Chapter 11 ☆ A Bumper Harvest of Wild Mushrooms

Cheng Yaoyao’s trembling look puzzled Xie San.

He glanced at the fat bamboo rat in his hand, which weighed about four or five kilograms and could be exchanged for a lot of food.

Xie San handed the bamboo rat forward. “Don’t you want it?”

Cheng Yaoyao nearly recoiled in fear. She shrank back, eyeing the bamboo rat with a look of distress. Her gaze traveled up to Xie San’s hand—broad and slender with thick joints from years of hard work. The veins on his wrist were prominent and strong. It was this hand that had just twisted the bamboo rat’s neck as easily as twisting a chicken’s.

Cheng Yaoyao swallowed and couldn’t help but wonder if Xie San might break her neck one day, as he had done with the bamboo rat.

She glanced at Xie San cautiously, meeting his narrow eyes.

Xie San’s face was indifferent as he stretched out his hand, waiting for her to take the bamboo rat. He seemed patient.

It seems he’s not very vicious… After all, Xie San hasn’t turned evil yet, and I haven’t done anything to offend him, let alone marry him.

Cheng Yaoyao stared at the plump bamboo rat and licked her lips. This body lacked fat and moisture, and just imagining the taste of bamboo rat meat made her drool.

Carefully, Cheng Yaoyao extended her hand towards the bamboo rat, like a kitten testing its claws.

She touched it briefly before quickly pulling her hand back. “I…I don’t dare to take it.”

The bamboo rat’s fur was prickly, and after death, it became stiff and cold, which was quite scary!

Xie San sighed, though he had already picked up a few large leaves, wrapped the bamboo rat, and placed it into Cheng Yaoyao’s basket.

Cheng Yaoyao’s mood brightened, and she smiled, revealing a small dimple on her lips. “Thank you, Xie San. Oh, there’s dirt on your face.”

Cheng Yaoyao’s smile was so captivating that Xie San was momentarily entranced and raised his hand to wipe his cheek.

Cheng Yaoyao shook her head. “No, not there, here…”

As she spoke, she reached out. Xie San raised the handle of the axe to block her, his narrow eyes showing defensiveness.

“Your face is really dirty!” Cheng Yaoyao insisted, stamping her foot. “Don’t move; it’s right here. Don’t move!”

Determined, Cheng Yaoyao grasped the hilt of the knife and tiptoed closer.

The scent of peach blossoms lingered in the air. With her peach blossom eyes and hibiscus face, adorned with a teardrop mole beneath her eye, Cheng Yaoyao looked enchanting. Her crystal-clear skin and plump cherry lips seemed to invite a sweet kiss.

Xie San, momentarily mesmerized, stood frozen as Cheng Yaoyao’s slender fingers gently stroked his cheek.

“Yaoyao!” A shout broke the spell.

Xie San snapped back to reality and quickly stepped back.

Just a little more! Cheng Yaoyao, pained and scolding Zhang Xiaofeng, looked aggrieved. “Why are you hiding?”

Xie San’s eyes narrowed, and he avoided her gaze, his voice hoarse. “You shouldn’t get this close to me.”

Do you think I’m willing to let anyone get close to me? Cheng Yaoyao twisted her fingers in dismay. “You’re not a bad person.”

Xie San suddenly took a step closer and looked down at her. “I am a man.”

Xie San exuded a burning aura, enveloping Cheng Yaoyao. “Do you know how dangerous it was just now?”

Cheng Yaoyao took a small breath, feeling as though she were being stared at by a large predator. She froze, not daring to move. “I…I know.”

You’re so big and strong; how could you be a woman? Cheng Yaoyao glanced down from his solid chest to a part below his abdomen. The masculine bulge was unmistakable, and she was truly shocked. She jumped back, her face flushed, and looked at Xie San with horror.

Xie San didn’t notice her reaction. Seeing the delicate girl frightened, he restrained his intensity and said, “Don’t do this with anyone else… Don’t touch them.”

Touching me? Cheng Yaoyao pointed at herself, opening and closing her mouth, unable to refute.

In any other situation, Miss Cheng would have jumped up and slapped him. Did he think he could touch anyone? Who did he think he was? He was just a bit more handsome and had a better figure… Okay, a lot better. But Cheng Yaoyao wasn’t some lecherous nymphomaniac^[1]refers to someone who exhibits extreme or excessive sexual desire and behavior, often characterized by inappropriate or uncontrollable urges.; why would she touch him?

Seeing Cheng Yaoyao’s face turn red and pale, Xie San thought she was embarrassed by his straightforwardness. He urged her, “Go quickly, and don’t let anyone see you with me.”

Zhang Xiaofeng’s and the others’ voices grew louder. “Yaoyao, Yaoyao, where are you?”

“I’m here!” Cheng Yaoyao answered loudly and walked away, dragging her basket.

After a few steps, she turned back and muttered softly, “Who wants to touch you, bah!”

Xie San looked at her, his sharp eyebrows raised. “Hmm?”

Cheng Yaoyao quickly forced a smile. “Thank you, Xie San. See you tomorrow!”

Then she dragged the heavy basket and hurried away in small steps.

