Chapter 213
Chapter 213
“You really do have elephants here.”
When Jiang Yunsui and the children followed Zuozuo and Youyou’s barking, they found a young elephant trapped in a muddy pit.
A person could easily climb out. Even if the wall was high, human hands and feet could dig small footholds. But with an elephant’s weight and hooves, escape was impossible.
The wet earthen walls were slippery.
No one knew how long the calf had been trapped. It looked weak but remained alive.
Leaves and grass lay scattered nearby, as if something had been feeding it.
The children discussed how to rescue it.
“Let’s dig a slope on this side. Then it can walk out.”
Once they agreed, everyone began working. Even the mastiffs helped.
Jiang Yunsui asked, “Could it be thirsty? There’s food, but no water.”
“We’ll carry water in banana leaves.”
Jiang Yunsui grunted as she dug at the mud. Her nose felt itchy, so she rubbed it.
The child did not notice that her face had become filthy again.
The calf eagerly drank the water they brought, first drawing it into its trunk and then pouring it into its mouth.
After drinking, it seemed a little stronger.
Everyone discovered the pleasure of feeding an elephant and gathered tender grass and leaves.
“It’s so obedient. Such a good temper.”
They stroked its trunk as if they had found a wonderful new toy.
Suddenly, a cry louder than a trumpet rang out.
The children looked over in alarm. The earth trembled, and nearby trees shook.
A gray elephant appeared.
The mastiffs immediately stood guard before the children.
“An… an elephant!”
It was far larger than the calf, like a moving hill.
The children hurried backward, though not very far.
Well… they were children. They were curious.
They had only heard adults speak of elephants and had never seen one. Like Jiang Yunsui, this was their first encounter with a real elephant.
More importantly, elephants ate plants and were generally gentle when not enraged.
This was clearly the calf’s mother. She must have lingered here since her baby fell in, bringing food every day but unable to rescue it.
The elephant dropped the branch from her trunk. She looked at the other food and the beginnings of the sloped path.
Animals were not exceptionally clever, but she understood that the children had not harmed her calf. They had even brought food and water. Her temper softened.
The children hid nearby, whispering about her.
“She’s so tall and huge. I think one step would flatten us.”
Lin Ran asked, “Why? Do you want to try it?”
The child snorted. “I was only describing it.”
“Elephant tusks really are huge. And that trunk looks so strange.”
“Father says male elephants have the longest tusks.”
“Is this one male or female?”
“I don’t know.”
After interacting with her calf, the elephant suddenly looked toward them.
Everyone tensed.
“She’s looking at us!”
“Is she coming to cause trouble? Maybe we should run.”
Jiang Yunsui stepped forward. “Don’t worry. I’m not afraid.”
Someone immediately pulled her back.
“Of course you aren’t. You’re a newborn calf that doesn’t fear tigers. You aren’t afraid of anything.”
Everyone agreed. This child truly had enormous courage.
Hidden nearby, Ji Si agreed too.
Jiang Yunsui: That sounded like mockery!
As the elephant approached, the children hiding behind trees and bushes burst from cover.
“Run! She’s coming!”
They dragged Jiang Yunsui along.
“My shoe! I lost my shoe!”
She looked back as it receded into the distance.
“Forget your shoe!” Lin Ran shouted.
The children had practically hoisted Jiang Yunsui by her arms. Her feet dangled in the air, toes pointed without touching the ground.
Little Mushroom felt she had lost all dignity!
Only after leaving the forest did everyone relax.
They looked back. Good. The elephant had not followed.
“What about the calf?”
“We’ll come back another day. We have to rescue it when the mother isn’t here.”
“That elephant was terrifying. The ground shook when she walked.”
Though still frightened, the children found the encounter thrilling.
Today they had harvested honey and seen elephants.
They returned to the stockade chattering excitedly, only for joy to turn to sorrow.
Their parents stood waiting with bamboo switches and predatory expressions.
Any child who had been beaten before understood the situation.
Lin Lang drew a deep breath. “We’re done for. They found out.”
The others nodded gravely.
Jiang Yunsui blinked, still unaware of the danger.
“You little brat! Stop right there!”
In the next instant, parents charged after them, switches raised and curses flying.
The children surrounding Jiang Yunsui scattered in every direction.
“Father, Father, don’t hit me! We went for honey. We didn’t run wild or cause trouble!”
“Mother, I won’t do it again! I swear!”
“You brat! Get down here!”
“No! Go away first!”
Chaos erupted.
At first, Jiang Yunsui watched in confusion. Soon, she was enjoying the show.
Lin Lang shot up a tree like a rocket with his basket on his back and confronted his father, who stood below with a bamboo switch.
Lin Shitou howled for mercy while his mother twisted his ear.
Lin Ran raised her basket and shouted something in the local language. Jiang Yunsui could not understand, but guessed she was warning that the honey would spill if the pursuit continued.
Her parents valued that honey. It would sell for a good sum, so they did not chase too aggressively.
Some children were captured. Others continued sprinting away.
The spectacle made Little Mushroom bare her white teeth in delight.
“What? Do you want the full childhood experience too?”
A familiar voice spoke behind her. Jiang Yunsui turned and saw Song Jin standing with folded arms and a wicked grin.
She planted both hands on her hips, outrageously arrogant.
“If you hit me, I’ll tell on you and make Ji Yan’an beat you!”