Chapter 27: Digging for Wild Herbs in the Third Month
Having exhausted herself all day yesterday, Yuan Yao did not rise early today. Though she would have liked to indulge in a lazy morning, circumstances outside left no room for it. Aunt Dou’s voice calling at the gate came from outside; it was Jiang Nian who opened the door. Slapping her thigh as she entered, Aunt Dou walked in while asking, “Where is your sister-in-law?”
Yuan Yao had just gotten up as well. “What’s wrong, Aunt Dou?”
“Oh my heavens! You can still sleep? It’s chaos out there!”
Yuan Yao froze, thinking some great disaster had occurred and instantly frightened—yet to her surprise, as Aunt Dou’s mouth opened and closed with her words, Yuan Yao was left stunned once more.
“Is it really true…?”
“It’s true! Open the door and take a look!”
Yuan Yao, still half-asleep, went along. As soon as the main gate opened, sure enough, she saw quite a few people hurrying toward the Zhao household, as if rushing to witness some spectacle. These folks chatted and laughed among themselves, while Aunt Dou kept chattering incessantly beside her ear. Yuan Yao felt completely bewildered…
The gist of the situation was that Kong Shi had pushed open her door early in the morning, only to discover her own husband lying in bed together with Widow Zhao…
That scene was nothing short of scandalous!
Kong Shi instantly flew into a rage, grabbing whatever object came to hand to attack them. After Widow Zhao and Jiang Dasheng were startled awake, Widow Zhao immediately darted behind a cabinet to hide. Jiang Dasheng, however, grappled directly with Kong Shi. He even protected Widow Zhao fiercely; seeing Kong Shi determined to claw at Widow Zhao’s face, he actually slapped his own wife, knocking Kong Shi unconscious on the spot.
This truly was a grand spectacle, startling everyone in the entire alley and even those in the neighboring lanes.
Those who had been gossiping behind the Kong family’s back upon hearing they were moving to live with the Zhao family now scurried about like weasels in a melon patch. “What did I say? What did I say? She’s nothing but trouble!”
Widow Zhao was indeed bold and headstrong. Some women, seeing their own husbands rushing forward, hurried over to drag them back by the ears. Thus, the crowd of onlookers became mostly female, chattering away until they blocked the entrance to the Zhao residence completely.
Li Yingying happened to arrive just then; upon hearing the news, she was so shocked her jaw dropped. She had originally intended to tell Yuan Yao about Lady Kong following her the previous day, but the current shock made her forget that entirely.
Even the Liu family rarely came out to inquire, yet today they did. Sister Hongmei and Aunt Dou stood on tiptoe trying to see, while Grandma Liu sighed, “In the end, it is the children who suffer.”
Sure enough, when Jiang Fu and Jiang Gui saw their parents fighting, they rushed forward crying to break them up. Seeing this scene, Yuan Yao suddenly felt a pang of discomfort in her heart.
Granny Liu glanced at her and added, “Don’t overthink it; one reaps what one sows. This has nothing to do with you.”
Yuan Yao pressed her lips together and said nothing. In truth, she had indeed considered this possibility, but she hadn’t expected it to happen so soon. It seemed Jiang Dasheng could not control his lower body; such deeds might well have been frequent occurrences for him in the past.
When basic needs are met, one’s thoughts turn to other desires. Yuan Yao had assumed that if anything were to happen, it would only be after they had settled down. She never expected that just a few days after moving into the Zhao household, she would hear such shocking news.
It’s the same as before: although she felt some pity for the children, no one had ever pitied Jiang Song’an back then. Even if she had approached Widow Zhao with ulterior motives, she hadn’t bribed her with money; moreover, their rent was paid by her own family. Yuan Yao felt no guilt whatsoever. Taking it to the extreme, was it she who had forced those two onto the same bed? Ridiculous.
However, Yuan Yao no longer had any mood to watch the spectacle. Kong Shi seemed to have gone mad; under such circumstances, a person could do anything, and might even come to vent her fury on Yuan Yao. Thus, she took all the children back home, instructing them not to go out today no matter what happened, and then sent someone to the county town to deliver a message to Jiang Song’an.
This incident had escalated too far. Once Jiang Song’an learned of it, he would surely return. Dou Shen and Li Yingying also realized this; they stopped watching the commotion and returned together with Yuan Yao to the Jiang family courtyard.
“Sister-in-law, don’t worry. Jiang Dasheng certainly won’t dare show up now. And even if Kong Shi comes, we are here with you.”
“Exactly. Sister-in-law, I’ll go say hello to my cousin now!”
Yuan Yao smiled gratefully. “Thank you both.”
Not long after, someone indeed knocked at the door. Fortunately, it was not Kong Shi but Wu Shi who had come.
Yuan Yao breathed a deep sigh of relief and hurriedly welcomed Wu Shi inside. “Auntie.”
