Chapter 38: The Tsundere Mule

Madam Meng was stunned.
Lend what? The mule?
"Second sister-in-law, this mule just arrived, and it hasn't even grown accustomed to the household yet; we can't lend it out for the time being. Besides, this is Axin’s mule, and neither her father nor I can make decisions on her behalf."
"How can you not make decisions? Since ancient times, it has been a natural law that children must obey their parents."
Madam Meng chuckled. "Our family is different."
"In other families, parents raise their children, but in my house, Axin supports this entire family. I cannot make any decisions regarding her possessions. Once she wakes up, you can ask her yourself. If she is willing to lend it to you, I have no objection. If she isn't... then Second sister-in-law, you should just put the thought aside."
Seeing how Ning Xin had pulled the cart back herself and showed the mule such profound respect, it was clear she truly cherished the animal.
"Eldest sister-in-law, you said that yourself." Madam Wu declared, then shouted aloud, "Axin! Axin!"
"..."
"..."
Madam Meng was too late to stop her.
Ning Xin opened the door in a daze, asking in confusion, "What is it?"
"Axin, can you lend me your mule for two days? I..."
"No. I’m not lending it to anyone." Ning Xin interrupted Madam Wu before she could finish, closed the door, and went back to sleep.
What was going on?
She had bought this mule and couldn't even bear to work it herself; why would she lend it to others?

In the courtyard, Madam Meng smiled. "She only bought it back yesterday and is still quite infatuated with it. Up until now, no one in the family has even been allowed to touch it."
"If you won't lend it, then don't. As if anyone cares." Madam Wu snorted and turned away, leaving.
Madam Meng’s expression didn't even flicker; a smile remained on her face.
Madam He wanted to offer a few words of comfort, but found nothing to say.
"Fourth sister-in-law, no need to comfort me, I’m not angry."
Among the sisters-in-law of the Ning family, if one really wanted to be petty, no one would be able to take advantage of her. As for that old grandmother, she only held back out of respect for her elders.
"I'm glad you're not angry, Eldest sister-in-law." Madam He breathed a sigh of relief.
Seeing Ning Nuo, Ning Huan, and the others returning with firewood and grass on their backs, Madam He stood up to take Ning An home.
"..."
Ning An’s eyes turned red; he didn't want to leave.
"A'an, be good. We will come back this afternoon."
She knew Ning An wanted to stay at the Eldest branch to eat buns and wontons. But in these times, food was precious. The two of them had already eaten three meat buns from them.
Madam Meng pulled Ning An into her arms. "Our A'an won't go; he’ll stay at his aunt’s house to eat. You go back yourself."
Ning An clung tightly to Madam Meng’s neck and nodded gently.
"Second sister-in-law, let him stay. He’s just a small child, how much can he eat? If you really feel uneasy about it, come over another day to help us measure and cut some fabric."
"..." Madam He pursed her lips, nodded, and headed home alone. Walking along the path, she let out a soft, satisfied laugh.

