Chapter 5, this child's cries can attract wolves

My father was at a loss with me, so he could only laugh and then beckoned us to leave again. However, just as we were about to get up, suddenly from the bushes where the little monkey and the chubby girl had just appeared, a gray wild beast sprang out with a "slip". It had a long tongue and bright green eyes

As I locked eyes with the pitiful little monkey, I suddenly realized that the monkey which had thrown stones into the stream to save me when I was drowning that day was among them. If that is the case, then those monkeys captured by the trappers just now were indeed my saviors. The thought filled me with immense regret. I glanced at my father, then at myself, pondering how sturdy those fellows looked. However, if I were to go back and call the young men from Longjialing and Tianjiaba, carrying hoes, I wondered if they could stop them.

This little head is fluffy, yellow with a hint of gray. Looking down, there are a pair of shiny, round black eyes staring directly at me. Upon seeing this wrinkled, tender monkey face, I realized it was a surviving little monkey, a fish that slipped through the net. The monkey catchers earlier, whether out of pity or simply not noticing it, had left it behind. Now, seeing the empty, desolate ground in the forest, it couldn't help but make a sound: "Chirp, chirp..."

I was thinking to myself, and after walking just a mile or two, I constantly felt that something had happened behind us. At first, it was just me, but later even my father and mother sensed it. My mother, who is not very educated and is quite superstitious, said, "Hey, Old Chen, do you feel it? Could it be that a mountain spirit is following us?"

This last sentence was unexpectedly shouted directly from my lungs. I turned to look behind me and saw a small black shadow following us. Suddenly, it popped out, startling my father. My father is an educated man and is somewhat nearsighted, but I could see clearly that this black shadow was none other than the little monkey we had thrown behind us earlier. Upon seeing it, I ran over with great joy, and the little monkey also excitedly chattered, jumping onto my shoulder to lick the blood-soaked fish scale.

My father has studied a bit of traditional Chinese medicine and believes that "everything has a spirit," so he talks in a way that frightens the monkeys. However, he has never actually harmed anything—he has never even killed a chicken in his life; that has always been done by my mother. He is very kind-hearted.

The little monkey squatted on my shoulder. I have not been in good health since childhood, a condition I have carried since birth, being thin and frail. However, this little creature is even thinner, its body curled up to the point that it is not much larger than my head. I cannot see its appearance, but I can hear it seemingly grinning at my father, emitting that short, sharp squeak again.

Although my father felt insecure deep down, as the head of the family, he could only muster his courage, tightly grasp the axe, and said: "Nonsense, where did these mountain spirits come from? I have been in Mali Mountain for over ten years and have never seen them... Ah!"

I ran excitedly to my parents, carrying this little monkey, to tell them about my decision. My father immediately frowned and said no, expressing his disapproval. I was determined not to back down, but what could a child do in such a situation? All I could do was cry, so I started wailing. At first, I didn't feel much, but when I looked at the little monkey's wrinkled face on my shoulder, it became increasingly ugly in my eyes, which made me sad, and tears began to flow uncontrollably. All I could do was cry, so I started wailing. At first, I didn't feel much, but when I looked at the little monkey's wrinkled face on my shoulder, it became increasingly ugly in my eyes, which made me sad, and tears began to flow uncontrollably.

Monkeys and humans are quite similar in appearance; even the hungriest person would not consider them as food. Moreover, the monkeys in Mali Mountain are very spirited and have a volatile temperament, so it is best to keep a distance from them.

My father did not pay attention to the little monkey, and as he touched the machete at his waist, he was about to leave. However, for some unknown reason, the little monkey that had just been caught suddenly leaped onto my shoulder and began to lick the large patch of fish scales on my neck with its soft tongue. Upon realizing that this little monkey was my savior, I was no longer afraid of it; instead, I found it amusing and reached out to tease it. It bared its teeth at me, and I laughed. I then noticed that the fish scales on my neck, which had been burning hot, felt cool and smooth after it licked them.

When the little monkey climbed onto my shoulder and the *picture* book, I made a decision that would impact my entire life – I wanted to adopt it

The little monkey suddenly jumped over, and I was not frightened; however, my father was taken aback. He thought the monkey regarded us as the enemies who had kidnapped its parents and wanted to take revenge on us. Thus, he raised the hatchet and said, "Hey, don't act recklessly! My hatchet is quite formidable; do you want me to chop you with it?"