Wu Shi said, “You’ve heard about it, haven’t you? Everyone in our neighborhood knows!”
Auntie Dou: “This matter wouldn’t have escalated so badly if not for Kong Shi, who’s acting completely mad now—everyone knows it!”
Mrs. Wu sat down and got straight to the point: “My husband has also heard about this, so he immediately sent me to ask: what are your thoughts?”
Yuan Yao replied, “There’s definitely no staying there anymore. If Kong Shi is willing to return to Naiguo Village, that would work—the children are innocent.”
Mrs. Wu: “That’s exactly what I thought. If she hadn’t been so greedy, insisting on keeping the house in town, everything would’ve been settled long ago back in Naiguo Village! Alright then, I’ll tell my husband to clear out a room as soon as possible so she can move back immediately. But that’s all we can do; whether she agrees or not depends entirely on her!”
Yuan Yao nodded. “That makes sense, but I’ll still have to trouble you to step in… This matter of ours has caused you so much trouble that I feel truly embarrassed.”
“There’s no need for such words between our two families. To be honest, when you asked Widow Zhao to come over, I suspected something, though I didn’t expect things to unfold so quickly. But ultimately, this is no one’s fault but his own; he brought this upon himself.”
Yuan Yao lowered her eyes. “I will still pay her the rent.”
Wu Shi sighed. “Let’s leave it at that for now! I’ll go speak with Kong Shi and try to persuade her, lest this matter escalates further. Besides, I’ll also look into what’s happening with Zhao Hong!”
“Then many thanks to you, Auntie.”
..
In the afternoon, news arrived from Wu’s household. Kong had taken Jiang Fu and Jiang Gui back to Naiguo Village, where they had temporarily been allotted a room in an old house. As for Jiang Dasheng, he surprisingly seemed unwilling to leave, insisting on staying at the Zhao family home. The whole affair had become utterly unsightly, with neighbors gossiping about all sorts of things.
Yuan Yao felt equally embarrassed. After Li Yingying and Aunt Dou left that afternoon, she ultimately couldn’t hold herself back and went to visit Widow Zhao.
At this moment, there were hardly any people left at the Zhao house; Jiang Dasheng wasn’t there either. When Widow Zhao saw her, she showed not the slightest surprise, instead smiling and saying, “Even if you hadn’t come looking for me, I would have gone to find you.”
Yuan Yao was momentarily stunned. Zhao Hong seemed completely unaffected by the rumors; she swayed her hips as she approached and said, “Sister, I suppose I’ve helped you this time, but I did it willingly, so I won’t charge you.”
Yuan Yao: “…”
After holding back for a long while, Yuan Yao finally couldn’t help but ask, “Sister Hong, what do you hope to gain from this?”
Zhao Hong paused, then burst into hearty laughter. “Sister, you’re truly adorable. What is there to gain? Just mutual desire and pleasure. You’re blessed—Jiang Song’an is both capable and considerate. Unlike me, all alone… And besides…”
Zhao Hong winked. “That Jiang Dasheng may not compare to your Jiang Song’an, but he’s still a Jiang man. None of the Jiang men are bad-looking. Kong Shi is simply foolish; she doesn’t know how to manage her husband. And furthermore… that fellow is quite well-endowed.”
Zhao Hong smiled brightly, leaving Yuan Yao so flustered that it took her a while to grasp the meaning of those words. Instantly, Yuan Yao’s face flushed crimson.
Zhao Hong burst into laughter: “I never expected you to be so thin-skinned! Really… Here, take this rent money back; I won’t accept it from you. You barely stayed two days, and besides, this matter indirectly caused you some trouble. If I still took your rent, what kind of person would I be? Take it, take it! Don’t worry about this anymore; I have everything under control.”
Since Zhao Hong had spoken so firmly, Yuan Yao found no room to argue further. Unable to persist, she awkwardly returned home.
Long after returning, the blush on her cheeks still hadn’t faded. Truly…
In short, the day had been chaotic and tumultuous. Yuan Yao retired for the night with mixed emotions, uncertain whether Jiang Song’an would return tomorrow..
–
Early the next morning, Yuan Yao could no longer sleep from the hour of Mao onward, constantly pondering what to do next; and the very thing she had feared finally came to pass.
Kong Shi had likely been too stunned to react properly yesterday, but now, a day later, having regained her senses, she could endure it no longer. At dawn, she came banging on their door. Yuan Yao heard several loud thuds, as if someone had thrown something into the courtyard, and immediately rolled out of bed and rushed outside.
At the same time, Jiang Nian rushed out as well. Just as Yuan Yao stepped outside, she discovered that Lady Kong was actually hurling stones into the courtyard—large chunks of them, thrown recklessly and smashing everywhere. While throwing them, she cursed, “You little slut! Come out here!”
