Chapter 7: Going up the mountain to hunt wild game.
The voice sounded like that of Yu Laoqi, who lived at the east end of the village. They were related by blood, but the two families didn't interact much, except for a visit at the end of the year.
Yu Chengfu paused for a moment, put down what he was holding, and replied, "I'm here!" before slipping on his shoes and walking out.
The door bolt was removed, and the courtyard gate creaked open. Old Yu Qi walked in, his body hunched over, carrying a small cloth bag in his hand. He rubbed his hands together, looking somewhat uneasy.
"Brother Chengfu, sister-in-law," Yu Laoqi greeted first, then nodded when he saw Yu Man on the kang (heated brick bed), and asked with concern, "Is Man'er feeling better?"
"I've had the doctor come and check on him; he's much better." Yu Chengfu gestured for him to sit down and poured him a bowl of water. "What brings you here so late?"
Old Yu quickly accepted the gift and thanked him. When Yu Chengfu asked him about it, he sighed, and the wrinkles on his face seemed to deepen: "Alas, it's all because of those things in the fields. Today, we really owe a debt of gratitude to Brother Chengfu and his wife. After finishing their own work, they still thought of my family and helped us harvest so late... Otherwise, with just my old bones and a sickly son, those few acres of wheat would have rotted in the fields."
His son went hunting in the mountains a few days ago and accidentally broke his leg. It hasn't fully healed and he can't do heavy work. His wife passed away early, so he's the only one doing the work.
The two were from the same clan and their land was not far apart. When Yu Chengfu was tending his own land, he saw Yu Laoqi, a middle-aged man, harvesting wheat. It was a strange sight to see, so he and Deng Sanniang went to lend a hand.
Hearing the dejection in Yu Laoqi's words, Yu Chengfu comforted him, "We're all from the same village, why talk about this? When my father passed away, you helped out a lot, and we all remember that."
When Yu Man's grandfather passed away, Yu Laoqi did indeed come to help. According to the customs of Xingcheng Village, the family members carried the memorial tablet and the relatives carried the coffin. Yu Chengfu went to invite people from the clan one by one, including Yu Laoqi, who readily agreed.
When this was mentioned, Yu Laoqi quickly waved his hand, "We're all relatives in the clan. Whenever one family has a problem, the others come to help." A look of gratitude appeared on his face as he pushed the small cloth bag in his hand forward, "This is some millet that we have left, and a few eggs that we just found. They're still warm. We're going to give Man'er some nourishment. If you don't accept them, you're looking down on me, Laoqi."
Yu Chengfu quickly refused, saying, "This is unacceptable! As you said, it's only right that I help out; I can't accept your things!"
The two went back and forth for a long time, but Yu Laoqi insisted on keeping it. Seeing that he couldn't refuse, Yu Chengfu had no choice but to let Deng Sanniang accept it.
Seeing that the gifts had been delivered, Yu Laoqi was able to speak more easily. He stammered, "Brother Chengfu, sister-in-law, to be honest, I... I have something else I'd like to say again."
“My wheat was harvested today, but… but it hasn’t been bundled yet, let alone hauled back to the threshing ground. My sick son and I just… just can’t manage it. I was thinking, haven’t you almost finished harvesting your wheat? Could you… help us one more day tomorrow, and see it through to the end? I’m tight on wages right now, but I’ll definitely find a way…”
He spoke with a look of embarrassment and pleading on his face. His daughter was married and living elsewhere, and he couldn't count on her. His son was also ill. At this crucial moment of the wheat harvest, he was truly at a loss.
Yu Chengfu glanced at Deng Sanniang and Yu Man, somewhat hesitant. Their own wheat was almost ready, but the subsequent drying and threshing would be a huge undertaking, and after so many days of work, they were indeed exhausted.
Deng San Niang hadn't said anything before, nor had she touched the small cloth bag. She added some more water to Yu Laoqi's water before speaking, "It's like this, we're busy burning straw and turning the soil at home, and Aman is still injured. There's also a child at home, so..." She didn't say anything more, but sighed, her face full of difficulty.
“I know my sister-in-law’s difficulties, but I have no other choice. I originally wanted to ask the neighbors for help, but everyone is busy with the fields right now, so I have no choice but to ask my brother and sister-in-law for help.”
Yu Chengfu hesitated for a moment, looking at Yu Laoqi's almost bowing earnest appearance, and recalling their past friendship, he finally softened and sighed, "Alright, Laoqi, don't say anymore. Tomorrow morning, Xiuxiu's mother and I will come over to help you again. After all, it's only a few days, so we need to hurry, otherwise, if the rain comes, this year's work will be for nothing. Don't mention wages, the most important thing is to bring the grain home first."
