Zhāng 76

Everyone felt a bit reluctant to give up the meat and food, but they all understood the village chief made a good point.

Besides, since everything was out in the open, it meant they'd get a share too.

They just needed to wait at home.

So, everyone went home reluctantly.

Before leaving, each person said something to Winn and Uziel.

They patted their shoulders, tapped their backs—if the two brothers hadn't gotten physically stronger recently, all that patting would've probably caused internal injuries.

"Paige-jie, what are you looking at? Weren't you going to the outhouse? Don't know where it is? I'll take you there."

The village chief's eldest grandson shouted and then went back inside to drink water.

When he came out again, he saw Paige sneaking behind the door.

"I already went. I was going to leave, but then I saw you and the others coming in, so I decided not to bother going out.

Come on, let's go inside. Paige-jie will give you some pastries." Paige stood up and led the way inside.

The little boy had wanted to go out and play with his friends. There was still a small car parked outside.

He had only touched it twice and wasn't satisfied yet.

But when he heard there were pastries, he stopped heading out and followed Paige inside without hesitation.

Pastries—he had never tasted any before.

As for his friends, he could play with them later.

The car? Paige was still around, so if he ran out quickly later, maybe he could touch it a few more times.

But pastries were different. Even if Paige left them at home, if her mother saw them, he definitely wouldn't get to eat any today.

So the only chance to eat pastries was to follow Paige inside now.

The little boy quickly ran over to the water jar and scooped a big bowl of water for Paige.

"Paige-jie, drink some water," he said eagerly.

"Not bad. Here, for you." Paige moved her hand, palm down then up, and magically a piece of pastry appeared.

"Wow!" the little boy shouted in surprise.

Not just because the pastry looked nice, but also because of what Paige just did.

Kids these days had never seen such a cool magic trick.

"Paige-jie, can you do it again?" The little boy carefully looked at Paige's hand, even squatting down to check the back of her hand. There really was nothing hidden.

"Of course. Here, watch carefully." Paige handed him the pastry in her hand.

Then she turned her palm down and then up again. Another pastry appeared, and it was a different shape from the first one.

The little boy's eyes were wide open, but he still couldn't figure out how Paige did it.

"Paige-jie, can I learn this too?" He was so excited that his face turned red.

If he could learn this, wouldn't he always have endless pastries to eat?

He wondered if Paige could make other things appear too.

"You can't learn it. This is my secret trick. No one else can learn it," said Paige.

"Not even Ely?" he asked.

"Nope," Paige replied.

"Oh." The little boy gave up. If it could be taught, Paige would definitely teach Ely first. So it must be true that no one else could learn it.

"But I can let you play along once," Paige added when she saw how disappointed he looked.

"Really? I want to play!" His eyes lit up again.

He took a bowl from the kitchen and carefully placed the two pieces of pastry inside. Then he nervously stood in front of Paige.

"Paige-jie, what should I do?"

"Come here. Put your hands together, and make a little bump in the middle."

"Look, it can hide in a space as small as a piece of pastry."

Milo showed the size of the pastry with his fingers and then stretched his palm as wide as he could.

"Alright, next, shake it on the left, shake it on the right, shake it in the middle, and finally, close your eyes and blow on your hand."

As soon as Paige finished speaking, Milo sincerely closed his eyes and blew hard on his hand.

You could almost see the air ripple around him.

Paige took a tactical step back, afraid of being affected.

Then Milo shouted excitedly, because there was really a piece of pastry in his hand, different from the other two.

Even though it got a bit squished from the pressure, it was still a real pastry.

"Alright, go outside and play. These three pastries are all yours." Paige smiled and patted his shoulder.

She originally wanted to pat his head, but it looked too greasy.

"All three for me? You're not saving any for Ely?" Milo asked in surprise. He thought he would get only one piece.

"All for you. He's gone to school and isn't home." Paige replied.

"Ely went to school? That's great." Milo looked at Paige with even more envy.

Before Paige could say anything, a group of people entered the house.

Milo didn't have time to envy Ely anymore and quickly placed the pastries into a bowl.

Since his hands still had pastry crumbs, he didn't want to waste them.

He covered the bowl with his small hands and then hid it inside his clothes.

"Paige, I'll go now. If my mom finds out about these pastries, I won't get to eat them.

She'll definitely make me save them for the New Year." And when it comes to the New Year, how much he'd get to eat wouldn't be up to him.

"Go on." With Paige's reply, Milo dashed out.

Then he ran past the group and into his parents' room.

"Why are you running so fast? Be careful you don't fall," Milo's mother called after him.

"Is he hiding something in his arms?" That was Milo's second aunt's voice.

"Who knows? Kids treasure even a stone like it's a gem." His mom replied casually.

Then she shouted toward the room, "If you bring in any weird stuff, just wait and see if I don't spank you."

After that, she ignored him. Kids in the countryside were raised freely.

The village head had three sons. Since the family hadn't split, they all still lived together.

Last time, when PN soldiers bombed the place, they destroyed most of the house on the east side.

That part belonged to the village head's eldest son.

Since it was winter, they couldn't start rebuilding, and earthen bricks had to be made and dried before they could be used.

They could only build a temporary thatched hut to live in until next year.

That's why Milo needed to run out.

"If I ran into the three of you on the street, I wouldn't even recognize you.

Just look at your clothes, your presence. You're nothing like before.

No wonder they say the city's environment changes people.

Look at you all, so well-raised," the village head's second daughter-in-law pulled Paige around, endlessly praising her.

"It was just luck. We happened to meet a commander with good judgment, who led us into battle, and that's the only reason we've made a little progress," Paige replied, half seriously.

"We were lucky. Now there's no war, no PN soldiers to fight, and even joining the army isn't possible anymore."