Chapter 60 Meat Flower Roll
Early in the morning, Zhao Xuan packed his things and went out.
She removed the lining from her down jacket, turning the warm garment into a breathable and waterproof windproof coat. She then put on her rain boots, wrapped the rain jacket into a small bag, and tossed it into her basket.
The raincoat is made of transparent plastic and is very lightweight.
He filled a jug with water, took a sickle, and threw it all into his basket.
She brewed another pot of hot goat milk tea and poured it into her large thermos. The goat milk had been delivered by the Yao family a while ago, as an exchange for taking half a pig in the winter. They still had their dog deliver it, two bottles a day. Since the wild boar was hunted by Lao Dao and Lu An together, Lao Dao drank one bottle, and Zhao Xuan and Lu An shared the other.
After the goat milk tea was brewed, Zhao Xuan added some dried jasmine flowers and white sugar, and as usual, put the large thermos into the basket.
Old Dao and Lu An were pressing peanut oil in the living room, filling the yard with its aroma. They didn't grow many peanuts, and their home oil press could only press a small amount at a time, so they pressed a batch of peanuts over several days. The oil was stored in the refrigerator, and the remaining cracklings were fed to the pigs.
With this peanut oil, it will be healthier to alternate between lard and peanut oil in the future.
Zhao Xuan stuck his head out and called out to Lu An and the others, saying that he was going to go mushroom picking in the mountains with Zhang Xiaohe and wouldn't be home for lunch.
Lu An asked, "So what are you having for lunch?"
Zhao Xuan replied, "Sister Xiaohe said she's treating everyone today!"
It's still very early, and some of the mushrooms that grow early in the morning wilt after being exposed to the sun. However, it's unlikely to be sunny today; the sky is overcast, and it looks like it might drizzle.
After reaching the main road, Zhang Xiaohe was already waiting for her at the fork in the road.
Zhang Xiaohe also carried a bamboo basket, but it was a crossbody style. She wore long rain boots and a large straw hat, which was hung on the basket. To wear the hat, she also styled her hair into a cute bun.
Zhao Xuan was very envious of Zhang Xiaohe's hair; she still had short, spiky hair.
Zhang Xiaohe is very fair-skinned, probably because she doesn't often go out to do farm work. Her fair skin and black hair complement each other, making her particularly beautiful.
When Zhang Xiaohe saw Zhao Xuan, she smiled and waved to her. Then the two left the main road and walked into the mountains.
There are no paths in the mountains unless someone walks there regularly. With spring arriving, all the plants are growing wildly. The new grass in the mountains has grown to waist height and is still covered in dew. Wearing rain boots is a wise choice. As long as they don't slip, they can go wherever they want.
Both of them picked up a long stick and began to explore as they walked in.
The forest was filled with birdsong in the early morning; of all kinds of birds, Zhao Xuan could only distinguish the call of the cuckoo.
Zhang Xiaohe was also very skilled at picking mushrooms. She had basically explored the area around the two villages and knew roughly where mushrooms grew. When she led Zhao Xuan around, they would often see large patches of wild shiitake mushrooms and wood ear mushrooms growing on dead trees in no time.
Zhang Xiaohe has no left hand, so her bamboo basket always slips when she bends over. Therefore, she usually finds the mushrooms while Zhao Xuan bends over to pick them. The mushrooms are divided into two piles and thrown into their respective baskets.
Because of several days of light rain, there are many mushrooms in the mountains around this area, and the further you go in, the more mushrooms there are.
Zhang Xiaohe knew more about mushrooms than Zhao Xuan. She said that at her previous camp, there was an old man who was a university professor. He taught the campers how to identify mushrooms. He was a professional; he knew all sorts of mushrooms, from button mushrooms to other fungi, and he could explain whether they were edible and how to prepare them. Thanks to him, the campers were able to boldly pick mushrooms, and they could even dry any leftovers. In short, mushrooms sustained many people at the camp.
Zhang Xiaohe also learned some things. She recognized many kinds of mushrooms, such as chicken mushroom, morel mushroom, and tea tree mushroom. Many of these mushrooms looked familiar to Zhao Xuan, but he didn't dare to pick them to eat.
