Chapter 23: The Real Can’t Be Fake

The encounter with Huang Heyu was the only time Song Yuntang had gone to the mountains alone. Now she was going alone again, and Zhao Qiao’e was naturally worried. She quickly put down her needlework basket and ran to Song Ma’zi’s house to call Song Jinsheng.

Zhao Qiao’e knocked on Song Ma’zi’s door. “Jinsheng, Táng’er went to the mountains. Go and check on her.”

Song Jinsheng quickly opened the door.

“How long has Táng’er been gone?”

Zhao Qiao’e wiped the sweat from her forehead. “She just left. My waist has been hurting these past few days, and I can’t catch up with her. Go and check on her.”

“Okay, I’ll go right away.”

After saying that, Song Jinsheng told Song Ma’zi and ran towards the mountains.

Cui Shi came to the door with tea. “Come in and sit for a while?”

Zhao Qiao’e took the tea from her. “Thank you, sister-in-law. I won’t sit. I’m not at ease leaving Xiangyun alone at home.”

“I heard Zhaozhao came this morning?” Cui Shi asked gossipingly.

Zhao Qiao’e paused her drinking and nodded. “Yes, she did.”

Cui Shi sighed. “Táng’er is too ignorant. Zhaozhao rarely comes back, yet she still hit someone. I heard it was quite a commotion. Did Zhaozhao leave crying?”

Zhao Qiao’e was a little uncomfortable. “Things aren’t as everyone saw.”

Hearing the villagers gossiping about her daughter, Zhao Qiao’e felt complicated, mostly heartache and guilt for Song Yuntang.

Táng’er always cared about her reputation. If it weren’t for the rumors in the village, she wouldn’t be so reckless now.

Ultimately, it was their fault as parents.

If they had given her more trust from the beginning, she wouldn’t have wanted to kill herself.

Cui Shi looked at her and whispered, “What exactly happened? I heard many people say they saw Táng’er hit someone.”

Zhao Qiao’e handed Cui Shi the teacup with a cold face.

“Today’s incident was started by Zhaozhao. As a participant, I naturally know better than outsiders. Sister-in-law, don’t listen to those people’s nonsense. I have something to do at home, so I’ll go back first.”

With that, she turned and left.

Cui Shi looked at her back, stunned.

“Zhaozhao started it? Zhaozhao has always been sensible and well-behaved. How could she deliberately cause trouble?” She sighed, shaking her head and closing the courtyard gate. “People, the real can’t be fake, and the fake can’t be real.”

Song Ma’zi, who was working in the courtyard, looked towards Cui Shi.

“Mother, what are you muttering about?”

Looking at her son, Cui Shi sighed again. “Mother is thinking, if only I could get you a daughter-in-law. When Mother is gone, there will be someone to take care of you.”

Song Ma’zi picked up the sweat towel hanging around his neck and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

“Mother, don’t think that way. Mother will live to be a hundred years old.”

Cui Shi smiled helplessly. “If you can’t get a daughter-in-law, living to be a hundred years old is meaningless. When I go down there, I don’t know how to face your father.”

With that, she went to the kitchen to put down the teacup.

Song Ma’zi glanced at his mother, then continued to work.

However, he had his own thoughts.

…

Song Jinsheng found Song Yuntang by the river at the foot of the mountain. She was lying on the ground digging something.

“Táng’er, I finally found you.”

Song Yuntang was startled by the sound. She looked back. “Why are you here? Aren’t you helping Ma’zi Ge?”

“Mother wasn’t at ease with you going into the mountains alone, so she asked me to come and see.” Song Jinsheng squatted beside her, looking at the white worm-like stems Song Yuntang had dug up. “What is this?”

“Earthworms?” Song Yuntang answered as she dug.

This clump of earthworms was hard to find. She had only dug up a few.

Song Jinsheng was stunned. “Can this thing be eaten?”

Song Yuntang nodded. “Not only can it be eaten, but it can also be used as medicine, and it tastes pretty good.”

Song Jinsheng hesitantly took the small hoe from Song Yuntang’s hand.

“Let me dig. You can process them.”

Song Yuntang didn’t refuse. “Then be careful not to damage the roots.”

“Okay.”

Song Jinsheng dug carefully. After Song Yuntang processed all the earthworms, she took the basket to the river to wash them. The plump, white earthworms looked like real silkworms, very pleasing to the eye.

The yield of this clump of earthworms was not low; it was enough to make two dishes.

The two continued to search for wild vegetables and herbs.

Song Jinsheng looked at Song Yuntang. “Táng’er, are you still angry with us about this morning?”

“No.” Song Yuntang said indifferently.

Seeing her calm demeanor, Song Jinsheng felt a little uncomfortable. People only act hysterically when they care.

This seemed to be the case with his sister.

She seemed indifferent to everything, but to say she didn’t care about her family wasn’t entirely true either.

In short, it was contradictory.

“Did we do something wrong that disappointed you?”

Song Yuntang shook her head. “You’re all very good. It’s my own problem.”

Song Jinsheng raised his eyebrows. “Don’t tell me you still have the intention of returning to the Lin family?”

Song Yuntang gave him a quiet look, as if looking at a fool, and ultimately didn’t answer his question.

Song Jinsheng became anxious and jogged to catch up with her.

“You wouldn’t really have such an idea, would you?”

“If I leave, wouldn’t you have one less trouble?” Song Yuntang climbed onto the rocks ahead, using a small tree for support.

Song Jinsheng followed closely. “How can you be a trouble? I’ve never thought of you as a trouble.”

Song Yuntang didn’t continue the conversation. She stopped, looked up at the tree about ten meters in front of her, and shielded her eyes from the dazzling sunlight filtering through the leaves.

“There are many wild persimmon fruits on this tree, but it’s not yet the season for them to ripen.”

Song Jinsheng glanced at the tree.

“Wild persimmons are sour and astringent. What’s so good about them?”

“What can’t be eaten these days?” However, she didn’t intend to eat them directly. Song Yuntang looked around, trying to remember the location. “Hopefully, when I come back in a month, the wild persimmons here won’t have been picked clean.”

Song Jinsheng didn’t think much of it. “Don’t worry. In the past, many wild persimmons rotted in the mountains without anyone wanting them. There’s more than one wild persimmon tree on this mountain.”

“This year is different from previous years. Maybe someone will want them this year.” Song Yuntang said, continuing to walk forward.

Song Jinsheng, carrying the basket, followed closely behind her.

“Táng’er, few people come to this place. Be careful not to be scratched by the branches.”

Song Yuntang bent down, picked up a stick, cleared away the vines and shrubs on both sides, and walked forward, tapping the tree trunks on both sides.

“Being scratched by branches is a minor matter. As long as I don’t encounter snakes, everything will be fine.”

Hearing this, Song Jinsheng quickened his pace to get closer to her, paying close attention to the surroundings.

…