***

At the Eldest branch, everyone was washing their faces and hands.
Ning Nuo and Ning Huan asked Madam Meng what they were having for lunch.
"Your eldest sister brought back buns and wontons. That’s what we’ll have for lunch."
She sent Ning Kui to the fields to call Ning Dalang back for the meal.
Knowing the children had healthy appetites, Madam Meng mixed a bit of flour batter and beat five eggs into it. She pan-fried the batter into thin pancakes, poured a bit of egg mixture into the pan, placed the pancake on top, and rolled them up onto a platter.
"Wow, it smells so good!" It was Ning An’s first time seeing food prepared this way.
"Eat plenty later, A'an."
Ning An nodded vigorously.
The whole family sat together, eating buns, wontons, and egg-roll pancakes; the happiness was beyond words.
"Mother, I’m going to hunt two wild pheasants this afternoon. Let’s stew them for dinner." Ning Xin looked up from her bowl.
Madam Meng wanted to suggest saving them for the fifth day of the lunar new year... but then said, "Alright."
Ning An’s eyes brightened, waiting to be kept for chicken dinner. He made many little excited gestures.
Madam Meng laughed. "A'an, you stay for dinner tonight too."
Ning An nodded vigorously.
In truth, he also wanted to sleep at his eldest aunt’s house. He had heard from A'Qi that one could sleep right next to the mule at night. He wanted to sleep next to the mule too.
Ning Dalang suddenly spoke up: "Axin, can you take your father along?"
"..."
Again? Ning Xin frowned.
Ning Nuo and Ning Huan hung their heads low. Ning Kui and Ning Zhuang stuffed their faces with buns, not daring to look at Ning Dalang.
"Axin, my good daughter, take your father along. I promise I won't hold you back."
"..."
With things put this way, could Ning Xin refuse?
"Fine."
"My daughter is so good." Ning Dalang was overjoyed.
Since they were going out, someone had to stay home. Ning Dalang hurriedly finished his meal, filled the water vat, and set off with his son and daughter into the mountains, full of confidence.
However, he soon discovered he couldn't keep up.
Forget keeping up with Ning Xin—he couldn't even keep up with Ning Nuo and Ning Huan.
"A..."
Ning Xin raised a finger to her lips, signaling a soft "hush."

Ning Nuo, Ning Huan, Ning Kui, and Ning Zhuang immediately froze, holding their breath.
Ning Xin picked up a pebble and threw it into the bushes. A rustling sound soon followed.
Ning Zhuang jumped over quickly, bent down, and picked it up. "Eldest sister, it's a pheasant."
Ning Xin nodded and began assigning tasks. "Father, Nuo, Huan, gather firewood around here. I’ll take Kui and Zhuang to look around nearby."
"Whatever we catch, we catch. Whatever is extra, we’ll take to sell."
Without Ning Dalang, Ning Xin and the others had a bountiful harvest. Ning Kui and Ning Zhuang were fast, and catching rabbits and pheasants was a breeze. Especially with Ning Xin guiding them and blocking the paths so the game couldn't escape.
Five pheasants and six rabbits—and they were all still alive.
If they couldn't eat them all, they could keep them and slaughter them on the fifth day; they would be the finest of dishes. By then, they might even catch a wild boar—braised pork, stewed ribs... the thought made them dizzy with delight.
Watching Ning Xin and the others return fully loaded, Ning Dalang felt a bit deflated. He had intended to gather more firewood on his way down the mountain, but ended up with less than a third of what Ning Xin carried.
"..."
When Ning Dalang returned home and saw the children surrounding the pile of pheasants and rabbits, discussing how to cook them, he couldn't get a word in. He picked up his shoulder pole and buckets and went to fetch water.
"..." Madam Meng watched his retreating back and called out to him, "Dalang, kill the chickens before you go fetch water."
"Oh, alright."
Ning Dalang thought to himself that he could still kill chickens and fetch water; he wasn't completely useless.
"Let's make 'Chicken Under the Blanket' tonight."
"Stew the other one for soup. We can use the soup to cook noodles."
Every time Madam Meng spoke, Ning Xin and the others swallowed their saliva, working with extra vigor.
While the rest of the family was busy, Ning Xin took the mule to the foot of the mountain to let it graze. Ning Wen, Ning Wu, Ning Qi, and Ning An immediately followed. Ning Xin let the mule walk on its own, scooped up Ning Qi on her left arm and Ning An on her right, and started running with them.
Later, the four brothers from the third branch and a few cousins joined them, all watching the mule graze in wonder. They pointed and whispered among themselves.
"Sister Axin, can we touch your mule?"
"..."
Ning Xin thought for a moment and seriously discussed it with the "Ning Baby" (the mule).
"They are all my younger brothers, and they are all well-behaved children. You just let them touch you, just once."
The mule seemed to understand. It slowly lifted its front right hoof.