Termitomyces albuminosus is best enjoyed fresh; it loses its flavor over time and is best eaten on its own. Morel mushrooms and tea tree mushrooms, on the other hand, can be dried and used to trade for supplies at the market in winter. Occasionally, wild oyster mushrooms can be seen, growing densely in shady areas. Zhang Xiaohe says that oyster mushrooms generally grow after winter begins and disappear when the weather gets warmer.
Some mushrooms grow in winter, such as oyster mushrooms and pine mushrooms, while others grow during the rainy season. In the south, the rainy season is long, and some mushrooms can grow from spring all the way to September or October.
Zhang Xiaohe said that when she first started picking mushrooms, she knew nothing. At that time, her family had just entered the camp, were unfamiliar with the place, and had just lost their hands, so they were not used to it and kept falling down. They would be a burden if they were to walk in the mountains to pick mushrooms. The dog was also small, how could a child of a few years old walk on mountain paths? She could only carry the dog in a cloth bag. At first, the women and girls who were with her were very disgusted with her.
Yao Yuan was to participate in the camp's defense work. It was the early stage of anarchy, and also the most terrifying period. Without the protection of the law, many people unleashed their inner evil, and robbery and murder were commonplace. Therefore, Yao Yuan was always in danger, and it was even more impossible for him to bring his dog with him.
Zhao Xuan was a little curious, so she asked, "And then what happened?"
"And then?" Zhang Xiaohe smiled with relief. "The people in our camp weren't bad people at all. We developed feelings for each other, and they not only didn't look down on me, but also helped me a lot. It was during that time that I learned a lot of things, like making soy sauce, pickling vegetables, making preserved eggs, and of course, identifying mushrooms. It's just a pity... the camp is gone."
The camp is a small society. For ordinary people like them, entering the camp as soon as the apocalypse was not a bad thing. Even though it was a camp that brought Zhao Xuan so much pain, she could not deny that she and Lu An had learned a lot there.
Zhang Xiaohe added, "Yao Yuan and I were actually quite lucky. Back then, the camp only recruited strong men. Someone like me would have almost certainly died, but someone took us in."
“Sister Xiaohe, you’re a nurse? Nurses are very useful…” Zhao Xuan said, turning his gaze to Zhang Xiaohe’s empty sleeve, then suddenly fell silent.
So what if she's a nurse? A person who's missing an arm is destined to have a harder life than others.
She never inquired about Zhang Xiaohe's left arm, feeling it would be impolite to ask. Lu An, returning from the saltworks market, said that there had been far too many people losing hands and fingers in recent years, mostly due to infection leading to amputation. There were also cases of leg amputations, though fewer; those with amputated legs rarely survived.
Therefore, Zhao Xuan believes that Zhang Xiaohe is a victim of the collapse of the medical system after the apocalypse. She had her arm injured and had to have it amputated as a last resort.
Zhang Xiaohe knew what Zhao Xuan was thinking, but she was quite frank: "My arm was chopped off during the year when it was at its most messed up."
"Who is it? A robber?"
“Yes,” she responded softly, “He tried to take my son, and we fought. I was holding my son in one arm and clinging to the wall with the other, refusing to let go, when he chopped off my arm.”
"Sigh..." Zhao Xuan sighed and didn't reply.
By noon, the two had already picked a full basket of mushrooms, and by then they had gone deep into the mountains.
They found a stream nearby to rest, planned to eat something hot, and then head back.
The valley has many water sources. The streams flow down from the mountains, and there are many large, washed-away rocks around the streams. Most of the streams and rivers in this area are like this. The water gathers from the mountaintops and flows down, washing away the surface red soil and revealing the riverbed filled with white stones. The streams meander, and the water is generally very clear, with small fish swimming in them.
Zhao Xuan and Zhang Xiaohe found a flat spot, built a makeshift stove with stones, and lit a small bonfire.
The surrounding branches were too damp, and would produce thick smoke when burned, so Zhao Xuan placed the remaining small branches around the fire to dry them. Zhang Xiaohe then opened their lunch.
