Sister Hua's original name was Cai Hua.
Seeing her own little bunny stuffing his face with pastries and still greedily asking for more, she couldn't help but grimace and said irritably:
"Eating, always eating, a piece of pastry costs ten cents, don't go asking for food from others, what did Master teach you, a gentleman should not..."
Upon hearing Mother mentioning Master's examination again, Huwa made a sad face and covered his ears:
"Mother, not again, all you talk about is Master, why don't you go take the exam yourself."
This remark ignited her fiery temper.
"Little bunny, say that again."
Saying so, she was about to grab his ear.
Huwa quickly shrank his neck.
At that moment, Sister Ping, who was standing next to Cai Hua, held her back with a gentle smile on her face,
"Little sister, why fuss over a child. Besides, if it weren't for your kind heart in sheltering us mother and daughter for a night, we would probably have ended up sleeping on the streets."
As she spoke, she took out another piece of green mung bean cake from the covered basket, bent down, and handed it to Huwa.
"Here, Huwa, eat."
Huwa's eyes lit up, but he didn't reach out and instead cautiously glanced at his mother.
Seeing his hesitation, Cai Hua turned away with a cold snort,
"Go ahead, eat."
Upon hearing this, Huwa then took the green bean cake and gratefully thanked her.
Then he happily started eating.
The woman patted Huwa's head, saying "Good boy", and then noticed a little girl beside her gazing eagerly.
The little girl looked frail; she was her daughter Chongchong.
The woman pulled out another pastry and heart-achingly handed it to her own daughter.
"Chongchong, come."
But even though her eyes were full of longing, the little girl shook her head.
Pushing her hand away,
"Mother, this is for the uncle and the little fox who did us a good turn, Chongchong is full having eaten one, I'm not hungry."
She said this with a bright look in her eyes.
The woman felt a pang of pity upon hearing this, but still gently gave the pastry to her sensible daughter.
"Eat, mother has more!"
After that, the woman stood up and said to sister Cai Hua beside her:
"Little sister, you head in the house first, my daughter and I are going to visit our benefactor."
"Sister Ping, are you talking about the one who rescued you from the demon's clutches?"
Sister Hua couldn't help but inquire.
Yesterday evening, when she was heading home after closing her stall, she came across Sister Ping and her daughter who had fled to Qingshan County.
The mother and daughter had been asking around nearby if anyone could spare them a shelter for the night.
No one paid them any attention.
Feeling compassion for the mother and daughter in distress, similar to her situation, she took them in.
During their stay, the mother and daughter recounted their harrowing experience.
It was a chilling tale.
Now speaking of it, she couldn't help but be curious about the benefactor who pulled them out of the demon's grasp.
Sister Ping nodded, then with a look of horror and emotion added,
"Thank God our benefactor helped us, otherwise..." she said, glancing towards a small door diagonally across,
"If I'm not mistaken, the benefactor lives here."
Following Chen Yuan's directions to take the Immortal Fox and Little Squirrel to Qingshan County, the Immortal Fox pointed her this way.
Then, the two Immortal Demons leaped into the yard.
She was staying nearby, wanting to personally thank the life-saving benefactor.
As Sister Hua listened to her, her gaze unintentionally fell on Chen Yuan's yard.
She couldn't help but be surprised!
"Are you talking about Yuan... the lad?"
The woman shook her head, "I don't know the benefactor's name."
As they were talking, a burst of hearty laughter came from the yard.
Hearing the sound, the woman seemed to recognize it, her expression turning eager as she waved her daughter over.
"Chong'er, come!"
Saying so, she grabbed Chong'er's hand and quickly walked forward, knocking on the courtyard door.
"Knock, knock, knock."
With the sound of knocking, the laughter in the courtyard stopped.
After a while,
A voice came,
"Come in!"
At this moment, the woman suddenly became nervous, but still pushed open the door with her daughter.
Then, she saw Chen Yuan in the front yard, his face beaming with smiles!
Beside him lay the White Fox and on his shoulder perched the Little Squirrel.
The woman dared not look directly, bowed her head, and led her daughter to Chen Yuan.
She directly placed the basket from her arm on the ground, then lifted the cloth and took out two small plates.
Inside were a few pieces of pastries.
"These are pastries that the humble woman offers to the two little immortals, please taste them!"
Following that, she and her daughter Chongchong knelt down towards Chen Yuan, bowing solemnly.
"The humble woman Liu Ping and her daughter Chongchong, bow to thank Lord for saving our lives!"
"We have nothing to offer in return, only hoping to chant prayers and blessings for the Lord in the future!"
Chen Yuan did not stop them.
Only raising his eyebrows slightly, somewhat surprised,
"You call me Lord? How do you know of my identity?"
He remembered that he hadn't disclosed his status to the mother and daughter.
Liu Ping looked up, her eyes filled with reverence,
"Today, the entire Qingshan County is discussing Lord's noble name."
"Lord's deeds of rescuing the people of Yunlu County from the demons are being passed from mouth to mouth, and the humble woman heard it; even if dull, one should recognize your identity."
"Lord, the humble woman will bow again, wishing you peace and safety!"
As she said this, she bowed deeply once more.
Chen Yuan felt a touch of sentiment; everyone he knew advised him to take care.
Not knowing what to say,
He raised his hand, helped the mother and daughter to their feet, and said:
"Yunlu County is now free from demon disaster, you and your daughter can return to your hometown now!"
Unexpectedly,
Liu Ping shook her head.
"The humble woman does not plan to return to Yunlu County, I plan to find a job in Qingshan County, be it mending clothes or doing odd jobs, and stay here."
"Oh, why?"
The woman bent forward slightly, her expression dim: "In these times, we humble folks live in constant fear, not sure of surviving the next day."
Saying this, her face lit up with hope, whispering softly: "But knowing Lord, and knowing you are in Qingshan County, brings this humble woman peace of mind."
After speaking, the woman respectfully bowed again,
"I take my leave, Lord!"
With that, she picked up the basket and left with her daughter Chongchong.
And when the mother and daughter left, the Little Squirrel immediately jumped down from Chen Yuan's shoulder to the edge of the plate.
Its eyes gleamed like obsidian, joyously jumping up and down, then grabbing the plate of mung bean cake, began to munch hungrily.
As for the White Fox, it was different, looking at Chen Yuan.
Chen Yuan smiled,
"This is the offering from those you saved, no need to ask me, go ahead and eat!"
The White Fox then approached and started to eat gracefully.
Just then,
Little Squirrel's ears twitched, it holding the mung bean cake nibbled for a bit and then suddenly looked up, seeing a boy on the nearby courtyard wall.
The boy's throat churned, drooling with craving.
The Little Squirrel then took a bite.
Its cheeks puffed, and a piece of mung bean cake was launched towards the boy.
The next second,
"Bang"
"Ouch"
Two cries rang out at the same time.
"You little rascal..."
Chen Yuan heard the commotion and couldn't help but chuckle.
The widow neighbor was eavesdropping at his wall base!