As the saying goes, "once bitten, twice shy." It couldn't have been more true. Thinking about how Meizi had just been bitten by a snake, Juhua's legs suddenly started to itch. She couldn't help but glance around—the grassy patches, thickets, and bushes were all perfect hiding spots for snakes.
Seeing her reaction, Zhang Huai quickly gave her a reassuring look. He swept his foot through the grass to show her it was safe. Qingmu also took her arm and said, "Don't run around anymore. Just stick close behind us. A decent amount of bamboo shoots is enough; we don't have to fill an entire sack."
Juhua nodded. 'My life is more important,' she thought. 'The snake that bit Meizi probably wasn't highly venomous, or this folk remedy wouldn't have worked.' She had another worry. 'I was the one who suggested picking wild bamboo shoots. If something terrible happens to Meizi, her mother might blame me in her grief. It's common for people to lash out at others when they're distraught.'
