Back Mountain
As they spoke, the clouds on the horizon turned orange-red, spreading out in layers.
Qian Jin quickly caught up with Ya Ya. Her small figure stretched long and thin in the setting sun, looking somewhat lonely. She tightly hugged the injured little mongrel in her arms, taking each step carefully, as if afraid of bumping her little friend in her arms.
"Ya Ya!" Qian Jin called softly and caught up in a few steps. Ya Ya turned around, her eyes red and swollen, the little mongrel in her arms lying limply.
"Where are you going to see a doctor?" Qian Jin softened her voice and gently stroked Ah Huang's head. The puppy seemed to sense the kindness, raised its head slightly, and touched her finger with its wet nose.
Ya Ya sniffled, her voice still trembling with tears, "Most of the doctors in town... I look down on them. But I know a new doctor, Dr. Chen, who just arrived recently. He's doing free clinics these days, maybe he can take a look at Ah Huang." As she spoke, her eyes reddened again, "Ah Huang got hurt protecting me. If it weren't for him, I would be the one caught in the clamp..."
Ao Ming, who had been silently following behind, stepped forward. The setting sun cast a golden glow on him, gilding his tall figure. He looked at Ya Ya tightly protecting Ah Huang, his tone calm, yet carrying a barely perceptible softening:
"You and Ah Huang have such a good relationship."
Ya Ya hugged Ah Huang tightly, her voice low but firm: "It's... my only family now." As she spoke, a tear rolled down and landed right on Ah Huang's nose. The puppy stuck out its tongue, licked the tear, and gently rubbed against Ya Ya's wrist, as if to comfort her.
The town is small, with winding cobblestone streets lined with white-walled, black-tiled houses, and a few shops still open occasionally. After turning a couple of corners, you'll find a small, unassuming clinic with a wooden sign hanging under the eaves: "Chen's Medical Clinic." The sign bears the four characters "Hanging a gourd to save lives" in neat calligraphy. A few bundles of dried herbs sway gently in the breeze, releasing a faint, refreshing herbal fragrance that inexplicably calms the mind.
Pushing open the wooden door, the copper bell on it rang crisply. An elderly woman with white hair was sitting in the hall, pounding medicine. Hearing the noise, she looked up, her eyes kind. Seeing Ya Ya with red eyes, holding a small dog, she immediately put down the pestle and went to greet her, her voice gentle: "Oh dear, what's wrong?"
The interior was simply yet neatly furnished. A row of medicine cabinets stood against the wall, each drawer labeled with the name of the medicinal herbs. Hanging in the center was a traditional Chinese ink painting depicting an elderly man with a sage-like air gathering herbs in the mountains. In a corner, a small incense burner emitted wisps of smoke, releasing a calming sandalwood fragrance.
Ya Ya sobbed as she explained the situation, and the old woman quickly led them through the main room and into the backyard. Various kinds of herbs were drying in the yard, some spread on bamboo mats, others hanging on ropes, and the air was filled with a complex aroma of herbs.
An elderly man, also with white hair but in good spirits, was carefully turning over and drying medicinal herbs.
"Old man, come and see this little dog. Its leg is injured; it's so pitiful."
Grandpa Chen put down his basket and walked over with steady steps. He carefully lifted Ah Huang's injured leg, his movements gentle and skillful. "Hmm, it's a pinch injury, the bone is a little dislocated, but fortunately it's not broken. We'll set the bone, apply some medicine, and with proper rest for a while, it'll be fine." His voice was calm and steady, carrying a reassuring strength.
Tears welled up in Ya Ya's eyes again, and she asked timidly, "Grandpa... how much money do you want? I... I only have two coins..." She opened her palm, and the two copper coins were already hot from being clenched, with some sweat stains on them.
The elderly couple exchanged a glance and laughed simultaneously. Grandma Chen patted Yaya's head: "Good child, it's free. It's just a few herbs, nothing much. Look, these herbs were all picked from the back mountain; it didn't cost us anything."
Ya Ya was too grateful to speak, and could only bow deeply. Ah Huang seemed to understand what had happened, and weakly wagged its tail.
Qian Jin watched quietly from the side, occasionally handing the old man a gauze or a bowl of medicine. Ao Ming still leaned against the courtyard gate, seemingly examining the medicinal herbs in the yard, but his gaze kept falling on Qian Jin. The setting sun cast a long shadow of his, which intertwined with Qian Jin's shadow, appearing both close and distant.