Upon hearing that Yu Chengfu, the head of the family, had agreed to the matter, Yu Laoqi breathed a sigh of relief and immediately expressed his gratitude profusely before finally managing to walk away.
Once the door latch was down, Deng Sanniang glared angrily at the head of the household: "You think you're the good guy? You're so tired you can barely stand up straight, and you're still helping other people's families."
She could tell just now that he first talked about his own difficulties, and then mentioned the favor he had done for her in the past, making it hard for her to back down.
Yu Chengfu was also afraid of Deng Sanniang's sharp tongue, so he obediently endured the scolding. Finally, he said, "In this village, favors are the hardest to repay. Once we've lent a hand, we won't have to worry about anything else in the future." His tone carried a hint of regret.
Seeing her husband looking so frustrated, Deng San Niang suddenly remembered that when they were arranging the marriage, the matchmaker had finally told her the truth after pressing her for details.
Since the passing of the Yu family grandfather, the family had been in turmoil, and her mother-in-law was difficult to please, which made her feel uneasy. However, the day before she was to marry into the family, the matchmaker made a special trip to say that the Yu family had settled things properly and that she could put her mind at ease.
That's not wrong. When she arrived at this family home, all her skills were useless. Her husband was honest and obedient, and her stepdaughter was intelligent and easy to get along with. Life was much better than at her parents' home. The only time she had to put in some effort was when visiting relatives at the end of the year.
She also asked Yu Chengfu what was going on at home, but he only gave vague answers and then turned over and fell fast asleep.
Seeing this, Deng San Niang was too lazy to ask any further questions. Anyway, the family was fine, and if anyone dared to come near, the butcher knife she was holding was no joke.
Thinking this way, she lost interest in arguing anymore. She tidied up the small cloth bag, glanced at it, and saw that it contained half a bag of golden millet, with plump grains, enough to make porridge for Aman.
Yu Man listened quietly without saying a word, guessing that her father was soft-hearted and would most likely agree.
Looking at his daughter's calm face, Yu Chengfu assumed she was tired and didn't want her to worry about these trivial matters anymore. He waved his hand and said, "Alright, just focus on getting better. When you're feeling better, I'll take you to the Pei family when I have time. Firstly, to thank him for taking care of you these past few days, and secondly..." He paused, his voice softening, "...it's time to properly discuss your marriage."
Upon hearing the word "marriage," Yu Man instantly became wary. She raised her eyes and forced a smile, speaking gently, "Father, I know your intentions. Pei Ji has indeed put in a lot of effort these past few days; he should go and thank his parents."
She then said, "But... I just fell and I don't look well. If I rush over here, it will seem like we're being impolite. Besides, the anniversary of my grandfather's death is just around the corner. It's a big event for our family, and we need to prepare calmly. How about... we wait until after the anniversary of my grandfather's death, and once everything at home is settled, then we can talk about other things?"
Her words were reasonable, taking into account both etiquette and filial piety. Yu Chengfu, who always listened to his daughter, nodded in agreement, his anxiety fading and replaced by praise for Yu Man: "That's right. Your grandfather's death anniversary is a big event. We can come and mention it after we're done with the work. It won't disrupt the happy occasion. You've thought things through."
As expected, he stopped mentioning going to the Pei family immediately and instead discussed with Deng San Niang what offerings to prepare for the anniversary of the death and which relatives to invite. Yu Man secretly breathed a sigh of relief and quickly slipped away. At sixteen, she would still be in high school in modern times, and now she was going to get married properly. She couldn't accept it for a while, and she also had to observe the plot for a while longer.
After resting for a few days, the bruise on her forehead gradually faded, leaving only a small light brown scab. Yu Man felt much better. Her parents went to Yu Laoqi's house early in the morning to help. Xiu Xiu couldn't stay still and chased chickens and dogs in the yard. Xiao Chun and a few friends heard that Yu Man was feeling better, so they also gathered as agreed. They peeked around curiously.
The sun rose, and although it was hot, the forest was always more ventilated than down below. Yu Man looked at the few eager little ones and an idea struck him. After the Grain in Ear solar term, there would be several nights of rain, and the wild mushrooms and vegetables on the mountain would be at their freshest. Perhaps he could even find some other wild delicacies.
"Do you want to go up the mountain?" she asked.
"Yes!" they all said in unison, their eyes shining brightly.
