Chapter 17: Chapter 17: Caught a Big River Clam_1

Translator: 549690339

Sister Yu’s first tooth came in at three months, she called out ‘mom’ for the first time at four months, crawled at five months, walked at six months, ran at seven months, recognized characters at eight months, recited poetry at nine months, wrote at ten months, and went hunting with Su Hu for the first time at eleven months, digging up a thousand-year-old Lingzhi Mushroom and taking a litter of tiger cubs at the age of one.

Ever since Su Hu’s family adopted Little Lucky Doll, their life has become smoother and smoother. They bought land, built a new house, and both Sister Qiao and Doudou went to school to study.

Time flew by during their happy and innocent days, and in a blink of an eye, five years had passed.

****

On the hottest day of the scorching summer, at noon, the sun was blazing, and the heat was unbearable.

“Gurgle…”

A little head emerged from the rippling river water, and a pretty little girl wiped her face with a grin, spat out a few mouthfuls of water, and held a river clam the size of a basin, swimming skillfully towards the shore.

“Oh dear, my little ancestor, don’t you know it’s scorching hot out here? You sneaked to the riverbank again. Be careful not to get sunburnt, and come back quickly.”

Li Xiu’e stood in the shade outside her yard, fanning and watching the little girl get up from the water and hurrying her back to the house.

“Mom, look what I found at the bottom of the river!”

The little girl, half-wading through water, ran back from the riverbank, eagerly holding up the huge river clam like a treasure, her big black eyes shining brightly, looking absolutely adorable.

“First go home and change your clothes. You’re soaked through, and your little face is sunburnt.”

Soft and tender baby voice melted Li Xiu’e’s heart. She took the river clam, and with a seemingly dissatisfied complaint, she showered the girl with love and indulgence.

“Mom, I want sour plum soup.”

The little girl flirtatiously hugged her arm and shook it vigorously.

“Change your clothes first, then have the soup.”

Li Xiu’e allowed her to hang onto her arm, walked into the yard, and kept nagging, “You’re a five-year-old girl now, you need to maintain your image. You can’t always run to the river like those wild boys, getting sunburnt like a Black catfish, it’s not pretty.”

“Hehe, Mom, your metaphor is so apt. Isn’t Tie Niu from the house next door as black as a Black catfish?”

Hearing her amusing comment, the little girl laughed with twinkling eyes. Her crisp and silver-bell-like laughter echoed in the courtyard.

“You’re not much better!”

With a laugh, Li Xiu’e gently prodded her forehead: “You’re almost as black as him now.”

“No way!”

The little girl affectionately leaned against her arm and acted cute, “Qingluo is a beloved baby favored by heaven, she won’t get sunburnt.”

Su Qingluo is the name the little girl gave herself.

‘Qing’ means captivating beauty, and ‘Luo’ means left behind. The name signifies a pearl lost among the common folks.

“Go change your clothes, and when your dad comes back, we’ll cook the river clam.”

The uniquely sweet scent of the little girl wafted into Li Xiu’e’s nose as her eyes softened like water.

“Ok, ok!”

The little girl obediently nodded and quickly darted into her room. In a nasal baby voice, she called out from the window, “Mom, don’t forget the sour plum soup.”

“Alright, I’ll make it for you now.”

With a smile on her lips, Li Xiu’e held the river clam and walked to the kitchen, where smoke rose in an instant.

**********

“Chirp chirp.”

A crisp bird song was carried by the wind. A completely red Little Kingfisher without a single stray feather soared over the rippling river water, circled several times above the courtyard, and landed on the window ledge.

“Where have you been playing when I haven’t seen you for a while? Who did you bully this time?”

Hearing the bird’s call, Su Qingluo’s lips curled into a gentle smile. She changed her clothes, went to the window, and stroked the Little Kingfisher’s silky, smooth feathers with a teasing tone.