During their casual conversation, Qian Jin learned that the elderly couple's surname was Chen, and they were originally from out of town. Their son had established a business in the city and invited them to come and enjoy their retirement, but they were not used to the hustle and bustle of the city and preferred the tranquility of this small town. So they returned and opened this small clinic.
"I think this town is wonderful everywhere, with beautiful mountains and clear waters, and the people are so kind and honest," Granny Chen said, helping to hand over the things. "It's just that the back mountain... it's been a bit unsettled lately." She lowered her voice, as if afraid of being overheard.
Qian Jin paused slightly, then looked up: "The back mountain? What happened?"
Grandpa Chen took over, lowering his voice slightly: "A few days ago, I went to the back mountain to gather some fresh herbs. When I got to the vicinity of that old forest deep inside, I felt a chill. The forest was eerily quiet, not even a bird chirped, and a strange fog rolled in, a white blur, and I couldn't tell which way to go." He shook his head, his brow furrowed. "I've been gathering herbs for decades and have never gotten lost in that area before, but that day I wandered around for almost an hour before finally finding my way out... It's really eerie!"
"That's right," Granny Chen replied, still shaken. "She came back and told me she was afraid she'd bumped into something unclean. Old man, never go to that place again!" As she spoke, she clasped her hands together, bowed in all directions, and muttered something as if she were praying.
Qian Jin and Ao Ming exchanged a glance.
At this moment, Ya Ya timidly wiped the sweat from Grandma Chen's forehead. Grandma Chen liked Ya Ya more and more as she looked at her, and took her hand, smiling, "Ya Ya is such a good child, so smart and sensible. Last time you came to sell herbs, I could tell you were quite good at identifying them." Her tone was gentle, "It's just the two of us old folks here, and sometimes we're too busy. Would you like to come help out at the shop when you have time? Grandma will teach you to identify more herbs and even pay you, okay?"
Ya Ya's eyes lit up instantly. She subconsciously looked at Qian Jin, then at Ao Ming. Ah Huang in her arms also raised its head, its teary black eyes staring at Ao Ming, as if it too was waiting for an answer. Ao Ming was silent for a moment, then nodded almost imperceptibly, a faint smile playing on his lips.
Ya Ya immediately smiled and replied crisply, "Yes! I do! Thank you, Grandma!" Ah Huang also barked, wagging its tail, seemingly happy for the good news as well.
Qian Jin laughed and ruffled Ya Ya's hair: "Learn from Grandma well, it will be a skill to make a living in the future. Maybe you can become a legendary female doctor!" As she spoke, she winked at Ya Ya.
After Ah Huang's injured leg was properly bandaged and Ya Ya's help at the clinic was arranged, the sun had already set, leaving only a pale purple sunset glow on the horizon. Oil lamps were lit inside the clinic, their warm yellow light shining through the paper windows, appearing especially comforting in the deepening twilight.
Qian Jin and Ao Ming said goodbye and left. Ya Ya held Ah Huang, who had stopped whimpering, and saw them off all the way to the town entrance.
The little girl kept turning back to look at Qian Jin until he waved her away, at which point she reluctantly turned and left.
......
After a busy day, the town's night market gradually came alive.
Lanterns hung along both sides of the street, casting warm glows. The cries of vendors rose and fell, and the air was filled with the aroma of various foods. Smoke from cooking fires, carrying the fragrance of food, wafted through the streets, mingling with the sounds of people and the clinking of dishes, making the night feel even warmer.
The two casually chose a wonton stall and sat down. The owners were a straightforward couple; one cooked the wontons, and the other served the braised pork ribs, working together seamlessly. Although the stall was simple, it was spotless, and the wooden tabletop was polished to a shine.
Qian Jin picked up the large, rough porcelain bowl, the steaming hot soup enveloping her eyes and brows. She took a satisfied slurp, warmth rising from her stomach, and her whole body relaxed.
She glanced across at Ao Ming, who was still sitting upright, even eating his wontons with a certain elegance, which seemed both incongruous and interesting in this bustling marketplace. He carefully blew on the wontons in his spoon before elegantly putting them into his mouth, as if he were savoring some delicacy rather than ordinary wontons from a roadside stall.
She put down her bowl, leaned closer, and smiled like a cat that had just stolen some cream: "Senior Brother Ao Ming, now that there's no one else around, tell me the truth! How exactly did you manage to fool the God of Wealth into agreeing to let you come with me?"