Jiang Nian instantly flew into a rage. He dashed forward to shield Yuan Yao and shouted, “Have you gone mad? If you keep throwing things around, we’ll report you to the authorities!”
“Go ahead and report it! You’re an ungrateful wretch too! I raised you for seven or eight years, only to have all my efforts go to the dogs! Not a single decent person in your entire Jiang family!”
Kong Shi was clearly furious, her curses growing increasingly vicious. The three sisters all came out, and neighbors from the Liu family next door, along with Aunt Dou, opened their doors as well.
“If you have something to say, speak properly! What do you think you’re doing throwing things?”
“Throwing things? So what? Yuan Yao, you wretch, come out here! I’m going to beat you!”
The three sisters were equally enraged. Yuan Li immediately rushed into the middle of the courtyard, picked up a stone from the ground, and hurled it back: “If you keep throwing things, don’t expect me to hold back! Don’t come crying if you get hit!”
Yuan Yao, fearing that Yuan Li would get hurt, quickly stepped forward to pull her sister back while shouting toward the door, “Kong Shi, if you promise not to harm anyone, I can still talk things over with you. But if you keep stubbornly acting like this, I will truly report you to the authorities.”
“Go ahead and report me! You little slut! Wasn’t it your idea to have us move into the Zhao family’s home in the first place? Are you and Zhao Hong in cahoots? Your shameless schemes seem endless! There’s nothing left for us to discuss!”
Yuan Yao shook her head. Kong Shi continued smashing things. After ensuring all the children were safely settled, Yuan Yao prepared to go out and confront Kong Shi herself. Aunt Dou and Sister Hongmei were outside trying to hold Kong Shi back, but when the gate of the Jiang family courtyard opened, even the two women couldn’t restrain her. Shouting wildly, Kong Shi charged straight at Yuan Yao. Only then did everyone realize that Kong Shi was actually carrying a razor blade on her person—she had clearly lost her mind and was ready to destroy everything, even at the cost of her own life!
Everyone gasped in shock! Instinctively, Yuan Yao tried to dodge backward, but everything happened so suddenly that her lower back slammed hard against the door handle. She let out a muffled groan. As Kong Shi’s face drew nearer and nearer, suddenly a figure darted out from one side, grabbed Kong Shi from behind, and flung her forcefully aside. Kong Shi tumbled heavily to the ground.
Before anyone could notice, Jiang Song’an had returned. His face was ashen as he stared fixedly at Kong Shi: “What do you think you’re doing!”
The three sisters and Jiang Nian rushed out immediately, hurriedly supporting Yuan Yao.
Kong Shi first froze in shock, then threw herself onto the ground and began wailing shamelessly: “Heavens above!! Why is my fate so bitter! I can’t go on living, I can’t go on living!! Just kill me then! Go ahead and kill your own aunt!!!”
“Not a single good soul in the entire Jiang family! Your wife is no better either! Regardless of anything else, I raised you for two years! And Jiang Nian too—I cared for him for over seven years! Even if I deserve no credit, surely I merit some acknowledgment for my hardships! Let all the villagers come and judge this! This is what the Jiang family has become! Oh, how bitter my fate…”
Jiang Song’an’s chest heaved with fury, yet his first instinct was not to confront her. Instead, he hurried to Yuan Yao’s side: “Yao Yao, are you alright?”
Upon seeing him, Yuan Yao suddenly felt a sense of calm settle within her. She quickly shook her head, and only then did the couple turn their gaze toward Kong Shi. This time, before Jiang Song’an could say a word, Grandma Liu, unable to bear it any longer, stepped forward. Though her voice was aged, it carried grave seriousness: “Kong Chunhua, there is no need for you to create such a disturbance here. We all lived in the same village back then; I know the truth about what happened to the Jiang family years ago! You know perfectly well how Song’an’s father died. If your eldest brother hadn’t risked his life to save you that year, your husband might not have survived to this day! The one who became a widow was you, Kong Chunhua! Not to mention how you later moved into your eldest brother’s house and took over his land!”
“One must act with conscience! You couple lived in their home, and he lost his life saving you. Raising your eldest brother and sister-in-law’s orphaned children properly is the very foundation of being human! Yet look at you: as soon as Dalang turned sixteen, you heartlessly sent him off to military service! When Erlang suffered a high fever during the famine migration, you cruelly abandoned him in the freezing snow! As for Sanlang, whom you raised until thirteen, he isn’t even as tall as your own son! And you still have the audacity to speak of gratitude! Kong Chunhua! Have some shame!”
After Grandma Liu finished speaking, those around who were unaware of the Jiang family’s past let out sighs of disdain. Some had previously felt a degree of sympathy for Lady Kong, but now that sympathy had completely vanished, replaced entirely by contempt!
