Shi Sheng was cutting fish with a small knife, but his gaze involuntarily drifted towards Zuo Hua.
When he had been lying in the water earlier, the girl's soft body and unique fragrance had made his breathing falter.
Looking at the girl's clear, bright eyes again, he felt completely submerged in that clear spring, his heart pounding wildly.
He was sixteen this year, and he had never experienced such a strange feeling before.
Gamu, who was pickling fish nearby, nudged Zuo Hua with her arm. "Hey, Hua, don't you think Shi Sheng was so cool just now, cushioning your fall with his own body?"
Zuo Hua glanced at her and chided, "Gamu, remember, you're already engaged to Qingfeng Ge. You can't be fickle."
Gamu pouted, looking wronged. "Hua, what are you thinking? My heart only belongs to my Qingfeng Ge, and it will never change. I was talking about *you*. Do you think Shi Sheng is handsome?"
"I didn't... I didn't see," Zuo Hua said without looking up, her hands slowing down unconsciously.
Gamu leaned closer and said seriously, "Hua, I think Shi Sheng is ten thousand times better than Yan Shuo!
That scumbag Yan Shuo got engaged to someone else after only three months. It's a shame you're still thinking about him."
Zuo Hua's eyes welled up. "Gamu, can we not mention him?
I don't want anyone right now. I just want to go out and have fun. When we get back to Fengcheng, I'll finish the book my sister-in-law gave me. I want to study more and become the most capable female merchant in Qinghuang in the future."
"Mhm, ambitious!" Gamu clenched her fist in front of her. "But, it doesn't stop you from liking Shi Sheng just because you want to read and study.
I think Shi Sheng is more handsome, more responsible, and more manly than Yan Shuo.
Plus, he's your sister-in-law's cousin. If you two get together, it'll be a match made in heaven."
After speaking, Gamu glanced towards Shi Sheng and found him looking at Zuo Hua. Gamu's eyes gleamed, and she said happily, "There's hope!"
Zuo Hua took the pickled fish and placed it on the fire to roast, but Gamu walked directly towards Shi Sheng.
Shi Sheng immediately retracted his gaze.
Gamu sat beside him with a smile, teasing, "Shi Sheng, I saw you sneaking glances at me and Huahua just now. Were you peeking at me, or at Huahua?"
Shi Sheng's face instantly turned red.
Dali and Langya, who were beside him, stopped what they were doing and looked at Shi Sheng, then at Zuo Hua in surprise. After exchanging glances, they nodded in understanding: Well, there's hope!
It seemed their good brother had suddenly awakened and learned how to secretly look at girls!
Oh my, even a stone could blossom.
Back then, so many women had coveted Shi Sheng, but he had directly rejected them all.
Gamu had no intention of letting Shi Sheng off the hook. She chuckled and teased, "Shi Sheng, don't tell me you've taken a liking to me? It's no use, I already have my Qingfeng Ge."
Shi Sheng looked up at the thick-skinned girl and said helplessly, "Sorry, I wasn't looking at you."
"Not looking at me?" Gamu's eyes lit up. "Then you must be looking at my good sister, Huahua!"
"I..." Shi Sheng was speechless. How could he deny it? Lying wasn't the act of a good man.
Gamu slapped his shoulder with a "snap," delighted. "You have good taste. But if you want to pursue our Huahua, you'll have to take it slow. Huahua just went through a breakup."
"A breakup?" Shi Sheng and the other two exclaimed.
Seeing the three of them looking as if they had never seen the world, Gamu shook her head helplessly and told Shi Sheng about Zuo Hua and Yan Shuo.
After hearing this, Shi Sheng wasn't sad; instead, he happily curled his lips upwards.
It was good that Zuo Hua wasn't with that Yan guy. Perhaps it was fate for her to meet him.
Finally, all the fish and meat were roasted.
Everyone gathered around and ate heartily.
Baoyu, along with his wife and children, scavenged for scraps nearby. San Gouzi also seized the opportunity to snatch food from Lang's mouth.
Shi Sheng walked over to Zuo Hua and handed her a small fish, roasted to a golden brown and fragrant. He then sat down beside her with ease.
That spot was actually given up by Gamu for him.
Everyone watched the scene with ambiguous expressions, slightly surprised.
Bai Sheng and Zuo Ye exchanged a knowing smile.
Looking at them, Shi Sheng and Zuo Hua actually seemed very well-matched, even more so than when she was with Yan Shuo.
Zuo Ye looked gratified and whispered with a smile, "My darling, I like Shi Sheng more than Yan Shuo."
"Me too. I hope Hua Hua can move on soon and see how good Shi Sheng is," Bai Sheng said with a smile.
After finishing all the grilled fish and meat, everyone dispersed in small groups to play nearby.
A few children, including Zuo Yun, went to explore the forest, but after a short while, they ran out shouting, "Wa wa!"
As they ran, they yelled, "Big brother! Sister-in-law! Two tigers are fighting!"
Tigers fighting?!
Everyone looked at the children in surprise.
Zuo Ye stood up and said sternly, "Shi Sheng, Dali, Langya, take a headcount! Protect everyone!"
"Yes!" The three responded and began to gather everyone together.
Zuo Ye said to Bai Sheng, "My darling, wait for me here. I'll go take a look."
Bai Sheng pulled him back and smiled, "Husband, what's there to be afraid of with tigers? Let's go together, and bring Huahua."
Zuo Ye thought for a moment and smiled, "I forgot, our Huahua can command beasts."
Remembering Huahua, everyone was no longer afraid and ran together to watch the tiger fight.
In the forest, a striped tiger and a snow tiger lay on the ground, both gravely injured and on the verge of death.
Huahua wriggled out of Zuo Ye's embrace and walked directly towards the two tigers.
Zuo Ye was worried and wanted to follow, but Bai Sheng held him back.
The snow tiger sensed someone approaching and turned its head with difficulty.
Upon seeing Huahua, its already dim eyes suddenly flashed with a hint of light. It mustered all its strength and let out a low roar.
Huahua extended her fair little hand and stroked its head, comforting it in her childish voice, "Don't worry, I will take good care of it."
Everyone listened to Huahua and looked at her in disbelief.
Huahua turned around and said to Bai Sheng and Zuo Ye, "Mommy, Daddy, this white tiger mother wants me to raise its child for her."
Zuo Ye and Bai Sheng exchanged a glance and said gently, "Where is its child?"
Huahua looked around. "The tiger mother said it's nearby."
Zuo Ye then asked everyone to search the vicinity together. They finally found a newborn white tiger cub in a cave.
The little one was fluffy and very cute.
Zuo Ye picked up the little snow tiger and looked at Huahua. "Huahua, give the little tiger a name. When it grows up, it will protect you."
Huahua tilted her little face and looked at Zuo Ye. "Daddy, I won't need the little snow tiger to protect me when I grow up. I will protect it because it is my mount."
Bai Sheng stroked Huahua's little head and smiled, "Since it's Huahua's mount, Huahua should give it a name herself."
Huahua tilted her head, her bright, watery eyes turning as she thought. "Mommy, I want to call it Mao Mao."
"Okay, then Mao Mao. Mao Mao sounds very nice," Bai Sheng said, kissing Huahua.
When they returned to the military camp, the soldiers saw the great general holding a small, snow-white cub and ran over to join the fun.