On the contrary, Xiao Chun, who was usually too lively, remained still, her round eyes fixed on the scar on Yu Man's head, and she asked cautiously, "Sister Xiao Man, what's wrong with your injury..."
Yu Man smiled and said, "It's nothing, it's fine now." She was telling the truth. She didn't know if it was because of the old man's magic medicine or the system, but the wound no longer hurt, it just looked scary.
Upon receiving her reply, Xiaochun breathed a sigh of relief and quickly pushed aside Songzi to occupy the position to Yu Man's left, becoming Yu Xiuxiu's protector on the left and right.
Yu Man went back into the house, found an old basket, and put a small, sharp wood-chopping knife in his pocket. He told Yu Xiuxiu, "Watch your step and don't wander off." Then he led the small group out of the courtyard and headed toward the lush, green hill behind the village, where villagers usually went to hunt for wild game.
It was cooler in the mountains, and tender green moss clung tightly to the large rocks, carrying the unique scent of earth. Er Qiao and the others chattered excitedly, yet dared not stray too far from Yu Man. She walked ahead, her eyes carefully searching among the grass, crevices in the rocks, and tree trunks.
"Sister Xiaoman! Look at this!" Xiaochun, with her sharp eyes, pointed to a patch of damp, rotting wood. Several grayish-brown mushrooms with thick caps were growing together.
“It’s straw mushroom, it’s edible.” Yu Man squatted down, patted the cap, pinched the bottom of the stem precisely with her thumb and forefinger, and gently pinched it. With a very slight “pop” sound, she brushed away the surface soil and pine needles, and then put it into her basket.
Not far along, Songzi discovered a patch of tender green wild scallions on a sunny slope, their aroma filling the air. Yu Man immediately called for them to stop and pick the scallions.
She herself was not idle either. She recognized several common wild vegetables. Purslane leaves were thick and fleshy. Although it was past its most tender season, picking some tender tips, blanching them, and making a cold salad would still be refreshing. Shepherd's purse had already bloomed small white flowers and was old, but its roots still carried a unique fragrance.
Behind a rock, near a mountain stream, on damp ground, she discovered a patch of dark, soft, limp earth fungus, resembling miniature versions of wood ear mushrooms. This was a rare find, highly nutritious and delicious. After picking and cleaning it, it could be stir-fried or used in soups, adding a lot of flavor to simple dishes.
The group stopped frequently along the way to pick herbs, their baskets half full, along with small baskets at their waists: tender green purslane, plump oyster mushrooms, and a handful of fragrant wild fennel.
"Sister, look! A mulberry tree!" Yu Xiuxiu, with her sharp eyes, spotted a wild mulberry tree, its branches laden with dark purple mulberries.
Yu Man glanced at them and confirmed they were edible, then told them to go ahead and pick some to satisfy their cravings, but don't eat too much, or your teeth will ache and you won't be able to eat lunch.
The children cheered and ran over, tiptoeing to pick the mulberries at the bottom and eating them. Soon their lips were stained purple, and even their smiles were purple. Yu Man tore off some leaves to form a base and spread some ripe mulberries on top. They were lucky; after walking for a while, they also saw wild berries. The total amount should be enough to make a jar of jam. Thinking of the sweet and sour taste, Yu Man quickened his pace.
As the sun rose higher, the heat in the forest began to rise. She found a shady spot under a tree, took out the bamboo water containers she had prepared, and distributed them to the children.
"Sister Xiaoman, shall we go collect bird eggs?" After finishing his water, Er Qiao started thinking about bird eggs again. He hadn't been up the mountain in a long time, but he still missed the taste of roasting bird eggs in the past.
Yu Man looked around and, based on his memory, said, "If we walk a little further ahead, I remember there's a bamboo grove where doves often nest."
Upon hearing this, the two Qiaos became even more excited. Sure enough, deep in the bamboo forest, several doves were startled into flight by their footsteps. Yu Man told the little girl to wait where she was, and then she approached quietly. Sure enough, she found a bird's nest built at the fork of a thick bamboo branch.
She climbed up with some effort, and peered into the nest. There were four tiny bird eggs lying quietly inside, their light brown shells speckled with fine spots.
"Er Qiao, here you go." She gently took out two eggs, leaving two behind, carefully wrapped the eggs in the soft grass she had prepared beforehand, and handed them over with care.
"Why don't you take it all?" Xiaochun asked, puzzled.
Yu Xiuxiu answered first. She had asked her older sister this question before, and now she could finally be a little tutor. "If we take it all, will the turtledoves still reproduce? If we take half, it will continue to incubate, and we can come back for more in a few days." She explained, "My older sister said we can't exhaust the resources."