Granny Liu continued speaking, “Let’s talk about this time. Erlang survived against all odds back then, worked hard over the years to settle down in Shenmu Town, and got married. You haven’t even let them enjoy a few days of peaceful life before showing up again. You claim you’ve committed sins, but I say it’s Erlang who has suffered a bitter fate! You know very well what intentions brought you back this time! As for your husband, staying in their house was due to his own lack of self-control; what does that have to do with Erlang and his wife?! If you truly had any capability, you wouldn’t be acting crazily here! Go back and manage your own husband!”
After Granny Liu finished, the neighbors began echoing her sentiments. Aunt Dou also stepped forward, spitting on the ground, “Granny Liu is absolutely right! Both of you are more wicked than the other! Having forgotten the basic principles of being human, you still have the audacity to cause a scene here! Hurry up, pack your things, and get out! Don’t embarrass yourselves any further!”
As the neighbors exchanged remarks one after another, Kong Shi’s voice gradually diminished. However, being thick-skinned, she merely stood there panting heavily. At this moment, Jiang Song’an stepped forward, his voice low yet resonant, saying, “Since all our fellow villagers are present today, let me make some things clear. Although my father did not divide the family estate before passing away, and I have always lived with my second uncle, so many years have gone by that I do not wish to bring up past matters again. However, from this day forward, our two families shall have no further connection whatsoever! Jiang Nian is my biological younger brother, and from now on, he will live with me. Let today’s villagers bear witness for my family! I no longer have a second uncle or a second aunt!”
“Excellent!” The neighbors erupted in unanimous approval!
After Jiang Song’an finished speaking, he paid no further attention to Kong Shi and led Yuan Yao along with his family back to their small courtyard. Though Kong Shi felt resentful, she dared not confront Jiang Song’an directly; after all, he was no longer the abandoned little boy he once had been.
..
Inside the Jiang family’s small courtyard.
“Brother-in-law is back.” Although Yuan Shuang also worried about her elder sister, she sensibly took the children back to her own room. In the main house, Yuan Yao and Jiang Song’an sat together; Jiang Song’an needed to apply medicine to the lower part of her back.
“Let me see—did you get hurt there?”
Yuan Yao shook her head. “It’s nothing, just a minor bump; it doesn’t even hurt anymore. Did you receive my message?”
Jiang Song’an gave a slight nod. “I got it yesterday afternoon. I originally planned to rush back last night, but there wasn’t a single vehicle available. I managed to catch a ride early this morning instead.”
Yuan Yao quickly asked, “What are your thoughts on this matter?”
Jiang Song’an’s expression remained calm. “I haven’t given it much thought. He brought it upon himself; it has nothing to do with us.”
Yuan Yao thought for a moment and said, “But there must be some resolution. I have an idea; let me know if you think it will work.”
While applying medicinal oil to her, Jiang Song’an asked, “Go on.”
“I don’t know much about Lady Kong, but I was thinking of asking Aunt Wu to inquire on our behalf. Earlier, I mentioned exchanging half a mu of land for rent. Now that she no longer lives here, I am willing to pay to buy back both the farmland and the homestead site, on the condition that she returns your and Xiaonian’s household registration documents.”
Jiang Song’an paused in his movements and looked at her. Yuan Yao felt slightly embarrassed. “Am I being too calculating toward her? With so many refugees around, if she doesn’t wish to stay here, she would lose these fields and land for nothing. I’m willing to compensate her with silver, so she shouldn’t suffer any loss, right?”
Jiang Song’an: “Actually, there’s no need; I…”
“I know what you’re going to say. Even after all these years, her household registration document won’t cause much trouble anymore. But Xiaonian is different. Once spring arrives, I’d like to send her to school as well. It would be best to retrieve it. Of course, if she’s unwilling, I won’t give her money to exchange for it.”
Jiang Song’an paused thoughtfully before replying, “Alright, I’ll do as you say.”
Yuan Yao smiled. “We’re not done yet. When you have time, please visit your second uncle and ask him what he truly intends. I feel Kong Shi is merely acting out of resentment, but if your second uncle remains stubborn and refuses to turn back, Kong Shi might actually leave. Once we tie up these loose ends, we’ll truly have no more entanglements with them. Agreed?”
Jiang Song’an had finished applying the medicine to Yuan Yao. Setting down the bottle, he drew her into his embrace. “You’ve considered everything so thoroughly; what right have I not to listen? Everything shall be as my lady commands.”
Yuan Yao smiled and pinched him. “Enough with the smooth talk. You must be tired from the journey; come eat.”
Jiang Song’an smiled and nodded.
After Jiang Song’an and Yuan Yao returned to their room, Kong Shi slunk away. That afternoon, Jiang Song’an indeed went to see Jiang Dasheng.
The main reasons for seeking him out were twofold: first, to inquire about his plans as Yuan Yao wished; and second, more importantly, to make it clear that the two families would have no further dealings with each other.
