The next day, Lu Chuan and the Taoist priest returned as expected. Upon seeing this, Xu Han quickly grabbed the two of them to work.
Xu Han said to the Taoist priest and Lu Chuan with a slightly ingratiating tone, "We need to start brewing sweet potato wine for next year in the next two days. We've brewed a lot of sweet potato wine this year, and I can't handle it all by myself. Could you stay home and help out for the next couple of days? We'll go hunting in a couple of days."
The Taoist priest took a sip of the water Xu Han handed him, looking disgusted. "I knew you wouldn't offer me water unless it was for something good."
Upon hearing this, Xu Han immediately retorted angrily, "I was just worried because you've just come back from the mountains and must be tired. How can you say that to me! You've taken my kindness for granted. If you're not going to drink, then don't give me any."
After saying this, she made a move to snatch the quilt from the Taoist priest's hand, but the Taoist priest skillfully dodged her.
"Haha, come on, your little thoughts are written all over your face."
Xu Han simply stopped pretending and arrogantly declared, "Just tell me whether you'll help or not. Anyway, I'm not going to drink the sweet potato wine you brew. It's better if you don't brew it; it'll save me the work."
Upon hearing this, Lu Chuan immediately raised his hand to flatter him, saying, "I never said I wouldn't work, haha."
The Taoist priest was also caught off guard. He thought to himself that what the girl said seemed to make sense. Wasn't this wine brewed for him to drink? It seemed that it would be unreasonable for him not to help.
He immediately changed his tune, saying, "Why are you in such a hurry? I was just joking. Tell me what work we need to do, and I'll get right to it. This time, you just need to give instructions; you don't need to do any work yourself."
Upon hearing this, Xu Han's eyes narrowed with laughter, but she still pretended to be serious and instructed, "Then let's wash all the sweet potatoes in the backyard first."
As soon as Xu Han finished speaking, the Taoist priest, Lu Chuan, and Grandpa Zhao immediately set off, quickly heading towards the backyard.
Xu Han thought to herself, "Isn't there a need to rush? We just got back, shouldn't we rest a bit?"
But in the end, she didn't say anything, since it wasn't her doing the work anyway. Besides, they weren't outsiders; if she was really tired, she would definitely rest.
Seeing that someone was washing sweet potatoes for her, Xu Han went to clean the container for brewing sweet potato wine.
Everyone worked together for three days and prepared all the raw materials for brewing sweet potato wine. Now we just have to let time ferment it and then distill it a month later.
After preparing the ingredients for the sweet potato wine, the Taoist priest and Lu Chuan didn't rest at home for long and went hunting in the mountains again.
For more than half a month, Lu Chuan and the Taoist priest went into the mountains every day. After this period of hard work, the two finally hunted enough meat to eat during the winter.
However, this year we didn't hunt as many animals as last year. We just stored enough meat for the winter and spring, and we'll hunt again when we want to eat it after spring.
Hunting and eating on the spot is fresh and delicious, and it also helps pass the time in the mountains.
After preparing the prey for the winter, the Taoist priest brought up the matter of preparing to go down the mountain.
“It’s been almost a month since the conscription began. We’ve been busy with family matters for the past month and haven’t been able to go down the mountain to check on things. I don’t know what’s going on down there now. I plan to go down the mountain tomorrow to take a look.”
Upon hearing this, Lu Chuan looked up at his master and said, "I'll go too."
The Taoist priest disagreed, saying, "You shouldn't go. Stay home and look after them. Things aren't safe outside right now. If we both leave, I won't feel at ease leaving the family behind."
Xu Han interjected, "Daoist, why don't you let Lu Chuan go with you? We're quite safe here in the deep mountains now, and besides, we have so many dogs at home, it won't be a problem."
Grandpa Zhao agreed, saying, "Why don't you two go together? I'm here at home. Besides, there's nothing dangerous in the mountains lately, and the farmers who were hiding there have all come down. If you two go together, you can look out for each other."
Upon hearing this, the Taoist priest stopped arguing and nodded in agreement.
Lu Chuan asked, "How are we going to get there tomorrow? Are we going to use a boat again?"
"Yes, rowing a boat will get us there faster, but we can't row all the way down the mountain like we usually do. We'll row to the halfway point and then hide the boat."
Xu Han replied, "Then I'll go with you tomorrow morning and take the boat to the riverbank, so you two won't have to carry it."
Since I brought the boat back last time, I haven't been able to go out for a while, so the boat has been sitting in the backyard. If I want to take the boat out tomorrow, I'll have to get it to the riverbank first.
Lu Chuan shook his head and refused directly, "No need. You have to get up early tomorrow. It's cold, so don't get up. Sleep a little longer. The boat isn't that heavy. The Taoist priest and I can carry it across."
The Taoist priest disagreed, saying, "Yes, the two of us can carry it. The boat is so light, it won't be a problem at all."
"Alright then, I'll give you more money tomorrow so you can eat better outside."
Lu Chuan added, "We should prepare more dry food, just in case something happens, it's better than going hungry."
"I understand. Here, take some beef jerky with you too."
Xu Han thought for a moment and then asked, "By the way, are you coming back tomorrow?"
The Taoist priest replied, "It's not certain, it depends on the situation, but most likely we won't be able to come back. Times have changed. If we row halfway down the mountain and then walk down, we definitely won't have enough time."
"Alright, I'll prepare more for you, including tinder and salt. You can also roast any pheasants or rabbits you catch in the mountains."
Lu Chuan laughed and said, "Haha, my wife is so thoughtful."
Xu Han didn't reply, but smiled and turned to prepare her things.
After preparing everything, everyone went back to rest.
The next day, Lu Chuan and the Taoist priest decided not to return that day and were not in a hurry. They waited until it was fully light, had breakfast at home, and then set off.
The descent down the mountain was peaceful, and we didn't encounter many people until we reached the main road, where it gradually became more lively.
Scattered groups of people on the road carried their bundles and hurried along silently without looking up.
Lu Chuan and the Taoist priest exchanged a silent glance after seeing this, thinking to themselves, "What's going on now? Are they starting to flee famine again?"
Has it been too long since we've come down the mountain? What happened this time?
Logically, if it were a matter of fleeing famine, shouldn't we have fled long ago? The war is almost at our doorstep; isn't it a bit too late to flee now?
Lu Chuan and the Taoist priest, both filled with questions, wanted to strike up a conversation, but everyone was in a hurry to continue their journey and did not want to linger.
Helpless, Lu Chuan could only take out a large pancake from his bundle, hoping to exchange it for some information.
Sure enough, in this era, food was still very useful. An old man stopped with his family of women, children, and the elderly.
Before Lu Chuan could say anything, the old man spoke up, "Young master, please ask whatever you want. Since I have accepted your provisions, I will answer truthfully."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
