The Unruly Immortals

Just as she was getting absorbed in the story, Bai Lingmiao felt someone tugging at her sleeve.

She turned her head and saw it was her uncle, who was a year younger than her, "Why does this immortal fight sound just like my aunt and second aunt fighting?"

Hearing this, a trace of doubt appeared in the eyes of the other children. Although they were young, they weren't stupid; something felt off.

"Ahem~ What's going on? You don't want to listen? If you don't, I'll leave." The peddler pretended to get up, but the children quickly held him back. "Listen, listen, continue your story."

Seeing all eyes back on him, the peddler cleared his throat, "Where did I get to? Oh right, I was talking about how Zhuanxu won and scratched the immortal's face, took the chickens from the immortal's house, and... and snatched the immortal's copper coins."

"But, the immortal wasn't satisfied and brought someone else to cause trouble. Would our ancestor Zhuanxu tolerate this? He spat two times into his palm, stomped his foot, and began casting spells."

"Now this Human Emperor can cast spells? He couldn't just a moment ago, when did he learn?" Bai Lingmiao asked curiously.

"Shoo, shoo, stop interrupting. If I say he could, then he could."

The peddler imitated a foot stomp, mumbling nonsense, then suddenly raised both hands to the sky, and all the children followed suit, looking up at the blue sky.

"You just heard Zhuanxu shout something like 'Mima Mima block the sky and ground!' Ah, the scene, the hustle and bustle, oh man, you weren't there; it was thrilling."

Seeing the peddler waving his arms and spitting as he spoke, all the children anxiously asked what happened, as his words were just sound effects with no imagery they could picture.

Just then, Bai Lingmiao turned her head and her eyes lit up as she saw her grandfather leading her parents and several uncles, driving a cart under the big tree's shade.

"Grandpa!" Bai Lingmiao bent down, scooped up her younger brother, and ran over there.

Bai Hangshu picked up his grandson and granddaughter, playfully poked them with his beard, but his face suddenly changed as he led his sons towards the peddler.

"What were you mumbling just now!" As Bai Hangshu's tone turned unfriendly, his sons behind him clenched their fists, as if about to beat up the peddler.

"N-nothing... I was just telling them ancient stories." The peddler timidly stepped back half a step.

"Bull! What ancient stories? Can you even tell them? All you told were lies! Misleading the kids!!" Bai Hangshu kicked and overturned the peddler's bundle.

"Oh, oh, oh, if you say it's wrong, then it's definitely wrong."

The peddler scrunched his neck, not daring to retort, knowing the old man had so many sons he couldn't afford to provoke him.

Seeing the Bai Family Members about to swarm and beat the peddler, Bai Lingmiao gently tugged on her grandfather's beard, "Grandpa, please don't hit him. If you do, he might never come to our village again."

Bai Hangshu adored this eldest granddaughter, how could he refuse? Immediately, he smiled kindly and stroked Bai Lingmiao's head, "Alright, we'll do as little Nannan says. Why is your mouth so black again? Have you been eating roasted green wheat?"

Having narrowly escaped a beating, the peddler didn't dare to waste time and immediately shouldered his bundle to leave.

"Wait a minute!" Bai Hangshu's voice made the peddler shiver, a smile more miserable than crying appeared as he looked back, "Sir, do you still need something?"

Bai Hangshu sternly approached and took a handful of sesame candy from the peddler's bundle, giving it to his granddaughter and grandson. "How much?"

Looking at the Bai Family members eyeing him like tigers, the peddler hesitantly offered, "No... no money?"

"No money? Pah! Do you take us for kidnappers? Cut the crap, how much is it actually!"

Seeing Bai Hangshu genuinely intended to buy, not rob, the peddler quickly plastered a smile and quoted a price, sneaking in an extra copper coin.

"Sir, is this your granddaughter? She kept looking at this copper hairpin just now, really likes it. It's not expensive, only... forty copper coins." The peddler picked up the copper hairpin and began to sell it.

Bai Hangshu hesitated but eventually reached out, took it, and placed it in Bai Lingmiao's hair, "Nannan, you're growing up, it's time to dress up. Tomorrow, let your mom tie your hair up properly, don't run around in the woods and fields like a wild child every day."

Next to them, Bai Lingmiao's mother came over, smiling as she caressed her daughter, "Her grandpa, it's okay, girls are like this. They'll calm down when they grow up."

Bai Lingmiao, with her mouth full of sesame candy, said nothing, just touched the copper flower on the hairpin on her head and laughed blissfully.

The travelers returned home safely, and it seemed like Bai Village had met with great joy as a feast was held at the Bai Family Courtyard. Even the pig they wouldn't kill during New Year's was slaughtered today.

They not only killed a pig but also a sheep and a cow.

With three livestock slaughtered, meat that was rarely eaten was more than enough today,

the fragrant braised beef, sizzling oily pork with preserved vegetables, large chunks of elbow meat were served on dishes to the table.

With so much delicious food, the children of Bai Village were overjoyed, sprawling on the kids' table, gorging like little piglets.

The village dogs and chickens wandered under the tables, enjoying the tasty leftovers, celebrating a good year.

After the meal, Bai Hangshu, sitting at the head, raised his wine glass, speaking with excitement, but Bai Lingmiao couldn't understand.

At this moment, her attention was entirely on the few pieces of sesame candy in her arms. Thinking about eating one piece a day and being able to enjoy it for eight days made her feel as sweet as if she'd eaten honey.

"Wait, I have to share with others. If I don't share the good stuff, how can I be the leader?" Just as Bai Lingmiao was contemplating the distribution of the candy, a voice arose beside her.

"Sister, do you have any more candy? I've finished mine."

Seeing her younger brother standing beside her sucking his fingers, Bai Lingmiao nodded, pulling open her clothes to take out the candy.

However, when she saw the candy melted into a puddle by her body heat, tears unwittingly flowed from her eyes.

"Oh dear, oh dear, who bullied our little Nannan?" Bai Hangshu, with a reddish nose, came over with a wine cup, gave Bai Lingmiao a big kiss.

"Grandpa, the candy melted." Bai Lingmiao said feeling wronged with a pout.

"Hahaha, I wondered what was wrong. It's okay, melted candy can still be eaten." Bai Hangshu twisted some melted sesame candy onto his finger and put it into Bai Lingmiao's mouth.

Bai Lingmiao followed suit, twisting some softened candy and put it into her younger brother's mouth.

"Nannan, don't believe what that peddler says, it's all nonsense."

Hearing this, Bai Lingmiao immediately widened her eyes at her grandfather, "Grandpa, then what is the truth?"

"Hahaha, want to hear grandpa tell a story? Alright! Call all the children over."

When all the village children gathered, Bai Hangshu began telling stories, various strange tales flowed from his mouth, astonishing the children immensely.

Bai Lingmiao sat on her grandfather's lap, looking at him with admiration. Her grandfather was amazing, always able to tell different stories each time.

Resting in the arms of her favorite family member, listening to new, strange tales in her ear, munching on sweet sesame candy, and with her parents back, Bai Lingmiao felt it was the happiest day of her life.