Chapter 18 Mixed Vegetable and Tofu Soup [New] The Calm Before the Storm...
After the rain stopped, the mule cart stopped in an abandoned courtyard.
You Mingjiang didn't go far. She squatted on the muddy ground, using a small wooden stick to pry open the wild vegetables.
At this time of year, purslane and water celery are the most seasonal wild vegetables. They grow especially vigorously in this area, clumps crowding together, their lush green color dazzling to the eye.
Both of these are cooling in nature. Purslane can promote urination, and water celery can remove dampness. Pick them and cook them with tofu in one pot. On a day like this when it's easy to get heatstroke, drink a bowl of this and you'll feel comfortable all over.
With a gentle pry, You Mingjiang picked up a clump of water celery, rinsed it in the water a few times, and the mud on the roots flowed away, revealing the tender green stems, which looked fresh and crisp.
She shook off the water droplets twice and casually tossed them into the bamboo medicine basket, mixing them with the purslane she had picked earlier.
Strangely enough, the journey was unusually smooth. The only problem was the persistent mosquitoes; no amount of fumigation could scare them away.
It's too quiet.
The tripwire and its owner were never seen again.
The repair marks were still clearly visible on the tires. If it weren't for this evidence, she would have thought she was sleepwalking when she saw the rocky hill.
Suddenly, she paused almost imperceptibly.
Under the bright white light, the cicadas chirped incessantly, one call after another, without ceasing. The air was sticky and stuffy, but besides the cicadas' chirping, there seemed to be other noises mixed in.
It was the soft rustling of the bushes, and a very shallow breathing sound, following her at a distance that was neither too close nor too far.
It was obvious that they had made up their minds to follow them.
You Mingjiang lowered her head, a vague yet inexplicably certain thought slowly emerging in her mind: the owner of the tripwire has arrived.
·
At times like these, the worst thing is to panic first.
She didn't turn around, but simply stood up naturally as if she had gotten tired of squatting, picked up the bamboo basket full of wild vegetables, and continued walking forward at a leisurely pace. But one hand had already quietly fallen down, the tiger-shaped brace slipping into her palm.
One step, two steps, three steps—
You Mingjiang suddenly turned around, and the tiger-shaped brace in her hand transformed into a silver ring with a "whoosh," shooting swiftly towards the bushes to her side and behind. The silver ring twisted rapidly among the branches and leaves, then flew steadily back into her hand.
They only knocked down a few broken leaves, and didn't even catch a ghost.
The cicadas on the tree trunk were still chirping incessantly. The more they chirped, the quieter the surroundings seemed, eerily so.
Where exactly is it hidden?
Behind the old locust tree? The pile of rocks on the left? Or that patch of foxtail grass behind you?
You Mingjiang frowned, glanced at the possible hiding places, and suddenly looked up, his gaze sweeping over the interlacing tree canopy overhead.
It was completely empty.
Could it be that she's just imagining things and misheard?
No! It's definitely not a misunderstanding caused by some minor disturbance!
You Mingjiang shook her head, immediately dispelling the naive thought. A strong intuition seized her: there must be a pair of eyes watching her from the shadows, waiting for her to let her guard down.
·
Suddenly, a few leaves on the left front trembled without any wind and began to fall with a rustling sound!
The tiger-shaped brace in You Mingjiang's hand flew out again, soaring through the air with a "whoosh" and precisely passing through the swaying branches, but unfortunately it missed again and futilely returned to her hand.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves, slicing bright patches on her face, so bright it was hard to open one's eyes.
Should we play hide-and-seek with her?
Wait until she loses her temper and turns away before you can continue to haunt her relentlessly.
You Mingjiang muttered a curse under his breath: "That son of a bitch."
Her stomach suddenly growled, a sound that was particularly clear in the desolate wilderness. She clicked her tongue, and the sound, though distracting her, actually brought her a sense of relief.
"Fine," she thought to herself. The newcomer was skilled in martial arts and was definitely not a brute like the seven Sha brothers. She would let him wander around for now. "A fox will eventually show its tail."
