Chapter 23: Aunt Zhang’s Itchy Hands

“Daya, you must have a way, right? If I wait any longer, I’ll scratch my hands raw. You know how hard it is for wounds to heal in this winter cold,” Aunt Zhang said pitifully.

Meng Ling could tell she was putting on an act, so she spread her hands and replied helplessly, “I really don’t have a way. I just recently found out this stuff was edible myself.”

“If I had known earlier, back when we were short on food last year, wouldn’t I have gone to dig some up? Why would I have let us go hungry?”

Last year, the Meng family had to borrow food to get by—it was a tough time.

Aunt Zhang pulled a long face and asked, “Really no way at all?”

Meng Ling shook her head. “Auntie Zhang, I really don’t have a solution. It’s so cold—go home and warm yourself by the fire before you freeze.”

In truth, she had told her the solution—just warm up by the fire or soak in hot water, and the itching would go away quickly.

Seeing that she wouldn’t get more help, Aunt Zhang had no choice but to leave.

No sooner had Aunt Zhang left than Meng Shiqiao came over. “Sis, you’re so bad! You knew the answer and didn’t tell her!”

Meng Ling gave him a sideways glance and said, “Who said I didn’t? Didn’t I tell her to go warm up by the fire?”

“Oh, that makes you even more bad!” Meng Shiqiao giggled.

Meng Ling saw her brother misunderstood and explained, “What do you know? With someone like Aunt Zhang, how long could she work? She’ll be warming up in no time, and once her hands are warm, the itching will stop.”

The sap from the herbs contains an alkaloid that evaporates easily with heat.

Meng Shiqiao found it less amusing. “Then you might as well have told her straight. She’s probably warming her hands already.”

Meng Ling said, “Why say it outright? I wanted her to itch a little longer—is that a crime?”

Classic big sister!

Meng Shiqiao figured it was best not to get on her bad side. If she got upset, he might end up itchy too.

In the days that followed, Meng Liang carried a full basket of wild yams into town every day.

“Dad’s home!”

Meng Shiqiao ran over excitedly the moment he saw him.

His father had brought back a full load of goods—early preparations for the New Year, since icy roads later might prevent them from going out.

Meng Liang teased, “So happy—are you here to greet me or the snacks?”

“Of course you!” Meng Shiqiao said, tiptoeing to peek into the basket but still couldn’t see what was inside.

Once the basket was set down, Meng Ling and the others came out and saw it was packed full.

Meng Liang pulled everything out and set it on the table:
“Ten jin of pork belly, five jin of lean meat, peach crisps, candied hawthorn, tuckahoe cakes…”

“There’s also preserved fruit, some rock sugar, melon seeds, peanuts… and a bunch of odds and ends.”

Meng Shiqiao had never seen so many treats in his life.

“Wow! So much food! Dad, did you spend all the money?”

His eyes sparkled as he stared at the food.

Meng Liang said sternly, “Of course not. And don’t even think about sneaking some—these are for the New Year.”

The moment he heard he couldn’t eat it yet, Meng Shiqiao deflated like a sun-wilted plant.

Meng Ling found his expression funny and tried to persuade their father. “Come on, we’ll be eating them anyway—just let him have a bit.”

Shen shi joined in. “Exactly! Our girl’s right.”

“Alright, alright, you three are teaming up on me. A real man doesn’t argue with women—fine, you win this time.”

Laughing, Meng Liang handed out some snacks for everyone to try.

As they munched on melon seeds, Meng Shiqiao noticed a piece of meat still in the basket. “Dad, what kind of meat is this?”

“That’s lamb. Didn’t your sister say she wanted lamb? I saw some on sale and bought a bit.”

Meng Ling felt a warm glow in her heart—he remembered, even though she herself had forgotten when she mentioned it.

It was such a nice surprise. She’d been craving lamb for ages, and the weather was perfect for it now.

She looked at the three-jin piece of lamb with a bright smile and said, “Thanks, Dad.”

Meng Liang scratched his head. “Come on, we’re family. I should be the one thanking you.”

Shen shi added, “Exactly! If it weren’t for you, we wouldn’t have gotten all these treats. You’re our lucky star!”

“I kept track of all the expenses,” Meng Liang said seriously.

“The pork belly cost 120 wen, lean meat 50, lamb 75, and all the other stuff 163 wen.”

“That totals 408 wen, about one month’s income.”

“We earned 1,356 wen from selling the yams. After spending 12 wen on food, we still have 948 wen left.”

Upon hearing that, Meng Shiqiao rubbed his hands together. “Wow, Dad, we’re rich! Can I get more for New Year’s money?”

