Yun Yiyi observed the official road ahead and then looked down. The road was winding and it was hard to tell where to go down the mountain. However, going down the mountain was still faster than going up, and it also took less effort.
Yun Yiyi looked up at the top of the mountain. From here, it was still quite far away. However, she could still vaguely see many trees on the top of the mountain, and they were still green. She guessed that there shouldn't be much water shortage at the top of the mountain.
After dinner, we can rest for a while and ask Butcher Yun to take us for a walk up the hill to see if we can find some water. It's been a few days since we last replenished our water supply, so we probably don't have much water left in any of our homes. Yun Yiyi pondered this secretly.
Yun Yiyi turned to look at the side of the official road and began searching for rocks to build a stove. The rocks didn't need to be too big, but they couldn't be too small either, as the Yun family used large iron pots. A stove built with small rocks wouldn't be sturdy and would collapse easily. It would be best to find three large rocks that could form a solid stove.
As Yun Yiyi walked, she noticed that the rocks along the road were either too small or too large, none of them suitable. Suddenly, she found a large oval rock weighing fifty or sixty kilograms. She turned it over and saw that the bottom was flat, making it very stable when placed on the ground. "Haha, now I just need to find two more rocks," Yun Yiyi happily picked at the rocks.
Surprises always come so quickly. Yun Yiyi found two large rocks about ten meters away from the road. This place was at the bottom of a dirt slope. If you didn't walk down, you wouldn't have found it at all. Fortunately, Yun Yiyi walked down. Now it's good that she doesn't have to search everywhere anymore.
Yun Yiyi picked up a stone and climbed up the official road. Thanks to her great strength, it would have been difficult for most people to carry such a heavy stone up the slope. After several trips, Yun Yiyi moved both large stones to the official road.
"Mom, I found a suitable stone. Please wait a moment, I will move it over now." Yun Yiyi shouted loudly.
"Okay, Yiyi, are the stones heavy? Do you want me to help move them?" Zhang shouted while standing at the edge of the woods.
"No need, Mom. I'll be right there," Yun Yiyi said hurriedly. She was afraid that if she spoke too slowly, Zhang would come over. Zhang was the weakest person in the family, so no one wanted her to do any heavy work.
Yun Yiyi quickly moved the stones to the camping site.
"Mom, come and look at this stone. Is it suitable for building a stove?"
"Yiyi, the stone you found is just the right size. The height is also just right. I'm very satisfied." Zhang came over to look at the stone and said happily.
"Mom, there are two more stones that are about the same size as this one. Please wait, I will move them back." Yun Yiyi said as she ran away.
When Zhang wanted to call Yun Yiyi, Yun Yiyi had already run far away. Zhang turned around to pack up the cooking utensils.
Yun Yiyi ran back and forth several times and finally moved the remaining two large stones back. Yun Yiyi didn't feel very tired, but she felt that her stomach was almost empty.
Yun Yiyi helped to gather the three large stones together, and Zhang put the big iron pot at home on them to try it out.
"Yiyi, these stones you picked up are exactly what I want. Not only are they the right size, but the height is just right too. I think if I put another stone next to them, I can sit down and cook." Zhang said happily.
"Mom, wait for me. I'll go find two more stones. You can sit on one to cook, and you can sit on the other to light the fire in the pot." Yun Yiyi said and ran out.
Yun Yiyi had experience finding rocks this time, so she specifically headed down the official road. The rocks closer to the official road had already been searched, making it difficult to find suitable rocks. However, there were many rocks further down the slope. Firstly, people wouldn't think of searching down there, and secondly, even if they did find one, they'd still have to carry the rocks up the slope, which was too tiring.
Yun Yiyi quickly found two stones of similar size, one weighing about 20 pounds, not very heavy. However, Yun Yiyi specifically looked for stones that were a little higher and narrower, so that it would be more comfortable to sit on without having to bend over.
Yun Yiyi carried a stone in each hand and took them back.
"Hey, Yiyi, why didn't you call me? I could hold them together with you. It would be so tiring to hold two stones at the same time by yourself." Zhang took a stone and put it on the ground. She continued to nag Yun Yiyi.
"Mom, you know how strong I am. I don't feel tired when holding them at the same time, but I'm really hungry now. Mom, when can we eat?" Yun Yiyi asked pitifully, touching her flat belly.
"Yiyi, it will be over soon. Just hold on for a little longer. I think your father and your brother will be back soon after collecting firewood. I will eat as soon as we have the firewood. Sit down and rest for a while. I will go find you something to eat." Zhang said with concern.
Zhang hurried over to the donkey cart. She remembered she might still have some roasted peanuts. She dug them out and saw that there was about half a pound left. She carried the bag towards Yun Yiyi.
"Yiyi, here are some fried peanuts. Eat some first to fill your stomach." Zhang said.
"Mom, my hands are so dirty. I can't eat." Yun Yiyi said helplessly as she looked at her black little hands.
"I'll get you a wet towel." Zhang said as she took out the wet towel. She wiped Yun Yiyi's face and wiped her hands clean.
"Okay, Yiyi. You can eat now." Zhang said happily.
"Mom, you eat too." Yun Yiyi stuffed five or six peanuts into Zhang's mouth. Then, Yun Yiyi sat aside and ate the peanuts, and occasionally fed Zhang some peanuts.
"Yiyi, Mom is not hungry anymore. Don't feed me. Eat it yourself." Zhang said, looking at the few peanuts.
"Mom, I'm not hungry now. I don't want to eat either. I'll go to the back and see why my dad hasn't come back yet." Yun Yiyi put down the cloth bag and walked deep into the woods.
"Yiyi, don't go too far. If you don't see your father, you should come back soon." Zhang said worriedly.
"I understand, mother." Yun Yiyi waved to Zhang and continued walking deeper into the woods.
The further Yun Yiyi walked, the higher the terrain became. Only the area where they were camping was relatively flat. The trees deep in the woods were still very tall. Inside the woods, the sun couldn't penetrate them at all, making it quite cool.
As she walked, Yun Yiyi noticed that the trees were becoming shorter and sparser. The spaces between them were also growing wider. Weeds and thorn bushes were also growing more numerous. However, Yun Yiyi sighed as she looked at the weeds on the ground. Weeds could only be used to start a fire, not as proper firewood because they were not durable.
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