Once we catch them, we'll hang them upside down and give them a good beating!
·
Like walking a dog, You Mingjiang deliberately chose to walk in places where the sun was scorching and there was no shade. He turned left and right, making a big circle on his own, and only returned to the small courtyard where the group was temporarily resting, after making sure that the other party was still following him.
The courtyard wall was made of rammed earth, and it was eroded by rainwater, leaving gullies and ridges, with straw mixed with mud exposed, and crumbling down.
Foxtail grass sprouted from the cracks in the wall, yellowish and thin, swaying gently in the wind.
Once the people move out, the house dies.
Without the nourishment of human life, the courtyard wall crumbled day by day. Occasionally, some grass seeds would fall, sprouting a handful of wild green in a daze, only to turn yellow and wither, leaving behind only desolation.
As times change and society becomes more turbulent, there will be more and more such desolate villages and courtyards.
·
Ding Xi, who was lying in the shade of a tree in the distance, saw her leading him in circles and knew that his whereabouts had been exposed.
He couldn't help but give a wry smile.
He did indeed set up the tripwire himself.
Ever since the Yellow River breached its banks at Zhangqiu Town, the grain transport was cut off, and the price of grain in Daming Prefecture changed every day, becoming ridiculously expensive.
Xinghua Village is an inconspicuous little tavern, struggling to make ends meet; Xiao Ma has contracted malaria again. He had previously prepared Huoxiang Zhengqi Decoction, but it could only suppress the fever and chills, and the fever would recur if he was not careful.
For a time, there was neither a doctor to treat the patient nor any medicine to take.
Ding Xi had originally planned to rob the red goods being escorted by the corrupt official Tan Dao, so that he could pay Zhang Jianzhai a large sum of money to treat Xiao Ma.
Who would have thought that, due to a momentary lapse in judgment, someone else would get there first, only to unexpectedly witness the doctor disciplining the seven Sha brothers and even sharing rations with Sha's wife's child...
He couldn't help but show a look of emotion.
You see, in many people's eyes, a robber is a robber after all, no matter what the reason or the type, they are all going to die anyway.
Who would ask why they chose this path? Who would listen to how that corrupt official ripped them dry and drove them to the brink of death? Isn't this a form of flattery, a silent bowing to power?
In truth, the Sha family were just a bunch of nobodys, yet they dared to touch the corrupt official Tan Dao's prized possessions, and were even willing to risk their lives for revenge. Even if they failed, wasn't that a testament to their backbone?
Looking at this doctor, he is compassionate yet insightful, but unfortunately, he has fallen into such a filthy world. It's truly a case of a rare and precious plant growing in a barren land.
The reason Ding Xi didn't compete with the seven Sha brothers at the time was because he knew their plight and that they had been forced into banditry to seek revenge on Tan Dao, which is why he stopped their car on the mountain road.
However, Ding Xi never does business that loses money.
This time, the tripwire was set, but it came to nothing. Thinking of Xiao Ma's malaria, which comes and goes, if we could "invite" the doctor back, it wouldn't have been a wasted effort.
Unfortunately, the doctor was very vigilant and more skilled than he had anticipated. He was discovered after only following her for a short distance.
Ding Xi's gaze darkened.
With that in mind, he quietly crept into the courtyard, carefully observing the activity and layout inside, looking for an opportunity.
·
You Mingjiang stepped into the courtyard.
Hai Hongzhu was grooming the mule's mane. She braided it with red string, and also picked some violets and tied them to willow branches to make two flower wreaths, one for the mule's head and one for herself.
Upon seeing You Mingjiang return, she asked vainly, "Sister You, do I look pretty?"
"It looks nice," You Mingjiang replied with a smile, her gaze seemingly casually sweeping over the courtyard wall and roof.
Hai Si's father was carrying a bundle of firewood when he heard this and couldn't help but glare at her: "Aren't you going to come and lend a hand? Look at how spoiled you are, you're getting more and more out of line!"
