Chapter 156: Brother, will you take care of me?

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late at night.

Zhao Yanxi sat cross-legged on the bed, wearing a loose white nightgown with the neckline slightly open.

Wenjing, standing next to Zhao Yanxi, was wearing the same pink pajamas. Although the buttons were fastened tightly, they still couldn't hide the exaggerated visual effect.

Baima sat at the very back, wearing a pale yellow cartoon pajama with a chubby Totoro printed on it, looking like a soft glutinous rice ball.

The three girls chatted and joked with each other, covering a wide range of topics from all over the world to celebrity gossip, before finally returning to Baima's Tibetan identity.

Zhao Yanxi asked curiously, "Bai Ma, do you Tibetans really dance the Guozhuang dance during the New Year?"

"It will happen..."

Pema yawned lazily: "On the first day of the Tibetan New Year, many people in the pastoral areas gather together, light a bonfire in the middle, and hold hands, dancing in circles. My mother said it was even more lively when she was a child, and they could dance all night long."

"Wow……"

Zhao Yanxi drawled, her tone longing, "That must be so much fun! I've seen videos online; those Tibetan girls' skirts look so beautiful when they twirl around."

"It's really nothing special, just something to have fun with when there's not much else to do..."

Baima complained, "Especially since it's freezing cold at night on the plateau, I used to get a runny nose from the cold every time I was a kid."

Wenjing asked softly, "Bai Ma, did you grow up in Tibet all your life?"

"Well... I spent the first eight years of my life in the pastoral areas, and then I spent six years in the snowy county town."

Baima recalled, "Later, my mother established herself in Chengdu and then took me there. But every year during the Spring Festival, I would still go back to visit relatives and go to the ranch or something."

"Do you speak Tibetan?"

"Of course I will, it's just that I'm a little rusty now."

Baima opened her mouth and uttered a sentence, her pronunciation light and quick.

Wenjing pressed, "What do you mean?"

Baima chuckled: "It means—sisters-in-law, you are all very beautiful."

Zhao Yanxi laughed heartily, while Wen Jing showed a hint of shyness.

"Then when you have time, take us to Tibet!"

Zhao Yanxi enthusiastically suggested, "I've always wanted to see snow-capped mountains, grasslands, and that kind of incredibly blue sky. The pictures online make me so eager to go, but unfortunately, I've never had the chance."

"Sure!"

Pema patted his chest and said, "I'll take you to my mother's pasture then, where we can ride horses, milk cows, see yaks... and if we're lucky, we might even see Tibetan antelopes!"

Wenjing blinked: "Tibetan antelope? Aren't they only found in Hoh Xil?"

"My ranch is right next to the edge of the nature reserve."

Pema gestured and said, "When I was a child, during summer vacation, I often followed the herdsmen on horseback to patrol the fields, and I saw it from afar several times."

"very nice……"

Wenjing sighed softly, a hint of envy flashing in her eyes.

She had rarely left Zhuzhou since she was a child. The farthest she had ever gone out was when she went to Jiuzhaigou with Ding Heng and others.

She never dared to even think about Tibet, a place with such vast skies and open spaces.

As they were chatting, Zhao Yanxi suddenly stopped and asked, puzzled, "Why hasn't Ding Heng come back yet after buying some late-night snacks?"

Wenjing also realized what was happening and glanced at her phone: "It's been a while...it's been almost two hours."

Baima quickly covered for him, speaking naturally: "This place is remote, food delivery can't get in, he has to drive to town to buy it."

"Oh……"

Zhao Yanxi nodded, not thinking much of it.

Wenjing picked up her phone: "Should I make a call and ask?"

"No, no, no!"

Baima quickly waved her hand: "What if Brother is driving? It's too dangerous for him to answer the phone. Let's wait a little longer, he should be back soon."

The door was pushed open as soon as he finished speaking.

Ding Heng walked in carrying two large bags, and the aroma instantly filled the entire room.

"Brother Ding Heng!"

Zhao Yanxi jumped out of bed: "Why did it take so long?"

"During the Chinese New Year, only one barbecue restaurant in town was open, and the queue could take forever."

Ding Heng placed the bag on the low table, reached out and ruffled Zhao Yanxi's hair, and instructed, "Go and call Hua Yue and Hua Qing."

"I'll go."

Pema jumped off the bed and ran outside in her slippers.

A short while later, Hua Qing and Hua Yue followed Bai Ma in.

Hua Yue was still wearing that windbreaker; she probably wasn't ready to sleep yet.

Hua Qing had changed into her pajamas, a light gray cotton dress, her long hair loose, and her face flushed from just soaking in the hot spring.

"I'm actually hungry."

Hua Yue plopped down and picked up a skewer of mutton to start gnawing on.