Xiaochun nodded as if she understood, and carefully touched the still warm bird egg.
With the basket almost full, Yu Man saw that the sun was almost overhead, so he chose a shady open space.
"Let's rest here for a bit and get something to eat," she said.
I had heard from Xiuxiu earlier that Xiaoman's cooking was comparable to that of the palace chefs. Although I don't know if the food of the palace chefs is good or not, I can finally eat Xiaoman's food this time.
Xiaochun and the others cheered and immediately got to work. Without Yu Manyan saying much, Erqiao and Songzi, the two older children, quickly moved several flat, large stones and piled them up to form a makeshift stove. Xiaochun went to gather firewood, while the other children were responsible for scooping water from the mountain spring and stream using large leaves.
Yu Man then took out the small earthenware jar she had prepared earlier from her basket and rinsed it repeatedly with the stream water. Then she began preparing the ingredients: the plump straw mushrooms were carefully torn into even strips, the wild onions were shredded into fine pieces, and the bird eggs were cracked into a clean, sunken, thick leaf and stirred with a thin twig. The tender tips of the earth ear fungus and purslane were also washed clean in the stream.
The fire in the stove was lit, the dry branches crackling. Yu Man steadily placed the earthenware pot on the stone stove, poured in water from the bamboo tube, and first put in the wood ear mushrooms and straw mushroom strips, which needed to be simmered for a long time to release their flavor. After a while, the pot emitted a pleasant "bubbling" sound, steam rose, and the unique, rich aroma of the fungi wafted on the mountain breeze, enticing everyone to sit around, watching eagerly, swallowing their saliva, their stomachs growling in agreement.
As the broth in the pot gradually turned an enticing milky white, the bubbling bubbles glistening with oil, she sprinkled in chopped wild scallions. Instantly, the aroma of scallions mingled with the fragrance of mushrooms, creating a richer and more complex flavor profile. Next, she slowly poured the golden egg mixture in, swirling it around the edge of the pot. The egg quickly solidified into delicate golden clouds, floating and sinking in the milky white broth. Finally, she added the tender, bright green purslane tips, blanching them briefly to retain their crisp texture and slight tartness, perfectly balancing the richness of the soup. Seeing that it was almost ready, Yu Man took out a small pinch of coarse salt wrapped in oiled paper from her pocket and sprinkled it evenly into the soup.
"Alright, you can eat now." Yu Man stirred the soup with long chopsticks made from tree branches, and said under the watchful eyes of several bright little eyes.
She ladled a small half-bowl of steaming wild mushroom and egg drop soup into each person's bowl. Xiaochun and the others ate with the somewhat dry and hard coarse grain cakes they had brought from home, slurping them down with gusto, fine beads of sweat appearing on their foreheads, their little faces flushed.
"Sister, it's so delicious! It's so fresh! It's even better than the meat soup that Mom cooked during the New Year!" Xiuxiu praised indistinctly while blowing on it because it was so hot, with a piece of egg still stuck to the corner of her mouth.
Songzi nudged Xiuxiu with his elbow, and when she looked over, he coughed lightly and said, "I was wrong, you're right!"
At first, Xiuxiu didn't understand, but when she saw him sipping the egg drop soup, she suddenly realized.
Absolutely! Her older sister's cooking is the best!
"Wow! Sister Xiaoman is so amazing! We'll go up the mountain with you every day from now on!" The other children chimed in, their expressions full of satisfaction and undisguised admiration.
Watching them wolf down their food, Yu Man scooped some out herself into a leaf bowl, slowly blew on it, and took a sip. The sweetness of the mountain spring, the richness of the wild mushrooms, the smoothness of the egg drop soup, the freshness of the wild vegetables, and that just-right touch of saltiness—all the natural flavors blended perfectly together. It was simple, yet possessed a rustic and delicious quality that no elaborate cooking could match. Adding any more seasonings would only diminish its original flavor.
After a hearty meal, the children patted their round bellies, completely satisfied. Under Yu Man's direction, everyone worked together to dig out the loose soil nearby to extinguish the embers in the stove, carefully covering all traces to ensure no wildfire would break out. Then, carrying their heavy harvest, Yu Man led the well-fed and orderly little group slowly down the mountain.
It was nearly evening when they returned to the village. Xiaochun and the others reluctantly prepared to go home, tugging at Yu Man's clothes and saying, "Sister Xiaoman, we'll come to visit you again in a few days."
As for why not tomorrow—Xiaochun and the others are going to the village school tomorrow, and if they play any longer, their precious little bottoms will suffer.
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