Chapter 33: You're Such a Little Fairy

Xiao Tangbao clapped her tiny hands, laughing and shouting with pure joy.

“Giggle… Fei-fei… bug-bug flying…!”

Her sweet, high-pitched laughter floated through the air like a melody.

The crowd—faces etched with despair—stared in stunned silence.

Their eyes snapped toward Old Su’s field.

“How… how did the locusts just fly off on their own? Without anyone chasing them?” someone stammered, voice trembling. “Could it be… they’re afraid of smoke?”

The unspoken thought hung heavy in the air—everyone was thinking it.

Then, as one, their gazes shifted—from the field to Xiao Tangbao.

In that moment, she wasn’t just a little girl. She was a fairy, glowing with innocence and wonder.

And fairies don’t care what mortals think.

With a face full of innocent delight, she kept piling on more leaves, sending thick clouds of smoke spiraling into the sky.

No—she wasn’t purifying the air. She was polluting it.

“Old Man Su!” he barked. “Get more fires going—quick!”

“Got it, Dad!”

Su Dahu and Su Erhu answered in unison, sprinting off to gather wood.

Before long, others followed suit, nerves taut but hearts racing. If this actually worked—if they could save the crops—then the whole village would survive.

Within minutes, flames flickered across the fields, dozens of bonfires blazing to life.

*Whirr-r-r…*

*Cough! Cough! Cough!*

The locusts, caught in the smoke, burst into frantic flight.

People coughed violently, choking on the fumes.

But the proof was undeniable: locusts *did* fear smoke.

Yet…

Even with all those fires combined, not one produced half as many locusts fleeing as the small fire beside Xiao Tangbao.

If they kept this up, the humans might pass out before the pests ever left.

“Su Elder,” wheezed Wang Fugui, wiping tears from his eyes, “why’s this different than before? Could it be… because your little daughter’s standing right by the fire?”

His words landed like a spark.

Everyone turned to look at Xiao Tangbao again—this time with something close to awe.

If only they could bring her to *their* fields… their crops might be saved too.

She really was blessed. Even the locusts seemed to avoid her.

Xiao Tangbao: …
She felt like a piece of sacred meat—everybody wanted a bite.

Ugh. She wasn’t some magical locust repellent.

Sighing inwardly, she kicked off her little shoes—no, she just started trotting again, her short legs bouncing as she dashed back to pull more leaves.

“Bug-bug… flying…!”

Her childish voice rang out, soft and clear—like a song from heaven.

Su Elder: …
The villagers: …

“Big Brother,” Su Elder called out, voice cracking with emotion, “go help your sister gather leaves from the shrubs!”

“Got it, Dad!” Su Dahu shouted, heart pounding so hard he nearly tripped over his own feet—taking a wobbly, zigzagging path toward the brush.

Now, Xiao Tangbao’s job was taken over by her big brother.

Leaves were tossed onto the fire—and instantly, thick black smoke poured into the sky, carrying a strange, sharp scent.

The locusts erupted from the ground in panic, flitting wildly through the air, dodging every wispy thread of smoke.

Even where no smoke was visible, the insects scattered as if chased by an invisible hand.

“Wang Fugui!” Su Elder cried, voice shaking with urgency. “Run—tell your father to gather everyone and start lighting fires across the village!”

Wang Fugui’s voice trembled. “I—I’m going, Su Elder!”

He turned and bolted down the dirt path, disappearing into the haze of smoke and hope.