Hua Qing glanced at Ding Heng guiltily, not daring to speak, and ate her meat in small bites.

Baima leaned closer to Ding Heng and asked in a low voice, "Brother, weren't you soaking in the hot spring? How much did you buy it?"

Ding Heng said calmly, "What do you think I was talking to the receptionist about? Delivery fee, two hundred!"

Bai Ma was startled and clicked her tongue twice.

Holy crap! This was all planned in advance?

One thing leads to another... Man, you're a master at being a scumbag!

On the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, the weather was perfect.

The sunlight pierced through the clouds, making it warm and cozy.

The farmhouse that Zhao Yanxi had contacted in advance was located in the northwest of Lingxiang, a half-hour drive away.

The car turned onto a dirt road, with large fields of harvested rice on both sides, rice stubble still in the fields, and a few small birds strolling by the puddles in the distance.

The farmhouse is a small courtyard with blue brick walls and a wooden sign hanging above the door.

As soon as the car came to a stop, a large yellow dog suddenly darted out of the gate and barked wildly at the car.

"Woof woof woof... woof woof!"

The dog was quite large, with glossy fur, baring its teeth, and barking fiercely and urgently.

"what……"

Zhao Yanxi screamed in fright and instinctively burrowed into Ding Heng's arms, clutching his clothes tightly with both hands and burying her face in his chest.

"Brother Ding Heng! There's a dog!"

Wenjing also took a half step back, her face pale.

Ding Heng put his arm around Zhao Yanxi and turned to look at the big yellow dog.

He didn't do anything, just quietly glanced at it.

The dog suddenly met Ding Heng's gaze, and its barking stopped abruptly, as if something had choked it.

Its ears were pressed back, its tail was tucked in, it let out a whimper, then its four legs went weak, and it collapsed to the ground, burying its head between its two front paws, trembling all over.

The courtyard was quiet for a moment.

Zhao Yanxi peeked out from Ding Heng's arms and couldn't help but let out a soft "Eh!"

"What...what's wrong with it?"

Ding Heng didn't answer; the system interface quietly appeared in his mind.

[Dragon's Might - In Effect]

Good guy!

Is the Dragon's Might... meant to scare animals?

He had tried it on people occasionally before, but there was no reaction, so he thought it was an active skill that required specific conditions to trigger.

So it's useless to people?

Is this... a bit of a double-edged sword?

"You go in first."

Ding Heng released Zhao Yanxi and patted her shoulder: "Let me see it."

After the girls entered the courtyard, Ding Heng squatted down and reached out his hand to the dog.

The big yellow dog raised its head, its ears still pressed against the ground, and its tail tucked tightly between its legs.

It stared at Ding Heng's hand for two seconds, then slowly moved closer and sniffed at his fingertips.

Ding Heng placed his palm on the dog's head, and it immediately let out a flattering whimper, then relaxed its body, rolled over, and exposed its soft belly with its four paws in the air.

"Wow, that's amazing!"

The owner of the agritainment business is a woman in her forties.

She looked at the dog on the ground, then at Ding Heng, her face full of surprise: "My dog ​​Chenpi never lets strangers touch him. Last time, a customer almost got bitten. How did you manage that, young man?"

Ding Heng stood up and smiled, "Maybe I'm destined to have it."

The older sister cheerfully invited him inside, saying, "Come in and sit down, the tea is ready."

Ding Heng followed behind, looking down at his palm.

This dragon's might...

The name sounds incredibly cool and domineering, making me think it's some kind of ultimate weapon, but it turns out it can only be used to tame animals?

It's useless, so useless!

The courtyard is a hidden paradise.

Several brick and tile houses form a courtyard, with an open space in the middle where a few wooden tables and bamboo chairs are placed. A few bundles of firewood are piled in the corner, and strings of red peppers and corncobs hang under the eaves, giving it a festive look.

The eldest sister's surname is Qu, and everyone calls her Sister Qu.

Sister Qu was very enthusiastic, bustling around pouring tea while introducing today's activities.

"Here, you can experience farm life—picking vegetables, catching chickens, fishing—do whatever you want. Lunch will be made with the vegetables you picked and the chickens you caught yourself; it's guaranteed to be fresh!"

Zhao Yanxi immediately joined in the fun: "I want to catch chickens!"

Sister Qu glanced at her and said, "Girl, don't underestimate catching chickens. Our chickens are all free-range and they run very fast."

"I'm not afraid!"

Zhao Yanxi was full of confidence.

Without saying much, Sister Qu took out several bamboo baskets and gloves from the woodshed and led everyone to the backyard.

The biggest significance of agritainment is to provide opportunities for city dwellers like Zhao Yanxi to join in the fun, under the guise of experiencing rural life.