I said I don't care, just chubby girl, chubby girl, chubby girl ... ...

I also shouted, "Father, the last time I was pulled into the water by that water ghost, it was this little monkey and a few big monkeys that drove that ghost away"

My father is overly anxious, but my mother has noticed that this little monkey means no harm to me. She stopped my father and said, "Old Chen, why are you so nervous? Can't you see that the little monkey is getting along well with Er Dan?"

My father appears tough on the surface, but he is soft-hearted. After a couple of persuading attempts, he surrendered, sternly saying, "Alright, alright, stop crying. If you cry any more, you might attract the wolves." If you are willing to take responsibility for it, then keep it; anyway, I won't take care of it. My father was fuming, but I was overjoyed, nearly bursting with excitement. I jumped up and shouted, and the little monkey jumped down to join me. Seeing this skinny monkey, I happily said to my mother, "Mother, from now on, it will be called Fatty, and I will definitely feed it until it is plump!" My father was fuming, but I was overjoyed, nearly bursting with excitement. I jumped up and shouted, and the little monkey jumped down to join me. Seeing this skinny monkey, I happily said to my mother, "Mother, from now on, it will be called Fatty, and I will definitely feed it until it is plump!"

My father is a barefoot doctor in the mountains, and he considers himself a cultured person, earning considerable respect from others. He is quite authoritative in his words and actions, and I am somewhat afraid of him. Although I am extremely reluctant in my heart, I can only be dragged along by him as we climb towards the main peak ahead. As I climb, I think to myself, "Little monkey, just wait. Once my brother Erdan finishes treating patients and comes back, I will steal sweet potatoes from home every day to feed you, until you burst like a starving ghost reincarnated into a turtle."

Hearing the advice from my mother and me, my father finally felt relieved and put away the hatchet. He is a sincere man, and upon realizing that this little monkey was the savior of his own son, he took half a piece of boiled sweet potato from the bamboo basket behind him, extended it towards the little monkey, squatted down, and murmured, "Please do not hold it against us for not intervening in what just happened. Those people were very fierce; one of them could easily deal with the three of us. We cannot afford to provoke them, and we are truly sorry."

My father sincerely apologized to the little monkey. Strangely, the little creature seemed to understand, as it jumped down directly and took the half piece of sweet potato to eat

Upon hearing these words, I stopped in my tracks and turned to go back, but my father caught me by the arm and scolded me sternly: "You little rascal, you can't even take care of your own life, why are you concerned about that little monkey?"

However, it is not I who holds the authority in our family, but my father, Chen Zhi-li. He originally anticipated that the chicken meant for slaughter would not be taken away, looking forward to another meat feast at home. Instead, he discovered it was merely a small monkey, which left him somewhat disappointed

My mother glanced down at me, pursed her lips, and after a moment of thought, she finally told me that it might have something to do with books

My father stood up, as we needed to set off on our journey, so he did not linger long. He adjusted the bamboo backpack on his shoulder and then led my mother and me towards Wuguniang Mountain.

My mother can no longer tolerate me like this, so she advised my father, saying, given that he is already like this, would it really hurt to indulge him just this once?

Seeing me so happy, my mother, with a slightly bitter expression, also broke into a smile. However, my father was still angry, directing his ire at that little monkey. Upon closer inspection, I noticed a small bird, which, in its anger, pecked me on the forehead, claiming that the monkey was male

This cry is brief and urgent, resembling a mournful wail. I do not know what is happening, but it feels as if my heart is stuffed with thatch.

I saw this little monkey eating in such a hurry that it nearly choked, rolling its eyes in distress, which made me feel a bit sad. Sweet potatoes are the least oily food; once they are in the stomach, it doesn't take long before a fart releases everything. Eating them occasionally is fine, but if consumed in excess, one feels lightheaded. I don't like them; I have never liked them since childhood. However, my family was poor, so there was no choice. I didn't expect this monkey to enjoy them so much.

The half piece of sweet potato my father gave me was quite large, and the little monkey was eating it, completely ignoring us and letting us leave on our own. It paid no attention to us, yet I felt a bit lost, always sensing a close bond with that little monkey, as if it were my younger sibling. I couldn't help but keep looking back, and even until its shadow disappeared at the edge of the forest, I remained worried. I asked my mother if the little monkey, having lost its parents, would starve to death.