It seemed Jiang Dasheng had been utterly bewitched by Widow Zhao, for he agreed without hesitation. He even claimed that he had never wanted to come here in the first place; had it not been for Kong Shi’s insistence, he would not have stayed. Yet, he expressed no regrets, for here he had found the woman of his dreams, Yunyun. Jiang Song’an paid no heed to such nonsense; he had already grasped the essence of the matter. It appeared Jiang Dasheng truly had no desire to return and wished to remain with Widow Zhao.
After turning to leave, Jiang Song’an arranged for this news to reach Kong Shi’s ears. As expected, she caused another uproar at home that very night, before finally losing all hope and declaring her intention to take her son back to Longzhou.
This was precisely the statement Yuan Yao had been waiting for. She immediately invited Lady Wu to intervene and clearly convey her own intentions.
The price she offered was hardly low: five taels of silver in exchange for the farmland. It was not long before Lady Wu returned with good news—Kong Shi had agreed.
Moreover, they actually handed over the household registration documents for Jiang Nian and Jiang Song’an.
Only when Yuan Yao received them did the heavy burden on her heart finally lift. She acted decisively, immediately paying the required sum. With Lady Wu and the village head serving as intermediaries, both parties affixed their fingerprints to the agreement, eliminating any possibility of future disputes.
Yuan Yao was highly satisfied with this outcome. Upon learning of it, Aunt Dou and Old Woman Liu praised her shrewd handling of matters. Now that Jiang Song’an’s official household registration was securely in hand, Yuan Yao began contemplating acquiring several more mu of farmland all at once! By capitalizing on this distribution, they would finally possess landed property of their own!
Jiang Song’an therefore immediately went to see the village head. Of course, Village Head Zhao had indeed rendered their family considerable assistance throughout this ordeal. Yuan Yao was not someone unaware of gratitude; once everything was fully settled, she certainly intended to properly thank him.
It seemed that February was about to pass.
In mid-February, refugees began arriving in the city one after another; yet not even half a month had passed before Kong Shi departed again at the end of February, taking Jiang Fu and Jiang Gui with her.
Truly, they came in haste and left in haste. As for Jiang Dasheng, he indeed never left, spending all his days mingling with the Zhao family and Widow Zhao. He truly cared nothing for the whispers and pointing fingers of those around him, but as to what would ultimately become of these two, who could say?
All that is a story for another time.
–
By early March, Shenmu Town, which had endured a long, cold winter, finally began to breathe with the spirit of spring.
The streams broke free from ice, grasses grew tall, and orioles took flight; people shed their winter robes to till the fields. The settlement plan for this batch of refugees, including the final allocation of land, was officially announced. The homestead plots and farmland requested by the Kong family were granted—two mu of arable land plus one residential plot per household. Moreover, thanks to the village head’s special consideration and the fact that Jiang Nian was also classified as a refugee, the family received an additional mu of land. Thus, the Jiang family finally secured their landholdings in Shenmu Town.
Yuan Yao was overjoyed. The very day after receiving the deeds to the fields and the homestead, she could hardly wait to visit them. As it happened, Jiang Song’an was also at home, so the whole family agreed to go up the mountain together to dig for wild vegetables, taking the opportunity to inspect their new land along the way.
The mountains in March are already covered in green; the spring rains have coaxed bamboo shoots to sprout one after another from the earth. Yuan Yao, who had already been somewhat inclined toward the idea, felt her eyes instantly light up upon hearing Jiang Song’an mention that the hills also yielded termite mushrooms and other wild fungi. “Let’s go tomorrow!” she exclaimed. “We’ll climb the mountain to gather wild vegetables and bamboo shoots!”
A hint of amusement flickered in Jiang Song’an’s eyes. “But climbing the mountain is exhausting.”
“I’m not afraid of being tired,” Yuan Yao replied immediately, then turned to look at the three sisters and Jiang Nian. “Do you want to come?”
The three sisters had clearly been waiting for just such an invitation; they nodded eagerly with hopeful expressions. Jiang Nian, having grown up scrambling over these very hills, though not particularly enthusiastic himself, still patted his chest and declared, “I’ll take care of Sister A-Shuang and the younger sisters!”
Jiang Song’an smiled. “That works too. Let’s go to bed early tonight and set off at dawn!”
“Yay!”
Since they were heading up the mountain tomorrow, Yuan Yao happily prepared some rice balls that evening. This was a trendy way of eating in Chang’an City: shaping plain rice into compact balls with fillings tucked inside. Though similar to steamed buns in concept, the texture was entirely different—the rice remained loose and grainy. When Yuan Yao first tried making them, she hadn’t quite mastered the technique; only after learning to press them firmly did she succeed.
She hadn’t made many of these rice balls—just enough for everyone to have a taste. The most substantial and reliable option remained the large pan-fried buns; once fried in oil, they could last several days and would be ready to take along after reheating tomorrow morning.
Having prepared enough food for the entire family, Jiang Song’an had also drawn bathwater for her.
