Chapter 6: Quail Eggs

“Early spring is when tender shoots grow faster. Though they’re a bit bitter, they can fill our stomachs. The rice jar is already almost empty. Starting tomorrow, Dahe, you, your two younger brothers, and Tong Jin and Tong Mu, will go to town to find some casual work.

Since brown rice is only planted at the end of the month, we can handle the field’s plowing ourselves. During this time, we can earn some copper coins and make life at home a bit easier. Tomorrow, bring the eggs to town as well and sell them to exchange for brown rice.”

After speaking, Zhang Jinlan picked up a chopstick of vegetables and placed it in her eldest son’s bowl.

Though called “vegetables,” they were just the leftover mushroom residue from last year’s drying, along with the tender shoots freshly dug from the mountains today.

One was tasteless, the other bitter enough to make one frown.

Although the clan leader’s family had compensated with half a tael of silver…

That was survival money—they didn’t dare to spend it.

“Understood, Mother. Early tomorrow I’ll take them to town to find work,” Jiang Dahe replied softly.

Zhang Jinlan nodded, then scooped the thickest portion of brown rice porridge from the basin and put it in her eldest son’s bowl.

Next were the second son, the youngest son, and the two grandsons.

In the bowls of these five, there was barely any visible liquid; the porridge was thick, filled entirely with rice.

When it came to Jiang Shoucun and the younger grandsons, the porridge was more watery, and finally, the daughters-in-law received theirs.

Zhang Jinlan’s own bowl, like the daughters-in-law’s, was mostly water—not because she favored them, but because her sons and the two older grandsons needed to do manual labor tomorrow. If they didn’t eat enough, they wouldn’t have the strength. She and her daughters-in-law didn’t have such heavy work, so going a bit hungry didn’t matter.

Jiang Fubao’s bowl had no brown rice porridge.

She didn’t want any.

She only ate two bites of vegetables.

Though tasteless, she didn’t waste any, finishing every bit.

After the meal, the men cleared the table and chairs, the women washed the pots and dishes—everyone had their assigned chores.

As the youngest in the Jiang family, Jiang Fubao had nothing to do.

She and her two older brothers were taken by their mother to the room for a nap.

When she woke, it was already afternoon.

Farm households didn’t follow a three-meal-a-day routine, except during busy farming seasons, when an extra meal might be added. Normally, they had two meals: morning and noon.

In the afternoon, there was no work in the fields.

The Jiang family either went to the village to chat or went up the mountain to cut firewood or dig wild vegetables.

Jiang Fubao, being too young, could only sit in the yard and daydream.

There were no other forms of entertainment.

For the children, it was just throwing stones or playing house.

Utterly boring.

At twenty-two years old, Jiang Fubao didn’t want to hang out with little kids.

“Grandma, I want to play outside,” she said to her grandmother, who was cleaning the yard.

“Where do you want to go? Grandma will go with you,” Zhang Jinlan replied.

Her granddaughter had almost drowned yesterday.

Zhang Jinlan didn’t dare let her go alone again.

“No, I want to play at the gate by myself. Grandma, let me go out and play,” Jiang Fubao shook her head like a rattle, pouting.

Zhang Jinlan’s heart softened immediately.

“Alright, just don’t go far. Play at the gate. If that San Niu comes again, shout for Grandma immediately. Got it?”

Worried her granddaughter might be lured away again, Zhang Jinlan warned her.

“Got it!”

Jiang Fubao nodded firmly.

She stepped out of the Jiang home and breathed in the fresh air.

Finally, she could enjoy some freedom.

This body was too small; everywhere she went, there were restrictions, like being in prison.

So troublesome.

Jiang Fubao muttered softly to herself, strolling slowly by the gate.

She wandered for a full half-hour.

During this time, Zhang Jinlan came to the gate twice to peek, only relaxing when she saw her granddaughter hadn’t gone far, and then went back to cleaning.

Once familiar with the area, Jiang Fubao went to the foot of the mountain. She hid behind a tree, observing her surroundings. Seeing no one around, she took out the quail eggs from her space.

A total of thirty eggs.

Since they had been refrigerated, they felt slightly cold to the touch.

Having nothing to carry them in, Jiang Fubao had a clever idea: she lifted her clothes to scoop the quail eggs into her skirt like a makeshift bag.

Afraid of accidentally dropping and breaking them, she moved carefully toward the house, calling out loudly:

“Grandma—”
“Grandma—”

The repeated cries startled Zhang Jinlan, who thought her granddaughter was in trouble.

She grabbed a broom and rushed out.

“Let’s see who dares bully my Fubao! Where are you, you little brat? Come out!”

She twisted her neck, scanning for her granddaughter.

“Grandma, I’m here,” Jiang Fubao called again.

“Fubao, why did you go so far? What are you doing at the foot of the mountain? Did that San Niu come after you again?” Zhang Jinlan ran toward her granddaughter, dropping the broom.

“No, Grandma, I found bird eggs! Look!” Jiang Fubao explained quickly.

Hearing “bird eggs,” Zhang Jinlan walked over, curious.

She lifted her granddaughter’s skirt pocket.

“Whoa, really bird eggs! What kind of eggs are these? I’ve never seen them before,” Zhang Jinlan exclaimed, her eyes shining.

So many bird eggs—selling them could surely bring back a bag of brown rice.

“These are quail eggs. They’re very valuable. A chicken egg sells for two wen, but although quail eggs are small, each can sell for at least five wen. Wealthy families love eating them.”

Other family members also came running after hearing the news.

Jiang Shoujia, as the most knowledgeable head of the family, stroked his beard and explained to everyone.

“What? Five wen each? My heavens! Such tiny eggs sell for that much? Fubao, give the eggs to Grandma carefully. Don’t break them! Tomorrow, your eldest uncle will take them to town to sell for some copper coins. Then he can buy you a meat bun to celebrate,” Zhang Jinlan said, taking the eggs carefully and putting them in a bamboo basket lined with rags. Only then did she breathe a sigh of relief.

The Jiang family had returned home by now.

Everyone gathered around the bamboo basket, looking down.

“A total of thirty eggs! Selling each for five wen, my goodness, that’s at least 150 wen! Mother, our family has another source of income now,” said Zhu Yingqiu, Jiang Fubao’s eldest uncle’s wife, laughing heartily.

“Look at my granddaughter’s luck! Just by picking them up, she got over a hundred wen. We go to the mountains every day and never find bird eggs, yet Fubao got them. My granddaughter is a little lucky star. Heaven has sent blessings to our Jiang family. Come here, let Grandma hug you,” Zhang Jinlan said, picking up Jiang Fubao with a beaming smile.

Evening fell.

Because of the unexpected harvest of thirty bird eggs, the Jiang family had three meals for the first time.

Dinner was like lunch: brown rice porridge with tender shoots.

Everyone ate their fill.

Jiang Fubao walked into the yard and looked up at the sky.

There were no factories here, no pollution, just the sunset. The sky’s colors changed from red to pink, then to gold, filling the entire sky—a breathtaking beauty.

Having eaten their fill, the Jiang family went out for a stroll.

After early spring, the weather wasn’t too cold. Having stayed home all winter, the villagers couldn’t bear it anymore; after dinner, everyone rushed outside.