Upon reaching a pine forest, the group dispersed and each went their own way to gather firewood.
Who are they?
Li Chang'an wasn't that diligent. He found a clean spot to sit down and asked.
"We're from the same village, we escaped here together. We always go out together, otherwise we'd be caught by tigers in the mountains."
Er Ya couldn't stay still; she squatted on the ground picking up pine cones and twigs.
Li Chang'an nodded, indicating that he understood.
He was sitting in a high position, so he could see many villagers already working in the woods.
Those with axes were chopping down trees, while those without axes were breaking branches. A few children, like Er Ya, were squatting on the ground picking up pine cones.
And there was that little girl in the straw mat, climbing up the tree and breaking the branches with her own weight.
The person fell down along with the tree branch.
Then he patted his bottom, picked up the branch, and put it into the bamboo basket.
Occasionally, when they came across wild fruit, they would secretly pick it and hide it in their straw mat, glancing around nervously, afraid of being discovered.
After the rain, the dew slowly evaporated, and the sun warmed Li Chang'an.
He squinted as he watched the villagers work, showing no intention of moving.
It feels so comfortable.
While others are working themselves to the bone, I can sit and bask in the sun. It feels so great!
Er Ya didn't feel anything was wrong, as she usually worked alone.
After picking up the pine cones on the ground, Er Ya looked at the branches above her head, stretched her arms and legs, and prepared to climb up to break off the branches.
Just as he was about to jump, Li Chang'an grabbed him and pulled him into a hug.
"Huh? What are you doing?"
Er Ya looked at Li Chang'an with a puzzled expression. "You bask in the sun, I'll tend to my firewood, why are you hugging me?"
“No,” Li Chang’an said as he carried Er Ya back to their resting place, “Why did you climb the tree for no reason? What if you fell?”
"I'm going to break off tree branches?"
"It's dangerous, you can't go, what if you fall?"
"But that's how they are."
Er Ya pointed at the little girl who was pressing down tree branches and said to Li Chang'an.
"Moreover, if you fall, the pain will subside after a while, but if you don't gather firewood to exchange for food, you will go hungry."
Er Ya dislikes being hungry; it feels like there's fire burning inside her stomach.
She ate her fill of plain porridge this morning.
She loves the feeling of being full; with something in her stomach, she doesn't feel tired while working, as if she has inexhaustible energy.
"And winter is coming soon. If we don't have firewood at home, it will be very, very cold. Last year, my father went to the mountain to collect firewood because we ran out, and he froze to death."
Thinking of this, Er Ya lowered her head, her eyes reddening.
Upon hearing this, Li Chang'an remained silent, put Er Ya down, stretched his body, and said, "Then sit down and let me do it."
"By the way, let me show you what a tree-cutting maniac is like."
Believe it or not, I can fill your bamboo basket in less than half an hour.
"Yes, I believe you."
Er Ya's adoring gaze pleased him greatly, and he confidently began his tree-chopping journey.
Three minutes later, Li Chang'an sat down next to Er Ya, his eyes vacant.
I haven't done any work in so long. I spent ages trying to break tree branches, but the branches didn't break, and I even got a red mark on my face.
Er Ya looked on with a face full of confusion.
Is this the tree-cutting maniac?
They don't seem as good as me.
Li Chang'an felt slighted and insulted by the gaze of a six-year-old child.
"I'm just showing you how it works. No matter how capable you are, it's impossible to fill a bamboo basket in half an hour."
Li Chang'an decided to teach this foolish kid a lesson.
“I make a living with my brain. Now I’m going to teach you again how to use your wisdom to make the firewood automatically fill this bamboo basket.”
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