'If only he could have stopped First Uncle from splitting the family, and Second Uncle from marrying into another family... With those two around, she couldn't even imagine what a wonderful life her family would be living now.'
'But it was too late to think about all that now. Eight hundred years too late.'
Someone bumped hard against her leg. It was Shou'an. He sniffled, sucking back the snot that was about to drip into his mouth, and wiped his muddy hands on her clothes.
In his other hand, he held a fat, squealing field mouse that was struggling for its life.
After a whole autumn of feasting, the field mice were too fat to run. Her family, on the other hand, had food for today's meal, but no idea where tomorrow's would come from.
Shou'an said, "Sis, where are Mom, Dad, Grandpa, and Grandma? Why is no one home? I'm starving! Sis, let's hurry home and eat. I was fast today and caught a field mouse. We can have Grandma cook it later, and we'll eat it together."
