I asked Older brother to borrow some salt and pepper from Uncle He because I planned to smoke the leftover meat to preserve it. I also asked him to gives one thigh and a portion of the belly meat to them as payment.
Seeley went to the mountain entrance to gather some wormwood and anahaw leaf.
Uncle He went to Uncle Fred's house to deliver the meat, and I asked him to given him two thighs since he helped us carry the whole tiger all the way home.
Cree and I started the fire and slowly roasted the meat. Soon, the pleasant smell of the roasted meat filled the air, making everyone's mouths water. They all returned with smiles on their faces, their eyes fixed on the barbecue meat. I noticed the sound of Little Cree's stomach growling and couldn't help but chuckle. Currently, I was cooking one thigh and the tiger's rib.
We gathered around the small fire and talked freely.
" Elder sister, why don't you sing?" Little Cree, who was originally singing a folk song, asked while I played with Little White.
Uncle Jiang took over my job of roasting the meat, saying that a fair little girl like me shouldn't always be around the fire. Everyone agreed, so I lounged around and prepared the dipping sauce.
Seeley and Older brother seasoned the leftover meat. Luckily, the previous owner left a jug of hard wine, so I used it to preserve the meat. I smoked the meat using the leftover wormwood and threw in some lemon peel.
" Eh? I don't know many songs," I replied. It was true; I wasn't familiar with the songs of this era.
" Hmm. Just anything? I only remember you playing the zither but never singing," Older brother commented.
" Okay, okay, but don't you dare laugh at me!"
THIRD PERSON POV
Bellona started singing. A crisp and melodious voice filled the entire yard.
I've never been one to step out of my comfort zone.
At first, she was conscious, her eyes downcast and her fingers fidgeting.
Whenever I try,
I'm afraid to just let go.
Don't know why I run,
Don't know why I hide.
They all seemed entranced, her eyes glistening under the moonlight. Her voice was elegant and light, yet there was a hint of power in its rasp.
'Cause I've always cared what everyone thinks of me.
Don't know why I run,
Don't know why I hide.
Never let them know what I feel inside.
Don't know why I'm scared just to take a chance,
While I'm just standing here.
Like a bird, I'm free to fly,
Spread my wings and live my life.
Like a bird, I'm up so high,
Out of the cage, it's my time to shine.
Like a bird, I'm free to fly.
So tell me, tell me, why don't I?
Her voice was the only sound in the entire yard. They felt that even the slightest noise would ruin the masterpiece. She finished singing, but the small crowd seemed oblivious.
" Is it that bad?" I wondered aloud. I had never sung in front of a crowd before, but my voice shouldn't be that bad. I mean, this body had learned music before, and I could easily distinguish tunes. How could I be tone deaf? They continued staring at me, and I suddenly felt shy under their gaze.
" My beautiful Elder sister, I know you can sing!" Little Cree ran up to me. I wasn't expecting it, so I stumbled back a little, but luckily, my martial arts training helped me maintain my balance.
" Of course, I'm amazing, duh!" I said with a growing sense of confidence, flashing a sheepish smile at them.
" Both of you should go to sleep now. It's getting late, and we have to go to town tomorrow morning," Eldest Brother said as he kissed both our cheeks and gently guided us inside. In this era, people place great importance on maintaining distance between men and women. However, as a 7-year-old child, no one scolds me for breaking those norms, and my brothers indulge me. I also cherish the bond of sibling love that we share. Initially, they were a bit shy, but now it has become a routine.
" Goodnight, Older brother, Bal," I kissed both of them goodnight, and Little Cree tugged at my arms, pointing at his cheeks. I showered his face with kisses as I tucked him into bed.
MORNING
After spending some time cultivating, I got up and headed out for my usual training. After two hours, Little Cree excitedly pulled my arm, urging me to go to the town.
" Elder sister, come on! Let's go, let's go!"
" Okay, okay, slow down, will you?" I chuckled and wiped away his sweat. We all trained in the morning, following different styles that I had modified based on each person's body type.
" Aren't you going to eat first?" Initially, Uncle Jiang would join us, but for now, we needed to keep a low profile as we didn't know if our unpleasant relatives were keeping tabs on us.
I changed into male clothing and prepare to ride the ox cart. Uncle He's family doesn't go down to town every day, so sometimes we sell our trophies at the dock mini-market, fetching a lower price.
Big Brother Zhong drove the ox cart, insisting on coming with us to show us around. It was a one-hour journey. As soon as we reached the town square, I jumped out, eliciting a loud gasp from the others.
" What are you doing? It was so dangerous!" Seeley scolded me. I simply shrugged and kissed his cheeks.
" You!" Riding on the ox cart had been quite taxing. Once I had the money, I vowed to buy a horse carriage.
Older brother patted his back with a doting smile.
" Come on, we should eat first before anything else." We hadn't eaten breakfast.
" What do you guys want to eat?" I asked them, scanning the area. We agreed to have wonton noodles at a nearby shop.
" Auntie, can you give us five bowls of wonton noodles?"
" Eh? Bellona-younger sister, you don't need to buy one for me. I've already eaten," Zhong-brother protested.
" Zhong-Older brother, there's no need to refuse. It's just a small gesture of goodwill. Besides, you always help us," Eldest Brother persuaded him. Zhong-Older brother was about to decline, but Seeley pushed him to sit down.
" Okay, okay! Then don't blame me for being shameless," Zhong-Older brother happily said, digging into his meal.
A big bowl of wonton noodles cost 2 copper coins, which was relatively cheap. In the past few days, we had earned a decent amount by selling trophies, totaling 250 liang. For villagers like us, it was considered a significant sum. I quickly paid and thanked the auntie who managed the shop.
" I'll give you an extra bowl when you come back next time," the auntie happily replied, accepting the money with a smile. Zhong-Older brother and we parted ways, agreeing to meet again at the market entrance. Eldest Brother asked for directions.