“You want more after spending a fortune on that bow?” Meng Liang narrowed his eyes. “Let’s talk about it once you bring back even a single rabbit hair.”

That bow hadn’t caught a thing yet, but Meng Shiqiao still believed it would.

“Dad, I can shoot twenty meters now—rabbits run when they see me!”

“Oh sure,” Meng Liang laughed. “If you brag any harder, the village chief’s ox will float into the sky.”

Not to be outdone, Meng Shiqiao declared, “If you don’t believe me, I swear you’ll eat rabbit meat I hunted this year. If not…”

“If not what?” they all asked in unison.

“If not, I’ll go without eating rabbit meat myself!”

“Pfft!”

Meng Ling: That’s just cheating.

Meng Liang: Not manly at all.

Shen shi: Mom believes in you.

Meng Qingqing was too busy munching snacks to care.

Meng Shiqiao pleaded again, “You guys don’t believe me, but I’ll prove it!”

“Hmph!”

He crossed his arms in front of his chest to look cool, but his thick cotton coat got in the way. No matter how he tried, it didn’t work.

“Hahaha!”

Meng Ling burst into laughter, clutching her belly and squatting on the floor.

Meng Liang and Shen shi also bent over laughing. The house filled with joy.

That evening, Meng Ling started cooking.

She washed and chopped half the lamb and put it in a clay pot to stew. Then she prepared the other ingredients.

Once the lamb was nearly done, she added chopped radish.

“Turn up the heat,” she told Meng Shiqiao.

Soon the aroma of radish and lamb filled the kitchen.

“Sis, I’ve never eaten lamb before—it smells amazing!”

He was stoking the fire while drooling.

“You’ll know soon enough. Greedy boy,” Meng Ling said.

She herself was drooling—it really smelled that good.

After another 15 minutes, the lamb was done.

Meng Liang took the first bite. “Mmm, tender and flavorful, with the sweetness of radish. The broth is rich and delicious.”

Meng Ling took a bite—juicy and slightly sweet. This was how lamb should taste.

“Dad, every time you say something, I eat two more pieces,” Meng Shiqiao joked.

He could eat as much as their dad, even at his age. No one knew where all the food went in that belly.

After dinner, Meng Ling lay in bed feeling warm and cozy—not cold at all.

—-

As they walked, Meng Shiqiao said, “Sis, it’s even colder than yesterday. My feet are freezing!”

“Mm, walk a bit more and you’ll warm up,” Meng Ling replied.

They soon arrived at the village square. In the middle stood a large stone mill, and three or four people were queuing to grind rice.

Seeing the siblings, an aunt called out, “Hey, isn’t that Daya? You’re here to grind rice too?”

“Yeah, we’re almost out of rice at home,” Meng Ling said with a smile and a greeting.

“We really owe your family this year—if not for you, we’d have lost several mu of grain!”

“Same here. Those who harvested late lost entire fields to sprouting. Could only dry them out and feed the pigs.”

“You have to thank your dad properly!”

Meng Ling waved her hand. “No, no. My dad just acted early because he’s cautious. Even if he hadn’t, I believe you all would’ve harvested soon too.”

“Oh look how sensible Meng Liang’s daughter is.”

“She’s a smart one—sure to find a good husband in the future.”

Meng Ling could only smile awkwardly. She just wanted to finish grinding and get home. Who knew what more these aunties might say?

So she made an excuse and stepped aside, letting her brother hold their place.

Once he stood there, the aunties quieted down. Truly, everyone has their match—he was young enough to get away with things she couldn’t.

When they got back, they found out their father had gone to repay a grain loan at their uncle’s.

The next morning, Meng Ling wore cotton pants over cotton pants—for good reason: it had gotten really cold.

Even the water basins at home had frozen over.

“Good thing I got a new padded jacket this year, or I’d be freezing.”

This winter was noticeably colder than the last. Stepping outside, the wind stung her face, so she went back in and put on a wool hat before heading out again.

“Sigh, this weather… so gloomy. Looks like snow’s coming, and not just a little.”

She looked at the sky—dense, crimson clouds were pressing down like a siege.

She glanced up at their thatched roof. If it really snowed hard, it might not hold up!

After thinking it over, she decided they needed to reinforce the house. Otherwise, they might end up sleeping under snow like human popsicles.

“Shiqiao, get up! Time to work—go chop bamboo!” Meng Ling called into the house.

“Wear your old cotton jacket!”

She went inside to change.

“Sis, it’s freezing. Why chop bamboo now?” Meng Shiqiao grumbled.

“For survival. Hurry up!” she called back.