He had a stern face, but he was genuinely anxious.
Tie Pinggu is sick, but she's already up and working. This girl, on the other hand, is still slacking off... Even if Doctor You doesn't say anything, he should know the difference between close and distant relationships, right?
"Don't stop her, let the child have some fun." You Mingjiang smiled and waved at him, her eyes crinkling. "A young girl like her is at an age where she's lively and loves to dress up. Wearing some flowers will make her look more spirited."
As he spoke, he tossed the bamboo medicine basket aside.
She walked to the water vat, carefully rubbed the soapberry on her hands, and waited for white foam to appear before scooping up a ladle of water to rinse it clean.
Seeing that You Mingjiang spoke up for her, Hai Hongzhu stuck out her tongue at her father: "Hmph, even Sister You said it looks good!"
That idiot.
Hai Si's father glared at his daughter for a long time, then finally sighed softly, shook his head, and went to start the fire.
·
You Mingjiang didn't take it to heart at all.
Hai Hongzhu was the youngest in the group.
They've endured wind and rain, slept in the open, done a lot of work, and suffered a lot along the way; they've been quite sensible.
What more could you ask for from a child who is this well-behaved?
If she pushes everything onto a teenager, where will she put her face as the "backbone"?
You Mingjiang rolled up her sleeves and walked to the open-air stove, about to prepare dinner, when she looked up and suddenly froze.
Tie Pinggu was actually awake!
This is quite rare.
Tie Pinggu was by the stove, stirring a bowl of thin batter. It was made with leftover fried noodles as a base, with a little flour added. It looked like she was going to make pancakes on a griddle.
"...Lying down all the time isn't good either; the more you lie down, the less energy you have."
Tie Pinggu scooped up a spoonful of batter and poured it onto the hot griddle. With a gentle twist of her wrist, the batter spread evenly and became round. After cooking for a while, both sides became fragrant.
"I'm naturally happy that you can get up and move around. Don't push yourself too hard, just take it slow."
Seeing that she was doing it well, You Mingjiang comforted her for a couple of minutes, then went to cut the tofu into small cubes and finely chop the wild vegetables. She first put the tofu in to stew, and then added water when the aroma came out. While her hands were busy, her ears were also perked up, paying attention to any unusual sounds.
·
Ding Xi sniffed hard.
It smells so good.
It's not the rich, cloying aroma of expensive food, but rather a homely, earthy scent that's forcefully pushed into your nostrils.
Tofu was cheap; you could buy a large piece on the street for just a few copper coins. Hongxinghua used to often make pan-fried tofu with lard. A little oil was poured into the pan, and with a sizzle, the tofu slices turned golden brown, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Just before taking it out of the pan, a small handful of chopped scallions was sprinkled on top—the vibrant green and glossy white gave it an incredibly tempting aroma.
Ding Xi smacked his lips. Only now, smelling the delicious aroma of the tofu soup, did he realize that the fried tofu with lard had become a luxury, along with the good harvest...
Suddenly, he caught a glimpse of You Mingjiang taking a packet of lotus leaves out of a bamboo medicine basket.
The lotus leaf was bulging and, when unfolded, it held a small handful of river shrimp, about the size of a fingernail. The shrimp shells had a translucent, bluish-gray sheen, and although there weren't many, they looked very fresh.
The small river shrimp were poured into the pot, adding a touch of meat.
Ding Xi frowned, feeling a little puzzled. He had followed her all the way and was absolutely certain she hadn't gone into the river.
Where did these river shrimp come from?
The tofu was even more bizarre, as if it appeared out of thin air.
Ding Xi's mind was in turmoil. His gaze swept around, but finally settled on the dark bamboo medicine basket.
There's definitely something strange about this thing!
·
In no time, You Mingjiang had served the food.
A pot of mixed vegetable and tofu soup, a plate of river shrimp, and a plate of pancakes, all steaming hot. Smoke curls from the chimney in the courtyard, creating a peaceful and tranquil scene, like a rare haven of peace in a chaotic world.
