bucket and carrying pole from behind the water vat and dashed out of the kitchen. Watching his retreating figure, Su Shi shook her head and said, "Look at how impatient he is, as if he wants everyone to know he doesn't want to start a fire."

Li Xiaonuan smiled and asked, "Mom, we forgot to buy meat today. How about we kill those two hens?"

Mrs. Su nodded and said, "Oh, I was just about to say that. Xiao Yang boiled a big pot of water, which is perfect for scalding the chicken feathers. The broad beans and cucumbers you planted behind the house have also sprouted. Go pick some later and stir-fry them, and that will make do with this meal."

The mother and daughter were discussing what to use to make soup when Xiao Gang called out from outside: "Sister, come out and see! There are two rabbits hanging at our door, and they're still alive."

Upon hearing that there was a rabbit, Li Xiaonuan quickly leaned on her crutch and hurried out. Su Shi put the pot lid on and followed.

At the wide-open gate, two rabbits were hanging on the right-hand door frame, struggling desperately. Li Xiaonuan peeked out, but apart from the desolate village road and the rooftops of varying heights, there wasn't a soul in sight.

Xiao Gang took the rabbit down and said happily, "Sister, this is our family's broad bean stalk. Brother must have set a trap and caught the rabbit, and they brought it to our house."

Li Xiaonuan turned around and saw that a chewed-up broad bean stalk was indeed tangled in the rope that was tying the rabbit to. Li Xiaonuan asked Xiaogang suspiciously, "Xiaogang, did you see who hung the rabbit here?"

Xiao Gang shook his head and said, "I kept hearing something knocking at the door, so I opened it to check. I didn't expect it to be two rabbits." At this point, Li Xiao Gang showed his white teeth and continued embarrassedly, "I was so busy looking at the rabbits that I didn't see anyone."

Standing behind the siblings, Su sighed, "That man is such a kind person. He picked up our rabbit and even brought it to our house. I'll ask him about it when I go to the village tomorrow."

With the rabbits, there was no need to kill the chickens tonight. Li Xiaonuan was happy, after all, the two hens had just started laying eggs and were easy to raise. Those two chickens were a gift from Aunt Zhou.

When Xiao Yang returned, he saw the rabbit and couldn't help but ask about it. Upon learning that someone had delivered it to his door, he remarked, "When I was drawing water from the well, I saw a tall, thin man pass by. He was carrying a large deer, and there seemed to be other live animals in the basket on his back. Do you think that man might have hung it on the door?"

Su asked with interest, "What does that person look like? Do you recognize him?"

Xiao Yang said, "The man's face was hidden by the muntjac, so I didn't see it. But his figure and back view looked good; he must be a young and strong man. He just looked a bit unfamiliar; I don't think I've seen him before."

Li Xiaonuan gently patted Xiaoyang's arm and teased, "Look at what you're saying. You haven't even seen his face, and you already know he's a stranger? Don't forget, Zhuangzi and the others in the village often go hunting in the mountains. Who knows, he might be one of them."

Xiao Yang retorted firmly, "Impossible. I can recognize Zhuangzi and Da Liang even if I don't see their faces. That person is a complete stranger; I've never seen him before."

Su interrupted the siblings, urging, "Alright, I don't care who it is. Anyway, it was caught in a trap we set in our field, so it's ours. You two hurry up and get the rabbit sorted out."