It was wonderful to have a man at home; even though the children went to bed early, Yuan Yao no longer felt lonely, as someone was always there with her. After turning off the kitchen lamp, she returned to their room. Jiang Song’an had just come out and said, “The water temperature is just right; go ahead.”
Yuan Yao glanced at his sweat-dampened shirt and suggested, “Why don’t you wash first?” She always felt somewhat embarrassed that Jiang Song’an used the leftover bathwater after her.
Jiang Song’an paused, his expression turning slightly peculiar: “You want to use the water left over from my bath?”
Yuan Yao also realized that the hot water at home indeed wasn’t enough for two people. Sigh, it was all because their stove and pot were so small.
Yuan Yao: “Pretend I didn’t say anything…”
Jiang Song’an caught her look of disdain and smiled. “There is actually a way to have the best of both worlds.”
Yuan Yao asked, “What?”
“Let’s bathe together.”
Yuan Yao: “…”
Jiang Song’an’s roguish expression resurfaced. Yuan Yao left him behind and turned away immediately. Jiang Song’an continued smiling, but his gaze gradually grew profound and meaningful. He had personally crafted her bathing tub back then; it was large and spacious, easily accommodating two people. With eyes dark and deep, he glanced several times toward the bathing room before slowly turning to head back inside.
After her bath, Yuan Yao’s cheeks remained flushed. It was unclear whether this was from the heat or embarrassment caused by Jiang Song’an’s earlier remark. When she returned to her room, Jiang Song’an was still in the courtyard, busy working with those bamboo strips, weaving something unknown.
“You go wash up. I’ve saved a tub of hot water for you. Stop weaving now; we need to go up the mountain tomorrow,” Yuan Yao said as she approached him.
Jiang Song’an looked up. “These are small bamboo baskets for A-Shuang and the others. This is the last one. Those children will surely be wild with excitement when we go up the mountain tomorrow.”
Hearing this, Yuan Yao’s interest was piqued. Only then did she notice the several small baskets already behind him; each one was exquisitely crafted, looking super cute and beautiful whether carried in the hand or on the arm. Yuan Yao’s eyes instantly lit up.
“One, two, three…” She counted. There were four children in the household in total; three had been finished, and the one in Jiang Song’an’s hands was the last…
She suddenly felt a pang of bitterness…
She wanted one too…
Jiang Song’an had just finished weaving the last one: “Done! I’m going to wash up!”
Yuan Yao let out a sour “mm,” and after Jiang Song’an left, she cast several envious glances at those exquisite, delicate little baskets, wishing more than anything that they were hers.
Hmph.
Yuan Yao snorted; Jiang Song’an hadn’t even considered her.
After setting down the small basket that didn’t belong to her, Yuan Yao silently returned to bed.
By the time Jiang Song’an emerged, Yuan Yao had already turned her back to him and climbed into bed. Watching her silhouette from behind, Jiang Song’an curved his lips slightly before extinguishing the lamp.
In the darkness, Jiang Song’an reached out as usual to pull her into his embrace. Yuan Yao awkwardly struggled twice, but the moment she moved, he held her even tighter. Her efforts were futile; soon enough, drowsiness overtook her, and she let him be.
..
Early the next morning, the weather was fine.
The three sisters and Jiang Nian got up early in the morning, chattering excitedly as they helped out in the courtyard, eager to head out. Since work on the mountain requires an early start, it was only Mao hour (5:00–7:00 AM), a time when the three sisters would usually still be asleep; their excitement today was clearly genuine.
Yuan Yao quickly prepared breakfast while Yuan Shuang helped her pack everything they needed. Jiang Song’an had long since made his own preparations. Once everyone had eaten their fill, the whole family set off together.
Just before departing, the little ones finally noticed the bamboo baskets in the courtyard. Except for Yuan Shuang, everyone was utterly thrilled. “Ahhh, so cute! Did you weave these, Brother-in-law?!”
Yuan Li was the most excited of all. Acting wildly with joy, she immediately slung a small bamboo basket over her shoulder and began spinning around the courtyard, making even Jiang Nian laugh.
Yuan Yao helplessly said, “Take it easy, or you’ll bump your head in a moment!”
Everyone picked up their small bamboo baskets, ready to head out. With Jiang Song’an around, Yuan Yao didn’t need to carry anything at all. Though the children excitedly held their little baskets, they were empty inside. Seeing everyone so happily preparing to leave, Yuan Yao felt a pang of bitterness in her heart.
But the next instant, Yuan Yao’s vision darkened as something was placed over her head. Before she could react, the children exclaimed in unison, “Wow!”
“What a beautiful little conical hat!”
Yuan Yao was startled, then reached up to touch the top of her head. Taking it off to look, she realized it was indeed a small bamboo-woven conical hat. It was clearly brand new, and compared to the coarse ones most villagers wore, this one was noticeably more delicate and exquisite. Every single bamboo strip had been polished smooth and flat, ensuring it would never scratch the hand. At the sight of such a beautiful little hat, Yuan Yao’s eyes instantly lit up!
