Chapter 7: Going to School

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Jiang Cha was muttering to the tiger cub, while several experts wiped sweat from their brows.
"Um... young lady, you’re remarkably brave for your age! But now we must take this tiger cub with us."
They reached out to pick up the cub.
[Hah—]
Before their hands could touch it, the cub warned them with a fierce breath, then quickly nestled back into Jiang Cha’s arms.
Jiang Cha was both amused and exasperated. You’re a tiger, not a cat—where’s the ferocity of a tiger in that little face?
“Baby, you must be polite. You can’t hiss at people, okay? We’re all friends here. You can bite bad people, but these uncles are good people.”
She gently tapped the cub’s head, scolding it softly. The experts were about to say it was fine, they didn’t mind.
Instead, the cub turned its head with a look of grievance and softly called out to them.
[Sorry...]
They didn’t understand animal language, only hearing a sound like a “meow.” Jiang Cha nodded with relief. “Good baby!”
“It doesn’t want to go with you. How about I take it home first, and then tomorrow morning we return the cub to its mother?”
The experts exchanged glances, their eyes nearly popping out.
What was going on? Wild animals usually detest human contact, so how was this cub treating Jiang Cha like its mother? That defied all logic!
Looking again at the cub clinging tightly, they sighed.
“Alright then, young lady, thank you for your effort. Remember, the wild instincts of a tiger are hard to erase. If you take it home, make sure to keep it in a proper place. We’ll come to your house tomorrow morning.”
One middle-aged man wearing glasses smiled warmly and pulled a square card from his bag.
“Miss, I’m Liu Zhiyuan from the Forestry Department and also the leader of this expedition. If you ever need anything, you can call this number.”
Jiang Cha took the card, her eyes widening. Wow, such a big position!
Song Bo narrowed his eyes watching her stare at the card. Jiang Dazhu was never kind to those around him, so Jiang Cha had never been to school. How did she recognize characters?
He didn’t pry or get overly curious; after escorting Jiang Cha and the cub home, he left as well.
There was no food at Jiang Cha’s home, so she reluctantly let the cub go into the nearby rainforest to find some.
She assumed the cub was too young to hunt, but within minutes it returned carrying two wild chickens in its mouth.

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Jiang Cha slaughtered both chickens and built a small fire at the door to roast two simple version of Beggar’s Chicken.
Zheng Xiaozhen and Jiang Yun, drawn by the aroma, came out surprised—and hungry.
The three of them and the tiger cub enjoyed a hearty late-night meal. Villagers often hunted wild chickens and rabbits in the rainforest, but due to poachers targeting protected animals, hunting was now forbidden.
This was the first time in many days Jiang Cha had tasted meat; tears nearly welled in her eyes.
The cub immediately declared it would practice hunting diligently and bring Jiang Cha wild chickens every day.
While they slept peacefully, the tiger mother was restless all night, exhausted and listless.
It wasn’t until she saw Jiang Cha carrying the cub into the forest the next day that her spirit revived.
Behind Jiang Cha were several strangers; the tiger mother grew wary.
Jiang Cha spoke first, “Mimi, don’t be afraid. They’re all good people here to help me return the cub. See? None of them carry guns.”
Except for Song Bo, whose expression remained unchanged, the others’ faces showed a colorful array of emotions.
They had thought it hard enough to get the cub to obey Jiang Cha, but now even the tiger mother listened to her. They were utterly astonished.
This young girl always brought surprises—she seemed to communicate effortlessly with wild animals.
[Human, is my cub unharmed?!]
[I’m not hurt, Mama!]
The cub replied eagerly, struggling to get down from Jiang Cha’s arms.
Jiang Cha set the cub on the ground, and it wobbled clumsily into its mother’s embrace.
[Child, as long as you’re safe, that’s what matters.]
The tiger mother gently licked the cub, then looked at Jiang Cha with warmth.
[Thank you, human. As a token of gratitude, I’ll tell you something: for days now, a group of people has been coming up the mountain from the rainforest. They enter empty-handed but leave carrying large bundles. They all carry guns. I only dare watch from afar. Those people are definitely trouble.]
With that, she slowly walked deeper into the forest with her cub. Before leaving, the cub turned back and cheerfully called out,
[Sister, I’ll bring you wild chickens every day!]
Jiang Cha kissed the cub and watched the mother and child disappear, her expression darkening.
A group of armed people entering the forest? They were surely poachers.

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“Jiang, you look unhappy,” Liu Zhiyuan said, adjusting his glasses. On the way back, he had suggested applying for a reward for Jiang Cha. She had seemed happy then—so why the sour expression now?
Jiang Cha snapped out of it and looked at them. She couldn’t handle this alone. They were armed and clearly prepared.
“Uncle Liu, I think someone is stealing from the mountain—and they’re armed.”
Liu Zhiyuan and the others immediately grew serious. “What? Jiang, where did you hear this?”
She couldn’t say she communicated with the tiger and heard it from the animal itself! Who would believe that?
Especially in this isolated village—rumors could twist it into something else, and she might even be sent away as mentally unstable.
Song Bo sensed her dilemma and instinctively covered for her.
“We actually saw it yesterday when we arrived. There were many people with guns, and we didn’t dare intervene.”
This was still the 1970s; people were generally simple and trusting. The others believed the story immediately.
Song Bo was the son of Secretary Song Yingjie, a man of integrity. The others had once worked with him.
They had even lamented when Song Yingjie was transferred to develop this village.
Liu Zhiyuan pondered. “Alright, I’ll report this and seek approval. If the information is true, they’ll send someone to investigate.”
He looked at Jiang Cha again. He liked this clever, brave, kind-hearted girl—she had great potential.
“Jiang, I heard from the secretary you’ve never been to school. That won’t do. I’ll apply to send you to school as your reward—tuition fully covered. How about that?”
Jiang Cha’s smile froze. School?
She had only just escaped the confines of school in her past life a few years ago, and now she was back? What kind of nightmare was this?!
Liu Zhiyuan mistook her wry smile for delight. After all, not everyone here could attend school; even the six yuan annual tuition was a heavy burden for many families.
He patted her shoulder cheerfully. “Comrade Jiang, you’re very lucky. You must study hard!”
Heh, lucky? I’d like to see you take this ‘luck’!