The peace may be an illusion, but no matter how hard life gets, people still crave the warmth they have now. After all, every meal like this is one less to eat; every day like this is one less to live.
·
Meanwhile, on the mountain road scorched by the blazing sun.
The cicadas chirped intermittently, the branches drooped listlessly, and the sweltering, sticky heat hit us in the face.
"Damn the Azure Dragon Society... I'll tear you apart sooner or later!" Tong Baixiong cursed the entire Azure Dragon Society as he ran.
His clothes were tattered and covered in blood; he had endured countless chases along the way. He had been stabbed twice in the back, and blood was seeping from the wounds, yet he still carried Dongfang Bai and fled.
Dongfang Bai lay on his back, his breaths short and shallow, his eyelids too heavy to lift. Seeing Tong Baixiong stagger forward, he forced his eyes open, his lips trembling, his voice barely a whisper:
"Brother Tong... I've implicated you... Please tell the sect leader for me... that Dongfang Bai... died without regret..."
Tong Baixiong's eyes welled up with tears, and he cursed him fiercely: "Dongfang Bai! You coward! You dare to die... I'll haunt you even as a ghost!"
At this point, his voice trembled uncontrollably, and he could no longer continue.
·
To avoid repeating the same mistake at Jingyanggang, Tong and Dongfang dared not linger and plunged into the rain-soaked forest. The humid, hot air rose from between the branches and leaves, stickily licking their skin and almost sucking the last breath of air from their lungs.
Tong Baixiong, relying on his strong physique, could still barely hold on, but Dongfang Bai was visibly weakening.
At noon today, Dongfang Bai felt extremely dizzy and, unable to gather his inner energy, fainted.
Tong Baixiong reached out and tested Dongfang Bai's body; it was burning hot. He quickly carried Dongfang Bai on his back and sped away, hoping for a sliver of hope.
That's how the very first scene came about.
·
At this moment, Dongfang Bai's consciousness was fading, and he was almost too weak to hold onto the other person's back. His body slid down uncontrollably.
He managed to utter a few words with difficulty: "I'm sorry..."
Tong Baixiong's eyes were bloodshot as he hissed, "If you die, who will drink with me? You're not allowed to die!"
Over the years, they have fought side by side, carving a path to survival from mountains of corpses and seas of blood, and have long since become brothers who share life and death.
Feeling the person on his back gradually losing their breath, Tong Baixiong was so anxious that he was covered in sweat, but he didn't know whether it was hot sweat or cold sweat.
Where can I find a doctor?
The most pressing issue right now is that this place is far from the city, and it's surrounded by abandoned villages and dilapidated houses.
Forget about doctors, there isn't a single living person to be found around here, so where can we possibly find someone?
What's worse is that the two of them were covered in blood. Even if they happened to run into a doctor, he would probably be scared away by the sight of them.
Just as he was about to be swallowed by despair, he suddenly looked up and saw wisps of smoke rising from a small courtyard at the foot of the mountain!
The wisps of smoke rising from the chimneys under the blazing sun, as thin as needles, pierced through the darkness in Tong Baixiong's heart.
Where there is smoke from cooking fires, there are still people living there!
If there's someone there, maybe they can be saved!
·
Once this thought crossed Tong Baixiong's mind, he couldn't think of anything else.
Regardless of whether it was good or evil, civilian or bandit, regardless of whether it concealed danger, he had only one thought in his mind: run.
At this moment, Dongfang Bai's breathing became weaker and weaker.
"Brother Dongfang... hang in there... we're almost saved!"
Tong Baixiong spoke in a hoarse voice, it was unclear whether he was comforting his brother or trying to bolster his own courage.
After saying that, he mustered all his strength and stumbled toward the direction of the wisp of smoke, toward the courtyard where You Mingjiang was.
.
In the courtyard, under the shade of the Zesheng Pavilion, four people sat around a millstone. Steam rose from the tofu soup in the earthenware basin, and the pieces of tofu trembled, so tender they seemed to drip with moisture.