Xie San rubbed his forehead. With his keen hearing, he could distinguish the sound of Cheng Yaoyao’s basket dragging on the ground. She grumbled and complained as she walked. After a while, Cheng Yaoyao proudly announced, “Look at the mushrooms I picked. I also caught a bamboo rat!”

Xie San: “…”

In the woods, Zhang Xiaofeng and her friends scolded Cheng Yaoyao as soon as they saw her. “Why did you run so far? We picked all the fruit, and we’ve been looking for you for so long.”

Cheng Yaoyao wiped the sweat off her face and proudly announced, “Stop complaining and come over to help me carry the basket!”

Zhang Xiaofeng and Liu Minxia rushed over and were stunned when they saw the basket’s contents. “What did you find? So much!” they exclaimed.

Han Yin complained, “Did you pick poisonous mushrooms? I told you to be careful. If even one poisonous mushroom gets into the pot, we’ll all be done for…”

Han Yin’s voice trailed off, and her mouth fell open.

The large leaves covering the basket were pulled back, revealing a bounty of mushrooms: big, buttery chicken mushrooms, fist-sized Hericium erinaceus, and gray dried mushrooms. At a glance, these mushrooms were of much better quality and size than the others they had picked.

“Did you actually find these?” Zhang Xiaofeng and the others gasped in unison.

They didn’t recognize these mushrooms, and they had no idea how precious they were. They were genuinely surprised that the delicate Cheng Yaoyao had gathered such a haul.

Cheng Yaoyao, looking very pleased, opened the leaf bag on top to reveal a fat bamboo rat.

Han Yin jumped up in excitement, so thrilled that she wanted to kiss Cheng Yaoyao. “Cheng Yaoyao, you’re amazing!”

Unlike Cheng Yaoyao, no one else was afraid of bamboo rats. To them, bamboo rats were just meat!

Han Yin and Zhang Xiaofeng showered Cheng Yaoyao with praise. Standing proudly, Cheng Yaoyao placed her hands on her slim waist and looked skyward. “I told you not to underestimate me!”

The girls worked together to carry the baskets down the mountain. Cheng Yaoyao, the hero of the day, walked to the front with her small bamboo basket on her back. She picked a few yellow gardenias and occasionally broke off a few flowers. She disappeared for a bit and returned with a handful of mulberries.

Han Yin, struggling with a large basket, complained, “Why are you acting like an eight-year-old, letting go? If you don’t want to help, don’t make things harder…”

Cheng Yaoyao popped a handful of sweet and sour mulberries into her mouth and smiled at her. “Are they delicious?”

Han Yin swallowed the mulberries, and the sweet and sour juice lingered on her tongue, making her forget her irritation.

So sweet.

…

Cheng Nuonuo and Shen Yan returned from the town, chatting and laughing as they walked along the path back to the educated youth camp. The weather was hot, and the sun made their scalps burn and their skin redden. Cheng Nuonuo had no straw hat, and her little face was sweaty under the sun, though still white and translucent.

Shen Yan glanced at Cheng Nuonuo’s face and leaned closer, whispering, “Nunuo, your face is so tender.”

Cheng Nuonuo shuddered, her big eyes flickering as she shyly said, “Brother Shen Yan, we’re outside.”

Her bashful demeanor brought satisfaction to Shen Yan. He laughed heartily, “What are you afraid of? Everyone knows now, so there’s no need to hide.”

Cheng Nuonuo was delighted to hear this. Thanks to Cheng Yaoyao, otherwise, it would have taken much longer for her and Shen Yan’s relationship to become public. She bit her lip and asked, “What about Uncle and Aunt…”

Shen Yan’s smile faltered. “Haven’t we discussed this before? My parents don’t know that I like you. Besides, we haven’t returned to the city yet. There’s no point in telling them now!”

Cheng Nuonuo lowered her head and began to cry. “I’m sorry, Brother Shen Yan. Please don’t be angry. I’m just… too scared. Your parents’ favorite daughter-in-law is Sister Yaoyao. I can’t compare to her, and my parents don’t like me either. I’m not worthy of you…”

Tears rolled down her crystal-clear face, and Shen Yan’s heart softened immediately. He pulled her into an embrace, ignoring the possibility of someone passing by. “Nuonuo, don’t cry. Don’t worry about the parents; you still have me.”

“Brother Shen Yan, you’re the only one I have. Now everyone is on Sister Yaoyao’s side, and they all hate me.” Cheng Nuonuo clung to Shen Yan’s collar and repeated softly, “You’re the only one I have.”

A trace of weariness crossed Shen Yan’s face, but he held her tightly.

The two stayed embraced for a while before returning to the educated youth camp. As they approached, they heard bursts of laughter. Shen Yan, who enjoyed the lively atmosphere, immediately stepped forward, opened the door, and asked, “What’s going on?”

Inside, everyone was squatting on the ground with their sleeves rolled up, washing mushrooms. The large wooden basin was filled with freshly washed wild mushrooms: Hericium erinaceus, chicken mushrooms, dried mushrooms, hand-green mushrooms, horse mushrooms, red mushrooms, Coprinus comatus^[2]known as the shaggy mane or shaggy ink cap, is a species of edible mushroom., morels^[3] refer to mushrooms in the genus Morchella, which are highly prized for their distinctive honeycomb-like appearance and rich, earthy flavor. …