Ao Ming's hand holding the chopsticks paused almost imperceptibly, his ears slightly burning, but his voice remained calm: "Don't talk nonsense. This is official business."
"Oh?" Qian Jin deliberately dragged out his words, a sly glint in his eyes. "Then may I ask, Your Highness, how long do you intend to inspect this waterway? I can't keep walking like this and you'll just keep 'coincidentally' following the same route, can I?"
Ao Ming's ears turned even redder at her words, but he kept a straight face and said in a stiff tone, "Why should I explain my actions to you?" After a pause, he added, "Eat your wontons." As he spoke, he scooped up a wonton himself, but because he was distracted, he burned himself with the hot soup and couldn't help but gasp softly.
Seeing his expression, Qian Jin laughed even harder and deliberately said, "Oh dear, I wouldn't dare delay Your Highness's important business. I plan to take a stroll in the back mountain tomorrow; I've heard it's quite dangerous there. Your Highness, why don't you go inspect your waterways? Shall we part ways here?"
"No!" Ao Ming blurted out, his tone slightly urgent. Realizing his lapse in composure, he immediately turned his face away and awkwardly tried to cover it up, "There are also several streams near the back mountain, and the water conditions are complicated. I... I have to go and check them out too!" His voice grew softer and softer until it was almost a soliloquy.
Qian Jin looked at his bright red ears and his forced serious profile, and finally couldn't help but burst out laughing. She stopped pressuring him and happily started gnawing on the braised pork ribs. The ribs were stewed until tender and flavorful, sprinkled with sesame seeds and chopped green onions, and smelled delicious.
This guy's awkwardness is actually quite amusing.
While gnawing on a bone, she casually struck up a conversation with the busy stall owner: "Boss, your braised pork ribs are absolutely delicious! Business is booming!" She took a bite of meat and continued naturally, "By the way, I heard the scenery behind our town is beautiful, and there are lots of medicinal herbs. Have you been there?"
As the shopkeeper deftly wiped the table, he chuckled and replied, "Young lady, you must be from out of town? The back mountain is fine for chopping firewood and gathering wild produce normally, but don't go too deep into it lately!" He lowered his voice, "In the past two weeks, several people have gotten lost in there. Luckily, they've all been found, but they all say it's very eerie."
Why?
The proprietress, who was busy working nearby, leaned over and whispered, "Sigh, I don't know what's going on... It started a few days ago, strange fog keeps rising up over the old forest, and it's easy to get lost if you go in! Some people have even heard strange noises coming from inside at night, whimpering and wailing, it's really scary!" She rubbed her hands, her expression enigmatic, "Everyone's saying that some mountain spirits or monsters have moved their nests and come to our area! The old folks in town don't let the younger generation go deep into the forest."
The boss chimed in, "Yes, even the spices we use for our braised pork ribs were originally local specialties from the back mountain, but now we don't dare to go and pick them anymore. We have to buy them from the neighboring town, which has increased our costs considerably." He shook his head and sighed.
Qian Jin and Ao Ming exchanged another glance, their understanding unspoken.
......
After the meal, the two found a clean inn in town to stay in. The inn was small, but it was very tidy, with polished wooden floors and a faint scent of soapberry in the air.
The guest room was small, and from the window, one could see the hazy, undulating outline of the mountains behind the house in the distance, shrouded in the night. The occasional bark of a dog drifted from afar, further emphasizing the tranquility of the night.
Qian Jin took out the Treasure-Seeking Compass from his robes, his fingertips slightly condensing as he channeled a wisp of spiritual energy into it. The crystal in the center of the compass immediately began to spin, more urgently than ever before. Among the fine points of light around its edge, one pointed directly towards the back mountain, emitting a steady and clear white glow.
Even more alarming, further out on the compass, another point of light suddenly appeared, its color a pale crimson. It didn't flash rapidly, yet it clearly pointed in the same direction.
Qian Jin's heart raced slightly. White specks of light usually represent spiritual objects or treasures, but this crimson red... Could it be the source of the "strange thing" that Grandpa Chen and the stall owner were talking about?
She closed the compass and looked up at the sleeping mountain shadows outside the window.
"Looks like I'll have to go check out the back mountain tomorrow no matter what," she murmured to herself, a hint of anticipation curving her lips.
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