Chapter 10: If You Can Catch This Bone, It’s Yours

The bald man asked Wang Xiuzhi, “Who’s this little girl?”

“She’s my granddaughter. It’s because she wanted to eat meat that Yuanlong went up the mountain to catch wild boars—and that’s how he lost his life.”

The bald man pulled out the IOU Xu Yuanlong had written himself and showed it to Wang Xiuzhi.

Wang Xiuzhi felt insulted and spat at him. “How could an old woman like me read? Just curse if you want—no need to beat around the bush.”

The bald man, seeing the wild boar, didn’t argue further with her.

He read the IOU aloud: Xu Yuanlong owed them 89.32 yuan. Since Xu Yuanlong had died, they rounded off the cents—he just needed 89.30 yuan.

“That wild boar isn’t small. We’ll take the boar, and that counts as repayment for the debt,” the bald man said.

Wang Xiuzhi, of course, refused. “How do we know this IOU is real? Yuanlong is dead, no proof. I don’t understand you—just go!”

“You really want to cheat us, huh?” The bald man got angry. He stopped wasting words with Wang Xiuzhi and ordered his men to carry the boar away.

As they got close to Xu Qingmo, she pulled the stick from the boar’s eye and pointed it at them.

In a small but threatening voice, she said, “I caught this wild boar. Your business with them is none of mine. Anyone who comes forward, I’ll hit.”

A tiny little girl saying such fierce words.

It didn’t scare them off; instead, it made them greedier.

“Xu Yuanlong’s daughter is something else—small but knows how to bluff,” one said.

Few believed a five-year-old could capture a wild boar alone. She must have had help but hadn’t shown herself—probably to avoid running into them.

Thinking that, they got bolder.

As they advanced, the tip of Xu Qingmo’s stick suddenly burst into flames, setting the leading man’s clothes on fire.

“Hot! Hot! Hot!” The man panicked, forgetting about the boar, searching frantically for water.

Xu Qingmo warned, “I have nothing to do with this family. My mom is divorced, and I’m just staying here temporarily. If you want trouble with this family, go ahead—but don’t mess with me.”

The men looked at each other, stunned. For the first time, a five-year-old scared them. Yet, they didn’t dare say a word.

Xu Qingmo didn’t know how to butcher pigs or prepare meat. She stood at the door, spreading the word to the onlookers:

“Whoever can bring butcher Li here gets two pounds of wild boar meat. Whoever cooks the meat and brings it to the table can eat with me.”

Her words were like tossing money into a crowd.

The villagers immediately reacted. Some ran to find butcher Li; others who knew cooking volunteered.

Xu Qingmo deliberately chose two women who normally clashed with Wang Xiuzhi. They happily entered the house, standing on either side of Xu Qingmo like guardians.

Wang Xiuzhi panicked. “I can cook! Why bring outsiders?”

“Your cooking isn’t good, and you sometimes sneak bites. I don’t like that,” Xu Qingmo said, having observed everything.

Earlier she had ignored these issues, but now, seeing Wang Xiuzhi still plotting with the thugs, Xu Qingmo wouldn’t show mercy.

The two women, Grandma Liu and Grandma Wang, stood in front of Xu Qingmo and argued fiercely with Wang Xiuzhi.

The thugs, finding nothing, and seeing more villagers gathering, decided to leave and come back another day.

The villagers quickly found butcher Li. Xu Qingmo agreed to give him the boar skin in exchange for him butchering it.

Grandma Liu, Grandma Wang, and Wang Xiuzhi argued all afternoon, ending in a draw.

The wild boar was killed. Butcher Li took the skin and left. The villagers who brought him carried away two pounds of meat happily.

Seeing it almost mealtime, Grandma Liu and Grandma Wang went to the kitchen to cook.

Grandma Liu started the fire; Grandma Wang rendered the fat from the pork, then scooped some, sprinkled sugar on it, and gave it to Xu Qingmo.

The sweet, aromatic fat was delicious. Xu Qingmo ate half a bowl before stopping. Grandma Wang smiled widely.

Then she and Grandma Liu each made a dish.

Xu Qingmo sat at the table. Grandma Liu and Grandma Wang sat but didn’t touch the food.

“Eat, why aren’t you eating?” Xu Qingmo asked curiously.

Grandma Liu whispered, “Momo, dear child, can I take the portion I eat home? Our Sweet Sweet and Little Kuo haven’t had such good food.”

Grandma Wang wanted to take some home too.

Xu Qingmo, seeing their hopeful faces, thought of Wang Jing. Whenever she had treats before, Wang Jing would save them for her.

With mixed feelings, Xu Qingmo nodded. “Take more meat home. Tomorrow, find a way to preserve the rest so Mom and Dad can eat too when they return.”

Although she could catch more boars anytime, this one was special—it was her first. She wanted Wang Jing to try it too.

“Good, such a sensible child,” Grandma Liu said, eyes nearly closed in joy.

Xu Yuanyuan smelled the food nearby. Xu Qingmo didn’t let her sit at the table, so she swallowed hard by the side.

Wang Xiuzhi, still dazed from Xu Yuanlong’s death, sat blankly. Xu Yuanyuan nudged her. “Mom, look! Those two women are taking our meat.”

Wang Xiuzhi snapped back to reality. Angry at missing out earlier, she tried to stop Grandma Liu and Grandma Wang.

“This meat is ours! Put it down!”

Grandma Liu said firmly, “Momo gave it to us. We take it openly—you can’t stop us.”

“Exactly! If you want meat, go catch a boar yourself. Don’t come ruin our luck,” Grandma Wang replied.

They packed the meat and left immediately.

Wang Xiuzhi followed, trying to take the meat back.

Xu Yuanyuan didn’t follow. She stared at the table, licking her lips and swallowing.

Unconsciously, she walked up to Xu Qingmo and asked, “We’re all family. Can I sit and eat with you?”

Xu Qingmo picked up a rib, took a bite—the juice burst in her mouth. Delicious.

She deliberately tossed the rib into the air. “If you can catch it, this bone is yours.”