The backyard is much larger than the front yard, with a large vegetable garden planted with cabbages, radishes, and garlic sprouts, all lush and green.

Book lovers are all in the discussion area, chatting about the charm of fantasy novels.

Next to it was a chicken coop enclosed by netting, with a dozen or so chickens wandering around inside. Their feathers were bright and they looked very energetic.

"Pick the vegetables freely, catch the chickens freely."

Sister Qu handed them the basket: "If you catch one, I'll make you a wood-fired chicken for lunch, I guarantee it'll be delicious."

Zhao Yanxi put on gloves, rolled up her sleeves, and rushed towards the chicken coop.

She spotted a speckled pheasant, crept closer stealthily, and then pounced—

The chicken clucked and flew up, its wings slapping her face with dust.

Zhao Yanxi missed her target and almost fell into a pile of chicken droppings.

"Ha ha ha ha!"

Hua Yue was laughing so hard she couldn't stand up straight.

"What are you laughing at! Come here!"

Zhao Yanxi wiped her face and glared at her angrily.

Hua Yue didn't hesitate and rolled up her sleeves to get started.

She was a bit smarter than Zhao Yanxi; she knew to flank from behind and stealthily approach a hen.

Before I could even pounce on it, the chicken seemed to have eyes in the back of its head and ran away in a flash.

Hua Yue took two steps, then slipped and fell into a mud pit.

"Oh my god..."

This time it was Zhao Yanxi's turn, and she laughed so hard she almost fell over.

Hua Qing and Wen Jing both stood outside the chicken coop, showing no intention of going in.

Baima didn't rush to take action. She squatted by the chicken coop and observed for a while before walking into the coop.

Unlike Zhao Yanxi and Hua Yue, she didn't chase after the chickens. Instead, she slowly walked to the middle of the flock, her steps were very light, and then she suddenly bent down and stretched out her hand!

She held a hen steadily in her hand.

"Wow!"

Zhao Yanxi's eyes widened: "Bai Ma, how did you do that?!"

Baima handed the chicken to Sister Qu, saying casually, "Luckily, catching chickens is easier than catching sheep..."

After a morning of catching chickens and picking vegetables, the group finally calmed down, took a shower, and sat in the yard to drink tea and rest.

Sister Qu brought the ingredients they had been working on all day into the kitchen, lit the stove, and the aroma quickly wafted out.

Alongside them were several dishes of stir-fries—stir-fried bok choy, stir-fried cured pork with garlic sprouts, and spicy and sour shredded radish, all of which were vegetables they had picked themselves.

As they ate, the conversation turned to the Tibetan girl, Pema.

Hua Yue asked first, "Bai Ma, do you raise chickens in your Tibetan area?"

With a piece of chicken in her mouth, Baima mumbled, "We mainly raise cattle and sheep. We also raise chickens, but not many. The altitude is too high, so the chickens don't lay eggs, and raising them isn't very profitable."

Zhao Yanxi continued, "Aunt Quzhen, did she also live in a pastoral area when she was a child?"

"My mother grew up in a pastoral area, and her family was extremely poor. My maternal grandfather passed away early, and my maternal grandmother raised several children on her own. My mother was the youngest, and she was also the hardest working."

Bai Ma paused, as if recalling something.

"My mother said that her biggest wish when she was a child was to have enough to eat. Back then, conditions in the pastoral areas were poor. In winter, they couldn't even get fresh vegetables. They ate tsampa and butter tea every day. Later, the government launched a literacy campaign and set up Chinese language classes in the pastoral areas. Many women in the village were unwilling to go, feeling that it was useless to learn. So my mother took me, who was three years old, and we learned Chinese while doing farm work."

Hua Yue suddenly asked, "What about your dad?"

Bai Ma's smile suddenly froze, but only for a short time; if Ding Heng hadn't been observing her the whole time, he wouldn't have noticed.

"My dad..."

She lowered her head, her tone light and airy: "He's been dead for so long, I've almost forgotten what he looks like."

Ding Heng spoke up at the opportune moment: "Sister Qu, did you raise all these chickens yourself?"

"Of course!"

Sister Qu poked her head out of the kitchen, smiling broadly, and said, "They've all grown up eating grain, and they're all very plump!"

Zhao Yanxi chimed in, "Then I'll buy two to take back with me later, so my parents can try them too!"

The topic was glossed over, and no one pressed for details.

Speak of Cao Cao, and Cao Cao arrives.

Bai Ma's phone suddenly rang; it was a video call from Qu Zhen.

"Mom..."

Baima answered the call and called out sweetly.

On the other end of the phone, Quzhen looked slightly tired, but her voice was gentle: "Bai Ma, are you feeling better?"

"Much better! Look how much I enjoy my meal!"