“It’s lovely. When did you weave this?” Her gaze fixed on Jiang Song’an, her eyes sparkling like stars. She hadn’t noticed it at all last night; this man had kept his skills remarkably well hidden.
Jiang Song’an’s lips curved ever so slightly, almost imperceptibly. “I made it up in my spare time.”
Ambiguous.
Yuan Yao curled her lips slightly.
But in the next instant, Jiang Song’an, as if performing a magic trick, produced another basket. This was no longer the pretty-but-useless small shoulder basket like the ones Yuan Shuang and the others had, but a small bamboo basket that could be worn on the back!
If Yuan Yao had been only slightly happy just a moment ago, now she was utterly delighted!
This was exactly what she needed!
After all, every time they went to town, Sister Hongmei and Aunt Dou would carry those large bamboo baskets, but those were truly too big, too heavy, and far too cumbersome for Yuan Yao to manage. Yet without them, there wasn’t enough space to carry everything. Jiang Song’an truly understood her; this bamboo basket was just the right size—still delicate and attractive, yet offering more than enough space for her needs!
“Do you like it?” Jiang Song’an no longer hid his smile. Yuan Yao nodded excitedly: “I love it!”
Just moments ago, she had been mocking Yuan Li, but now she herself behaved like a child; meanwhile, the three sisters, who had just been immersed in joy, now looked on with nothing but envy in their eyes.
“It’s so beautiful… Brother-in-law is so good to Eldest Sister; she has two of them!”
“Yes, yes, this bamboo hat is truly lovely.”
Jiang Song’an covered his mouth with a fist and gave a light cough. “I’ll make some for you another day when I have time; let’s head out first!”
Envy was unmistakable in Jiang Nian’s eyes, yet upon hearing his elder brother’s words, he quickly stepped forward. “Another day, I’ll help you, Brother. I know how to chop bamboo and weave baskets too.”
“Alright then,” Jiang Song’an readily agreed.
To reach the back hills from Shenmu Town, one indeed had to go around a large expanse of ridged fields outside the town. The three mu of land allocated to the Jiang family this time lay within this very area. Jiang Song’an led the way ahead, and the whole family walked excitedly along the field ridges. Before long, they caught sight of their own plot.
Three mu was no small amount; at a glance, the field seemed to stretch endlessly. Yuan Shuang and the others had little concept of farming, but Jiang Nian’s breathing immediately quickened. He asked excitedly, “Brother, is all this land ours?”
Jiang Song’an nodded. “Yes.”
Jiang Nian immediately said, “I’ll come to plow the fields tomorrow!”
Seeing that people from other families had already begun working in their fields one after another, while their own land remained bare and empty, it was as if some ancestral instinct had suddenly awakened within Jiang Nian. He could hardly wait to rush out to the fields right then and there, a sight that made both Jiang Song’an and Yuan Yao laugh.
Yuan Yao said, “Little Nian, don’t be so impatient. We don’t even have an old yellow ox; how can we plow? Surely you don’t intend to do it by human strength alone?”
Jiang Nian replied, “Though human strength can’t compare to that of a yellow ox, it can still accomplish something! We cannot miss this spring plowing season!”
Jiang Song’an patted his head gently. “There’s no rush for this moment. I need to borrow an ox and some tools first; today, we’ll just go up the mountain to dig for wild vegetables.”
Previously, Jiang Song’an had never owned any farmland, so naturally, he lacked many essential tools. Now that the land was finally in their possession, it was clear that many things would need to be acquired gradually. Listening to him, Yuan Yao already began forming her own plans.
Walking past the fields, a towering mountain came into view. This was Daqing Mountain, well-known throughout Shenmu Town and the surrounding villages. Not far away actually stood another smaller peak called Xiaoqing Mountain, but it was somewhat distant and its hills were lower. There was really no need to seek something far when something close was available.
“Woo-hoo!!!”
The children, cooped up all winter, spotted the hillside and immediately darted forward like a streak of smoke, only to be hastily called back by Yuan Yao.
“Don’t rush!”
Everyone turned around in confusion, just as Yuan Yao took out several small triangular cloth pouches and hung one around each child’s waist. “On the third day of the third lunar month, snakes emerge from their holes. Although the chances of encountering snakes or insects here are slim, these pouches contain herbs that ward them off. You must keep them on your persons at all times.”
Jiang Song’an also walked over and said, “Your eldest sister is right. Especially avoid places with thick grass or bamboo groves. Just stay close to me.”
Jiang Song’an had been to Daqing Mountain countless times; no one knew it better than he did. Yuan Yao nodded in agreement. “Yes, let’s follow your brother-in-law.”