She brought a large stainless steel lunchbox, inside which were neatly arranged two rows of eight meat rolls.
The meat rolls had already cooled down, so Zhang Xiaohe brought the lunchbox closer to the fire to warm it up. Then she picked up a few thin twigs, washed them in the water next to her, strung up some mushrooms they had just picked, and stuck them by the campfire. By the time the meat rolls were warm, the mushroom skewers should be ready too.
Zhao Xuan then took out a thermos, poured two cups of goat milk tea, and handed one to Zhang Xiaohe.
The spring chill was still in the air, and Zhang Xiaohe, who was sensitive to the cold, took a sip of milk tea and sighed contentedly, "It smells so good."
When it's cold and damp, a slightly sweet hot drink is the most satisfying thing.
The smoke from the campfire had thinned out a bit, and Zhao Xuan poked the fire with a short stick to make it burn bigger.
Once seated, the two of them sat there, holding their hot milk tea, lost in thought.
The steamed buns warmed up quickly by the fire. Zhang Xiaohe reached out and pinched one of the corners of a bun, finding it had become hot and soft. She then picked out a large one and handed it to Zhao Xuan.
Zhao Xuan thanked him and accepted the steamed bun, then picked it up with his fingertips, blew on it, and took a bite.
The dough is fluffy and soft, yet chewy, with each fold stuffed full of diced meat, a perfect mix of lean and fatty, and sizzling with oil from being roasted over a fire.
Zhang Xiaohe's noodles are absolutely amazing.
This year, the Yao family borrowed some wheat seeds and wanted to plant some wheat themselves. If it weren't for the fact that this mountainous area is not suitable for growing wheat, the Yao family would probably have made wheat their staple food.
Zhao Xuan was extremely satisfied after taking a bite of the meat roll and a sip of milk tea.
By this time, the mushrooms were almost cooked, and Zhang Xiaohe handed one to Zhao Xuan, telling him to hold it and eat it like barbecue.
They were grilling shiitake mushrooms without oil or salt. After grilling, the mushrooms became soft and mushy, and were still very hot. They didn't have much flavor, except for the unique wild aroma of shiitake mushrooms.
Zhao Xuan exclaimed, "Sister Xiaohe, you are really amazing! The steamed buns smell so good, and even the simple roasted mushrooms taste so delicious."
Zhang Xiaohe smiled faintly: "It's not that my cooking is delicious, it's just that I haven't had these kinds of things in a long time. If you like them, I'll steam some rice cakes for you next time."
There's too little flour, but plenty of rice.
Last year, the Yao family harvested some grapes. In addition to making wine, they also used sugar and grapes to cultivate a jar of yeast. With the yeast, they can make more kinds of desserts.
Zhao Xuan nodded excitedly, "Okay!" Then, as if remembering something, he asked, "How do I cultivate yeast? Can you teach me? I can steam a cake to eat later."
“Raising yeast is too much trouble, I'll share some with you. You can just ask me for it whenever you need it.” Zhang Xiaohe knew Zhao Xuan didn't have many opportunities to bake, and raising yeast was a hassle, so she simply let her come and get it whenever she needed it. She then asked, “What? Is it someone's birthday?”
"No, I just wanted to make something to eat. A few years ago, I couldn't even keep track of the days, so I stopped celebrating birthdays altogether," Zhao Xuan replied vaguely. She and Lu An had stopped celebrating birthdays, but with Qingming Festival approaching, she thought she should make some snacks to commemorate their parents.
They didn't hold a memorial service last year for Qingming Festival because they had very little decent food to offer. This year, however, they are doing much better and can offer more food.
“That’s true,” Zhang Xiaohe replied. “Yao Yuan and I don’t celebrate birthdays anymore, we’ll just celebrate for the dog, after all, he’s still a child.” Then she asked, “Xuanxuan, will you and Lu An have a child?”
Zhao Xuan shook his head upon hearing this: "The probability of dying during childbirth is too high now. I don't want to gamble on the probability. Lu An and I have both decided not to have children."
Human lifespan has been greatly shortened, and she and Lu An cherish the days they are alive. What they value is each other's companionship, not that illusory offspring.