"Where is your brother?"

"We're eating right now!"

Where are you now?

"In Lingxiang, with my brother and his friends!"

Bai Ma's eyes darted around, and she deliberately raised her voice: "My sister-in-law is here too!"

The table fell silent instantly.

Zhao Yanxi's lips unconsciously curved into a smile, feeling that she had been recognized.

A blush rose to Wenjing's face, and she lowered her head, pretending not to hear.

—Sister-in-law?

Did Baima's mother and Ding Heng's father know about her?

Hua Qing sat at the other end of the table, her chopsticks hanging in mid-air, as if she were frozen in place.

Her heart suddenly raced, and blood rushed to her face.

If Qu Zhen lets her answer the phone... if she says something on the phone... everything will be exposed.

Ding Heng stood up at the right moment and took the phone from Bai Ma: "Auntie, are you and Dad alright?"

"Everything's fine... Your dad got really drunk with the herdsmen yesterday and he's still not sober."

Qu Zhen sighed and chuckled, "I hope Baima didn't cause you any trouble?"

"No, Baima is very well-behaved."

Ding Heng, without batting an eye, covered for Bai Ma: "Her stomach is all better now, and she's been eating well these past few days."

The two chatted for a few more minutes about everyday matters. Qu Zhen repeatedly instructed Ding Heng to take good care of Bai Ma, and Ding Heng agreed to each request.

After dinner, Zhao Yanxi suggested taking photos on the ridges of the fields.

Since Ding Heng didn't bring a camera, he didn't follow and stayed in the courtyard to rest...

The courtyard quieted down, with only the sound of Sister Qu washing dishes in the kitchen remaining.

The yellow dog named Chenpi was lying not far away, its tail wagging idly.

Ding Heng put down his teacup and beckoned to Chen Pi.

Chenpi immediately stood up, wagged its tail and ran over, nuzzling its head into his hand.

Ding Heng rubbed its head and scratched its chin. Bai Ma returned at some point and joined him in picking tangerine peel.

"Why are you back?"

"I'm a little sleepy..."

Baima yawned and then said, "Brother, Secretary Huang went back to the villa today."

Ding Heng paused in his movements: "Hmm?"

"She came back early to prepare for my start of school."

Baima cautioned, "You'd better not bring all the women back with you. It wouldn't be good if she saw them."

Ding Heng raised an eyebrow: "Secretary Huang will interfere in my affairs?"

"I won't interfere, but she'll definitely report it to my mom."

Baima sighed, "My mom still sees you as someone else's good child. You mustn't leave a bad impression on her."

Ding Heng burst out laughing.

"What are you laughing at?"

"You seem to care about me quite a bit?"

"Of course!"

Baima retorted confidently, "We're in this together now. If my mom didn't trust you, who would take care of me and make me live a life of luxury?"

Ding Heng was both amused and exasperated, and continued to pet the dog.

"Bai Ma, you're taking the college entrance exam next year. What are your plans?"

Bai Ma was stunned for a moment, not expecting Ding Heng to ask this.

"I haven't decided yet..."

She said helplessly, "I'll leave it to my mom to decide. You know my grades; I'm unlikely to get into a good university in China, and I don't want to go abroad... I guess I'll just have to take it easy."

"muddle along?"

"yes."

Bai Ma shrugged: "Anyway, as long as I don't do anything stupid, it's not a big problem for my mom to raise a good-for-nothing like me."

Ding Heng chuckled: "You're really open-minded. Haven't you ever thought about following in your mother's footsteps and becoming the next powerful woman?"

Baima was silent for a moment, then turned his head and looked at the distant fields.

The midday sun cast large patches of light on the ridges of the fields.

Baima was silent for a moment, then turned his head and looked at the distant fields.

The midday sun cast large patches of light on the ridges of the fields.

Zhao Yanxi and Wen Jing were taking pictures, and their laughter could be faintly heard.

"I know I'm not cut out for this."

Baima's voice was very soft, as if she were talking to herself.

"My mom is one of the most fortunate people in the world, a once-in-a-century occurrence... I'm not as smart as her, not as hardworking, not as ambitious, and not as lucky! If one day I'm really unlucky and my mom can't support me anymore, then she can find a man to support me."

She turned back and looked at Ding Heng with a smile, her tone half-serious and half-joking.

"If all else fails... will you take care of me, brother?"

The sunlight fell on the little girl's face, making her round little face glow.

"Dream on."

Ding Heng reached out and lightly flicked Bai Ma's forehead: "Your brother still has to support several women, so work hard and stop saying such discouraging things!"

"Ouch!"

Pema covered her forehead, pouted, and muttered a Tibetan phrase in a low voice.

Ding Heng didn't understand, nor did he ask.

He patted her head again...