Jiang Song’an turned back, smiling at her. “You stay close to me too.”
There was an obvious hint of indulgence in his words. Yuan Yao secretly pouted. “Alright then.”
In March, many people venture up the mountain, yet most stop at just a quarter of the way from the base. Daqing Mountain is truly towering; beyond that point, the path becomes treacherous and genuinely dangerous.
Thus, this area remains entirely safe. Jiang Song’an, familiar with the terrain, led them to a beautiful stretch of woodland. Setting down his basket, he said, “This spot will do!”
Here, the view was expansive and the ground flat. Not far away flowed a small stream. The three sisters instantly erupted in excitement, quickly setting down their little baskets as they prepared to hunt for mushrooms.
But…
Where should we start digging?
They had never climbed the mountain nor gathered wild vegetables before; to their eyes, everything looked lush and green, making it impossible to tell one plant from another.
In contrast, Jiang Nian was already skillfully plucking away. He could instantly identify shepherd’s purse, malantou, and dandelions. Who knew? He might even find wild scallions and wild mint.
Yuan Shuang stood with her mouth agape, while Yuan Li had already run over. “Brother Xiaonian, how did you find these? Teach me!”
Yuan Qi, equally curious, hurried over as well, and Yuan Shuang crouched down eagerly to take a closer look. At that moment, a surge of pride swelled in Jiang Nian’s heart. With utmost seriousness, he began instructing them: “This is shepherd’s purse, this one is malantou—look at the leaves. And surely you all recognize dandelions? I’ve heard they can be used for medicine…”
Chattering away, the young boy spoke with earnestness tinged by a hint of pride, enough to capture Yuan Yao’s attention.
She certainly recognized wild vegetables, knowing slightly more than Yuan Shuang and the others. However… she had little experience in foraging for wild mushrooms, especially since not a single one was visible at first glance. She had heard that varieties like termite mushrooms grew beneath trees, and that finding them required specific knowledge.
Thus, when Jiang Nian mentioned mushroom foraging, Yuan Yao leaned in to listen carefully. After he demonstrated once, the three sisters were eager to try: “Shall we have a competition?!”
“How shall we compete?”
“Let’s see who can dig up the most mushrooms! The one with the most gets an extra piece of dim sum or some crispy pork fat!”
That sounds fun; all three agreed. Yuan Qi looked at her eldest sister: “Eldest Sister, would you like to join?”
Yuan Yao was quite eager to join as well; having a competition would boost her motivation, so she nodded and said, “Alright.” It certainly wasn’t for the sake of snacks or fried pork cracklings—she purely wanted to spur herself on.
Yuan Li rolled her eyes playfully and remarked, “Brother Xiaonian and Brother-in-law can’t participate; you two are simply too formidable!”
Jiang Song’an and Jiang Nian readily agreed.
As the competition began, the three sisters scattered with unrestrained joy. Yuan Yao smiled and shook her head, then bent down to search earnestly herself. She had originally intended to ask Jiang Song’an if he had any secret tips, but upon looking up, she discovered he had already headed toward the bamboo grove.
Oh well.
They were merely playing around, while Jiang Song’an was working diligently and seriously.
To be honest, Yuan Yao had assumed that being a few years older would surely make her superior to her younger sisters. Little did she know that such skills had nothing to do with age. While Yuan Shuang shared her quiet disposition, Yuan Qi and Yuan Li were lively—especially Yuan Li, who was like a monkey leaping up and down, quick in movement and sharp-eyed. Before long, half of the small basket was already filled.
She held up the basket triumphantly to show off, leaving both Yuan Yao and Yuan Shuang gaping in astonishment.
This truly was…
Everyone has their own unique talent; one must never underestimate anyone. When Yuan Yao looked down at her own basket again, she found only two large shiitake mushrooms and one unidentifiable fungus…
Yuan Yao: “…”
The three sisters saw it too and burst into laughter: “Eldest Sister actually found the least!”
“Eldest Sister is going to lose! She’ll have to give us a piece of dessert!”
The sisters had never been this happy before; they clapped their hands with delight. Yet their joy lasted only a moment. Before they could even decide what kind of dessert to ask for today, they saw their brother-in-law striding toward them.
Jiang Song’an said nothing upon arriving. He simply lifted his large bamboo basket, aimed it at Yuan Yao’s small one, and poured its contents out with a loud rustle—
Hey!
Yuan Yao’s small bamboo basket was instantly filled.
Shiitake mushrooms, red shallot mushrooms, morels, porcini mushrooms filled the basket to the brim, and on top of it all were several large, intact termite mushrooms!
Jiang Song’an slowly curled his lips: “Your eldest sister has won now.”
“┗|｀O′|┛ Aow~~!”
The three sisters instantly let out a collective wail, feeling as though their mouths had been stuffed full of sickeningly sweet displays of affection.
“Brother-in-law is biased!!!”