You Mingjiang served everyone a bowl, but before she could even take a couple of bites herself, she heard a loud "bang" as the courtyard gate was kicked open.
Tie Pinggu's chopsticks fell "clatter" onto the stone table. Hai Hongzhu jumped in fright, and half a pancake fell into the soup bowl, splattering oil everywhere. Hai Si's father hurriedly tried to stand up, but his knee hit the edge of the millstone, making him gasp in pain.
Only You Mingjiang was still holding the bowl steadily with one hand.
Not a drop of soup was spilled.
She glanced at the doorway and calmly blew on the tofu in the spoon.
She'd seen this kind of thing many times before.
It's probably just some hungry bandits from some mountain stronghold who followed the smell of cooking smoke.
Let's do it the same way we dealt with the seven Sha brothers before.
Sigh, these days, who is born wanting to become an outlaw?
However, the man who kicked open the courtyard gate and burst in was a burly man covered in blood. His eyes were bloodshot with madness, his throat was making hoarse noises, his broad chest was heaving violently, and a heavy stench of blood mixed with sweat hit you!
Hai Si's father clutched his knee, frozen in place, unable to move. Tie Pinggu instinctively shrank behind You Mingjiang. Hai Hongzhu's face paled, and she gripped Tie Pinggu's sleeve tightly, not daring to breathe.
This man was clearly different from ordinary people forced into banditry or vicious criminals who killed and robbed. He exuded a fierceness that had been forged in the crucible of bloodshed. The oppressive feeling he brought just by standing there far exceeded all their past imaginations of the martial world.
Like a tiger that has broken into a sheep pen, even if it is injured, it is still a tiger.
Seeing that the man was carrying a limp person on his back, and that he himself was clearly exhausted and swaying, yet still mustering all his strength to run towards the mule in the yard, You Mingjiang gritted his teeth, clattered down his spoon, grabbed his chopsticks, and rushed to meet him.
Trying to steal her mule? That's impossible!
The burly man staggered forward a few more steps, then suddenly swayed to the side, about to fall headfirst onto the mule cart.
Instead of dodging, You Mingjiang quickly stepped forward, reached out and supported the mule's arm, effectively dissipating most of the momentum. He didn't want to startle the mule, or it would refuse to eat fodder again.
.
Upon seeing the fresh cart tracks and hoofprints at the gate from afar, Tong Baixiong's tired eyes suddenly lit up with excitement—there was a mule cart hidden in this yard!
He let out a low growl, almost like a wild beast, and carrying his dying brother on his back, like a raging bull, he smashed open the courtyard gate and barged in!
"Food! Mule cart!"
The thought screamed wildly in his burning mind.
He wanted to steal food to fill his stomach, seize the mule cart, drop off the Dongfang brothers, and drive away. That would be better than what he was doing now, carrying someone and stumbling along, waiting to die!
His bloodshot eyes swept over the stunned people in the courtyard, and he had only one ruthless thought in his mind: If anyone dares to stop me from saving people today, I'll twist their head off!
Unexpectedly, the young man blocking the road was quite capable, not an ordinary countryman. Tong Baixiong first sensed something was wrong by faintly smelling a strong herbal scent, and then glanced at the man's hand and saw that he was holding a tiger-shaped brace.
...Tiger support?
"D-Doctor? You're a doctor..."
Tong Baixiong's fist, which he had thrown, remained suspended in mid-air. He suddenly raised his face, his eyes fixed on You Mingjiang.
"Yes! You're a doctor!" His eyes shone with a terrifying glimmer of hope. "Save him! Quickly—please...please!"
.
A note from the author:
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[Good Luck Lotus] Red Apricot Blossom: The proprietress of the "Apricot Blossom Village" wine shop, and Ding Xi's grandmother.
[Good Luck Lotus] Little Horse: Ma Zhen, also known as "Angry Little Horse", is Ding Xi's loyal and devoted follower.
[Good Luck Lianlian] Dongfang Bai and Tong Baixiong: Brothers who have been through thick and thin together.
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