Sometimes Zhao Xuan would think that after many years, one of them would pass away first, and wouldn't the remaining people be too lonely and pitiful? But a lonely and pitiful person probably wouldn't live long anyway, right?
Thinking about this, Zhao Xuan felt relieved. In the end, he was going to die anyway, so why worry about it now?
Even Zhao Xuan herself didn't realize that she, who only thought about problems from the worst perspective, was actually so open-minded about life and death.
"Sigh." Zhang Xiaohe sighed. She seemed to be thinking about the hardships of raising dogs. Her thoughts were long. In this desolate primeval forest, the two of them talked only intermittently. Their two families had similar personalities. Lu An didn't talk much, and neither did the Yao family.
In this apocalyptic world of natural disaster, a few quiet and introverted people miraculously came together.
Zhao Xuan was intently munching on the meat roll when Zhang Xiaohe, seeing her chubby cheeks, smiled and poured her another cup of hot milk tea.
Neither of them spoke, and Zhang Xiaohe gradually began to recall things from the past.
It's strange, even though it happened several years ago, it's still so vivid in my memory.
She recalled that chaotic day—the day her husband tried to take their only son, saying he would exchange him for a so-called miracle drug.
At that time, the residential area had been without water and electricity for a long time. All the police force was deployed to important places such as banks, hospitals, and supermarkets. Looting, vandalism, and arson had occurred on the streets. The emergency hotline was busy, and human life had become worthless.
Zhang Xiaohe had been working at the hospital for a month straight, and was exhausted both physically and mentally. There was no water or food at home. At this time, her husband got some news from who-knows-where, saying that he could exchange people for the so-called special medicine.
Such rumors would seem like a fantasy in peacetime, but on the eve of societal collapse, too many people were terrified by serious illnesses, and many people actually believed this absurd news.
The husband wanted to exchange their son for medicine, but the human traffickers were waiting downstairs.
Zhang Xiaohe held her son and shouted. She hadn't eaten enough for many days and had barely drunk any water, but she didn't know where she got the strength from and managed to hold her own in the struggle with her husband.
She clung to the protruding drainpipe on the wall with one hand, while holding the wailing dog protectively in her arms. The man was actually very thin; he suffered from uremia, but the hospital was too chaotic, and he couldn't get dialysis anymore. So, Zhang Xiaohe and he were evenly matched, and the man couldn't pull her away. Suddenly, he let go and walked away.
Zhang Xiaohe thought her husband had given up, but not long after, the man returned. Then, she felt a chill on her arm as she gripped the drainpipe; blood splattered on her body and on her child's face.
Her arm went limp and released the water pipe. The excruciating pain in her arm only came a moment later. Zhang Xiaohe's heart sank, followed by a desperate and shrill scream.
The man gripped the knife, his earlier impulse completely extinguished by the bloody scene. He stood there stunned for a few seconds, his eyes wide as he stared at his wife, who lay limp on the ground.
Just then, the door of the house across the street was opened with a "bang," and a cold-faced man walked out, also holding a kitchen knife. He quickly walked up and, while the husband was still in shock, stabbed him in the back!
The husband started yelling and rolled to the ground. The man took the opportunity to pick up Zhang Xiaohe, who was holding a dog in her arms. The man carried the mother and child and quickly walked out of the crowded rental building.
Even with police protection, the hospital was in a semi-paralyzed state. When Zhang Xiaohe arrived at the hospital, she had already lost blood and fallen into a coma. The hospital had no blood packs or medicine, but Zhang Xiaohe was originally a nurse at the hospital, and her familiar colleagues did not want to give up on her, so they had no choice but to amputate her leg.
While signing the papers, the man, crouching awkwardly in the crowded corridor, was holding his sleeping dog. After hearing the hospital's advice, he calmly admitted that he was the injured woman's husband and then signed his name: Yao Yuan.
Among Zhang Xiaohe's colleagues were many who had met her husband, but at this moment, everyone tacitly refrained from asking any further questions.
