Being praised, the little girl’s face flushed red, and she stood frozen, unable to say a word.

“Princess, please don’t praise her too much. Back when her father was still here, she used to go fishing with him whenever there was nothing else to do.”

“It’s not really a talent — she’s just a little luckier than most.”

Madam Niu glanced at her daughter, a smile on her lips, though tears suddenly welled up in her eyes.

She looked away, trying to hide her sorrow.

“Mother, you should eat some porridge too.” The little girl scooped a bowl of porridge and brought it over to Madam Niu.

Madam Niu looked at her and frowned. “You eat. Come sit and eat with the Princess and the others.”

“I already ate.” The little girl smiled, set down the bowl, and took Madam Niu’s hand.

Madam Niu sat down and looked at the three guests at the table.

“Then I won’t stand on ceremony.” Feng Jiu’er picked up her bowl and raised it slightly.

Jian Yi also picked up his bowl, and Xiao Yingtao took her spoon and began eating, one mouthful at a time.

“Please, don’t be polite!” Madam Niu picked up the bowl in front of her as well.

Feng Jiu’er took a couple of bites, then looked at the little girl.

“Little sister, you should eat too. We can’t finish it all, and besides, this is the fruit of your own labor.”

“Mm-hm.” The little girl nodded, then turned. “I’ll go get a bowl.”

Everyone watched the people inside eating and didn’t want to disturb them; those who needed to leave left, while some still waited outside.

Feng Jiu’er finished her bowl of porridge quickly. The moment she set the bowl down, the little girl, who was still eating, immediately put down her own bowl too.

“Sister Princess, there’s still porridge — let me get you another bowl.”

“No need.” Feng Jiu’er shook her head at her. “I’ll be full once I finish this big sweet potato.”

“There’s no need to be polite, Princess! These are just wild sweet potatoes, not big at all. You should really have another bowl of porridge — it has fish in it, good for nourishing the body.” Madam Niu said with a smile on her face.

Just as she reached out to take the bowl in front of Feng Jiu’er, Feng Jiu’er covered it with her hand.

“There’s no need, Madam Niu. I really don’t need any more.”

She shook her head, stood up, and took Jian Yi’s bowl instead. “Just give Jian Yi a little more, that’s enough.”

“I don’t need any more either,” Xiao Yingtao said, gently setting down her spoon. “But little sister, the fish you caught is really delicious!”

“Thank you, sister.” The little girl finally came back to herself and smiled.

“Little sister, how did you catch this fish?” Xiao Yingtao broke open a sweet potato.

No one else could catch any, yet such a small girl had managed it — that surely wasn’t just luck.

“There are a lot of fish in the lake. I’m a good swimmer, and my mother doesn’t worry, so I go into the water and feel around for them.”

“Which lake has a lot of fish?” Xiao Yingtao asked, taking a bite of the sweet potato and looking up.

“It’s the lake up in the hills.” Little Xiao Hu came running in.

“Sister General, it’s the lake I told you about.”

“But it’s very dangerous there — only Sister Ya dares go there to catch fish.”

“I couldn’t help it,” Madam Niu said, pressing her lips together. “I also have to look after Pang Ya’s grandmother, so I don’t have time to keep watch over her.”

“Mother, I’m fine. Father always said I’m good in the water.” The little girl turned back and took her mother’s hand.

“Besides, if I don’t go catch fish, where would you and Grandmother get any meat?”

Feng Jiu’er looked at the girl with her wide, expressive eyes and slightly plump face, and couldn’t help feeling a pang of sympathy.

“Little Ya, if I ever have the chance to meet your father, I’ll make him choose again.”

“If he’s willing to come back, I’ll make sure he’s allowed to return, no conditions attached.”

The little girl stared at Feng Jiu’er for a moment without blinking, then stood up, walked over, and knelt down beside her.

“Thank you, Sister Princess. If you really do meet my father, please tell him — the Princess is a good person.”