Fortunately, Zhang Xiaohe's life was saved. There were no hospital beds available, but kind colleagues let them stay in the duty room. The duty room was also very crowded. The doctors and nurses had no holidays and needed to come to the hospital to work as long as they could move. Everyone slept in the duty room, and security personnel guarded several duty rooms 24 hours a day to ensure the safety of medical staff.
Yao Yuan wasn't allowed to sleep inside. He could go in to visit Zhang Xiaohe when there were fewer people, but most of the time he slept in the corridor outside the duty room with the security personnel.
The world had descended into complete chaos, even the hospital had become the most dangerous place. Zhang Xiaohe didn't stay in the hospital for long; on the fourth day, a major riot broke out. Many people rushed into the pharmacy, bursting into tears upon seeing its empty state. Some grappled with the military and police, and gunfire rang out continuously.
The screams gradually approached from a distance.
Yao Yuan began packing their meager belongings. He filled his thermos with water, then put the last few pieces of candy and three shriveled steamed buns into a backpack and hung it on Zhang Xiaohe.
They were both wearing thick masks. Zhang Xiaohe looked up at him, but couldn't detect any emotion in his eyes.
Yao Yuan said that if he really couldn't hold off the thugs, then she had no choice but to take her things and the dog and run away first.
"I know," Zhang Xiaohe replied in a trembling voice.
They escaped unharmed, along with the highly infectious patients.
Without Yao Yuan, neither she nor her dog would have survived.
A woman still seriously injured and a child in kindergarten were, at that time, two pieces of flesh that everyone could bully.
Yao Yuan always had a cold face. He wasn't tall, but he didn't talk much. When he got angry, he had the air of someone who would risk their life to cut down the other person. He was holding a sharp iron rod, and under his escort, they escaped to the government's rescue vehicle.
After that, the government completely lost its function, and those who had survived briefly in the refugee camps began to think about surviving on their own. Some were afraid of being infected and left alone, while others, who were acquaintances, formed groups of three or five to seek a way out.
Later they left and joined a nice camp. They thought they would stay there for a long time until the government rebuilt it, but the camp eventually broke up due to a virus outbreak. After that, they were homeless again until they finally settled down in this mountain wilderness.
Zhang Xiaohe didn't think there was anything to talk about in her experience. People who survive in this world have all gone through hardships, and suffering is not something that should be mentioned often. To live, you have to look forward and move forward.
Zhao Xuan and Zhang Xiaohe spent most of the day searching for mushrooms, until their baskets were completely full, before they finally made their way home in the fading light of the setting sun.
They not only gathered various kinds of mushrooms, but also some wild vegetables and herbs.
These past few days, Yao Yuan and Gou Gou have been busy transplanting lotus roots from Xiwei Village to their own village, along with some melon vines and sugarcane roots. None of them have ever grown these things before, so they're trying it out this year. Lu An and Lao Dao went to the small house with the fireplace in the mountain valley. Spring isn't hunting season; they were there to renovate the house. They cleared the roads around it. After a winter of slow growth, the previously cleared roads were covered with a thin layer of mud and short, fluffy moss. Each of them used a shovel to remove the weeds, then cleaned the house and dried everything that needed drying. They stayed in the mountains for three or four days.
This is a short slack season after spring planting. The grains have been planted and the vegetable gardens have been tended. The weather has been good these past few days, with sunny days and light drizzle, so overall travel has been very convenient.
After Yao Yuan and his dog finished transplanting the lotus flowers and sugarcane, they started cleaning the small ditches around the rice paddies. The weeds that had grown into the ditches needed to be cleared, and the silt that had been buried all winter needed to be dredged up. The four men got together and discussed it. Yao Yuan and his son cleaned up the ditches around the paddies of both families, while Lu An and Lao Dao dried the bamboo shoots and mushrooms that the two families had picked during this period.
There was a tea garden on the way to Taiping Town. Zhao Xuan and Zhang Xiaohe spent two days there picking the freshest tea leaves, making tea, and then going out to pick mushrooms. Although it was a slack season for farming, everyone was as busy as a spinning top.
By the time Zhao Xuan realized it, Qingming Festival had already passed, and in a few more days it would be Grain Rain.
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